Southampton Grand Cru

Brewed by Southampton Publick House
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Southampton, New York USA

Holy crap, this is a great beer. It is bar none the best American-made Belgian that I’ve ever had, and actually probably the best Belgian (although I can imagine some Trappists getting even better with age on them). The beer is a glowing golden liquid with an excellent creamy head. The nose and flavor are both very complex. It’s a sweet Belgian flavor that works incredibly well. There is a balancing spice of coriander and light pepper. The sweetness is a blend of earthy Belgian tones, candied malt and hops that taste like wildflowers. Hats off to Southampton for this one. The feel is creamy and luscious. Despite being aware of the hype, I was happily surprised at just how much I enjoyed this beer. I split a bottle with good friends, and I wish that I had another to do it again. Ship to California, Southampton. Please.

Pours amber into the glass with a white head. Aroma is a bloody mary minus the tomato juice. Lots of celery and pepper notes. Flavor continues to remind me of a bloody mary, even tricking my palate into detecting tomato. Really interesting beer.

BCTC. Many thanks to RB crowd for their incredible generosity. Orange with head. Honey biscuit yeasty spicy coriander aroma. Toasty honey biscuit sweet fruit with mild toasty bitter warm finish. Soft nice mouthfeel. Very good.

750 mL bottle. Amber brown pour with a thin off white head that quickly dissapates. Aroma of caramel and coriander. Sweet taste, thick and syrupy, with orange, caramel and yeast present. Alcohol finish.

[Bottle] Pours a hazy, glowing gold with a medium beige head. Aroma is thick with pulpy orange, more hops than I was expecting, spices, and maybe a hint of anise. There’s also a touch of alcohol in there too. Flavor is strikingly sweet, lots of orange and other citrus from the hops and orange peel. Pleasantly subdued overall, but I would have preferred it a little more dry.

Hazy orange with a small white head. Malty with fruity notes. Orange, spices and oranges. Full body with a balanced finish.

Brun orangée très trouble et légèrement pétillante avec une mousse plutôt éphémère. Très bons arômes d’orange, d’alcool et de caramel. Chaque gorgée est différente et apporte différente saveurs. De l’orange, du caramel, de l’alcool, un peu de malt caramélisé, un peu d’houlbon, tout y est. Elle peut, par contre, finir par tomber sur le coeur à cause de sa richesse et de son sucre. Très plaisante à boire.

Pouring at the SH booth at BCTC. Pours a hazy tawny amber with a medium beige head. Floral, candy, spice, and musk. Flavors are lemony and spicy. Finishes a touch hot with some plum and prune candy notes.