Beer Review – Southern Tier – Cinnamon Roll Imperial Ale

Southern Tier has made some truly fantastic dessert style beers in the past.  Their latest in the series is Cinnamon Roll Imperial Ale. Let’s take a taste and see if it lives up to their previous beers.

Cinnamon Roll has a thick tan head with medium lacing as you take a long pull of it from your glass.  I don’t recommend a really long chug because the beer has a thick mouth feel that lends itself more to sipping.  The aroma is quite wonderful.  Imagine walking through the airport past a well-known chain of cinnamon bun bakers and the delightful scent of cinnamon and caramel.  The flavor largely follows what the aroma promises, strong cinnamon flavors, caramel, and a bready maltiness.  There is also a hint of vanilla, and what feels like a lot of lactose to add body.

I enjoyed this beer, but if I have one criticism it’s that the cinnamon flavor is overpowering.  It reminds me a great deal of a liquid cinnamon roll, but it’s short of some of Southern Tiers other great beers, such as Chokolat or Cold Press Coffee Pumking.  It’s worth a try but not your undying devotion.