Southern Tier Grand Arbor

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by Houser, Jan 18, 2014.

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  1. Houser

    Houser Pooh-Bah (1,736) Sep 10, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Grand Arbor is hazy pale straw in color with a thick rocky white head and persistent lacing. Aromatically earthy with distinct fruity esters and low to moderate noble hop character. Balanced fruity character blends into crisp biscuit notes with a dry tart finish. Interestingly, although we add maple syrup it adds an earthy/woody character rather than an overt sweetness.

    Discerning eyes will notice the labeling on Grand Arbor is a bit of a departure from our normal designs. Our in-house art director teamed up with Nate Duval for this first in a series of labels.

    Because both the 750ml bottle and the draught barrels are conditioned, some haziness is to be expected. When pouring the bottle, be aware that some sediment may be present. Pour carefully to avoid this, or don’t. The choice is yours.

    AVAILABILITY: Mid-winter 2014 release in 750ml bottles. Bottle conditioned.

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    #1 Houser, Jan 18, 2014
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  2. DrDemento456

    DrDemento456 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,439) May 15, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Sweet that sounds pretty good. Hopefully it has good maple notes and not just the drying flavor.

    Love to try everything these guys put out at least once. But mid winter? Damn that's a long time away.
     
    #2 DrDemento456, Jan 18, 2014
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  3. Houser

    Houser Pooh-Bah (1,736) Sep 10, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    i mistyped. its just out, so midwinter 2013.
     
    #3 Houser, Jan 18, 2014
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  4. A_Frayed_Knot

    A_Frayed_Knot Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2013 Virginia

    Just seeing the words "Southern Tier" my mouth started watering. Thanks for the news!
     
    #4 A_Frayed_Knot, Jan 18, 2014
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  5. Kerrie

    Kerrie Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2012 Michigan

    2 of my main stores have this already, but I won't have a chance to pick one up until the weekend. I'm a Southern Tier fangirl, though, and I love saisons, so I'm looking forward to trying it!
     
    #5 Kerrie, Jan 18, 2014
  6. BB1313

    BB1313 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,290) Jul 16, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This has already popped up around Cleveland.. $8.99/750ml
     
    #6 BB1313, Jan 18, 2014
  7. PsilohsaiBiN

    PsilohsaiBiN Maven (1,473) Aug 10, 2010 New York

    Southern Tier is the pride of New York...Barrier is catching up, though. Nice!
     
    #7 PsilohsaiBiN, Jan 18, 2014
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  8. Spaten454

    Spaten454 Pooh-Bah (1,636) Aug 23, 2012 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Best description of a beer I've read yet.
     
    #8 Spaten454, Jan 18, 2014
  9. ivorycannon

    ivorycannon Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2013 Indiana

    Love me some ST and this beer sounds pretty tasty.
     
    #9 ivorycannon, Jan 18, 2014
  10. hellhammermario

    hellhammermario Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2012 North Carolina

    Sounds interesting. Also, I could get used to this direction in their labeling.
     
    #10 hellhammermario, Jan 18, 2014
  11. PlayaPlaya

    PlayaPlaya Zealot (631) Sep 19, 2012 Illinois

    Sounds good enough to try.

    The label is Sierra Nevada-esque; I like it!
     
    #11 PlayaPlaya, Jan 18, 2014
  12. fmccormi

    fmccormi Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2010 California

    Not knocking Southern Tier one bit, but I'd argue that Ommegang is the pride of New York. Upstate, certainly.

    Either way, this Grand Arbor could be an outstanding beer, and I'm looking forward to trying it.
     
    #12 fmccormi, Jan 18, 2014
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  13. mikeburd1128

    mikeburd1128 Maven (1,409) Oct 28, 2011 New Jersey

    I've never been all that crazy about Southern Tier, but a saison, especially, is not exactly a style that I'm excited to see them taking on. Seems to me like the better stuff I've had by them has been bigger stuff - DIPA, Barleywine, Imperial Stout. But we'll see.
     
    #13 mikeburd1128, Jan 18, 2014
  14. fmccormi

    fmccormi Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2010 California

    That's actually why I'm kind of excited to see how this is. These days most of us wouldn't expect Southern Tier to pull off a dry, to-style saison. It's like the polar opposite of Crème Brûlée, and they're smart so I'm sure they can see it that way, too. I feel like they wouldn't take it on if they didn't think they'd do it justice, so there's a real possibility that this will be a real bang-up saison.
     
    #14 fmccormi, Jan 18, 2014
  15. mikeburd1128

    mikeburd1128 Maven (1,409) Oct 28, 2011 New Jersey

    Well let's just say that I hope you're right. In my experience, they seem to be pretty heavy handed in the flavor department. I haven't had too much, but what I have had (2Xmas, Choklat, Compass, Pumking) has been all or nothing with a lot of very intense flavors. I think I'm having a hard time expressing what I mean. It's not to say I didn't enjoy these beers - I liked Choklat and Compass - really hated the other two. I just think those heavy flavors work well in some beers and not so well in others. I just hope they know when to dial it back when they need it - and a saison is definitely a time when they need to. The maple syrup makes me nervous too.
     
    #15 mikeburd1128, Jan 18, 2014
  16. TheBrewo

    TheBrewo Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2010 New York

    Picked it up yesterday, will rate it tonight. I hardly recognized it with an actual label on there...
     
    #16 TheBrewo, Jan 18, 2014
  17. cestlavie

    cestlavie Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2011 New York

    I agree with the Barrier part, but ST the pride of NY??? Really? Gotta disagree there, quite strongly. Better selling brands like Ommegang, Brooklyn, Captain Lawrence and Blue Point would disagree. And if it's about who makes the best beer in the state (not necessarily the best selling), it's breweries like Barrier, Peekskill, Crossroads and (soon to be) Rushing Duck.
     
    #17 cestlavie, Jan 18, 2014
  18. Houser

    Houser Pooh-Bah (1,736) Sep 10, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    been waiting on this review.
     
    #18 Houser, Jan 20, 2014
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  19. DrStiffington

    DrStiffington Grand Pooh-Bah (3,740) Oct 27, 2010 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Had it last night. I thought it was very tasty. 750 mL, also, unlike their usual bomber size. Label different from the other big ST beers.
     
    #19 DrStiffington, Jan 20, 2014
  20. Bigirishdrinker

    Bigirishdrinker Devotee (377) Dec 9, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Meh...3.25

    Good for saison but not special. Maple syrup non existant.
     
    #20 Bigirishdrinker, Jan 20, 2014
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