Gearys Hampshire Special Ale

Brewed by D.L. Gearys Brewing Co.
Style: English Strong Ale
Portland, Maine USA

This is a rich, delicious, warming old ale, brewed with imported English malts (pale, crystal, and chocolate), imported East Kent Golding hops, and American Cascade, and Mt Hood hops. Rich, delicious, and comforting malt flavors and aromas marry with assertive hop character and alcohol warmth. It makes for a very special beer, and one that has become legendary in New England brewing circles. Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale pours to a beautiful, bright, garnet color, with a slight tan head, and a soft carbonation. The nose is just packed with aromas of sweet and toasty malt, earthy yeastiness, and piney hop character. The palate is lush with big flavors of sweet malt, toast, toffee, and earthy mushroom flavor from the Ringwood yeast used in the brewing of this beer. Hampshire Special Ale finishes with toasty malt character up front, then softly slides into a slightly warming alcohol burn(7% abv) This beer as an old ale is perfect. It is a very comforting brew that one can relax with on a cool New England afternoon, or the coldest of New England nights. It would work well with a number of hearty dishes, but I believe this beer is best when it is sipped and savored. If you can find this beer in your market, seek it out, it is outstanding. I’m so happy that it can be found in mine, and it remains one of my all time favorite beers. It is heartening to know this beer is available year round now, but for me, this will always be a special Winter brew.

2000 bottle, labelled ’millenium’ - shared courtesy of kp. Medium brown and clear pour. Aged caramel malty aroma, with a touch of something vanilla-ish. Or perhaps I had some Stoney Creek Vanilla Porter still in my glass. Aged malty flavors, some hops, and nice finish.

Every impression of this beer from first to last was positive. Every aspect from the label to the finish suggests a perfect drink for a midwinter’s sunset in the New England countryside. A beautiful nose of subtley applied cascade and mount hood allows room for the british golding hops to exhale its distinct mix of citrus into the smokey blend of malts. There are notes of tobacco, chocolate cake, and brandy in the mouth completed by a most smooth finish of light vanilla and oak. An extremely well executed ale.

Nice caramel nose, like a smooth English bitter. Thin mouthfeel and strong alcohol do not make for a very smooth presentation. Taste begins malty, redolent of the nose, and quickly drops into the bitter finish.

I got a brown rust color to it, maybe more like a clear bourbon color with a cooked brown sugar aroma. Not burnt brown sugar, but cooked. This reminded much of cognac in the taste, just sweeter.

Dark amber color almost brown. Thin white head. Aroma is malty. Flavor is rich but complex. Flavor is a little off.

Very nice ale. Full hop aroma and aftertaste, yet wonderfully mellowed by the malts and alcohol. Listed as an "HSA" on the blackboard at moan and dove and I hadn’t had it before and almost thought it could be a very nicely balanced IPA. Unique and nicely done ale!

pours light brown/copper color. aroma is nice spicey floral hoppy smell. taste is nice and hoppy and slightly sweet, quite bitter on the aftertaste, but still good. nice beer for the cold months up here in maine.