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2XMAS
Southern Tier Brewing Company
- From:
- Southern Tier Brewing Company
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Herb and Spice Beer
Ranked #37 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #23,534 - Avg:
- 3.69 | pDev: 15.99%
- Reviews:
- 335
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 15, 2024
- Added:
- Oct 29, 2012
- Wants:
- 60
- Gots:
- 432
Swedish flags are a fairly common sight in our part of the country. Holiday parties often have warm concoctions of spices and booze at the ready to knock the ice off of toes while raising spirits. We were inspired by a “Glögg” party, deciding on the spot to brew a beer that pays tribute to this Nordic tradition. 2XMAS ale combines traditional brewing ingredients with figs, orange peels, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and ginger root. It’s a holiday addition to the 2X line and another reason to toast to the season, but unlike Glögg, we recommend serving this one chilled.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Raime:
Reviewed by Raime from Korea (North)
4.2/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Southern Tier 2xmas.
Well never really thought much about this one but I saw it sitting on a shelf for $2 today and I figured why in the hell not. Perfect weather excluding the snow for a winter beer. I enjoy gingerbread and judging from a few prior reviews I should expect more than a bit. Anyway, let's drink it eh.
Look - From the twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass that somewhat dimples towards the bottom. Pours a crystal clear amber with a two finger off white head that quickly dies down. Honestly it looks the was most Christmas esque beers do so I cannot knock it at all. The carbonation does not appear to be a factor at all in this one..no lacing remains after the brew is gone.
Smell - i would have a very hard time describing this beer as anything other than anise and gingerbread. Because for satans sake it smells like anise and gingerbread with just a touch of cinnamon. A bit of the alcohol comes through as well. Smells like christmas.
Taste - While the bottle may say figs and orange spices, I'm not getting any of that jazz. Pretty much all straight up gingerbread and anise and described in the nose. a good dosage of cinnamon as well as the beer warms up. Trying to hurry and get this review typed up before my phone goes into the everblack since I don't have a charger around.
Feel - The body on this one reallt coats the mouth in a syrup like slickness without any creamyness seeing as the head has completely died at this point. Lots of gingerbread men sit amongst the tongue and get consumed by your hungry stomach. I can taste the high caloric level in this brew which is fine since I still have yet to devour food on this cold, rainy Michigan day up North still trying to hunt.
Overall - A very solid winter beer that I would not mind having again next year. Gingerbread really leads the way although it also has a big hit of other winter spices, especially anise. Not the best beer in the world, but a contender for the mid to top level of the ever so solid ' 4 ' rating amongst your list. ..
Nov 27, 2015Well never really thought much about this one but I saw it sitting on a shelf for $2 today and I figured why in the hell not. Perfect weather excluding the snow for a winter beer. I enjoy gingerbread and judging from a few prior reviews I should expect more than a bit. Anyway, let's drink it eh.
Look - From the twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass that somewhat dimples towards the bottom. Pours a crystal clear amber with a two finger off white head that quickly dies down. Honestly it looks the was most Christmas esque beers do so I cannot knock it at all. The carbonation does not appear to be a factor at all in this one..no lacing remains after the brew is gone.
Smell - i would have a very hard time describing this beer as anything other than anise and gingerbread. Because for satans sake it smells like anise and gingerbread with just a touch of cinnamon. A bit of the alcohol comes through as well. Smells like christmas.
Taste - While the bottle may say figs and orange spices, I'm not getting any of that jazz. Pretty much all straight up gingerbread and anise and described in the nose. a good dosage of cinnamon as well as the beer warms up. Trying to hurry and get this review typed up before my phone goes into the everblack since I don't have a charger around.
Feel - The body on this one reallt coats the mouth in a syrup like slickness without any creamyness seeing as the head has completely died at this point. Lots of gingerbread men sit amongst the tongue and get consumed by your hungry stomach. I can taste the high caloric level in this brew which is fine since I still have yet to devour food on this cold, rainy Michigan day up North still trying to hunt.
Overall - A very solid winter beer that I would not mind having again next year. Gingerbread really leads the way although it also has a big hit of other winter spices, especially anise. Not the best beer in the world, but a contender for the mid to top level of the ever so solid ' 4 ' rating amongst your list. ..
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by GeorgianBayPackr from Pennsylvania
3.54/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a deep copper with no head nor lacing. Tastes of toasted grain and earth, with a slight dark fruit taste that improves as it warms in the glass...but mostly earth
Feb 15, 2024Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
3.64/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.64/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle poured into a Spiegelau wheat beer glass.
Best by 10/16/24
L: Somewhat cloudy dark amber, one finger khaki head has medium retention, small spots of lace.
S: Big spicy aroma from the bottle, a little less robust from the glass, dry spices, mostly ginger, some clove.
T: Very spicy, ginger, hints of sweet bread malt underneath, moderately bitter citrus standing out towards the finish.
F: Medium-weight and frothy, medium carbonation (after an aggressive pour).
O: Seasonal and boldly spicy, a bit too spicy for me but the one bottle drank pretty quick.
Jan 09, 2024Best by 10/16/24
L: Somewhat cloudy dark amber, one finger khaki head has medium retention, small spots of lace.
S: Big spicy aroma from the bottle, a little less robust from the glass, dry spices, mostly ginger, some clove.
T: Very spicy, ginger, hints of sweet bread malt underneath, moderately bitter citrus standing out towards the finish.
F: Medium-weight and frothy, medium carbonation (after an aggressive pour).
O: Seasonal and boldly spicy, a bit too spicy for me but the one bottle drank pretty quick.
Reviewed by DanO1066 from Maryland
4.07/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.07/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Draught 8oz snifter at The Brass Tap here in Baltimore: What a nose on this one! That alone was worth the (Happy Hour) price. It smells like... Christmas
Jan 05, 2024Reviewed by JKENNEKE
3.86/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
December 2023. Des Plaines. Overall solid Christmas beer a lot like the pumpkin one however don’t want to drink a lot of these but one now and the end would be good.
Dec 24, 2023Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia
3.81/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle with a best by date of 10/16/2024 into a shaker pint glass.
L - Pours a reddish amber color with 1 finger of white head that dissipates slowly.
S - Smell of spices.
T - Tastes of spices and malt with a light orange peel on the finish.
F - Medium body with carbonation on the lighter side.
O - Tasty holiday ale.
Dec 20, 2023L - Pours a reddish amber color with 1 finger of white head that dissipates slowly.
S - Smell of spices.
T - Tastes of spices and malt with a light orange peel on the finish.
F - Medium body with carbonation on the lighter side.
O - Tasty holiday ale.
Reviewed by GIJoeAircraftCarrier from Arizona
4.19/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Overall, a solid, and surprisingly easy drinking Christmas beer. Spicy, but not (at all) sweet or too bitter. Contrary to the label, I don't think it's bold, but definitely festive and delivering the holiday cheer.
Dec 16, 2023Reviewed by spectru from Florida
3.57/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.57/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
It's a not bad beer. Hmm, after the first sip, I drank it without really tasting or feeling it, other than a half decent beer. So I raised the glass to take a soothing sip and it's then all gone. No, I mean the beer was just okay. Okay?
Dec 07, 2023Reviewed by Cathartes from Massachusetts
3.88/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
3.88/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
Allowed to acclimate to room temperature for 10 minutes, poured properly into a tall tulip glass
Pours a hazy copper with a 4 + finger head
Smells of malt, ginger, and clove
Tastes upfront of ginger and clove. a very slight hint of licorice peeking through perhaps.A spicy bitterness reminiscent of hops(?), malt, and orange peel envelopes the tongue following, and a warmth spreads through the chest, soon dissipating.
The bitterness increases as the
The burn of alcohol is partly hidden behind the inviting and cozy warmth of spice, but, concentration lead me to feel it on the end of my tongue.
I didn't really pick up on any of the ingredients besides ginger and clove if I'm honest, I'm sure I tasted them and didn't realize they were there.
I found myself wishing it was thicker, but not too bad
I bought this as a single in March, depending on price I would definitely buy a pack again every winter
Apr 08, 2023Pours a hazy copper with a 4 + finger head
Smells of malt, ginger, and clove
Tastes upfront of ginger and clove. a very slight hint of licorice peeking through perhaps.A spicy bitterness reminiscent of hops(?), malt, and orange peel envelopes the tongue following, and a warmth spreads through the chest, soon dissipating.
The bitterness increases as the
The burn of alcohol is partly hidden behind the inviting and cozy warmth of spice, but, concentration lead me to feel it on the end of my tongue.
I didn't really pick up on any of the ingredients besides ginger and clove if I'm honest, I'm sure I tasted them and didn't realize they were there.
I found myself wishing it was thicker, but not too bad
I bought this as a single in March, depending on price I would definitely buy a pack again every winter
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania
3.78/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
In fairness, this must be judged for what it is. Come on, figs as an ingredient? No Heady Topper here. The pour of two twelve ounce brown bottles into a clear glass liter mug starts with disappointment. There's way too much starchy off-white foam to lead to any great expectations. Big foam usually leads to big letdown. Beneath the massive foam lies a rather attractive liquid. It's bright, rather translucent, yet fully dark caramel colored brown. The aroma is spices, all spices. Ginger, clove and cinnamon lead the way, but there's more. The nose forewarned this will be a spice bomb. It is to taste, but it's not outrageous. The citrus of the orange peel certainly cuts through the other flavors. But, they're all there, albeit a little more tastefully than the nose foretold. There's almost no beer taste here and none should have been expected. The body is only OK, maybe a little thin for all the flavors it has to carry. The ABV is hidden by the spices, but that's not meritorious. You really like to have plenty of spices added into your beer to like this one. An argument that simpler is better probably can't be better made. Again, this is an accessment for what it is, rather than comparing it to all beers, where it wouldn't rate as highly.
Feb 02, 2023
2XMAS from Southern Tier Brewing Company
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
1668 ratings
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