Southampton Abbot 12 - Southampton Publick House

nickfl

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours with two fingers of off-white foam on top of a clear, amber-brown body. The head settles fairly quickly but leaves decent lace.

S - A complex aroma of molasses, brown sugar, plums, and a hint of chocolate.

T - Dark bread, burnt caramel, and molasses. Fruity notes of red apple, plum, and licorice come out in the middle, with a finish of burnt sugar, fruit, and a touch of chocolate.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a somewhat sweet finish.

D - Really nice. Complex, fruity and dark, this is probably the best american brewed example of the style I have had.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 01:13:54 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: very thin head on a clear deep amber body.

S: candy sugar, caramel and generic dark fruit. Aroma is good, just not strong rough for me.

T: very malty with lots of lots of candy and brown sugar and dark fruit with mostly fig and plum. Molasses and caramel notes. Malts are bready.

M: medium chewy body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: nice quad. Not too sweet which is something that usually turns me off from other quads I have had. I would like more dark fruit from this one though.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 01:09:40 | More by kylehay2004

socon67

New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - Brown pour with a clear foam that bubbles with activity. No lacing of note. Has a slight red hue.

S - Scents of berries, dried apricots, and candy sugar. Gives off a dry sherry smell.

T - Initial sweetness of sugary fruit gives to an acidic bite at the end. There is a slight warming booziness that makes this beer inviting. While not as mellow as some of thebetter quads, I did enjoy the complexity.

M - Balance on this was nice and a very drinkable beer after a nice meal. If this were just ore mellow I'd give it a 5.

O - Southampton may have lost a step recently but beers like this make me look forward to trying them. A really good local belgian quad that could serve better with some age on it.

Serving type: growler

02-24-2013 00:54:09 | More by socon67

flagmantho

Washington

4.21/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from corked & caged 750mL bottle into a tulip.

Appearance: rich ruby-amber hue with a largely haze-free body and a good effervescence. Head is two thick fingers of pillowy tan foam. Quite attractive.

Smell: rich, sweet malt with a lot of interesting character. There's caramel in here, along with a mild but pleasant fruitiness with notes of apricot and cherry. In with all of this is an alkaline, chalky aroma which I happen to quite like. Good stuff.

Taste: again, sweet, caramelly malt, but the fruity character is deeper and darker than in the aroma. There's cherry, plum and raisin in here; just what I look for in a quadrupel. There's also an alcoholic fruitiness which adds a little complexity to the flavor. I like it quite a lot indeed. A hint on the sweet side, but I'm finding I quite like it.

Mouthfeel: big body with a pretty huge carbonation and a massive, mouth-filling creaminess. Smooth and extremely satisfying. Wonderful!

Overall: I find I like this beer the more I drink it. Sure, it's sweet, but the flavor profile justifies that completely. Yum!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 21:40:32 | More by flagmantho

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep amber color with one finger of khaki colored head with ok retention. Some lacing remains throughout the beer.

The scent is of dark fruit and some Belgian sugar.

The taste is kind of syrupy and flat. There are dark fruits, some roasted chocolate malt, some yeast notes.

Full body, syrupy and creamy, low to moderate carbonation.

There was some good flavor in this beer but it was very flat making it kind of unpleasant.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 19:11:36 | More by BeerCon5

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served in a 10.5oz glass for $3.50 for some reason. Sampled 6/1/12.

A: Arrives with a 1.5 finger high head, extremely persistent. Creamy, foamy in texture, khaki in color. The body is dark brassy amber with noticeable clarity. Lacing in waves sticks with great proficiency, especially given the ABV.

S: Lots of Belgian yeast esters add a deeper complexity to the typical dark fruit notes. Prunes and plums. Belgian dark candi. Light new leather.

T: Follows the nose closely. Estery, dark fruity, cocoa, semi roasted. Overall flavor strays far from Quadrupel expectations.

M: Rich, malty body with a lasting, fine tingling effervescence, probably a touch too aggressive for my preference in the style. Slightly boozy on the finish.

O: Lousy Belgian Quad. Decent American Quad. The yeast was more of a player than I am used to - and there was an odd, semi roasted thing going on, but all of the above created a nice twist for an American interpretation.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 12:44:50 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

merc7186

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer poured from the tap at Blue Monk in Buffalo NY, poured into a tulip glass.

A: Dark Brown Hue, Passes Little Light, Off White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Light Dark Skinned Fruits, Mildly Funky, Mild Chocolate

T: Sweet Plums, Tart Cherries, Milk Chocolate

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Sweet

Overall, a decent Quad with some mildly fruity overtones.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2012 17:15:19 | More by merc7186

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This was probably my favorite tap offering during two recent visits to the brewpub. It’s clear and amber with a fluffy white head that has good retention. Extensive lacing.

Lots of spicy, yeasty esters and fruit notes in the aroma. Fairly complex, with a hint of booziness emerging from underneath. Lots of sweet malt and Belgian candi sugar as well.

This is a sweet quad to be sure, with all that candi sugar and dark fruit dominating the taste, as well as prominent yeastiness and spices, most notably cloves and pepper. Again the astringent alcohol emerges in the swallow and as the beer warms. Not quite as complex as the nose lets on.

Medium-full bodied with solid carbonation. A little bit fizzy and less profound in feeling than the best of the style. Finish dries out a bit, which helps things along. Not a top notch quad but not bad either.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2012 14:06:18 | More by tobelerone

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 bottle served in st. bernardus oversized wineglass. bottle reads a 9.9 abv.

pours a deep, dark amber with a finger of white head. moderate retention, decent lacing.

nose is yeasty and sweet with a lot of dark fruits... malty with brown sugar notes. taste is a pleasant surprise - i was prepared to pan this as measured against its authentic belgian counterparts, but no. fair amount going on here: raisins, sweet malts, brown sugar, some booze but by no means overpowering, yeast and other dark fruits. straddles the line of being too sweet but doesn't cross it, at least not for me... not on the level of the trappistes of course, but it's pretty damn tasty in its own right.

mouthfeel is okay, full bodied, medium carbonation. scores high in drinkability; i can see myself coming back for more.

original review on: 07-09-2010

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 17:32:45 | More by BostonHops

CloudStrife

New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml corked and caged, poured into a goblet. 12/23/14 on the bottle.

A: Pours a real hazy brownish dark ruby with a 1.5 finger white head with lots of tiny bubbles. Some chunks floating even in the first glass. Cant see any carbonation in the misty body.

S: Great belgian yeast with a roasty complexion. Dark fruits and a molasses like sweetness. Alcohol is fairly well hidden.

T: A sweet malty belgian taste with a fruity alcohol finish. A hint of chocolate. Dark fruits like fig and raisin.

M: Thick and creamy mouth. Low carbonation. Certainly a sipping beer. Goes down pretty smooth for the ABV.

Overall a tasty quad. On the heavy side and could use some more pep to it. Dont think I would ever mind sipping on it through.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 00:30:39 | More by CloudStrife

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

this is a quad?! a little off base, but so tasty!

this has "abbey ale" all over it. but with their own twist, I suppose.

dark caramel malts - center stage.... but ridiculously (and deliciously) dry. toasted on the edges, balanced out remarkably by the alcohol, which fails to burn and warm. how did they do that?!

apparently I had this before and gave it high marks... it's really fantastic....one of Southampton's best - of the half dozen or more I've had

still not sure why this brewery doesn't get the (gleaming) notoriety it deserves

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2012 02:15:20 | More by Bouleboubier

metter98

New York

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear dark amber in color. It poured with a thin yet dense white head that faded away and left a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of sweet, dark malts in the nose.
T: The overall taste is rather sweet and has flavors of candi sugar and dark malts.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: Considering its strength, this beer is quite easy to drink because the alcohol is well hidden from the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2012 03:23:20 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Mugs Alehouse in Brooklyn, NY

A: Pours a clear amber in color with a half finger tall light beige head. The head reduces to some patches and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate lacing is observed.

S: Lots of dark fruit sweetness along with some caramel and lightly roasted malts.

T: Full on sweetness but in a really good way - lots of dark fruit present and even some hints of candi sugar. There is also a really pleasant maltiness to the beer.

M: Medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: The alcohol in this beer is really well hidden which is great considering the ABV. I really enjoyed this beer and think it is a really good example of the style. A beer I would enjoy sipping all afternoon long.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 15:42:01 | More by dbrauneis

danedelman

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Opened a 750ml bottle that is 2 years old and served in Weyerbacher tulip glass.

A-deep mahogany color with a tan bubbly head that sticks around for nice lacing.

S-Raisins!! Dried fruit, molasses, and even a slight oaky note too. I would classify this morre of a high abv dubbel due to the smells.

T-I am in heaven. Taste is awesome, candi sugar, molasses, raisins, and a hint of bourbon. Vanilla and leather coming from the latter. No heat from alcohol and perfectly balanced with sweetness to bitterness. Not dry but not sweet. A perfect beer.

M-medium to high body with a nice bubbly feel on the tongue to keep it not a heavy beer.

I would say my favorite in this category.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 18:42:03 | More by danedelman

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

deep dark and thick reddish tinted brown with a large tan colored head of foam rising up from the bottom and cresting about three inches above the top giving it a very full refined look. Very nice retention

big rum soaked raisins that really let you know that you were in for it here. This was balanced by a nice touch of alcohol and thick walloping of yeast that gave off all sorts of fruity like esters. The hints of fig, and pear were big as was the nice amount of sweetness that was added in to try and pull it all together. nice spicy rum like flavor that was intermingled and laced with lots of dark fruits. Nice flavors of raisins, figs, and prunes were evident as was a decent amount of sweetness added to the mix.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 02:47:06 | More by mikesgroove

billab914

Virginia

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into my Rochefort chalice. It poured a darker, caramel brown color with a frothy, creamy head covering the beer and clinging to the edges of the glass.

The aroma has a big darker fruit presence to it with some notes of cherry, fig and plum mixing with some sweeter, malty, caramel flavors. Nice mix of flavors in the aroma for the style

The taste has some malty, caramel flavors mixing with a crisp, fruity, apple like flavor to it up front. In the finish it starts to show more of the cherry, fig and raisin flavors with a little bit of brown sugar as well.

The mouthfeel is on the heavier side with carbonation being on the higher side. Overall it was a very nice beer of the style. It showcased the malts really nicely and was also very drinkable for the style and abv. Very enjoyable beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 00:36:46 | More by billab914

stakem

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml corked and caged bottle care of wishuwerebeer. This particular bottling was listed as 9.9%. Poured into a matching Southampton fishbowl goblet, this brew appears a very dark brown color with a light tan head. As the cap fades, it leaves some leggy lacework on the glass. A light swirl revives 2 fingers worth of head back to the surface. When held to the light, a bit of ruby coloring is noted.

The smell of this brew is dark and sugary with some malt character like raisins and molasses. A bit of citrus and some mineral components are included. There is a faint almost oaky character present but overall the mineral aspect is a mixture of citrus hops and gravel.

The taste is malty sweet like molasses and dark Belgian candy sugar. A bit if raisins or plums mixes with some citrus hops and mineral components. Once the brew warms up, the alcohol starts to come forward with a bit of a bite to it. Overall not bad but the mineral aspect is a little unwelcomed and out of place compared to the rest of the flavors.

This is a full bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. It is fairly easy drinking with quite a bit of earthy tones theoughut the profile. Not a bad take on the style but a little forgettable. Perhaps this is my own fault for the sheer amount of dark Belgian beers I've been drinking lately, this one just didn't stand out at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 20:02:46 | More by stakem

mmmbeer

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL brown Belgian bottle, cork-n-cage, best by 12/22/14 (bottled 12/22/09 perhaps?). Brewed and bottled in Royersford, PA; 9.9%. Pours a highly-carbonated deep crimson/plum, with good clarity and a huge, pillowy three finger head that leaves lots of nice, frothy lace. That's a pretty easy five for appearance. Smells sweet, with mature malt, fruity hops and yeast, plums/prunes, raisins, figs, and dates. Sweet, warming, and candy-like on the palate, with lots of dark fruits from dark sugars or malts (or both). There are notes of candied figs, dates, sweet raisins, a touch of roast, a few phenols, cola?, clove?, pecans?, and some floral/spicy hops which impart a moderate bitterness. The body is lightish, crisp and dry, with lots of carbonation and a bitter/roasty/fruity linger. This is an absolutely wonderful beer that is quite well-brewed and dangerously drinkable. My only quibble is that it is a touch sweet, but even with that, the beer remains well-balanced. Without question one of the best quadrupels brewed on this side of the Atlantic; highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 21:10:50 | More by mmmbeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a small layer of beige head. Color is a ruby hued caramel brown.

Aroma: Fairly malty with flavors of caramel and toffee. Some bready malts. A lot of dark fruits as well. Raisins, cherries, and dried red apples.

Taste: Apples, licorice, and plums. A bit of spice in there as well. More malts again. Caramel and toffee. Much like the nose.

Mouthfeel: Dry and sweet, slightly cloying. Medium to full bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends dry.

Overall, a decent quad, but nothing out of the ordinary. Tastes like a quad. Not much else to say.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 13:54:53 | More by mothman

RandomBattle

New York

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a at joint Southampton/Brooklyn event at Effin Gruven. Served in a Effin Gruven snifter (how appropriate).

Appearance - Dark, very dark, almost stout like. I will admit however the bar in which this was consumed is pretty much lit entirely with candles, and then the light off the TV's, anyway...this beer looks as flat as can be, it my have a dark sinister look to it, but it has a whooping zero head. Moving on...

Smell - Okay, starting to get better. Smells of dark, dark fruit, caramel, and burnt sugar. Not too shabby. You also get a some faint tropical fruit smells in there as well.

Taste - Again, getting a little better, but just a little. Dark fruits dominate the palate, raisins and plums, almost as if they were converted directly into an alcoholic beverage. After that you get some sugary caramel and a little bit of the tropicalness I described in the nose, interesting and tasty.

Mouthfeel - Went down easy and slow, the alcohol is nearly undectectable and theres not a whole lot of carbonation going on in there. Would be a nice beer to pair with select desserts.

Overall - I haven't had many Belgian style quads, and of the ones I have had (Westy 12), it seems unfair to rate this along with them. Decent beer, not bad for the style, glad I got to drink this at the event. After having it however there is no way I will ever pick up a bottle given the average retail price on this one, there are just better and cheaper options.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 15:28:27 | More by RandomBattle

rand

California

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Acquired in a nice little trade with Manoftyr

750 mL bottle to tulip glass

A: Pours a dark brown with red hues, lots of suspended yeast. A huge, nearly 3-inch foamy head forms on a gentle pour, reluctant to recede. Big patches of lacing coat the glass.

S: The nose is fruity - dark ripened fruits with a tropical bend. Notes of fig and banana pop through, while bready, yeasty aspects provide the bouquet's backdrop. Alcohol is apparent, but fairly subdued for the ABV.

T: Notes of ripened fruit meet the palate first, with raisins and cherries dominant. Tropical tone in the nose is replaced with wood and tobacco. The beer is bready, chewy in texture, blending nicely with the rich cherry and wood flavors. Alcohol is strong, as expected for the ABV, but burnt sugar and caramel counter any alcohol bite and carry to a sweet finish.

M: Rich and oily. Bready and chewy, really needs to be savored. Frothier than a lot of Quads I've tried...really filling beer all around.

This is a sipper, but a good one. Flavors tend toward the sweet end of the spectrum, but well within expectations for a Quad. Would be a nice one to have around for the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 07:33:26 | More by rand

AgentZero

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Rusty brown beer with a light-brown head that left behind a bit of lacing.

S - Caramel, dark fruit, toffee, brown sugar, the things you want to smell in a quad.

T - Taste is pretty spot on with the nose. Raisins, figs, dates and the like make up the dark fruits, with a solid presence of caramel. Rochefort has a nice alcohol burn that cuts through the sweetness, this one is actually a little too well hidden for me. Still quite good.

M - Moderately carbonated, medium-full bodied. Slightly sticky, appropriate for this beer.

O - Pretty solid, I got it down easily, and the alcohol may just be too well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 04:45:13 | More by AgentZero

bonkers

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured from a bomber into a snifter, dark brown pour with a big white head, light lacing. The aroma is full of sweet dark fruit(dates and plums), and alcohol. The flavors are very sweet, dark fruit, and hot alcohol. It finishes hot and sweet. The body is full, good carbonation. Even though it is very sweet I liked it. The combination of flavors really worked for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 01:16:37 | More by bonkers

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

Bottle generously gifted by jaywahk73, an appreciator of fine Belgian ales. Thanks a lot, Jeff!

Served in my Corsendonk tulip.

The appearance is a mostly transparent brown hue, with sunset orange highlights apparent when held to the light. A gentle pour yields nearly a half inch of head that displays lasting retention and leaves ample lacing on the glass.

The aroma is fantastic and instantly identifiable as a quadrupel. Dark fruits, Belgian yeast, malt, spice...just wonderful.

The taste is quite good. Fortunately, I have most of the 750 mL bottle left to sip over the next hour or two. The taste brings a prominent yeast flavor, as well as dark fruit and dark Belgian ale characteristics. Additionally, the beer has an underlying sweetness one would expect from a quad, and a hint of warming alcohol. Brown sugar and figs are in there as well. Nice and complex, a wonderful sipper.

The feel is really smooth and quite well done. Impressive. Alcohol content is disguised well. Carbonation level is moderately high, but not overly so.

This beer has some pretty mixed reviews. Perhaps there is some deviation in bottles and/or batches. I know the bottle I am enjoying is fantastic. This is without question the best American quad I have had.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 00:13:12 | More by Huhzubendah

jayhawk73

Maryland

4.47/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a dark brown/crimson into my St. Bernardus chalice. Two finger cocoa head that sticks around quite a bit. Good carbonation and lacing on this one. The head is almost cloud-like in appearance.

S- Smell is that of figs, malt, yeast and raisin. Great smelling beer- smells very fresh. Big time aroma and goodness out of this quad. Hope it tastes as good as it smells!

T- Not as thick and meaty as some of it's Belgian counterparts, but this quad is delicious! Malty, w/ figs/dates/raisin/yeast/alcohol w/ a sugary taste as well. I imagine this beer would age really well, even though it's already really smooth. This might be the best American Quad that I've tried. A different taste profile than the smell, but still amazing.

M- Very smooth and silky, w/ sugar and alcohol in the mouthfeel. It feels rich, like you're induldging your mouth with every swallow. Makes me want to really savor it, although at 9.9% ABV, that's not a difficult task. Keeps getting better the warmer it gets. Very nice.

O- This is my first beer from Southampton, and wow... This is world class. Being a big Belgian Tripel and Quad fan, this ranks right up there w/ the best of them for me. The first American Quad I've tried that I can say that about. It might not be my favorite, but it's REAL close. Fantastic, and definitely worth a purchase. I know I'll be picking this one up whenever I see it. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 00:19:04 | More by jayhawk73