If by now you have not heard of Southern Tier and you consider yourself a beer drinker, then you should likely be removed from the gene pool.  Since my wife won’t be home until late this evening, I thought I would mourn by drinking a delicious ale and listening to hardcore records.  Right now I’m listening to the record “Numbered” by Decades.  I saw them a few months ago at the metal frat in Ann Arbor and they were stellar.  Certainly a long way from home too (they’re from Texas.)  But more about the beer, because I would bet nobody really cares about hardcore bands.

So, southern tier Unearthly IPA…  How does one describe this?  More or less the (un)earthly embodiment of sainthood.  Generally speaking, I tend to drone on and on about how more bitter is better, and yes, that usually is the case.  However, unearthly really kicks it up on the malt sweetness and it is really, really good.  I may actually turn over a new (hop)leaf.  The flavors are somewhat similar to that of devil dancer, although the hops may be played up a tad, and the malt down a bit.  Or maybe it’s the opposite.  It doesn’t really matter either way.  What matters is you cough up the 8 dollars for this and consume it lovingly.  But on to a real description…

Head: white and sticky, but fades quickly.

Color:  white and sticky, but fades quickly???… no.  Gorgeous copper, very clear.

aroma:  hops, with a hint of malt sweetness.

Taste:  very sweet at first, but the hops pull through in the end.  Extremely well balanced.  While very bitter, the malt really evens it out.  I love it.

9/10.

-brian