Southampton Biere de Garde (French Country Christmas Ale)

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

The aroma was earthy with a nice Belgian yeast spice presence. Estery fruit with a cellar/farmhouse character in tow. Caramel malt and a bit of pepper lurked behind the fruit and earth. The beer poured into the chalice clear deep amber with a beige frothy tall head which lasted nearly forever to lace the glass. The flavor was malty, strong with caramel, toffee and a bit of biscuit and toast. The spice in the flavor seemed to emerge from hops and yeast rather than from any spice additions. The flavors were interesting and complex and worked well in concert to present a very nice balance. The finish was dry with lasting caramel and toffee long into the aftertaste. The body was medium with a fairly high level of carbonation and a creamy texture on the palate. Alcohol warming was strong after consumption and a bit of alcohol was present in the flavor. A nice BdG with strong malt throughout. 750 ml bottle, corked and bailed. $8.50.

From a 750mL Bottle. Somewhat hazy, golden amber colored pour. A huge head of off-white foam sits on top, building from a steady stream up the middle until a dome volcano-like pillow is left frothing in the glass. A sweet nose of apricot fruits and butter toffee malt waft out of the glass immediately. A moderate yeast dustiness and honey coated oranges add complexity. Almost seems a bit too buttery, but this impression fades the more I smell the beer. Medium bodied, mildly carbonated mouthfeel. Flaked biscuit and cookie dough flavors start out the palate, sweetened by a touch of caramel. A hint of alcohol warmth comes through in the finish, along with some herbal hops and spicy herbs. Some leathery malt flavors add some welcomed complexity, breaking up the sweet cookie malts along with the herbal bitterness.

Thanks to andrew for this pour! Cheers! Pours clear orange with a white head. Aroma of sweet malts, sugar, and sweet lemon. Sweet flavors, lightly sour, musty, earthy and lemony. Tasty beer.

750ml bottle. slyfox bottling. thanks to dickinsonbeer for this one. pours reddish-orange with big rocky white head. nose is really fruity with pear, peach, apple notes, along with some musty yeasty notes. flavor is fruity apples, pear, some toffee, musty, and yeasty. live carbonation. sorta watery. tasty stuff.

Bottle: Poured a deep orangey color ale with a big nice foamy head with some good retention but minimal lacing. Aroma of spices which may come from the yeast strain that was used with some noticeable malt leaning toward more dry flavour then sweetness. Taste is also dominated by some peppery notes with a nice malt presence with some subtle sweet notes. Body is quite full with some great carbonation. Interesting and very good overall but it just seems that something is missing.

Beautiful orange/amber in colour, very bright looking, lively white head, good retention, good lacing. The aroma is of citrus upfront, earthy notes, grassy, very fresh, yeasty, very minor sour undertones. The flavour is of sourdough bread, some orange, light caramel, some spice, noticable yeast, some sourness. Lightly bitter mouthfeel, medium body, medium carbonation. Finishes long, mildly sweet, some citrus. Still excellent after 3 years in the bottle, extraordinary balance, very good.

750ml bottle from <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/new-york target=blank>Beers Of The World in Rochester, New York.
Purchased in August 2004 and opened on August 3, 2007.
Vintage 2004.

(750ml bottle) Pours a burnt orange body with a thick frothy long-lasting off-white head. Aroma of mustiness, citrus, wild raspberries, burnt caramel, open meadow, and a hint of cocoa as it warms to room temperature. Flavor of spicy yeast, toasted malt, caramel, herbs, and earthiness.

Bottle received via trade with john_adam. Pours sparkling and hazy amber with a large, rocky, off-white head, lasting, excellent lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (hay, straw, meal), average hops (herbs, grass), average yeast (horse blanket, earth) with notes of dates, honey and paper. Light bodied, mineral texture, lively carbonation and a metallic finish. Average duration, light sweetness, acidity and bitterness.