Southern Tier Strawberry Dream 4Pk

Southern Tier Strawberry Dream 4Pk is a milkshake IPA from Southern Tier Brewing Company brewed at 6.5% ABV and sold in a 4-pack of cans. Conditioned and finished with real strawberry and vanilla, this beer layers dessert-like sweetness over a backbone of four hop varieties — Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Azacca — earning a strong 4.0 out of 5 rating on Untappd from over 9,000 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  IBU: 15  |  Origin: Lakewood, New York  |  Style: Milkshake IPA  |  Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Southern Tier Brewing Company was founded in 2002 in Lakewood, New York, in the state's Southern Tier region. The brewery has built a reputation for bold, boundary-pushing styles, and Strawberry Dream fits squarely in that tradition. The grain bill features barley and oats alongside lactose (milk sugar) for body and a silky mouthfeel, while the beer is dry-hopped with Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Azacca before being conditioned and finished with strawberry and vanilla. This fruit-and-vanilla finishing step — rather than simply adding puree at fermentation — gives Strawberry Dream its distinct dessert-forward character while the generous hop bill keeps it tethered to the IPA category.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Strawberry shortcake is the immediate impression, followed by ripe berries, citrus zest, and a subtle vanilla sweetness. The nose reads more like a bakery than a brewery, with the hop presence showing up as a gentle citrus undercurrent.

Taste: The entry is soft and creamy, dominated by fresh strawberries and a yogurt-like tanginess from the lactose. Mid-palate, vanilla cake and strawberry milk flavors emerge, while citrus hops provide a light counterpoint. Bitterness is restrained at 15 IBU, letting fruit and cream carry the majority of the experience.

Finish: A wave of tropical and stone fruit — grapefruit, peach, blueberry, and mango — surfaces from the dry-hop blend, adding complexity. The finish is medium in length, slick and oily in texture, with lingering strawberry cream and mild hop resin.

How to Drink Strawberry Dream

Pour into a tulip glass or wide-mouthed pint at around 40–45°F to let the aromatics open up while maintaining a creamy texture. Strawberry Dream is built for drinking fresh and on its own, but it also works in beer-forward mixed drinks. A Beer-mosa pairs it with a splash of orange juice to amplify the fruit character. A Shandy-style serve with lemonade leans into the citrus hop notes for a refreshing warm-weather drink. A Float made with vanilla ice cream doubles down on the milkshake concept and turns the beer into an indulgent dessert.

Best For

• Summer cookouts where a sessionable, fruit-driven beer outperforms heavier craft styles
• Introducing hop-averse friends to the IPA family through an approachable, dessert-forward gateway
• Pairing nights focused on brunch food, cheese boards, or fruit-based desserts
• Adding variety to a craft beer sampler alongside more traditional IPAs and stouts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Strawberry Dream taste like? Strawberry Dream tastes like strawberry milk and vanilla cake layered over a soft, creamy base, with tropical fruit and citrus from the hops appearing on the finish. Bitterness is very low at 15 IBU, making this one of the sweeter, more dessert-like expressions in the IPA category.

How does Strawberry Dream compare to Tired Hands Milkshake IPA (Strawberry)? Tired Hands is widely credited as one of the originators of the milkshake IPA style and tends toward a thicker, more limited-release approach hopped primarily with Mosaic and Citra. Strawberry Dream uses a broader four-hop blend including Amarillo and Azacca, and is more widely distributed, making it a more accessible entry point into the style.

Is Strawberry Dream good for beginners? Yes — the very low bitterness, prominent fruit sweetness, and creamy body make Strawberry Dream one of the most approachable IPAs available. Drinkers who typically avoid hoppy beers often find the milkshake IPA style enjoyable because the lactose and fruit conditioning soften the hop bite.

Where is Strawberry Dream made? Strawberry Dream is brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood, New York, located in the Southern Tier region of western New York State. The brewery was founded in 2002 and distributes across a wide footprint in the United States.

What foods pair well with Strawberry Dream? Strawberry cheesecake mirrors the beer's dominant fruit and cream profile. Lemon ricotta pancakes complement the citrus hop notes and lactose sweetness. A mild brie or mascarpone echoes the creamy texture without overwhelming the fruit. Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa pick up on the tropical hop finish. Vanilla bean panna cotta pairs naturally with the vanilla conditioning in the beer.

What sizes does Strawberry Dream come in? Southern Tier Strawberry Dream is commonly available in a 4-pack of cans, the standard retail format for this release.

Is Strawberry Dream worth the price? Strawberry Dream positions in the mid-range craft IPA tier, which is reasonable given the specialty ingredients — lactose, four hop varieties, and real strawberry and vanilla conditioning. For fans of the milkshake IPA style, the combination of wide availability and consistent quality represents solid value compared to limited-release alternatives that can be harder to find and more expensive.

Why Strawberry Dream?

The milkshake IPA category is crowded, but Strawberry Dream separates itself through an unusually broad dry-hop bill — Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Azacca — that delivers tropical complexity most single- or double-hopped competitors lack. The conditioning and finishing process with real strawberry and vanilla creates a layered, dessert-like character without relying on artificial flavorings. With over 9,000 Untappd ratings averaging 4.0 out of 5, the beer has proven its consistency across a large consumer base rather than riding hype from a handful of limited pours. For drinkers looking for a reliably available, fruit-forward milkshake IPA from an established New York brewery, Strawberry Dream delivers exactly what the style promises.