Southampton Grand Cru

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

Pours a sparkling dark orange that leaves a bubbly body foggy and inviting that has a clingy tan head. The nose is candied orange, wheat, grass, lemon peel, honey, tartness, fresh spicy hop aroma that is elegant and delightful. The taste starts malty, candy fruit, citrus rind bitterness that is rounded out by a clean palate cleansing from the carbonation. The finish is bitter and slightly boozy but that alcohal is smooth a little rough but it is quickly offset by the fruit backbone making this is a phenominal ale one of the best I’ve had the pleasure of having.

Bottle. Pours a great clear amber color with great bubbes and a fluffy, fine white head. Aroma is sweet and spicy with lots of marmalade and a hint of yeast. Super spicy flavor with a touch of candy sugar and great bitter finish marked by a little bit of alcohol and yeast. Not as much of the orangey notes carried over into the flavor, but this is still a great tasting beer. Mouthfeel is nice, but a little oily and hugely carbonated. This is a nice beer, but the sweetness of the orange and the spices are a little overpowering, and maybe compete with each other a little too much. Definitely my favorite Southampton to date. Rerate - on tap at Blind Tiger’s VSK event - hazy and cloying. Syrupy and totally unimpressive this time. I’m going to leave my original rating.

Bottle. Pours a hazy orange amber with small white head. Aroma is yeasy spicy and sweet. Taste is very full with orange peel, yeast, and spices. Finishes full and lighty bitter.

25 oz bottle, 2006 RBSG. Pours a clear golden body with a nice fizzy and frothy white head that fell to a thin film. Aroma is fruity and light with some apricot, belgian spices, and light yeast. Flavor is bitingly dry with a citric fruitiness and a light airy finish. Notes of oranges, coriander, and yeast. Mouthfeel is lighter bodied with fizzy efforvescent carbonation. Overall, pretty nice, light, fruity, and I dig the crisp finish. I thought that the alcohol was well hidden as well.

2006 vintage. Shiny golden body with a frothy Belgian-style, dirty white head. Aroma and flavor convey soft floral and bubble gum esters and nicely integrated spice qualities, including lime zest and very mild licorice. A nicely-balanced and well-crafted American-brewed quad.

2006 bottle. Pours a translucent golden orange amber with a medium bubbly off white head. Aroma of orange, apple, some floral, Belgian spices and yeast, perfume, banana and light alcohol. Also picking up a sweet maltiness and coriander. Flavor of yeast, orange, various spices, banana, bubblegum, light alcohol and citrus. Lively carbonation and light bitterness.

Thanks to boh52 for this beer. 2005 vintage. Poured a semi-cloudy copper with a small fizzy white head. Strong aroma of molasses, orange, and apple juice. Flavor is very strong and sweet, with notes of maple syrup, bitter orange, acidic lemon juice, with some apple as well. Finishes very warm and dry, rather brandyish. Body is deceptively thick, just as much so as the flavor is deceptively strong given the unassuming appearance. Very nicely crafted sipping beer.

Very enjoyable strong ale. Drinkable at 10%, but you can definitely taste the alcohol. Worth $13? Not sure, but it’s a nicely different beer -- the flavoring is not overwhelming.