Ungstrup (52110) reviewed Saison from Southampton Publick House 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
An unclear golden beer with a huge lazing white head. The aroma is very hoppy with notes of sweet malt. The flavor is of coriander and hops and with a dry end. This is an OK beer, leaning towards average. I’m suprised to see the very high overall rating. Thank to Jeppe (Bierkönig) for sharing this bottle.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
[draught] Looks strikingly like the French Christmas - sticky, lasting lacing - earthy aroma of hay, some light fruits - this is quite hoppy for a biere de garde, perhaps too much so - I would argue with Jokes about them balancing the beer - the creamy, malty flavors of honey, caramel and some barnyardy graininess are quite present, but there is something about the hops (perhaps the style they used) that don't seem to go well with the other flavors for me - I love SH, and this is still quite a good beer, but this is shy of a hit for me. [re-rate] had again from a growler and was a bit more impressed - hops seemed to dominate a bit less and the dry, somewhat fruity finish was quite enjoyable.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8
This beer is really unique and hard to pin down - deep amber in color, with a moderate white lacing - sweet and malty aroma, with hints of fruit and pastries - tingling carbonation greats the tongue - flavor profile is much like and IPA or an ESB at first, moderately hoppy, with a slight malt presence underneath - this malt presence then swells on the tongue, the hops disappear, and an extremely chewy, sweet, sticky malt explosion says hello, with healthy doses of raisins, figs, cherries and even a touch of strawberry - a touch of cookie dough - hops return in the finish in perfect harmony with the other flavors - my lips feel sticky - unique, delicious and hard to categorize.
notalush (7339) reviewed Old Ale from Southampton Publick House 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Dark amber with excellent lacing - musty, cellared aroma, with toffee, grapes and caramel - initial flavors introduce tartness, damp leaves (sounds odd, but that's the only way I can describe it) and earthiness - these gradually fade to reveal many layers of subtle complexity - sweetbread and various other pastries - toffee and chocolate - bananas foster - plums and brown sugar - finishes with the earthiness it starts with - this is a refined ale with a unique style that grows on you.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5
Cloudy orange. Full creamy head. Orangey caramel malt aroma, coriander hanging around the sides, but not an actual ingredient? Grapes present but not in a vinous fashion in the nose, but definitely vinous flavor. Surprisingly light palate.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
A respectable porter - opaque with thin white lacing - coffee-ish aroma - coffee in the flavor as well, some chocolate, a hint of spice and a touch of hops - finish is a little thin - not southampton's best, but quite good.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
2002 bottle. Has a pale gold color, with some hazy orange tinges, had a huge foamy white head, plenty of lacing. Aroma of mild hay, some sharper leather/sweet fruit notes. An older, stronger peach/alcohol aroma is apparent as well. Begins with a good amount of malt, quite wet on the palate but flavor dries out towards finish with some mild astringency. Very dry biscuity nuances, and a whole lot of carbonation add a peppery element, that, when mixed with the drier, moderately bitter hops, reminds me slightly of a rusty, earthy flavor. Body is a solid medium, a little bit of thinning as it warms.
2004 bottle My second sampling of 2 different vintages of a Southampton bottle (the other being the Grand Cru). And it makes for a good experience. Appearance is a five for me off the bat. Tons of white foamy head and lacing, rich copper-amber color. In fact, that’s what I recall the 2002 being like, not sure why I only gave it a 4 then. Aroma is full of dough, biscuits and more yeast than I recall. Hops are apparent in the nose and the flavor, giving a good balance but an odd feel for a biere de garde, overall. Peppermint, green hops, sweet cherries and wheat bread. Gets dry and biscuity with a strange musty yeast, on the end. Medium to medium-full body, no alcohol apparency. I’ll up the appearance a point, I’m satisfied with the rest.
2005 bottle Fortunately, I didnt find this to have had an off-year, as so many from this brewery had in 2005. Same great appearance, spectacular lacing, retention, etc...Muted fruits in the nose, with light caramel, dry yeast and almond/vanilla notes. That trademark cellar flavor that I find this one employs so well to authenticate this style. Apples, cherry blossoms, vanilla, and a very strong balance, with engaging carbonation. Definitely a bit too sweet yet, however, and I’m sure in a couple years, the yeast will have had time to really elaborate on things in the flavor. Dry, almond paste and honey-covered red apples in the finish, with a light acidity. Some alcohol apparent.
2006 bottle Now contracted out of Sly Fox, but to me, it seems every bit as good. Great appearance, Sly Fox knows how to bottle. Sweet honey, nuts and lightly tart yeast in the nose, very sticky, with lots of fluffiness from the yeast and a bit of alcohol perfuminess. Sweet, very malty flavor seems a little bit more pale (not as heavily caramel and bready as I recall) but every bit as rich and chewy. The bottle was very fresh and still needs time to condition. Another great vintage, this beer seems immune from the downward slide SHPH has been on lately.
jgb9348 (11828) reviewed Old Herb from Southampton Publick House 22 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6.5
2002 Bottle #461 of 500:
Very dark brown colour with ruby highlights. Thin large-bubbled tan head. Super-sweet aroma of caramel, pit fruits, caster sugar and slightly chocolate. Other aroma of hops, figs, and green grapes. Full-bodied; Astringent opening followed by a mellow maltiness mixed with the afformentioned fruits. Sort of shallow for a barley wine, but initally comlex. Aftertaste dwindles and only shows some minute sweetness and an alcoholic warming. Dryed palate and left warm and bittered. Overall, this beer is pretty good, but could use a little work. This bottle easily has a year on it, and it most likely wont improve much with more time. A good attempt, but not worthy of its brothers-Grand Cru, Biere De Garde, etc. I bought this twelve ounce bottle at Beers of the World in Rochester, New York and sampled it as #713 in the year.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
This is a beautiful beer - perfectly clear golden, with a hint of red - some of the most impressive lace work I've seen in a while - very yeasty aroma, some cellared qualities, orange peel - creamy, yeasty flavor, almost doughy - lemon rind, medium malt presense - hops make an appearance in the finish, touch of dryness - Southampton makes much better, but this is still a very good beer.
notalush (7339) reviewed Abbot 12 from Southampton Publick House 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
[re-rate - original 4.6 - the 2006 bottled version of this beer lacks the subtle complexities of the 2003 that was my original rating - still a great beer, but not as outstanding - perhaps with some age] Dark crimson, the color of blood, which is appropriate, because Southampton has to have made a pact with some dark forces to consistently make such outstanding beer - sugary sweet aroma, with yeast present, a mustiness, mild fruits and caramel - flavor is very sweet up front, with chocolate and plums being the most evident flavors at first, then some subtle citrus, caramel from the aroma coming in, creaminess, slight roasted flavor toward the end - sticky, malty, sweet finish - I can’t detect the alcohol in this at all - it is indeed sad for the entire world that the brewmaster of the Publick House "doesn’t want to get any bigger."