Southern Tier Double Uncommon 2X Steam

Most beer styles in the United States originate from other countries, but the California Common or Steam Beer is truly 100% unique American style. This style is usually brewed with a special strain of lager yeast that works better in warmer temperatures. This method can be traced back to the 1800’s in California when refrigeration was a luxury. The brewers back then had to improvise; to cool the beer down, so shallow fermenters were used. So in a way the lager yeast was trained to ferment quicker at warmer temperatures. Today's examples are light amber to tawny in color, medium bodied with a malty character. This style is mildly fruity with assertive hop bitterness. Well lets see how Southern Tier’s Double Uncommon X2 Steam, 8.0% ABV, stacks up. This Southern Tier pours an orange/deep but darker gold color with almost no head, it was gone before you knew it. There was some carbonation bubble to it and a little light shined through the glass. But when held to the light the beer had a shinny copper color to it. The aroma on X2 Steam is a big fruitiness with a light bitter aroma. The fruity scent is orange, a little like candy. I also found a little yeast like aroma there as well but it was faint at best. The taste on this Southern Tier is at first orange with a hint of sweetness, then comes the slight hoppy bitterness that is just a quick hit on your taste buds. The mouth feel is light almost medium and does clean up well in your mouth on the finish. The after taste is slightly less of a hoppy orange with a hint of bitterness at the end, but not overwhelming or IPA like. This style of beer is not so common, you don’t really see lot breweries make this style, and only a few do. But over all this Southern Tier Double Uncommon X2 Steam gets a C+. This isn’t a bad beer or anything, just not as good as I though it was going to be. Could have been more balanced between the flavors and not as strong on one of them. I did like this and would have this again. I would recommend this to some that likes lagers and to get them more into liking hops.  This is a good beer, and an average beer. I suggest you go out and try this beer for yourself and see how you like it. Cheers¡ Please enjoy responsibly!