Southampton Altbier

Brewed by Southampton Publick House
Style: Altbier
Southampton, New York USA

12 oz bottle

This was a bonus in a recent trade. Thanks to whomever sent it - I can’t remember where it came from. This is not a bad altbier but on the whole I found it kind of bland. On the other hand, if this is one of the weaker offerings then the Pumpkin Ale, Saison and Saison Deluxe should be excellent.

Aroma / Appearance - Cherry, malt, caramel, molasses and berries highlight a sweet nose. It poured into my glass with a one-finger off white head that settled over the deep ruby body.

Flavor / Palate - A fruity first sip was a combination of strawberries, caramel, honeydew melon and spices. A trace amount of hops follow through but they are very faint in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is a little watery but not bad for an altbier. Overall this was pretty drinkable but not enjoyable enough to wish the bottle was empty. Still, you can’t discover what you like and don’t like until you try a little bit of everything.

Beautiful head, resembles Devils Tower as it settles, cool. Clear amber color. Mild malt aroma hints of honey, green maple leaves. Taste is slight caramel with a clean dry finish, mild hop bite. Finish tasted off and a watery.

Bottle Fresh meadow nose, light bready character, light woody notes as well. It does pour large white-tan creamy head, amber brown in color. Neat lacing. Medium bodied, brown malts, gentle hop presence. I like that gentle woody character so typical to alts. Over all made in right direction just a bit on light/thin side.

Slightly reddish brown body with a bunch of lacing left by a mediocre head. Aromas are unispiring... maybe some caramel, mabye some nuts, but nothing really exciting. Flavor is much better than I would have guessed with our phenomenal start. Nice nutty flavoring with some lightly roasted malt presence and a touch of toffee like sweetness. Comes off a bit watery every now and again, but some sips seem much fuller than others... perplexing, to say the least.

Aroma has treacle, malt and spice, clear copper, pours a good sized white creamy head. Taste is a firm candied malt, with spice, woody, nutty flavours too. Light bodied, balanced, bitter and bold. Very vice example. Thanks Radek.

On tap at croxley. Pours a medium to deep amber with a nice off white head and good lace. Aroma is caramel, lightly nutty, some roast, herbal hops and a bit yeasty and doughy. Nice crisp clean flavor though with lots of light caramel some toasted munich malts and a nice clean bitterness in the end. I think this is quite a bit better on tap than in bottle- always tastes fresher at least.

GABF 2006. Keg. The beer pours to a glowing dark golden body with a nice creamy white head. The aroma is raw grains, crisp and clean. Plain flavor with hints of butter and grain. Plain boring palate but nothing offensive.

12 oz bottle: Medium dark amber, lightly hazy, with a lasting off white head. Toasted and grainy malts get the party started, followed by their dates nutty and chocolate, but the chocolate is very faint! Light green apple and herbal hop show up fashionably late! The dance is well balanced between hop and malt partygoers in the flavor with some bitter wallflowers showing up near the end of the dance. They hang around and are the last ones to leave except for the few drunken toasted malt flavors that just never seem to want to go home singing "How Dry I Am". Chocolate malts come back because she forgot her purse, then helps toasty and some of the bitters get home! although it’s a fairly light crowd at the dance with very bubbly personalities floating around, everyone dances very smoothly. Not a bad little dance to attend. I think I might make this a weekly event!!!!