I-90
Southern Tier Brewing Company

 

It is red, boy howdy is it red. The vanilla smell in the glass gives it an almost "red velvet cake" appeal. However, the taste of tart cherries is a fresh (is mouth puckering) surprise on the tongue. An almost wine-like consistency.

 

 

Southern Tier I-90 Cherry Sour

Look 8/10
Smell 18/20
Taste 35/40
Feel 8/10
Drinkability 17/20

Overall 86/100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live review. Poured from the growler that I bought at World Wines & Liquor in Mentor for $11.99 into a clean, clear pint glass. I continue to enjoy their growler program as the beers that they have on tap are varied and in some cases (like this one) only available on tap.

A Translucent golden yellow body under a one inch egg white head. Pretty standard look. 3.5

S Nice basic floral hops smell with a bit of sweet malt. The floral hops seem to be balanced nicely. There is a certain peppery aspect to the smell as well. This is a good smell. 4.0

T Taste flows directly from the smell. The floral hops predominate, there is a faint malt sweetness but the taste offers something that the smell did not...the certain sense of barley malt husks. Taste is interesting but not mind blowing. 3.5

M Feel is beefed up by that peppery, hops taste but this is a translucent Pale Ale so the feel is probably moderate. It is appropriate to the style but just not that remarkable. 3.0

D/O Drinkability is good. I have not checked the ABV but it does not taste very elevated. Overall this is a safe Pale Ale, an appropriate selection to commemorate Cleveland Beer Week 2011 which is what it was meant to do. 4.0

Notes: I live and often drive up and down Interstate 90 (which is between Southern Tier Brewery in Lakewood, NY and Cleveland, Ohio) but I am not sure of naming a beer for a roadway (what with DUI and all).

On-tap at the empty pint pub at the brewery. poured into a nonic pint glass. according to the bartender this was a pale ale brewed for Cleveland beer week.

pours out a very clear golden color with some nice white head that held some decent retention, thin layer. a little bit of some nice lacing on the glass.

in the aroma some tropical fruits, kind of dank raw pellet hops, and some citrus, maybe lemony. not a super intense hop aroma but fits the pale ale category. a little bit of a grainy aroma as well.

again, from the hops you get some tropical fruits, grapefruit citrus, a bit of lemon citrus, and a slight raw pellet hop flavor. a bit of grains try to balance. again, nothing intensely hoppy but it works for a sessionable pale ale.

mouthfeel is more towards the lighter side, lighter body. some hop bitterness in the finish, nothing really wrecking your palate however. just a touch watery at times.

overall, this is very similar to a lot of Southern Tiers other pale ales (pale, hopsun, mow master). same kind of malt and hop profile, only suddle differences between the 2. i wouldnt really seek this out again, but worth atleast one try.