Nondescript autumnal Bavarian lager remains dry as cardboard-y grains overtake bland yellow fruited malts and idle hops.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
SOUTHAMPTON MAY BOCK TRADITIONAL LAGER
Betwixt ruddy golden springtime lager lacks seasonal fortitude but retains dry-honeyed cereal grain theme and biscuit-y wheat backbone. Sedate orange-apple-pear center and corn syrup-y vanilla malting find grassy herbal niche.
SOUTHAMPTON INDIA PALE ALE
Zestily mild lemony hop bittering caresses frisky orange-peeled peach and grapefruit tang before floral zap augments resilient dry honeyed finish. More refreshingly resilient than most in its fine class.
SOUTHAMPTON IMPERIAL PORTER
Nutty medium-bodied ruby-browned Baltic-styled porter with bittersweet black chocolate upsurge, chewy caramel nougat center, and roasted hop-charred hazelnut-cashew-cola-walnut clip informing creamy maltose saunter. Illusions of stove-burnt coffee, bitter espresso, and anise register above dried prune-fig souring ’til cocoa-chalked lactose finish thaws to polite bourbon whir.
SOUTHAMPTON GRAND CRU STRONG ALE
Resilient Belgian-derived pale ale furnishes sharp white-peppered clove-coriander spicing with ripe orange-peach-honeydew-pineapple medley and redolent floral bouquet. Speckled yeast sinew dots viscous yellow-orange body, offering cotton-candied butterscotch, sugared yam and toffee illusions to take hold. At engaging finish, corky oak-dried cherry tartness counters sweet caramel malting.
SOUTHAMPTON ESPRESSO STOUT
Purchased in growler, absolutely superb full-bodied mahogany-hued stout brings robust espresso thrust to thickening chicory, chipotle, and roasted coffee bean illusions. Wet firewood ashes flank parched Brazilian nut-walnut recession, ceding to clean milked coffee finish. A must have for heartier thirsts.
SOUTHAMPTON DOUBLE WHITE ALE
Fabulous straw-hazed meringue-headed witbier embeds soured grapefruit, lemon rind and orange peel tang with lively white-peppered coriander-clove pep to candied malt finish. Oncoming apricot-grape-quince tartness and floral hop scamper noted on third passing. Well balanced, thickly viscous, crisply watered summertime perfection. On tap at brewpub, serene hazy golden moderation spreads fruity phenol waft across candi-sugared banana taffy sweetness battling back dry fizz-hopped lemony orange souring and slight clove-spiced herbal minting. Biscuit-y wheat bottom secures soft effervescence
SOUTHAMPTON CUVEE DES FLEURS
Dazzling butterscotch-hazed, dry-bodied, Saison-styled ale with ‘edible flowers’ increasing champagne-fizzed honeyed yeast affirmation and vanilla wafer-clad backdrop. Floral lavender-jasmine-rosebud-tulip stead augments ample clove-chamomile-peppermint seasoning rewarding ripe pineapple-apricot-mango-marmalade medley as grass-hay-horsehide waft simmers appreciable vinegar souring. Perfectly balanced flavor exchange allows endless fruity illusions (white peach, tangerine, citron, banana) to arise. Compares favorably to similarly ‘flowered’ gruit beers.
SOUTHAMPTON CHRISTMAS ALE
Blase’ medium-bodied mahogany-hued French-styled Biere de Garde lacks fruity luster and seasonal spicing. Modest mocha malting lulls cinnamon-nutmeg spicing, sullen dried fig interlude, and nominal earthen tepidity. Dispirited Christmas celebrator leaves me cold.
SOUTHAMPTON ABBEY SINGLE ALE
Yellow-fruited nature dominates effervescent citric hop zest and spicy coriander thicket, maintaining unripe peach-apricot-grapefruit souring to lemon-fresh finish.
SOL PILSNER
Clear-toned tequila-wafted Mexican bantamweight maintains stereotypical crisp watery consistency and soft citric tang. Mild toasted hops scamper through soft barley-rice malting. Somewhat lighter yet more enjoyable than many South of the Border beers, despite vegetal mire. Serve with lime to awaken flavor profile.
SNOWSHOE THOMPSON PALE ALE
Pour slowly to control explosive carbonation of butterscotch-hazed rocky-headed medium body. Liberal peach-apricot-nectar tang glides above creamy malt base. Floral citric aroma creates beautiful effervescent bouquet to ongoing fruited malt succulence and banana bread easement.