Southampton 10th Anniversary Old Ale

Formerly brewed at Southampton Publick House
Style: Old Ale
Southampton, New York USA

Milwaukee YeHA! 2006

Southampton seems to be really hit or miss. Their beers are either exceptional or average. This one falls somewhere in between - not the greatest old ale but certainly not the worst either. It definitely pales in comparison to the Iron Hill interpretation of the style. Still, it is decent enough that I could drink one and enjoy myself if options were limited.

Aroma / Appearance - Candy sugar, vanilla and cocoa powder form a relatively simple nose. I was expecting a little more but it was passable. The body was a ruby color with a one-finger head that lingered for quite a while.

Flavor / Palate - Butterscotch and vinegary, this was just a little off. Whereas the aroma gave the illusion of being above average, the flavor brings it crashing down to earth. While not offensive, it just seems to be lacking something to give it a little oomph. It needs more presence even though it is just an old ale.

Bottle- Pours a very dark brown color, small off white foamy head. Aroma is sweet and malty. Dark fruit, a bit of spice. Flavor is sweet and dark. Lots of boozy flavors, a bit of rum and brandy.

Sampled at the Falls Tasting: Minimal aroma, good head with staying power. Crisp, clear dark copper clolor. Flavor reminiscent of a Newkie with a slightly unbalanced almost cloying lingering bitterness. Alcohol warmth in the throat.

Light soapy aroma nothing much else. Dark amber in color with a nice thick head. Fairly stale flavor with a piney solvent, brown sugar flavor. Not my favorite. Medium palate, light.

Bottle. Pours a dark amber color. Smells malty, with some hints of fruit and spice. Strong flavors of belgian yeasts, almost reminded me of a Belgian brown ale mixed with a porter. Pretty good.

Bottle. Pours a hazy dark amber colour with an off-white head. Malty and fruity aroma with some hints of dark fruits. Dry malty flavor with lots of dark fruits. Long dry malty finish with a bitter aftertaste.

Gentle, beety, slighty sweet aroma. Candi sugar, dandelions, and gravy. Very restrained. Pours a deep crimson with a huge, dense, firm head, even though there was almost no pop from the cork. Very enticing, flavor-wise, with a touch of sweetness but a dry chocolate, satin-y finish, beets and artichoke, and some "musky cabinet" (god I feel like such an idiot saying that, considering that if I read that in a wine review 2 years ago I would’ve been ripping on the guy for months... but hey, that’s what it tastes like). A bit hot, and way too fizzy in the mouth, especially for the style, this is still a very nice drink. I think flavor-wise this is at a perfect age (about 8 months old, now), but I could stand to see the carbonation mellow a *lot*. This is the kind of beer you want to drink near flat to pick up nuances, not have fizziness get in the way.

750. Thanks, Luiss! Pours deep brown, almost opaque, ruby highlights. Thick (two finger), tannish moussy head. Not quite a solid wall of head, but pretty close. Huge bouquet of dark fruit--raisin, fig, some plum; expecting a big yeasty barrage on top of a malt tsunami from the nose. Medium body, velvety carb, and, lo and behold, a yeasty barrage on top of a malt tsunami for the palate. Definite hints of plum and molasses in the mid-palate and later, kind of a tangy, sugary finish. Good stuff.