Southampton Porter
Opa Opa Brewing Company

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From:
Opa Opa Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 9.92%
Reviews:
23
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 13, 2019
Added:
Dec 06, 2004
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Rated: 3.84 by TonyStarks2231 from New York

Aug 13, 2019
 
Rated: 3.02 by redsoxjim from Massachusetts

Sep 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.24 by LXIXME from New Mexico

May 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Mikeluzzjr from Massachusetts

Jun 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by EatonHops from Massachusetts

Feb 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Nov 15, 2013
Photo of scotorum
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts

3.87/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draft pint at the brewery's steakhouse with dinner.

a: Black, not enough light in the room to tell if it was clear. No head by the time it reached our table.

t: Dark malt sweetness balanced by significant hop bitterness. Consistent to the end. Prominent smoky aftertaste.

m: Light to moderate.

o: A nice drinkable porter, good flavor and on the light but not watery side for the style. Very pleasant dinner accompaniment.

UPDATE 8/27/14: Had another pint with dinner at the steakhouse tonight and only things I would change about my previous review are, fruitiness was more prominent than malt, and no significant smoky aftertaste. Which made it a bit different than your average American porter, the roasted malt was far less prominent, more like a black English style pale ale. Also this one did have a thin head and left a little spotty lacing.
Oct 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by thestranger99 from Massachusetts

Mar 11, 2012
Photo of circlenine
Reviewed by circlenine from Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a growler into a tulip glass 2/8/11. Reviewed in a notebook on 2/8 and transcribed 2/14/11.

A: Dark brown, lets no light through. Large 2 finger head slowly dissolving into beer leaving nice clean sides on the glass. Remaining head about 1/4 inch.

S: Slight malty aroma but hard to pick up in the nose. Faint chocolate as well, but picked up only after picking it up in taste first.

T: Malty, nothing overpowering in the taste. Nice smokey and sweet profile possibly a cross of roasted malts and chocolate? (see chocolate note in smell)

M: Medium bodied, moderately carbonated.

D: Relatively easy to drink. Perhaps even possible to knock off a growler in one sitting!

Comments: It's not the best porter, but it's not the worst either. At the growler price (about $8) it's hard to knock! It was labeled as seasonal, but there was nothing seasonal about it - no spices, odd flavors, etc. If it's year round I will buy again. OPA!
Feb 14, 2011
Photo of Gushue3
Reviewed by Gushue3 from Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance- deep dark mahogany , generous head that goes away

Smell- malty and roasty, maybe a hint of coffee

Taste- malty, slight hint of molasses and fruit, crisp for a porter. not as much flavor as i was hoping for

Mouthfeel- good ammount of carbonation, too light for a porter for me.

Drinkability- its drinkable as far as not too heavy, but as far as the taste i wouldn't want to drink this all night if i had other beers to drink. not horrible but not great.
Jan 21, 2011
Photo of albern
Reviewed by albern from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was a very nice porter. I will need to review this under more contemplative conditions, but my first take is that this is a fairly low ABV porter that is very sessionable. It pours a dark mahogany color with a nice tan slightly foamy and slightly creamy head. The nose is roasted grains, dark malts, a slight bit of chocolate.

The taste follows the nose quite well. There isn't much hop to the beer, it is quite light in consistency, the roasted and sweetish malts are apparent. There is probably some crystal malt in the production of this beer as well. It has a slightly nutty flavor too, but not burnt or charred. It was a solid selection that I will review again in more detail.
Feb 06, 2010
Photo of scottg
Reviewed by scottg from Vermont

3.37/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Growler poured into a pint glass.

Pours a light black with dark garnet when held to the light. A 1/2 finger tan head settles very quickly. The smell is the highlight of this beer, coffee up front with milk chocolate, cherry, some nuts with light hints of roasted malt. The taste is a bit of a letdown- coffee, cherry and molasses flavors-very sweet with some subtle hops in the finish. Light carbonation, medium body there is a thin, watered down consistency. An easy drinking beer.
This porter lacks the roasted, smoky malt character I normally associate with porters, the sweetness takes over this one, lacks balance.
Dec 01, 2009
Photo of EPICAC
Reviewed by EPICAC from Massachusetts

3.87/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Southampton Porter pours a dark, opaque black. It's topped by a beige head that fades to ring. The aroma is quite nice. There are notes of roasted malts, coffee, a mild chocolate sweetness, and slight dark fruit.

Initially this porter is sweet. Chocolate notes greet the palate, and move into a roasted, coffee bitterness in the finish. The chocolate notes are good, but the roasted bitterness could be upped. This Porter is medium-bodied, moderately carbonated, and has a roasty roughness.

I though this was a fairly tasty porter.
Nov 23, 2009
Photo of DrJay
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Brewery sealed growler, purchased locally. Clear, dark brown beer with brilliant ruby highlights. A fine tan cap settled quickly, leaving a trace of spotty lacing. Malty aroma, caramel and toffee along with roasted grains. Mild chocolate with a hint of hops in the background. Moderate bitterness, both from hops and dark grains. Malty flavour, dry cocoa and a hint of cherry. Dry roast and light hops. Medium bodied with average carbonation, very dry and slightly coarse. A pretty good porter overall.
Sep 13, 2009
Photo of Ragingbull
Reviewed by Ragingbull from California

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown in color with a mocha colored foam head. The nose is light on the olfactory, but is definitely malt dominant. The taste is full of coffee and roasted flavors that makes you say "of course, its a coffee porter." With all of this roastiness and what should be a bit bitter the beer remains fresh and easy in the mouth. Nice drink.
Jun 21, 2009
Photo of Hojaminbag
Reviewed by Hojaminbag from Colorado

3.72/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
The body of this beer is really a dark ruby more than a black or a brown, and light gets through it at almost every point. About two fingers of tan head that disappears pretty quickly and doesn't leave any lacing behind.

A bitter chocolate aroma with a good punch of sweetness behind it.

Big chocolate flavors that come through as both sweet and bitter like dark chocolate. A little bit of hop presence adds some hop bitterness too.

Mouthfeel is very light and fairly low on carbonation.

Pretty drinkable, a decent porter overall.
May 05, 2009
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.62/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Starts with single-finger beige head. Dies quickly to single layer of fine bubbles that do not coat the top. Leaves light, spotty lace. The color is deep brown with an element garnet. A low lever of light seeps through. Seems clear.

Chalky chocolate aroma; mild.

First impression is regarding the thin body. The flavor is the best aspect of this beer: tastes like a Stout Lite--some coffee with milk flavors. No notable hop. Some oiliness. Overall, a mild offering.
Apr 18, 2009
Photo of Gambrinus1184
Reviewed by Gambrinus1184 from Connecticut

4.12/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on-tap in a 20-oz. imperial pint at the Brewmaster's Tavern adjacent to the Opa-Opa Brewery in Williamsburg, Mass.

A: Pours a black, cola-like color with a thin head of white foam which reduced to a fine lace atop the brew. Had some legs one it, but not much else.

S: Ah, a very robust whiff of ground coffee, cocoa powder and zesty hops are among the sweet roasted aromas.

T: Flavor mirrors the smell fairly accurately. A blend of fresh ground coffee, some bittersweet cocoa and hints of chicory are among the roasted malt flavors which let off just a bit of smoky coal. Bitterness is low, but present, with a zesty hop flavor to offset the sweet roasted malts.

M: Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied and perfect as a dessert beer.

D: A growler of this porter would go down quite easily, I'd imagine. As a point of reference, I got into a small debate between Opa-Opa's porter and BBC's Drayman's Porter. Both very solid and interesting ales.

No off flavors and just the right combo of sweet and spice make this American porter one of the most palatable I've had. Good as a dessert beer, but I don't know how adventurous I'd get with it in terms of food combos.
Feb 24, 2009
Photo of goatgoat
Reviewed by goatgoat from Arizona

3.77/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, very dark brown with faint ruby highlights. A thick coffee head falls quickly to nothing. No lacing. Aroma is moderately strong roasted malt. Taste is malt sweetness balanced well with hop bitterness. Roasted character is present throughout but comes through the most in the aftertaste. Somewhat simple taste. But good flavor without any harshness that sometimes come with roasted malts. Decent medium-light body. Carbonation is a bit low I'll assume that's the serving type.

A simple and easy drinking porter. I intend to sip on this all night.

Thanks to Imstillthegman for the brew.
Feb 17, 2009
Photo of blatherbeard
Reviewed by blatherbeard from Texas

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Ive been loving opa opa ever since i had the red rock ale and i can get it in growlers!

Now on to the porter..

A bit oily in the mouthfeel but quite watery at the same time. A bit of a bitter aftertaste going down, but not a bad taste. Very dark brown with a nice tan head that dissapears quite quickly. Nice combo of malts and hops, but alas no caramel or chocolate aftertaste that ive gotten from most porters. Carbonation is a bit much.

Overall a good solid porter with a bit of a bite. I would consume again, but i do have other favorite porters that more align with my tastes.
Dec 08, 2008
Southampton Porter from Opa Opa Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 30 ratings