Name: Oak Aged Unearthly IPA
Brewed By: Southern Tier
Brewed In: Lakewood, NY
Brewed With: 2-row pale malt; cara-pils malt; red wheat; Kettle hops: chinook & cascade; Hop back: styrian golding; Dry hopped: cascade, centenial & chinook.
Type: India Pale Ale
ABV: 11.0%
What they say: “At the Southern Tier Brewing Company, vigorously hopped beer is our standard and inspiration. We continue a commitment to innovation with an aggressive offering. Oak Aged Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste of this oak aged brew into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Oak Aged Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume wisely.”
Website: Covered in the Mokah review. Beers, news, and info all easy to find. Very well done.
Why this one, Show? As I have previously stated, I am on a never-ending quest to be the wood-aged-beer expert of Those Beer Snobs. That prestigious distinction carries with it the burden of trying ALL types of oak aged beers, even the verboten IPAs. When I saw this on the shelf of one of my local beer stores, I knew that this would be my foray into the world of wood-aged IPAs. After all if you’re going to dive in, it should be into the deep end, no?
First Thoughts:
Head: HUGE in the glass, settling down with heavy lace cling.
Nose: Heavy citrus and pine.
Color: Copper
Presentation (5): I’ve already gushed about how Southern Tier’s labels are a wealth of graphics and information. The sticker here is not clear, but a solid green, with some silver printing (including a hop flower with a crown on it to look like an acorn). Included on the label are the beer’s ingredients, serving temperature, serving vessel suggestion, and blurb about the beer. It pours out a beautiful copper color. I have to say, so far I’m impressed. 5
Originality (5): While IPAs are not original (dating back to English colonialism in India, hence the name), there is something to be said for the way smaller breweries have been tending back towards very aggressively hopped beers. The American craft brewing boom of the 80s and 90s has spawned a generation of brewers wanting to continuously push the envelope when it comes to hopping the beer. This boom has also reintroduced wood-aging to an enthusiastic craft-beer drinking crowd. I’ll split the difference. 3
Body (10): Smooth, very smooth. As anticipated, the wood takes just about all of the harshness out of the body. The beer flows lightly in the mouth through the sip. While most IPAs fill the mouth with feelings of nettles, pine cones, and carbonation, this one imparts all of the flavor with almost none of the stabby tingling. Don’t get me wrong, this is a pretty heavy beer, and it almost gets into syrupy territory. And about halfway through the bottle, you start to feel a little full. 7
Taste (10): I really want to find some fault with this taste, and the only thing I can say is that it isn’t as sweet as we here at TBS tend to like our beers. But as far as a craft brewer’s IPA flavor goes, this is a very subdued taste. Malt is very evident in the beginning of the sip, which tends towards hops right after the initial taste. There’s the IPA citrus, earthy notes, but without the “I’m drinking a pine cone” taste of a standard, non-wood-aged IPA. Hop heads may tell you the only true taste of beer is wringing out hop oil directly to your tongue, but I contend that the aging mellows out the harsh flavors letting you taste the fact that a hop is a flower, after all. Shake your head, question reality, but I admit that this is a good-tasting beer. 8
Efficiency (10): Bag it and tag it; this is an efficient beer. With a smooth taste and an 11% ABV, this beer comes in bomber bottles for a reason. Southern Tier is a big player in the “We don’t f*ck around” craft brew market, and this beer does not disappoint. It’s easy drinking, smooth in the mouth, and able to compete with the most powerful of the Belgians and Imperial Stouts. Unearthly, indeed. 10
Versatility (10): None. This is a ‘one beer’ beer. Something that you know will put a glow on your face after only just one bottle. It’s too heavy of a mouthfeel and too strong of an octane level to merit a night made out of it. Small points for two aspects: at 11%, you can cellar this for at least one or two years. It’s also a really good selection if you want to leap headlong into the rough waters of IPAs. 2
Final Score: 35 – Good Beer
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