Southampton Abbot 12 - Southampton Publick House

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

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

Clear, deep amber color that appeared almost mahogany. Off white/egg shell colored fizzy head that fades quite quickly. Splotchy lacing sticks in the glass.

Aroma is earthy, malty with some sweetness and the slightest yeast tones.

There is a bit of alcohol as the flavor burst in your mouth. Not hot, but perceptible. Nicely complex flavors. Dates, prunes, cherries and a hint of white pepper. Not much yeast character, but the layers of fruit and malt tones add nice depth.

Smooth, silky mouth feel. Almost syrup like.

Very enjoyable. I like this.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2009 02:19:50 | More by Reagan1984

Crosling

Colorado

4.65/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Legendary, complex, vinous nose of dates, cherries, plums, caramel and chocolate.

Tastes fruity and quite complex with nice woven caramel and chocolate flavors as well. Big body, which is typical of Belgian Trappist ales. Well hidden alcohol. In my opinion this is right up there with Rochefort, Westveteren, St. Bernardus and is one of the best darker Belgian styles that is brewed in the states.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 05:53:15 | More by Crosling

illidurit

California

4.05/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Obtained via trade with Rodenbacher.

Poured into the trusty Westvleteren goblet. Presents very nicely with an inch of tan head and a murky dark brown body with reddish amber hues. The carbonation is a bit fizzy however, and the head collapses soon leaving minimal lace.

Fruity aroma, mostly cherry with other dark fruits in the background. Candi sugar also makes its presence known.

A sip evokes that classic quadrupel taste; dark fruits like fig and raisin, chewy malt, a faint yeastiness, candi sugar. This beer however has something I haven't picked up in other quads (except for 3 philosophers for obvious reasons): a nice subtle dark cherry flavor.

The mouthfeel would have been spot on if it wasn't for the overcarbonation here. It makes the quaffing rocky and belching frequent.

Drinkability is solid. Easy to polish off a 750.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2007 03:31:27 | More by illidurit

Pencible

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: This poured a nearly opaque dark mahogany with thick tan head.
S: It smelled like wild yeast with spicy wheat and caramel malt, with a little raisin and cocoa and grassy hops.
T: It tasted like wild yeast and spicy wheat and light caramel, with some floral hops and earthy cocoa and a little bit of dark fruit and alcohol. It had a bitter aftertaste with a little lingering sweetness and alcohol.
M: It was slick and slightly thick with smooth carbonation.
D: This was a good beer, but surprisingly not malty. It had great body, but it was pretty hot fresh, so it was definitely a sipper. Age would probably really help improve this beer, as it was a little rough fresh.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2010 18:02:31 | More by Pencible

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very nice, deep cola-colored brown. Nice, big tan head on top that fades all too quickly. Aroma of yeast and quite earthy. Solid malt flavor with a nice spiciness to it. Caramelized raisens and a bit of alcohol to it. Peppery and a somewhat cinnamon spice presence. Great sugary sweetness. The sweetness fades to a pleasant residual dryness. Good body. Extremely drinkable. As worthy an effort as any Belgian versions I have had. Top notch.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2007 23:28:59 | More by lackenhauser

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Picked up a bottle at Shoreline Beverage on Lawg-i-lan last week. 2006 bottle cap info.

Into a tulip with a dark auburn mahagony hue topped with a dense compact sandy beige head cap. Not much lace to speak of possibly due to the 12% ABV but there is some drippy ice hither and yon.

Deep aromatic caramelized sugar scents. Notes of pastry and rum torte dessert cake. Reminds me of Rochefort 10 or 12.

First swigs: Dense caramel candy and sugar daddy. A touch of liquer or almond extract. Doughy flavors are pronounced as well. Dry finish with a linger of toffee and Kaluha. Dark fruit has a field day her with date and fig all over the palate. A creamy butter pecan ice cream malt flavor balances out the brew.

Feel is frothy and will cascade off the tongue into a fluffy pillow. Quite airy and light bodied with the 12% kicker quality hanging in the background.

Last swigs: Liquid butter pecan ice cream. Perfect timing as I have been on quite the quad kick as of late. This is a kick ass quad that stands its ground against Westy 12 anyday. The first time that I had this beer I didn't know what a quad was. Now I do. Wow!

Beer is good. Happy domestic quad beering.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2005 04:40:36 | More by blitheringidiot

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark red with hints of orange body. Much carbonation. Topped by a dense two fingers of just-off-white foam. Good lacing.

Aroma is rich with ripe dark fruits, particularly plum. Hints of nuts. Bits of bread and candy.

Taste begins with a moment of candy sweetness. Followed by a burst of spice and yeast. Fruit abounds. Pleasant warming alcohol.

Lively but smooth and full mouthfeel. Surprisingly easy drinkability.

If you like big belgians, put this on your shopping list.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2008 04:51:13 | More by RonfromJersey

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

orbitalr0x

Illinois

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

2006 vintage bottle.

Deep cola brown pour with red highlights. Bone white bubbly head that falls quickly. Deep maltiness with raisins, dark fruits, caramel and toffee. Earthy, spicy yeast is lively and bright. Brown sugar and candi sugar accents. Great depth, incredibly enticing.

First sip brings smooth rich malts with warm caramel, brown sugar, raisins and a myriad of dark fruits. Bright Belgian yeast brings spiciness and earthy esters into the mix. Flows down incredibly rich, flavorful and malty. Never becomes over sweet, just a tasty brew.

Smooth mouthfeel, good carbonation and goes down easy. A real tasty American Quad and a bit sad I don't have any more bottles of this as I think it would last a few more years in the cellar without issue. Another winner from Southampton.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 16:41:59 | More by orbitalr0x

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear amber with copper hues. A half inch head of white quickly dissolved leaving behind a few dots of lacework and a ring around a placid surface.

Aromatics lead off with raisins, sweet toffee, juicy malt, grape jam, and caramel.
Hints of orange marmalade, dark rum, and vanilla follow through.

Medium bodied and quite sticky. A bit syrupy due to low carbonation.

Sweet malt and candi sugar lead off the pallet along with rum-soaked raisins, sugared caramel, and brown sugar. Some mild alcohol follows through on the throat.

Finishes with faint orangy notes, juicy malt, and more raisins.

This beer has a great nose, but the carbonation is way low for the style and the pallet is overly sweet.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2008 01:10:13 | More by brewandbbq

NEhophead

Massachusetts

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

1 pt 9.4 fl oz brown bottle; caged & corked.
Served in an oversized wine glass.

Rustic tea in color with notes of auburn and light maple. Carbonation-filled white head that casts a bit of foam as a result of the extremely active carbonation. Surprisingly impressive retention that barely budges.

Semi-sweet candied sugar, that is kept in check by a nutty, dry oak. Pleasant farmhouse mustiness with hints of corriander. Orange peel in a light bourbon whaft of alcohol.

Complex, flavorful sweetness up front: vanilla-laced Belgian candied-sugar amidst a range of raisin, plum, cherry, red apple. Light hints of mellow citrus: orange peel and rounded melon. Rum and curacao alcohol presence that blends very well with the vinous fruit and soft citrus flavor profile. Tough to knock a thing in terms of flavor.

Almost full bodied; smooth and lightly carbonated. Again, the mild carbonation is a bit of a pleasant surprise for the style.

One of the more drinkable Quadrupel's I've ever had; on account of the tamed alcohol character, reserved carbonation, and complex yet balanced flavor profile. Congrats to Southampton, this one's a success.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2008 22:55:05 | More by NEhophead

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to JoeCeez for sharing this one.

A - Auburn with nice highlights when held to the light and a strange fizzy, cola like light tan head that leaves a good amount of foam behind.

S - Sweet candi sugar, spicy yeast, dark fruits of plum and raisin that create a nice earthy aroma and remind me of a wonderful Mole sauce I had recently at Fronterra Grill. Brown sugar, caramel and maybe even a touch of banana.

T - Candy like sweetness of brown sugar mixed with candi sugar. Some spicy yeast follows and then mellows into an earthy, dark fruit treat of plums, figs and raisins.

M - Medium body with high carbonation but not fizzy in the mouth. Some alcohol warming and hotness.

D - On the sweet side but somehow it works in this beer. Not as complex as others I have had but there is something very tasty about this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2008 23:09:38 | More by brewcrew76

UnionMade

Colorado

2.93/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The beer pours a hazy brownish umber, topped with a thin collar of head. Looking closely, you can see tiny clumps of yeast floating in suspension. Kind of like Sea Monkeys! I generally like hazy beers, so that's cool. I'd be interested in seeing this beer properly settled, though.
The aroma is hugely malty, a distinct toffee quality, gushing with sweet candi sugar. Very nice. The fruitiness is impressive as well. Really quite estery, with a nose burning thinner-like quality. Coupled with some alcohol, this is really intense. Lots of fig aroma, with some banana and apple. A bit of clove spiciness, as well.
Taking my first sip, I was a bit surprised with the near still carbonation. Some toffee maltiness peeks through, but a gigantic boozey fusel alcohol flavor dominates everything, finishing almost whiskey-like. Some fig flavor peeks through as well, with a touch of spicy yeast towards the end, but it's mostly incinerated under the alcohol. Full bodied, with a hard liquor feel, mainly because of the lack of carbonation and huge fusel flavor.
I've been assured that the alcohol subsides considerably with time, and it becomes quite a good beer. As for the still carbonation, perhaps I got a bad bottle, or the bottle conditioning didn't take off? I'm certainly going to wind up with another bottle at some point, and I'll re-review appropriately. I'm open to anyone who feels like sending me one!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2004 08:14:41 | More by UnionMade

brdc

Wisconsin

2.83/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Thanks pugman for this one.

Large corked and caged bottle, pured into a goblet. Deep red, but incredibly clear for the style, it is topped by a creamy, dense off-white head, with good retention and lacing.
The aroma is delicate, but pleasant, if not complex, mostly with dark fruits and a hint of yeast.
Full bodied, it is incredibly sweet and unidimensional; it is candy sweetness, then candy sweetness, and more sugar.
I like a lot of sweet and semi-sweet beers, but this one is excessively sweet. Extremely limited drinkability, and even with dessert it felt too sweet.
My first deception with southampton, which is otherwise an amazing brewery.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2008 00:42:55 | More by brdc

tmoneyba

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a cloudy brown color with a large frothy off-white head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Moderate tart citrus and brown sugar aroma. Medium to full body with a sticky texture and fizzy carbonation. Heavy bittersweet flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Good complex brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 23:02:36 | More by tmoneyba

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

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

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

Foxman

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

It pours a hazy, dark tea mix of copper amber and brown. Three fingers of light beige, beaten egg-white head sustain almost eternally. Contrails of lacing fly across the inside of the glass.

The aroma is ubiquitous, wafting about potently, but it focuses on tangy sweet grain with vanilla and caramel. Banana and blueberry are astir in the esters, and clove and coriander abound. Green apple and alcohol grace the periphery.

Upon sipping, densely sweet toasted grain and absolutely cloying candy sugar envelop the tongue. Thus becomes the challenge, to detect any more than the merest hints of spice or fruit. Alcohol, though, is present, but mediated by a continuation of cough-syrup sweetness. The finish, almost surprisingly, carries crisp green apple and dries considerably. However, the finish has most of the discernible flavor, as the sweetness presents a struggle to note much else.

Full bodied, it's sugar laden napalm, syrupy and coating with a moderate creamy caress.

If the flavor was even close to as distinguishable as the aroma it would be a big winner. But instead it's dense sugar sweetness from dangling uvula to smacking lips. The ABV is big and well-incorporated, but drinking it is a fair, if not totally unenjoyable task. I had it, can say I did, and lived to tell about it, but the truth is there are plenty of Southampton beers I'll have again before this one. Unless I have to counteract an insulin overdose.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2007 20:23:11 | More by Foxman

craytonic

District of Columbia

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

Appearance: Dark amber pour with touches of royal purple; great head

Smell: Sweet caramel-malts, toffee, brown sugar, caramel, spices and dark fruits. Great for the style

Taste: Spot-on for the style again, nice caramel malts, toffee, brown sugar, molasses, dark fruits (dates & raisins), and faint spices. My only compliant is that it is a bit too sweet

Mouthfeel: Rich, perhaps a bit syrupy

Overall: Probably one of the best american quads, really well done. High sweetness pulls down the drinkability slightly. I'd like to try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 02:57:30 | More by craytonic

jjayjaye

New York

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear dark amber color with mahogany hues and a gynormous ice cream float-like light tan head. Visibly effervescent, leaving impressive lacing patterns in its wake. The initial uncorked smell came across a little sour to me, not sure what that was about, but that soon subsided. The aroma is primarily an earthy Belgian yeast, vanilla and dark fruits. Not sure, but I imagine that vanilla characteristic is part of the 10.5% ABV; nicely done. Those bountiful tiny bubbles really lend a creaminess to the mouth feel. Full flavored and bubbly, the sweet dark fig fruit taste is complemented by a tangy almond kick. This one is coming across like one my favorite Belgian Strong Dark Ales instead of a Quad. I'm having a REALLY HARD TIME spanking it for being 'beyond' style. The last quad that i had was in your face alcohol...i hope that when i get to Westvleteren 12 that it presents me with a happy medium or I'll really be bumbed. This is on my Favorties list...regardless of how I scored it.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2007 00:18:56 | More by jjayjaye

ThreeWiseMen

California

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

JustinA1 got this in a trade with joerodiii and decided to share. Thanks homes.

Poured into a Cigar City snifter.

Appearance: Body looked dull at first, but it shows rich brown, red and orange in light; nice autumn-y colors. A thin, loose, off-white halo sits atop for the entire session. Wish I had put this in a different glass - preferably one with an etched bottom - but it still looks decent.

Smell: Caramel, plums, cinnamon and spices, and a green grape/white wine-like twang. Alcohol becomes more apparent as it warms, but also adds a somewhat pleasant floral ester note.

Taste: Very similar to the smell, but with added spices (specifically cinnamon) and semi-pleasant esters. Alcohol is a bit more apparent than it should be, but I dig the complexity and overall flavor profile.

Motuhfeel: Actively carbonated, full bodied, and a little sugary/gritty. Finishes dry and produces a slow, warming sensation in the tummy. Not at all harsh.

Drinkability: This was a very pleasant and polished quadrupel. Though not great in any category, Justin and I really enjoyed it all the way through.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2010 05:03:13 | More by ThreeWiseMen

aforbes10

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle that i'd had in my basement since August and decided to bring to Dark Lord day. As Eric said below me there, this is one of only two beers i'll be reviewing from DLday because i had a lot of it and because i actually took notes on this one. Pored brown with a touch of orange and flecks of gray brown sediment floating around, nice white head, foamed up a lot after popping the cap off. Odor was of cloves, oranges, spices, and complex belgian malts. Taste was, like Eric (Turdfurgison) says, a lot like St. Bernardus...quite spicy and full bodied, lots of tasty maltiness, and caramel flavors. cloves, citrus, and tangy alcohol. finish is of capers and ethanol. full bodied and tasty beer. definitely a winner in my book.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2007 14:23:25 | More by aforbes10

ommegangpbr

New York

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at New Beer Distributors in NYC, poured into a cervoise with a temperature of somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees.
The lack of pop in the removal of the cork had me a bit nervous but there were enough bubbles in the glass to put me at ease.
So far, lookin pretty good but not stunning. Has a nice color, but barely any head with a hard pour that goes away quickly and very little lacing is to be found.
Odors are pleasant, but anemic. Some sweetness is there and some malty nuttiness that you might find in a rich dark German beer.
Flavor is WAY sugary. Frangelico comes to mind from time to time but not quite so nutty. Brown sugar candy time. Store brand cola. I paired some of this with a flavorful spicy stew and this brew cut through all that and THEN some. Pretty one dimensional though I happen to enjoy that one dimension.
Mouthfeel is definitely thin for the style; has a slickness to it and is not cloying. Not very traditional as far as my experience tells me. Maybe something new is being attempted.
Southampton Abbot 12 reminds me of the one bottle of Kasteelbier Brune I've had, though the Southampton sample is probably less aged than the Kasteel. I've also had lots more beer since I had the Kasteel. As it stands now for me, Southampton Abbot 12 is a middle of the road quadrupel. This bottle might have needed some age to it in order to develop more flavors (no born on date to be found but I can tell from the label that this is from the new line of Southampton brews).
Right before this fellow I had a 12 ounce bottle of Three Philosophers, and I must say (no Ommegang bias intended) that Three Philosophers wins in every way.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2007 07:52:40 | More by ommegangpbr

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber, brought this one home from ACBF. Poured into my Duvel tulip

The beer pours a very dark brown, with hints of plum around the edges if held up to light. A decent, but not overly impressive tan head rises and leaves a fair amount of lacing, though head retention is a little bit weak. The nose has the expected dark fruit flavors, but there's also much more of a spicy yeast presence, which is somewhat intriguing. The taste is a little bit of a letdown, as yeasty spiciness from the nose disappears and the remaining malt sweetness tastes a little watered down (though still far from bad). There's a brief flash of alcohol warmth at the very end of each sip. The carbonation level is fine, but as the taste hinted at, the body of the beer is a little thin. Overall it's a pretty drinkable beer though, it's got a good flavor and the alcohol presence serves to add to the taste and avoids being harsh in any way. Southampton Abbot 12 is a good beer, but for my money a well executed quad is one of the best beers on the planet and this just doesn't quite measure up to that lofty standard.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2010 04:26:07 | More by axeman9182