Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA
I’ve only had good experiences with Southern Tier so far, so here’s hoping to add to that with Unearthly. I’m always up for a really balanced and well done Imperial IPA, so I’m hoping this is one of those.
Scent
Cracking the bottle open reveals a hoppy, piney aroma, but with a little something extra. After mulling it over, I think it reminds me of a pack of original Life Savers in some way. It very well could be the citrus scent mixed with the sweet backdrop that makes it smell that way. There might be a little honey in there as well.
Taste
The flavor is similar to the scent, but a lot bigger. A very juicy, sugary, predominantly citrus hop aroma, along with a strong honey (and caramel, perhaps) taste that comes through. There is a malty/biscuit base to the flavor which complements the sweet, fruity, juiciness well.
Overall
Overall, I would describe Unearthly as a really big, sweet, strong IPA. Amazingly, it doesn’t have much bite or alcohol burn to it, even though it’s an imperial and checks in at 9.5% ABV. I’m happy to say my hopes came true: this is one very well brewed and balanced Imperial IPA.