First Posted: 12/14/2014
Description– Southern Tier 2XMAS pours a clear ruby red color showing a slight golden hue with a mild beige head that quickly dissipates leaving little lacing behind. The aroma of figs, cinnamon, raisins, gingerbread, and slight hints of clove and orange are the most prevalent. The taste closely follows the nose with cinnamon and ginger spices making an immediate appearance on the palate and is followed by slight hints of caramel and dark fruits, with a mild amount of heat from the alcohol, but not enough to detract from the experience. The finish is semi-dry with the spices lingering long on the palate. The beer is a malt forward beverage with little evidence of hops, mainly due to the heavy spicing involved. The carbonation in 2XMAS is very mild, but enough to rinse the palate after each sip and also impart a very smooth body. This is a true holiday treat and no holiday celebration would be complete this year without this beer on the table.
Food pairing– Southern Tier 2XMAS is a perfect desert beer that goes well with heartier winter dishes. A holiday ham dinner and all the trimmings match perfectly with 2XMAS. The spices will latch onto the sweet natural sugars in the meat while the moderate carbonation will help scrub the palate clean between each bite. This is a beer that goes perfectly with a wide array of meat dishes, but it does goes best with those of the fattier variety. Try pairing 2XMAS with: sausages, pork, pot roast, and pheasant for the best meat and beer pairings. This is also a beer that is fantastic with desserts and is a dream beer for chocoholics. The spices and smooth body is a perfect match with chocolate and cookies. The spices match perfectly against the darkest of chocolates and also enhance the snappiest of gingerbread cookies. Forget the milk, this year leave a glass of 2XMAS for Santa to wash down his cookies!
The Final Word – Southern Tier is not only a brewery that has a stellar list of year round beers that are very much sought after, but the brewery has built up a reputation for great seasonal beers. While many breweries look toward winter warmers and stouts as their winter seasonal, Southern Tier saw a bit further back into history with this great beer. The recipe for 2XMAS is actually based on a traditional Swedish Glögg which is a spiced red wine served traditionally during winter, especially around the holidays as a celebratory drink. This separates the beer from a wide array of other winter offerings and makes a great beer for many wine lovers to enjoy. There are plenty of reasons to celebrate this season and 2XMAS makes for another great aid in those celebrations.
Where can I get it?- Currently available in 12 oz. bottles at: Backyard Alehouse- Scranton; Exit 190 Beer Deli- Dickson City; Cooper’s Seafood- Scranton; Arena Bar and Grill- Wilkes Barre; What’s Brewin 6 Pack Ale Shop- Old Forge; and Joe’s Six Packs to Go- Dunmore.
Remember, enjoy responsibly this holiday season.
