Cinnamon Roll Imperial Ale
Southern Tier Brewing Company


- From:
- Southern Tier Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Herb and Spice Beer
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 8.6%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #9,435 - Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 10.7%
- Reviews:
- 78
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 13, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 17, 2017
- Wants:
- 18
- Gots:
- 56
The scent of our brewery on brew days is irresistible. Akin to the morning’s first brewed batch of perfectly roasted coffee, the aromas envelope you and cause the corners of your lips to curl into the slightest unconscious smile. In this brew, lightly toasted malts with subtly spicy hops blend into cinnamon flavors and creamy lactose sugar. Their coalescence is so uncannily close to fresh baked cinnamon rolls that it was impossible to name this beer anything other than Cinnamon Roll Imperial Ale! Pairs perfectly with eggs benedict at brunch, after dinner, or next to the fire for an unforgettable nightcap.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by TreyIsWilson from Michigan
4.08/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a dark reddish brown with a one finger off white head. Nice amount of clingy lacing.
S - Aroma is heavy cinnamon and vanilla.
T - The taste is cinnamon, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla and mild bitter hop bite in the finish.
M - Medium body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a slick dry finish.
O - Solid. Cinnamon is not as in your face as I expected. Decent balance of flavors.
.
Sep 25, 2022S - Aroma is heavy cinnamon and vanilla.
T - The taste is cinnamon, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla and mild bitter hop bite in the finish.
M - Medium body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a slick dry finish.
O - Solid. Cinnamon is not as in your face as I expected. Decent balance of flavors.
.
Reviewed by Brian19876
4.92/5 rDev +22.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.92/5 rDev +22.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Drove 2.5 hours to Cleveland southern tier to get this beer since never at the pittsburgh location. Such a bold cinnamon flavor. One of the best beers southern tier brewery makes
Jul 24, 2022Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington
3.34/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.34/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
draught
Rather murky, caramel color with some orange highlights. Smells like cinnamon toast without butter, at first, with a bit of a roca type toffee. The added cinnamon clashes with the hops and creates an unpleasant bitterness that overrides a lot of the cinnamon and black tea flavors. Body is a bit thin.
Nov 08, 2021Rather murky, caramel color with some orange highlights. Smells like cinnamon toast without butter, at first, with a bit of a roca type toffee. The added cinnamon clashes with the hops and creates an unpleasant bitterness that overrides a lot of the cinnamon and black tea flavors. Body is a bit thin.
Rated by majinsnake from West Virginia
4.06/5 rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
If you like eating cinnabons, then you will like drinking this. It is like a liquid cinnabon. It's gooood.
May 11, 2020Reviewed by adamette from Ohio
4.74/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Live review.
Poured from the 12 ounce bottle that my brother Pete gave me as a part of a 6 pack of "extras" that he had a while ago into a clean, clear glass. Thanks Pete! I looked but do not see any "enjoy by" or "bottle on" date on the bottle. There is the following printed near the base of the bottle "09091934B11953" Could that mean bottled on 09 09 19?
A: appearance is Healthy light brown 2 inch head over a dark copper, cloudy body but some light still filters through. Excellent look. Reminds me of the top of a ....Cinnamon Roll...
S: Some distant cinnamon and malt in the smell and even some bakery fresh pastry. Amazing smell. Given the name and the look and the smell, this is shaping up to be a great beer!
T: Taste follows right along from the smell. Excellent, satisfying sweetness brought with the malt, the expected cinnamon and a depth that is reminiscent of the pastry or breading of a cinnamon roll. Again, amazing. What I do not get is a boozy kick of any kind which will surely make the drinkability of this beer quite high indeed. Way late in the taste (it took a few minutes to realize this) I did get a sense of alcohol but to me it is well obscured.
M: mouthfeel of this beer is amazing. Somehow there is a softness to it (the malt goodness, the cinnamon?).
D: drinkability, overall this beer is a winner. It has been my experience in the past that Southern Tier beers are either loved or hated (Creme Brule, Pumpking come to mind) and I suspect that his one will fall into that trend. I, for one, love this beer!
Apr 12, 2020Poured from the 12 ounce bottle that my brother Pete gave me as a part of a 6 pack of "extras" that he had a while ago into a clean, clear glass. Thanks Pete! I looked but do not see any "enjoy by" or "bottle on" date on the bottle. There is the following printed near the base of the bottle "09091934B11953" Could that mean bottled on 09 09 19?
A: appearance is Healthy light brown 2 inch head over a dark copper, cloudy body but some light still filters through. Excellent look. Reminds me of the top of a ....Cinnamon Roll...
S: Some distant cinnamon and malt in the smell and even some bakery fresh pastry. Amazing smell. Given the name and the look and the smell, this is shaping up to be a great beer!
T: Taste follows right along from the smell. Excellent, satisfying sweetness brought with the malt, the expected cinnamon and a depth that is reminiscent of the pastry or breading of a cinnamon roll. Again, amazing. What I do not get is a boozy kick of any kind which will surely make the drinkability of this beer quite high indeed. Way late in the taste (it took a few minutes to realize this) I did get a sense of alcohol but to me it is well obscured.
M: mouthfeel of this beer is amazing. Somehow there is a softness to it (the malt goodness, the cinnamon?).
D: drinkability, overall this beer is a winner. It has been my experience in the past that Southern Tier beers are either loved or hated (Creme Brule, Pumpking come to mind) and I suspect that his one will fall into that trend. I, for one, love this beer!
Reviewed by hoptheology from South Dakota
4.34/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle purchased at Craft Brewed in Nashville, TN.
Carpe Brew Em snifter.
A burnt orange color with lighter shades of orange as well. Nice butter colored head of 2 fingers, receding quickly to a thick ring leaving sheets of lacing.
Aroma is definitely cinnamon roll. Lots of sticky cinnamon dough and vanilla and caramel, with slight soap.
Flavor opens with huge cinnamon and earthy cinnamon stick, followed by sweet vanilla icing, nuttiness, and a good body of caramel and bread dough. It's spot on. Some slight orange juice at the finish.
Feel is a touch thin but still stays medium bodied, is a bit cutting and hot, but has a nice dryness and stickiness to it. Kinda like a Rye ale.
Overall, this beer is really tasty and if you're considering buying it, definitely do it. Very good.
Apr 05, 2020Carpe Brew Em snifter.
A burnt orange color with lighter shades of orange as well. Nice butter colored head of 2 fingers, receding quickly to a thick ring leaving sheets of lacing.
Aroma is definitely cinnamon roll. Lots of sticky cinnamon dough and vanilla and caramel, with slight soap.
Flavor opens with huge cinnamon and earthy cinnamon stick, followed by sweet vanilla icing, nuttiness, and a good body of caramel and bread dough. It's spot on. Some slight orange juice at the finish.
Feel is a touch thin but still stays medium bodied, is a bit cutting and hot, but has a nice dryness and stickiness to it. Kinda like a Rye ale.
Overall, this beer is really tasty and if you're considering buying it, definitely do it. Very good.
Rated by Confederates1952 from Pennsylvania
5/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Tried it for the first time and enjoyed it very much. Too bad it's only a seasonal beer.
Mar 19, 2020Reviewed by PathofChaos from Maryland
4.05/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Appearance:
Pours a brownish amber hue, the color of cinnamon syrup. Minimal head but lots of bubbles.
Bouquet:
Like walking past a Cinnabon bakery. Warm cinnamon, sweet caramel and cream, and an almost illusory presence of vanilla.
Taste:
Cinnamon comes searing to the top like a fireball candy. What follows is sticky sweet caramel, hints of maple, vanilla, and cloves.
Feel:
Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, tingly warmth, and a creamy mouthfeel in the aftertaste.
Overall:
At first the cinnamon was positively overwhelming, so I let the rest of the 4-pack age for 3 months. Aging it mellowed out that burning cinnamon and allowed the backstage elements to come forward. I suggest you do the same for optimal enjoyment.
Dec 25, 2019Pours a brownish amber hue, the color of cinnamon syrup. Minimal head but lots of bubbles.
Bouquet:
Like walking past a Cinnabon bakery. Warm cinnamon, sweet caramel and cream, and an almost illusory presence of vanilla.
Taste:
Cinnamon comes searing to the top like a fireball candy. What follows is sticky sweet caramel, hints of maple, vanilla, and cloves.
Feel:
Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, tingly warmth, and a creamy mouthfeel in the aftertaste.
Overall:
At first the cinnamon was positively overwhelming, so I let the rest of the 4-pack age for 3 months. Aging it mellowed out that burning cinnamon and allowed the backstage elements to come forward. I suggest you do the same for optimal enjoyment.
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