Southern Tier Cuvee Series 3
Southern Tier Brewing has a barrel-aged series of American Strong Ales called the Cuvee Series. I was never able to come across the first two releases in the limited run, but I was lucky enough to snag a bottle of the latest — Cuvee 3. Originally released in June of last year this brew is a blend of the previous two beers in the series. I’ve had stored in the basement since August and finally opened it up earlier this month.
Cuvee 3 on the deck.
Appearance
This is certainly a pretty glass of beer to look at — copper in color with a large, dense off-white head.
Aroma
Oh man, there is a plethora of rich malt sweetness coming off the top of my glass. Along with it are hints of sour cherries, a light vanilla, a Belgian yeast presence, wood and a solid waft of booze.
Taste
Yep, there’s the sweetness. It’s not too overpowering or cloying, but man its presence is still pretty dominant. Behind that sweetness comes dark fruits, that sour cherry character I picked up on the nose and solid oaky vanilla component. The beer transitions to a fairly dry and lightly bitter hop finish. The 11% ABV is apparent throughout the beer, leaving a glowing warmth after each sip.
Overall
The wife and I split this bottle on a relatively warm day. Had I known just out sweet the brew was before opening, I probably would have saved it for a cooler evening when a little sweetness and internal warming would be required. This is a big beer that I’m not sure I would have been able to make it through without a little help. It’s not that it’s a bad tasting beer. It isn’t. I enjoyed it thoroughly, but it’s just so darn sweet.
Rating: 3.25/5