Southampton Publick House Old Herb

Old Herb

 

Southampton Publick House in Southampton, New York, United States 🇺🇸

  Barley Wine - Barley Winter Out of Production
Score
7.23
ABV: 11.0% IBU: - Ticks: 26
The Southampton Publick House now occupies the space that was once Herb McCarthy’s Bowden Square Restaurant. Herb McCarthy’s was the place to be in the Hamptons for more than two generations. Those who remember him still speak fondly of "old Herb", who held court at Bowden Square from 1936-1986. He was rarely seen without his Chef’s coat and trademark kerchief.
 

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7.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Big thanks to after4ever for bringing this along. This 2006 vintage poured orange to copper with light haze and off white ring of foam. The aroma is muted blunted pine hops, light dark fruitiness, a bit of fruity mustiness, some yeasty notes and heat near the end of the draw. The taste begins smooth and grows to bold notes starting with pine hops that are muted with age. I get a hint of dark fruitiness peaking out from behind the pine hops. Maybe another year will do it well. Sure did enjoy it with a couple of years on it. Thanks Tom.

Tried on 15 Sep 2008 at 20:48


8.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5

Hazy amber color. Powerful malty aroma, with caramel, wood, light apples and lately some alcohol too. Good body strength, with powerful malty flavor and caramel/toffee, strong bitterness too; well balanced; the alcohol warms the mouth just a bit. The final too is well balanced, with a lot of sticky sugars and enough bitterness. Excellent.

Tried on 13 Jan 2008 at 09:48


6.4
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

2006 bottle consumed in 2007: Poured a cloudy deep hazy brown color ale with no carbonation. Aroma of sweet vinous malt is dominating. Taste is a mix between some very sweet malt with some light toffee notes. No discernable hops or dry fruits characteristics which I usually enjoyed in this style. Body was full with limited filtration with no carbonation and no discernable alcohol. This is a weird one – almost like drinking a 10-15 year old Thomas Hardy without all the complexities.

Tried from Bottle on 03 Dec 2007 at 12:29


8.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle, shared by Papsoe. (#95/500, 2005?) Poured an unclear, flat, copper body, with a minimal, beige head. Rich malty nose, some alcohol, a nice sweetish touch, and some dried fruits. There’s also a piney hoppyness, and a hint of flour. The flavor is on the sweet side, with alcohol, pine and some citrus. There’s some oak-like notes as well. The finish has a little oxidation, as well as a lovely bitterness. Full, warming mouthfeel. A really lovely, mature barley wine. Why they brew so little of it I don’t understand. (071005)

Tried from Bottle on 08 Nov 2007 at 14:27


7.5
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

(Bottle 35,5 cl) Courtesy of Degarth. Bottle #95/500. Hazy, amber golden with a small, rough, off-white head. Fat aroma of overripe fruit and caramel. Very solid body with plenty of caramel, overripe fruit and an almost burning alcohol. Spicy, vanilla-like finish with the alcohol really shining. 051007

Tried from Bottle on 07 Oct 2007 at 09:44


7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

35.5 cL bottle 95 out of 500. Pours deep orange with a lacing white head. Sweet and herbal nose. Sweet and herbal flavour with a distinct liqourice note in a long lasting finish. Quite warming alcohol finish.

Tried from Bottle on 06 Oct 2007 at 15:14


8.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

2006 Draught snifter at SHPH on 4/28/06
I really want to get right in to the flavor of this one first, because it blew me away and is truly remarkable. Tropical fruits collide with maris otter and other pale malts, providing mostly dry, yet somehow lightly sweet notes as well, almost like a demi-sec champagne. The malt is so cleanly delivered, with fascinating notes of pears, guavas and even some citrus-pineapple to match. A smooth, almost vanilla-apricot sorbet note appears, closely followed by sticky, orange blossom honey (which is a very rich variety of honey). It’s sweet, but not sugary, as Joe says. No gritty, simple sugar, or caramelly sweet malts, really, just a really smooth, soothing mix of sweet and dry sherry, with a touch of earthiness, almost wood-like and very English. But the one problem with English barleywines that I’ve always found was their lack of brightness, that is, the flavors always seem earthy, dusty, salty-toffee-like and "old" for lack of a better term. This really goes quite the opposite direction with the tropical fruits, strong green pear skins and pale malt/maris otter complexity (tastes like maris otter, anyway). Fair amount of warming on the end, as it dries out heavily, but the soothing texture never diminishes, as the low carbonation stays mainly out of the way, only making sure that things don’t get syrupy.
The nose has plenty of pear skin, dry floor malt notes and just a hint of light vinousness, more like pinot grigio or riesling. Soft honey and various fruits are surprisingly reserved.
Appears an apricot-brass sort of color, with warm canteloupe flesh-like highlights and a small, poorly retained beige head, minor lacing. Clarity is low to medium-low.

Tried from Can on 05 May 2006 at 16:08


8.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

2006, Tap at the Publick House. Poured into a snifter. Dark, dark copper color with just a bit of head that quickly dissappears. Cant see through the beer. Smell is fresh and malty with that barley wine like sweetness. A prototypical barleywine taste on the lower end of bitterness and a sweetness thats not over the top. Alcohol present but not over the top. A very well balanced barleywine in my opinion.
Rerate from 2006 bottle, poured into a snifter on my most recent visit to the Publick house. The nose was much more hopped than tap - all tropical fruit. It was not at the level of West Coast BWs but definitely not a Britsh BW - I guess an East Coast BW. Taste was even more amazing, more fruit flavors came out. Raising the score on this thing.

Tried from Draft on 15 Apr 2006 at 21:53


7.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Fully hazy, funky red-brown beer; nearly no head. Fruity, rich malts nose, some chocolate. Fruit is as sugar-preserved oranges. Seriously bitter hoppy flavour overlying sweet malts, brandy; bitter chocolate again retronasal, gradually leaning over the whole taste. Liqueur -like. Well bodied, slick, sticky; alcoholburn. Good BW, warming, vinous - and it IS herb.

Tried on 12 Dec 2005 at 15:16


7.2
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

BW tasting at Dumdum’s, Late March 2005. Bought at Beers of the World, oct. 2004. Beautiful red copper robe with cherry hues and an off-white head. Good carbonation. Aroma of sweet malt, cloves and mint, with nice alcohol wafting though. In mouth, sweet candy sugar, vinous , but very harsh hops, astringent. Licorice notes noted. Thin bodied BW, where the alcohol is too noticeable.

Tried from Can on 03 Dec 2005 at 11:05