Southampton Biere De Mars - Southampton Publick House

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A toned down saison, and that's a good thing. Primarily a sour at palate, intense flavour not for everyone. I liked it but was not expecting this. Citrus in aroma. A wild take on the actual style from the rudimentary few I have had of the style so far.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2005 04:50:18 | More by northyorksammy

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16 ounce pint - $6.00 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Served up a clear, orange-esque body with a thin head, white in color, a bit scant due to the generous pour you can get in these places.

Smell: Sweetish, faintly bready, with a note of caramel squares and sparsely tart juiced orchard fruits.

Taste: Sweetish at the start, then, a bit more sweet, with a sip of caramel-flavored water growing into a fuller caramel taste. A bit of bread as well as some yeast-laden dough. Fruity traces of apple and peach. No more than a hint of herb with a light bitterness imparted from the hops. Small hint of the alcohol on the drying, growingly tangy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation.

Overall: A tasty beer and fairly refreshing, making it an ideal Springtime brew. Though, in this instance, I had it on-tap, it is nice to see it available in 12 ounce bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2011 17:56:53 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a cloudy apricot color with a rocky head the webs the glass

Smell: A friuty/bready aroma, with hints of peach and floral herbs

Taste: Fruity opening, with a building orange peel-influenced herbal aspect that adds a bit of pepper and rustic funk, too; more of the same, after the swallow, with a lingering grainy/peppery/medicinal herb flavor profile

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; prickly

Drinkability: Interesting and complex; the funk, fruit and medicinal herb qualities are very impressive

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2008 11:39:43 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle: Poured a hazy beige color ale with a rather large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma consists of rustic malt with lightly sweet undertones. Taste is dominated by sweet notes upfront with some rustic malt and light fruity ester. This is probably a tad too sweet for my liking. Body is quite full with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Good though probably tad more sweet then some of its overseas cousin.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 20:21:39 | More by Phyl21ca

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Southampton Biere De Mars
12 oz. bottle, no freshness date

Appearance: Hazy as appropriate for style. Deep golden/orange body beneath a frothy head of white. Very good head retention. Excellent lacing.

Smell: Malty and spicy. Sugary bread. Fruity (apple, apricot).

Taste: Spicy upfront over a bready, biscuity malt base. Spice actually increases across the middle. Grassy and spicy towards the swallow. Somewhat herbal. Fruitiness includes some orange. Finishes with some lingering malt but still dry due to the spice, herbal notes, and perhaps some alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-full in body. The fine-bubbled median carbonation gently bristles the tongue. Creamy.

Overall: Impressive structure. Very nicely put together. It's big, but not to big; and the spicing is full but not overdone. Well balanced. Flavorful. Still refreshing. Quite nice!

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 18:16:15 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I may be drinking this beer six months too late, in September, but you won't tell anyone, will you?
Lovely, lovely beer in the glass, a nice, hazy amber hue, a million tiny particles at play around and about, while a solid, 1/4" head of creamy beige foam rests proudly on top.
Aroma is a beautiful mess, a musty citric mix of yeast and spice, a sweet and sour symphony, tickling the nose, urging on the tongue.
...and there, only nice things can happen, only happiness may occur. A warm wave washes over me when the brew slides down, it cheers up my every cell, and brightens each and every pore. Tastes good, too!
A lemony, bready, citric cakey quality reigns in the flavor, sparks the tongue, and pleases the palate. Little bit of green apples, cherries, honey, and certain spices, as well, and, in fact, there's much more happening here than I can authoritatively claim. Spicy kick on the 'buds only further enhances my enjoyment through this brew. Malt is thick, rich and sure, and hops provide treats aplenty.
Long, long, fruity, quirky, utterly characterful finish, medium body, brilliant flavor...an excellent creation, by any standard.
I can see many uses for this beer, cheif among them: drinking.

What can I say, Davo?
Didn't suck.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2004 09:58:54 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a beautiful amber color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a delicate mix of caramel malt sweetness, Victory malt nuttiness, and a wonderful yeast fruitiness. The taste is good as well. It has a smooth, caramel flavor with a subtle yeast fruitiness. It's mellow with a faint nuttiness and silky finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a really good beer; true to style and quite delicious.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 01:37:35 | More by WesWes

metter98

New York

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: It poured clear, light golden amber with a moderate sized white and foamy head. A moderate level of carbonation is visible.
S: Caramel malts really dominate the aroma; there are also some hints of hops and vanilla.
T: There are moderate flavors of caramel, biscuity malts and other spices, which are well balanced by the underlying malts. There is some sweetness in the overall taste and the finish is slightly bitter.
M: It feels medium-bodied and very smooth and crisp on the palate.
D: The beer is very easy to drink and would be great to sit outside with on a nice spring day.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 19:48:48 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Mike for sharing this one. 750ml Publick House bottling from 2008. #141 of 250. Served in a Heady Topper glass.

A - These Southampton beers all look pretty similar, and that's a good thing. Nice fluffy multiple fingers of white foam that settles to a thin cap and thicker collar, but with only mild lace. Hazed, dark golden straw body - perhaps a touch darker than the previous brews.

S - Some spicy esters, wheat, yeast, and toasted grains. Pale malt sweetness and light stone fruits. Somewhat dull, although it may be due to the age?

T - Pleasant blend of pale malt sweetness, light wheat and toasted grains, and spicy Belgian yeast. Hop character is long gone, if there was much to begin with.

M - Zesty soft carbonation, a slightly watery medium-light body. Finishes clean with only light residual stickiness.

D - I'm guessing this was better around March 2008. At this stage it's mostly bland and inoffensive. Not something I'd seek out again, but no major flaws either. I'm curious how it compares to a fresh bottle of the 12oz contract brewed version.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2011 19:34:42 | More by MasterSki

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.05/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy orange-copper color. It is pretty well carbonated, which supports an off-white to tan colored head. I get sweet fruity aromas of pear and apple up front, as I dig deeper I get notes of toasted biscuits and malt, plus some subtle spice notes as well. The beer is fairly dry up front, with an initially gassy middle and a sweet cider like finish. This is another fairly clean, yet interestingly malty interpretation of the style. Almost has a meaty-chewy malt character to it. This is quite tasty and has a hearty medium bodied quality to it that is most likely from this being an all malt interpretation of the style. The fruity yeast notes are nice, though it could perhaps use some more yeast spiciness, but this is a rather weak complaint on this otherwise wonderful beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2004 20:21:12 | More by Gueuzedude

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at mid-town in Tulsa

Pours a fairly bubbly bronze with 2 fingers of pearl colored head. Sheets & sheets of lacing, fairly average head retention

S: Green apples & peach, fades as it warms

T: Follows the nose, along with a touch of leafy hops & rich breadyness & a touch of honey up front. Dryness & fruittyness prevail as this warms. Finishes crisp, fruitty & with a slight bit of pear sweetness& apple tartness, plus a touch of candi sugar

MF: Firm carbonation to go a with a fairly impressive body. Thickens up as it warms, but still maintains great carbonation level

Drinks really easy, a good take on the style. Hopefully some fresh bottles will be around next spring, when I'm more into this style. Still holds up nicely on a hot Summer night..

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2010 03:01:10 | More by russpowell

Gavage

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a clear orange color with a 1" head that breaks apart quickly.

Smell: spicy and sweet is all you can say about the aroma.

Taste: caramel, pepper, grass, ripe apples, big honey flavors, and a moderate bitterness. There is a general earthy tone that arrives late. Alcohol is slightly noticable.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp throughout. Aftertaste is long lasting.

Overall: a nice spring beer that is more of a slow drinking beer, but nicely flavorful and satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 19:16:04 | More by Gavage

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a bottle with dinner at Liberty St. Tavern. I drank this with dinner and while it was a nice beer, it wasn't as outstanding as most Southampton beers I'm used too. In terms of Belgian beers, it was on par with Leffe. It was agreeable, but a little sweet and without much depth. It had a herbal sweetness liek gum or tea and a cleaner amber bread flavor than you usually have in a Belgian. Good beer, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2010 02:32:19 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice to see the Biere de Mars in 12 ounce bottles even though this one is being contracted at the old Rolling Rock brewery in Latrobe, PA. Appears a nice copper amber hue with a bright white head fine delicate head soft carbonation forms intricate fine lacing going on. Aroma has mild spices with caramel malts going on with a mild funk character going on from the yeast used, also earthy citrus notes in the background with centennial hops utilized. Flavor has a spiced creamy caramel tone with sharp finishing bitterness herbal and mild citrus tones crazy brew. Mouthfeel has a medium body with sturdy carbonation going on, finishes dry with spice additions. Drinkability overall is tasty stuff, that I appreciate contract 12 ounce bottles of but would much rater see it in 750ml bottles brewed by Phil at Sly Fox Royersford.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 15:12:54 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear gold with a pretty thick cream head. Nose is malty sweet and smooth. Flavor brings the same. Smooth sweet tone with a minor earthy bitter backside. Nice. Good carbonation and a nice liquid body. Quite tasty. Very good. A real pleasure to drink. Only 250 bottles a year? Well that's a shame.

Bottle 106 compliments of BeerWorld. A damn fine trader.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 03:56:00 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Two finger head that settles to nothing. No lace. The broth is a dark golden color and nearly clear.

Mildly sour nose.

This has the sourness that one expects from a Farmhouse styled beer. Mostly malty but there is a touch of light spice from the hop. Smooth body with a long peppery aftertaste. Lowly carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 00:49:38 | More by smcolw

Billolick

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, w/o freshness info.

Pours dull copper, clear, minor off white head, nothing special looks wise.

Coriander and Belgian yeasty spice in the nose.

More coriander, smoke, Belgian spicing, a medicinal note, and quite dry with agressive hops in the finish.
Well done, moderatly complex take on a pleasing style.

Would work well with my favorite summertime lunch of salads, grilled meats, cheese and breads.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 20:04:29 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle obtained via trade with Jetsbeer. Thanks for the opportunity...

Carefully poured in an imperial pint glass, formed a 2" dense eggshell head, with lazy but plentiful bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. A orangey golden brew, with spotty yet heavy foam lace. Nose is spicy pale malts, with a tad of funk making things interesting, and a hoppy crispness. Taste is a slightly sweet maltiness, coupled with a clean hop snap, and closes a bit dry on the tongue. Mouthfeel and drinkability are great. Enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2005 21:35:03 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to NoLiberty for cracking this open! Had the opportunity to share this '05 brewery corked bottle with he and grassrootsVT...
Appears a glowing amber with an off white head that seems to stick around nicely. Scattered bits of lacing are left around the interior of the classic PBR goblet(what a gem).
Smell is of caramel, biscuit, yeasty dough, and spice. Caramunich in action, baby!
Taste is of the same aromas that are tantalizing me...what else is there to say?
Mouthfeel is smooth, medium bodied, and slightly sticky.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2005 18:15:35 | More by weeare138

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at the Belgian Cafe during Southampton event, Philly beer week 2007.

Pours a clear golden orange color with white head. Aroma is well balance with hints of malt, hops and crisp fruit. Flavor very similar being slightly watered down with a nice amount of maltiness, balancing out the hops and hints of apple and pear.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2008 16:33:32 | More by corby112

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at the Belgian Café, Philly, PA

Poured into a pint glass, a clear golden orange with no head to speak of by the time it reached me. Thin aroma, bready, with hints of peach. Taste was fruity up front, peach and banana, yeasty in the background, followed by a distinct sour citrus zest, and a lingering bitterness. Medium body and smooth; fairly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2011 16:20:02 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Octane in Atlanta.

Pours a clear amber-copper color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of sweet and biscuit-y malts with mild amounts of light fruits - mostly green apples but with hints of pears.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet and lightly bread-y malt flavors bookend the flavor profile. Filling in the middle are mild amounts of light fruit flavors and milder amounts of deeper, grainier malts. The ending is equally parts sweet and bitter.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I finished my glass however the sweetness got to be a bit much near the end and I'm not sure about another.

Overall this was a well done beer for the style however about midway through the drink it became a bit too one-dimensional. Still, it's got no fatal flaws and is worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2010 15:39:37 | More by glid02

Gusler

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer extricates itself from the 750ml green bottle an obfuscated copper color, the head Brontosauric in size, creamy in texture and after dissolving the lace forms a thick and clinging blanket upon the glass. The nose has a the aroma of over ripe apples with a nice yeast presence, citrus crisp, also notice a hint of mustiness, a fine sniffer this one, start is lightly sweet, pleasing malt presence with the top light to middling in feel. Finish is ferine in its acidity, the hops dynamic in their spiciness, very dry aftertaste, a very fine representative to the style, quite pleasing to the palate and a great beer to share on “Fathers Day” with all the fathers past, present and future, also my thanks goes to the “Evil One” his own self, Master Davo, Great BA, Great person, and best of all a “Great Friend”!

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2004 23:53:23 | More by Gusler

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. Bright amber/orange color with a short cap of whitish foam. A little bit of lacing, decent head retention. Crockery malt aroma, grassy and spicy hops, rich maltiness, hint of fruit. Medium/light bitterness, malty with a bready, sugary sweetness, biscuity, a little spicy in the finish. Lingering sweetness with faint herbal hops. Nice texture, medium bodied with lowish, nearly creamy carbonation. Semi-dry. I liked this quite a bit. It was highly drinkable and had a rich malty backbone.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 00:48:35 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

4.22/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a light copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light grain, some earthy hop and a slight ester.

The taste consisted of a clean light malt, grassy and earthy hops and a yeast that lurks in the background.

The mouthfeel was average for the style with a subtle chewiness.

Overall a tasty ale, with good complexity.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2008 19:59:05 | More by plaid75