Southampton Pumpkin Ale - Southampton Publick House

Arbitrator

California

1.98/5  rDev -46.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Chilled bottle into a glass. Shared by alfrantzell, I believe. Thanks, Arne.

A: Pours a clear, light copper body. Poor head retention, no lace.

S: It's highly spiced on the nose, mostly defined by an allspice and nutmeg blend. I don't pick up much else.

T: Mostly a spice-driven creature. Dominated by allspice and nutmeg, with a touch of cinnamon. No breadiness or sweetness to complement them; it seems like it was brewed with lighter malts that produce flavors of nuts and apples, but none of them are strong enough to give the beer much heft or flavor.

M: It's incredibly watery and thin, especially next to several other pumpkin beers. Disappointing.

D: I'd skip it.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 20:27:23 | More by Arbitrator

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

2.08/5  rDev -43.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

A-dark amber, not much head

S-pumpkin smell is weak, some spices are noticable

T-not flavorful at all. slight hint of pumpkin, no real after taste, quite disappointing

M-very average, not heavily carbonated, even watery to a point

D-the more you drink, the more bland it becomes, I ended up racing through this one just to get it over with

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 18:23:37 | More by AdamBear

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

2.17/5  rDev -41.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I'll be honest, this was the first of a short series of pumpkin beers I recently tried and I'd never had this style before. It turns out it's not my thing.

Started OK with a nice 1.25" head which eventually dissipates to next to nothing. And bouquet has that slight pumpkin pie smell. And though I suspected it was going to be sweet it wasn't, they didn't simply replicate pumpkin pie. But here's the thing, the spices pretty much overwhelm any real flavors of beer. I mean they could put the same things in a glass of iced tea and get pretty much this flavor.

Maybe this is a great example of pumpkin beer done right, I don't know, but it's not a great example of beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 12:00:37 | More by MoreThanWine

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

telecomz

Massachusetts

2.3/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Not an impressive pumpkin ale. The spices did not provide any strong aromas to enjoy before the quaff. In fact, the aroma was off-putting; medicinal. That medicinal quality was expressed in the taste as well. Expected more from this brewer and such a relatively high rated beer (but what isn't on BA?).

I can say this was my least favorite pumpkin ale of 2010.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 22:15:58 | More by telecomz

tigg924

Massachusetts

2.33/5  rDev -36.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Appearance: 1/3 inch head, orange-brown in color, clear, high carbonation

Smell: cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice

Taste: cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, and toasted malt--almost marzen like

Mouthfeel: overly sweet and spicy start with a bitter backbone that becomes bland, high carbonation, light bodied

Drinkability: The bottle describes this beer as not wanting to be over the top. This beer starts with a bang really sweet, but fades just as quick. With the light spicing, the beer becomes bland as the spices fade too quickly and what is left is a light marzen beer. I think with some tweaking this has potential to be really good. However, I have had better from the brewery and in the style. I would pass on this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2010 17:51:56 | More by tigg924

Seanibus

California

2.42/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A pumpkin beer is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition most of the time. And this one leans dangerously toward the Hate It side, though it isn't quite distinctive enough to hate.

Pours hazy amber with a small, dense sticky and lacy head. The aroma is good, strong and cinammony. The flavor, however, is flat and spicy, with a disappointing lack of sparkle or vibrancy. The spice is dull and heavy and the mouthfeel is thick and dry. Very disappointing

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2010 00:12:26 | More by Seanibus

FickleBeast

New Jersey

2.6/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass. My bottle looks different than the one pictured and lists 5.5% ABV

A - pours a clear amber with a weak attempt at foam that dissipates instantly

S - Smells strongly of cinnammon, not much else

T - yuck. not much malt to balance this beer, it just tastes watery with strong spiced flavor.

M - thin, watery, chemical bitter aftertaste

D - I am not enjoying this, will not buy or drink another.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 01:17:54 | More by FickleBeast

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

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle on 11/30/09

A - Pours a clean copper color with very little foam

S - pumpkin spices, cinnamon, cloves, not much more

T - malt sweet up front with strong spice finish, almost a dry feeling in the mouth

M - very carbonated mouthfeel, crisp

D - ok pumpkin beer, but pretty standard when compared to others

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2010 18:56:49 | More by mikereaser

chrisgn

Massachusetts

2.7/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This beer looks like a pumpkin ale and smells like a pumpkin ale, but the taste is way off. There is some spices there, but I cannot get past this vegetative quality. It tastes like beef vegetable soup to me. The mouthfeel is good, but for me the taste is not good. They may have tried to use the pumpkin too much and not enough spice to back it up.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 04:14:14 | More by chrisgn

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

BeerLover99

New Jersey

2.83/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: shiny copper body, no head, no lacing

S: light pumpkin and allspice

T: mild pumpkin, mild vanilla and allspice, semi-dry
finish

M: light body, plenty of carbonation
semi-dry finish

O: Feels more like lagerish than ale, wish
slightly smooth/creamier body. Ok
intro to pumpkin beers. Would not get again.

OK, COULD DO BETTER!

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 18:11:26 | More by BeerLover99

alpinebryant

Connecticut

2.83/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A: Pour is a clear dark pumpkin copper color with a full finger of fizzy white head.

S: Aroma of allspice, vanilla and a it of nutmeg and Cinnamon.

T: Flavors of not surprisingly, allspice, vanilla second and nutmeg with clove. Very light clove but just enough to make it prominent. There is a lot of carbonation here

M: Tons of carbonation, too much and a light fizzy body. Complexity is weak, not my favorite of the brews that I have had from Southampton.

O: Slightly unimpressed. They can do much better and for all I know this is the same run of the mill pumpkin beer that they have been making for 10 years. I think its time to step it up a notch here and increase the body.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 00:44:26 | More by alpinebryant

cbutova

Massachusetts

2.88/5  rDev -22%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a golden orange color with a one finger head that fizzes out quite fastly and leaves no lacing behind, making this one look like juice more than beer. Smells of nutmeg, pumpkin, some sour, and malts. Fades to pure malts eventually it seems. Tastes of pumpkin, nutmeg, malts, and spices. Taste is kind of weak on this one. Mouthfeel is watery with decent carbonation, smooth beer with no alcohol warming, the water is killing it here. Drinkability is decent, the taste is alright, the price was alright, probably wont get it again, not bad flavors to kill the beer because it is kind of weak in itself.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 02:01:45 | More by cbutova

mdaschaf

Washington

2.88/5  rDev -22%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

A: Pours a dark amber with a one finger white head.

S: Some nutmeg and pumpkin spies, and a little bit of cheap plastic

T: The smell comes through on the taste, but it is a little watered down. I don't like my pumpkin beers over the top, but I felt this one was lacking a little.

M/D: Medium bodied, with a little but too much carbonation for my taste. It sort of had a soda like texture to it. Not bad, but certainly not great. Would pass for other pumpkin beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 02:21:43 | More by mdaschaf

LennyV

New York

2.9/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured a dark coppor into my konings hoeven goblet. Small head disappears quickly, no lacing.

The smell is unimpressive. Faint pumpkin/spice smell

This Ale does not have an over the top pumpkin spice taste that other pumpkin brews exhibit.

It is a good brew but how does one rate it.

I guess if you like less subtle pumpkin brews this one would be a winner. If you are expecting a piece of pumpkin pie then look elseware.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2008 01:09:50 | More by LennyV

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

Boto

Connecticut

2.93/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

22oz. bomber: This one pours a clear amber color. There is a bit of an off-white head on it that drops off rather quickly. Fairly big nose of pumpkin pie spice, but not overdone. Nothing else can really make it through those. A somewhat thinner body to this beer. I taste some of the pie spices, but I get a bit of a metallic taste to the beer. Not one of their better offerings. Disappointing, since I really like this style.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2006 18:41:10 | More by Boto

AndoBrew

Georgia

2.93/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

*did not like would not buy*

app: nice deep copper! good fall color! white offish lil head, looks good!

smell: fall pumpkin spice, smells almost like a candle. yummy.

taste: not bad, its spicy. its watery. its ok, not bad, but a bit flat flavor wise and falls short of "the great pumpkin"

mf: thin easy spritzy, nice.

drinkable?: kinda, the fake pumpkin flavor gets to be to much "as it goes"

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2007 03:23:56 | More by AndoBrew

a74gent

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

"Not over the top with spices" it says on the bottle. No kidding...limited flavor here although a decent nose. It does get better as it warms up, but still nothing stellar.

The pumpkin spice flavor compenents are very, very mild and the base beer isn't great in my book. The flavors are not well formed and the only flavor is the mild spice.

The appearance is good although the foamy head is a little coke-ish. The nose is mild but good although the initial taste is a little soapish and not great.

Overall...I can drink it particularly when a little warmer, but I don't want a bunch of them.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 00:24:43 | More by a74gent

EPseja

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served from a 22oz. bomber in a pint glass at just below cellar temperature.

A - Poured with a bit of intentional glug to excite the nose and head, this clear amber-brown beer pushes up a nice two inch, fluffy crown of medium sizes bubbles. Lacing is minimal, but head retention is decent.

S - A very nice array of the usual pumpkin pie spice suspects with a sprinkling of liberal hoppiness that brightens up the mix and makes it quite forward. Definite honey. Unfortunately, there is also something about the nose that makes the cinnamon notes smell awfully artificial...

T - A bit light in the malt department, but not necessarily to detriment. The easy-bodied only semi-sweet start is soon overshadowed by a big swath of cinnamon and allspice that brings this beer dangerously close to the "spicy" arena. The finish brings about a decent hop bitter-dryness along with a leveling dose of nutmeg, but given the fact that there isn't a whole lot of malty sweetness to this beer, where is that cloying coming from? The aftertaste is stale and surprisingly tart. Hmm... Balance issues?

M - Slightly aggressive in the tongue-tingle and voluminous as it rises in the mouth. Definitely wouldn't describe it as "creamy".

D - This is one of my favorite styles, so when it comes to Pumpkin Ales, I'm quite "well read (drunk?)"... While the spice mix is spot on for this style, and the hopping is just right, most everything else about it seems to be just a half-step off balance. To boot, there is absolutely no squashy or pumpkiny anything about this beer other than the fact that it employs Pumpkin Pie spices.

I was really crossing my fingers hoping that this beer would be as delicious as Southampton's other offerings but alas, this is not the case. But look at the scores! Hmm... seems like another case of star-struck fans of the brand (can someone say Stone? Westvletern? Rochefort? Three Floyd's?) hoisting a mediocre beer to stardom based on it's name, not it's quality.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2006 00:28:36 | More by EPseja

Mistofminn

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to JoeyBeerBelly for this extra, Thanks Joe!

Poured into my Surly tulip. Pours a crystal clear amber red color, with ruby hints when held into artificial light.

There is something very strange in the nose...I can't quite put my finger on it. It almost smells like chapstick, or a slightly melted plastic or something...very unpleasant. I get light pumpkin and spices, but it's totally covered up by this off smell. I can only hope the taste is better.

The taste is a little better, but not by much. The chapstick taste is still there, but not as straight forward. I get pumpkin and spices, and a solid malt backbone. This would be pretty tasty if not for that strange taste/smell.

Mouthfeel is light, and slightly overcarbonated, however that actually makes this better, distracting from the strange taste. Drinkability would be much better if not, agian, for that off taste.

Overall, not a great first experience with Southampton. This could be infected, or I could be interpreting this very wrong, but it just didn't do it for me. Still, I'm glad I got the chance to try it, Thanks Joe!

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2009 22:55:15 | More by Mistofminn

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

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