Southampton Biere de Garde (French Country Christmas Ale)

Brewed by Southampton Publick House
Style: Bière de Garde
Southampton, New York USA

Thanks to jjpm74 for the bottle. Hazy medium brownish-amber pour with a thick, but still almost fluffy light tan head. A good looking beer. Malty nose, as well as some interesting smelling hops. Taste is uniquely malty--butter, butterscotch, toffee, caramel, dough, some candied fruit, slight nuttiness. A little bit cloying overall, but a good beer. Very different from, say, a Castelain blonde biere de garde.

Bottle generously shared by fly. Thanks Alan!
Pours a rich amber with a light white head. Smell is bright, fruity and sweet breadiness. Taste is sweet, aged, fruity and very bready again, without much spice coming through for me. Still pretty tasty.

bottle. deep copper pour with large froth and bubbled head. sweet aroma. dried figs, plum , yeast, carmel, sugar, funk aroma. mellow, medium body. sweet and light nuts. nicely hopped with dry bitterness. carbonation a bit intense. as it warms the carbonation decreases and the fig and raison become more prominant. Not as impressed with this one as I have been their others.

Dark red-orange with a nice light tan head. Sweet and fruity aroma with apples and pears. Lots of bready yeast, almost like dough. A bit of funk to the aroma as well, like musty barn. Sweet, fruity flavor with a touch of honey. Citrus malt finish with a bit of nutty yeast. Alcohol aftertaste that lingers a bit too long. Overall a tasty beer.

Poured a golden color with a big head that fizzled away slowly. Spicy and citrusy aromas. Palate was much more full bodied than I was anticipating. Flavor of yeast, bread, wheat, spice. Seemingly complex but all pretty expected for a beer like this. Pretty enjoyable. Smuggled this one back from VA.

750 ML Bottle-Poured a cloudy amber/ golden color w/a moderate white head & good carbonation. Smooth, easy drinking brew w/flavors of toffee, roasted malt, caramel, bread dough & cinnimon/ginger. Beer really perked up as it warmed; very enjoyable. Sessionable brew w/a short, dry finish, alcohol was well hidden.

750ml. Thoroughly enjoyable. Enticing appearance with cloudy golden body and big, lasting and foamy off-white head. The aroma is heavily malty (caramel and cookie) and lightly hoppy with notes of flowers. Hints of apple and pear with some ginger spiciness. The flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic and moderately tart. Tastes of apple, pear. There is a nice mustiness in the finish, as well as a slight alcohol burn. Medium body and a velvet texture.Lively carbonation. If there is anything that brings this beer down, it’s that the alochol is a little too forward in the finish.

750ml bottle: This is one of the better looking beers that I’ve come across lately. Pours a brilliant amber with a huge foamy top. The head is thick and creamy, creating a network of lace on the way down. The yeast lends a nice mix of apple and pear to the nose, which is anchored by a doughy malt base that is reminiscent of sugary toffee and gingerbread. The light spices are amplified on the tongue - a spicy blend of cinnamon, orange peel and golden raisins. This is good one to sip next to a fire over the holidays or enjoy on the back porch during a warm, windy day like today. Well done indeed.