Southampton Pumpkin Ale - Southampton Publick House

SLeffler27

New York

3.7/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The head is short lived with a loose, rocky composition. The head is off white and crackles while it dissipates. Large carbonation bubbles cling to the fisheye pint glass with a slightly murky, orange copper background. No lace was left on the glass.

The aroma is that of lightly spiced pumpkin with cloves and nutmeg, but pumpkin plays the primary role.

Flavor is mostly pumpkin with some spice. Nutmeg is more prominent than anticipated from the nose with some sweet potato pie in an overall nicely balanced sweetness. The finish is light and pumpkin meat is clearly showcased.

The body is thin with more alcohol than anticipated and heavily carbonated with big bubbles. A light astringency and watery texture.

This is one of the more enjoyable pumpkin beers I have tried.

While pumpkin ales make for a nice diversion, the whole style seems more gimmick than true craft. Still, this is enjoyable when one is in the mood during the season. Unlike other seasonal offerings; for me, Pumpkin Ales are only enjoyable during their season.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 12:23:27 | More by SLeffler27

nickfl

Florida

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours with a small head of white foam on top of a clear, copper colored body. The foam settles at a moderate pace and leaves decent lace.

S - Caramel malt, earthy pumpkin, and spicy notes of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.

T - Dry toffee up front with some clove and allspice in the middle. Finishes with lightly spicy hops, clove, cinnamon, and a touch of earthy pumpkin.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - Not bad, it is a pretty standard pumpkin ale but a little dryer than most. Might work a little better with a touch more sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 02:48:20 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: hazy copper body, some lacing, single finger head with poor retention.

S: fresh pumpkin, nutmeg, brown sugar and caramel.

T: spices, sweet pumpkin, nutmeg, brown sugar. follows the nose closely other than the pumpkin is more like fresh carved pumpkin in the aroma and more pumpkin pie in the taste.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: this is simply a pumpkin ale as expected. nothing memorable for a good or bad reason.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 02:44:16 | More by kylehay2004

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Clear. Burnt orange and deep gold at the bottom. Head is off-white. Small, bubbly cap and collar. Minor lacing. Nice carbonation pulls throughout.

Smell: Pumpkin flesh, sweet bready malts, allspice, and cinnamon. Not quite pumpkin pie filling sweet, but close. Nutmeg and ginger as well. Nice rounded toasted pumpkin seed element in the back. Nice earthy vegetal quality. Lingering spiciness.

Taste: Allspice jump to the forefront. Some nice malt sweetness. Vaguely bready. Toasted notes are a nice compliment. Mild squashy pumpkin flavor plays with some sweeter canned pumpkin notes. Spices build as the beer warms, giving nutmeg and cinnamon a fair shake. Nice balance to the whole thing. A bit grassy.

Mouthfeel: Nice and smooth with a moderate carbonation. Body is average and on point. A touch dry.

Overall: Charlie Brown would have been disappointed with this pumpkin, I am not.

A solid take overall. Nice balance of spice, malt, and pumpkin. It drinks like a beer and tastes like a pumpkin beer should. It's not the best or the boldest, but sometimes that's ok.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 19:05:22 | More by Goblinmunkey7

ckollias

Maryland

3.85/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed 12oz bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Pours a copper-orange hue with a one-finger white head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace leaving no trail down the glass.

S: There is a pumpkin and all-spice aroma with hints of cinnamon.

T: Similar to the aroma there is a pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, and all-spice flavor.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Good pumpkin beer – worthy of a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 02:38:39 | More by ckollias

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This brew was served from the tap at Monty’s Korner in Rochester, NY. It was delivered in a standard pint glass, glowing a dusky pale orange coloring. It held a brief one finger head of creamy white bubbles, leaving flecks of lacing as it went. Clarity was low, but no sediment was noted. Carbonation appeared lighter. The nose was of a relatively standard pumpkin beer. There was cooling spice of nutmeg, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice, with raw clove and light booze on the far back. The malts were pale, with a light toast, and rather muddy around the edges. Our first impression was that, as with the nose, it was a pretty standard beer, but had bold flavoring nonetheless. As we sipped, the flavor opened with pale malts, light yeast, and tin. The flavoring bordered on adjuncty, but the spicy coolness helped to keep things fresh, and refreshing. This spice came in the form of pumpkin spice predominantly, with a lightness of salt and cooling, clovey esters. The peak showed wheatiness, more spice, and light booze. The finish, and aftertaste were more of the same, with grain singing against a spicy, thoroughly pumpkin-laden undercurrent. The body was medium, and the carbonation was medium. The mouth was left wet and cooled, much like with a hefe. The coating was light, as afforded by decent froth, slurp, smack, and glug. The abv was appropriate, and the beer went down easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the flavoring. While at times it bordered on cheapness, the heavy spice more than made up for it. That being said, things were a bit one-dimensional, and the drinker was left wanting a bit more in the way of big aromatics and thicker, heartier feel and froth on the lips.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2012 23:43:12 | More by TheBrewo

MichaelPhiladelphiaBeer

2.78/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Tap

A-
Light amber, Small white head

N- Not much of a nose, Light fruits at best

T- spicey, light sweetness, little bitter hoppy back

Mf effervescent front followed by smooth - pretty standard 

Overall - Nothing special. I could drink it but I'd rather risk something I haven't had or go to one of the many other better October/pumpkin beers

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 10:26:16 | More by MichaelPhiladelphiaBeer

theBubba

New York

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Nice golden amber color, quick to fade head, but some lacing that hung in.

Smell was typical of the style, but thankfully not overladen with the mandatory pumpkin pie spices. Nutmeg was up front and worked for me. And there was no clove overkill (some brewers don't understand this and make "clove ale" as a seasonal. Yuck.)

Taste? Ah, well therein lies the problem. Behind all this nice pumpkin and mild spice we get a sour, lambic, off putting taste. Another reviewer described it as cider like. In any case, it negates all the positive things about this ale. And the hops that come through after the swallow fail to save the day.

Mouthfeel was thin, and the sourness didn't help.

All in all a mediocre pumpkin ale. I've tasted better.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 03:20:20 | More by theBubba

brureview

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A nice color: golden honey.

Vanilla pumpkin fruit aroma, which dissipates after a while.
Mouthfeel smooth, not much carbonation.
The finish is disappointing. Lemony, cidery, with little
pumpkin taste. This detracts from the balance
of the beer.

Overall, the taste needs improvement.
Less cider, smoother balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 01:08:49 | More by brureview

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.03/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

P:  ADD carbonation exploding upward in the thin slightly hazed amber body.  Off-white head was small and easily scared away settling to a placid top. 

S:  Aroma is tart, citric acid, Nestea lemon flavored tea,  pumpkin, stale wheat bread, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  The aroma is similar to a sour.  Phenols presence is spicy and acidic.  

T/M:  Thin highly carbonated body that explodes with full frontal pumpkin, toasted cinnamon and nutmeg. Sweet corn, lemon juice tartness and hints of grain. Taste is too acidic for the style and the flavors are severely watered down.  Finish is puckering and dry with lingering pumpkin. 

O:  Im pretty sure this was infected due to the high acidity and tartness. Most pumpkin beers fall short of expecyations of a warming fall harvest brew that should be roasty, rich and have substance. This is yet another watered down pumpkin beer. It had all the flavors and the up pumpkin was the sure frontier, but it's too thin. This is one on the don't revisit list. Sorry Southampton. 

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 22:56:50 | More by Hopswagger

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Aroma has a malty core with firm pumpkin, cinnamon and cloves notes. Pours a somewhat hazy copper-amber, almost a pumpkin color, with a decent pale wheat head. Flavor has a malty core with subtle notes of pumpkin and cloves plus hints of cinnamon. Texture has OK body and fizz, not great but still acceptable. Overall, a decent it not top-of-the-line fall brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 18:29:36 | More by Cyberkedi

ack210

3.7/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a conical pint glass.

Appearance- Minimal head that dissipates quickly, a little less than one finger. Light copper in color, small amount of lacing.

Smell- Mild smell, but pumpkin dominates. Hints of nutmeg, vanilla, and perhaps cinnamon become apparent along with some caramel malts.

Taste- Upfront, the pumpkin that dominated the aroma does not seem to translate. The taste is almost bland at first, as if the beer itself is confused as to how it should taste. Eventually, a lightly roasted caramel malt flavor becomes apparent, and on the finish the pumpkin finally shines through. The pumpkin is accentuated with nutmeg and vanilla that lingers in the mouth.

Mouthfeel- Carbonation is above average and provides the beer with a 'nip'. Body on the lighter side of moderate; a little thin.

Overall the beer seems to be lacking the malty backbone of other pumpkin ales, allowing the pumpkin to come through. I found the pumpkin to be well balanced with the other spices. For someone like me who isn't the biggest fan of a strongly malty taste, I ended up enjoying this beer despite being unsure on the first couple sips.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 01:54:05 | More by ack210

oberon

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint glass,a fuller but not quite as deep as burnt orange color with a half finger white head that lasted well.Warming pumpkin pie spice aromas with nutmeg and cinnamon dominating,a bit of toastiness undereath the spice complimented it well.Like to many of the style for me it's a little too spiced on the palate,cinnamon,nutmeg,and orange-like cardamom flavors over top of a lightly toasted base,it's not overly sweet just a bit over spiced.Not a bad pumpkin ale but not something to drink alot of because it gets a bit to spiced...in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 19:48:06 | More by oberon

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a deep reddish amber color with a two finger head which leaves some lines of lace. The aroma is of cinnomon and pumpkin. The taste starts out with some cinnomon and spice before a medium size pumpkin flavor comes in. The pumpkin flavor is good but not over powering. The end there is a very good vanilla flavor. The mouthfeel is a little thin. Overall this is a solid pumpkin beer, I enjoyed this and will seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 15:35:38 | More by goblue3509

merc7186

New York

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Orangish/Brown Hue, Passes Some Light, Thin White Head Ring, No Lacing

S: Pumpkin, Cinnamon

T: Pumpkin, Mild Cinnamon

M: Mediocre Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Mildly Spicy

Overall, a pretty average pumpkin ale, a nice beginner beer for non craft beer drinkers but doesnt do much for me, especially when there are better options available and at the same price.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 18:07:16 | More by merc7186

psuKinger

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into a standard nonic.

A: Pours a moderate orange translucent hue with a moderate white head on top that dissipated quickly.

S: Lots of pumpkin in the nose. A good bit of nutmeg. Cinnamon a distant third.

T: Cinnamon has more of a presence on the tongue than it did in the nose. Vanilla flavors on the finish are more pronounced than the pumpkin is, which is disappointing for me. Amber malts add a touch of sweetness, but aren't particularly present either, as the appearance would suggest.

M: Thinner than I remember, with a wet finish. Carbonation seems a tad low.

D/O: Not what I remember. Not sure if this beer has changed, my taste has changed, or if I was foiled by a sugar-rimmed glass in a great pub with great friends a few years back. It's thin and watery, and full of more "pumpkin pie spice" and "vanilla extract" than it is "pumpkin".

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 01:41:06 | More by psuKinger

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a crystal clear dark copper to amber in color with some light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a two finger tall creamy light beige head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of pumpkin pie spices (primarily allspice, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon) with some lighter notes of pumpkin. Slightly sweet smelling.

T: The taste is quite similar to the smell for this beer with both pumpkin pie spices and pumpkin featuring. There is a moderate amount of caramel malt sweetness with lighter flavors of pumpkin. The pumpkin pie spices in the flavor are cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Starts out sweet and finishs with some light bitterness.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin.

O: This beer is easy to drink with pumpkin pie flavors that are not overbearing and a moderate ABV. Enjoyable and certainly a beer I would have again. Not overly sweet like some offerings in this style.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 22:19:41 | More by dbrauneis

RickS95

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours with rich, warming amber brown with some lighter notes of orange. It's most clear, but with the faintest bit of haze. The head is a dirty offwhite. Beautifully cascading with the pour, a couple fingers thick, with nice retention as the middle falls in on itself.

Might be the best smelling pumpkin ale I've had so far. Actual bits of pumpkin fruit, along with the traditional spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, and a nice addition of vanilla to soften the spices.

The taste falls a bit flat compared to the smell as the strong scents don't make the trip to the taste buds. It's a fairly malt-forward drink and I think the maltiness overwhelms the additional seasonal ingredients giving subtle, if not watered down, flavors.

In the mouth the beer suffers a bit because of that loose, watery feel. The spices do hit hard, but it can't compete with the malt and what feels like wheat. No real hop presence, but there is a strange mix of the watered down feel, yet kind of a dry, biting finish.

Overall, it's a fairly decent rendition that builds up anticipation with its good looks and smell, but fails to deliver on what's initially expected. Instead, leaving with you with a good, though not great, autumn beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 03:53:54 | More by RickS95

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Amber color with a small cap of head. The head is fading more so than falling. Lacing looks very nice. 3.5

Cinnamon bark, nutmeg, and clove. Hints of pumpkin meat and toasted grain. 3.5

Woah. Very chalky with spiced. Tastes like they tried to dissolve a teaspoon of cinnamon and a half-teaspoon of nutmeg into this beer. Grains employ tanginess, almost with astringency. Light solvent flavors are distracting and unwanted. Not super sweet, and not completely devoid of a cooked pumpkin flavor. Bitterness is a little harsh. Hardly picking up ale yeast qualities. 3.0

Too tangy and acrid. Powerful smack of booze in the finish. Carbonation and body are described as average. 2.5

So-so pumpkin beer. Almost lager-y. Heavy-handed with the pie spices. Many I'd drink before this one. 3.0

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2012 01:13:25 | More by thecheapies

DewTheBrew

2.28/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle to a glass.

My disappointment with this beer grew as the process of pouring it went on. Nothing wrong with the appearance. My friend and I split a bottle. Dark brown with a malty- looking cream head

As I smelled the glass I looked at my friend and his look was the same. We thought before we even tasted it that it smelled like a Natty or a Pabst. No hint of pumpkin whatsoever.

The head was full of air pockets as well much like one of those cheaper beers.

Taste was the same. Cheap, party keg taste. It was like someone took pumpkin spice from a Starbucks and sprinkled it atop of a Natty light. It was this beer's only saving grace but it left me highly disappointed. And I'm hard to disappoint when it comes to beer. ANY pumpkin beer I've had so far has been better

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 13:40:43 | More by DewTheBrew

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Orange like the beer's namesake. Fingerswidth head is quick to dissipate and all remaining foam is gone by 3/4 glass.

Pumpkin pie aroma. Southampton adds vanilla extract so it actually smells like pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream - which is pretty sweet. Tastes like pumpkin pie a la mode too. Has enough beery-ness to make it stick.

Pie + ice cream = very good. The addition of beer does nothing to diminish the equation.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 00:04:03 | More by donkeyrunner

Brad007

Vermont

2.9/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a nice shade of orange and amber with a thin head into my glass. Looks like your standard pumpkin ale.

Weak hint of pumpkin spice in the nose. Not much else to go by. I can't tell if this is intentional or not but this beer did just appear on the shelves.

Pumpkin-flavored fizzy water at this point. I don't mean to be so insulting but I expect more from pumpkin ales. I don't mind a bit of bread crust or more pumpkin spice.

Ditto for mouthfeel. What is that?

Pumpkinhead is more desirable than this and that's not something that I usually say. Check that one out or go for the imperials.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 01:15:19 | More by Brad007

mikeg67

New Jersey

2.63/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle. Pours amber with a long lasting off-white head. Aroma is of citrusy hops and caramel malt. Body is medium and smooth. Taste is sour (infected?), pumpkin seeds, some hops and spices. This brew is bordering on undrinkable. Probably the bottle was bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 16:13:18 | More by mikeg67

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 64 oz growler 20 hours after opening- pours a slightly hazy golden amber color. Has very minimal head but when it was fresh it was plentiful, good retention, no lacing.

Smell is very nice- pumpkin, pale malt, a little nutmeg, a tiny bit of hops.

Taste is wonderful- perfect balance of pumkin, barley and hops. Some bitterness up front, followed by the pale malt, then pumpkin and the appropriate spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), then finish out with some mild American hops and sweetness.

Mouthfeel is nice- medium light body, light to moderate carbonation, slightly sweet finish. I don't like pumkin beers ordinarily but I have enjoyed this grower. I would recommend this over shipyard or any of the others I tried.

Serving type: growler

09-14-2012 23:59:59 | More by Hopdaemon39

Thickfreakness

New York

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Nice copper/orange color. A thin fizzy head gives way quickly to a ton of carbonation. No real lacing left. Not much to see here.

S- Spiced pumpkin pie with a buttery crumb crust. Canned pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice, ginger, graham crackers, and some black pepper.

T- Frozen pumpkin pie... not Grandma's homemade! Nice and malty... Cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, hints of caramel, vanilla and just a touch of graham cracker crust. Better than some, but not as good as I remember it being on tap.

M- Nice malt bill... sweet and fruity linger beneath the pumpkin. Nicely spiced, not overwhelmingly so. Nice vanilla, pie spice, pepper... wishing for more actual pumpkin. Nice carbonation tho.

O- Good, but not great. The spice flavors seem right, but it seems like it's needing/missing some stronger pumpkin flavors. Well done but not overdone! I think I just found a new beer to add to my Pumpkin Pulled Pork!

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 18:53:56 | More by Thickfreakness