Double White Ale - Southampton Publick House

bultrey

New York

4.4/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

What is going on in Southampton, NY? I used to think nothing good came from that part of the state, but I've changed my mind about that.
This isn't really even a style of beer -- double wit -- but it is an exceptional beer nevertheless. This beer is to normal Wit beers as the American "double IPA" (also not really a style -- why not just call it barleywine) is to an IPA. Many of the standard wit beer flavors are here, but are undercurrents. The real story here is a sweet orange peel flavor, like triple sec, or maybe even Grand Marnier. In fact, imagine if Grand Marnier was a beer. This would be it. This isn't a one-note beer, however, as there is some coriander and wheat malt flavor, but it is no doubt an orange explosion. In fact, one of the previous reviewers had it right when he compared the malt flavor to a glazed doughnut. An orange-glazed doughnut, that is. The malt comes out more once the beer warms, as is expected. The final pour (I drank a 750 mL, which is, I think, the only way this is bottled), revealed a huge amount of yeast, which suspended itself in the beer as if the liquid were Jello, and it also revealed a few thin peels of orange. Shocking!

Overall, the carbonation is rich and full, but a bit to "selztery," if that makes sense, meaning soda-like and not a nice, creamy mousse. The only problem with this is I am so full at the end of this, I couldn't drink another -- even though my brain wants me to.
It's not the Grand Cru -- what is? -- but Southampton has produced another innovative, and expertly crafted brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2004 03:18:10 | More by bultrey

rajendra82

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The beer arrived in a 750 ml greenish brown, champagne style bottle with a wire cage and a cork. The beer was included in the BIF 10 box by Lupe. The cork was quite tight and when pulled out, gave a nice and loud pop. The body was pale yellow in color with some yeast induced cloudiness. The head was quite small in size due to my intitial gentle pour, although a steady stream of bubbles did stay around the entire session. My second pour was more aggressive, and a nice head did form at first, but it was not very lasting. The aroma was very musty and earthy at first, but as the beer breathed fresh air, the fruity scents of banana and orange, and some floral notes came more to the forefront. The taste was delicately light with a lemony, zesty flavor that was perfectly enhanced by spices that tasted like ginger, pepper, and coriander. The alcohol content was very deceptively hidden, and did not get in the way of the refreshing nature of the beer at all. The mouthfeel was light, and just a touch creamy. The aftertaste was dry and warm, thanks to the alcohol and the spices. This 2004 edition is a most delicious take on the style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2004 02:34:17 | More by rajendra82

Lupe

New York

4.6/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2004 Edition
750ml bottle

Pours a hazy yellow-orange color capped by a foamy white head that leaves nice lacing behind. Zesty aroma with the typical witbier characters, only turned up a bit: coriander, pepper, and citrus. Starts off crisp with a coriander and pepper bite along with lemon-orange-citrus zest. Wheat flavors step-up to soften things out. Spices, a light breadiness, and some funky yeast dance in the backround. Alcohol does not show up in the flavor profile. Medium in bodied and siky smooth. A complex wit, but retains the style's crispness. Highly drinkable; could have finished the bottle off myself, but I had to go somewhere. Feed a Hoegaarden some steriods and you will get something almost as good as this. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2004 01:50:48 | More by Lupe

frank4sail

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted in a Blanche de Bruges spicey cinnamin smell to the cork. Very clean clear peach look in the goblet. Lots of carbonation in the brew and a sticky white head on the pour... this head laves just a fine outer rim and lace on the glass. Glased doughnut (krispy kreme) smell with touches or corriander and orange rind. Full flavored wheat malt upfront is cut and balenced quickly with corriander, clove, and white pepper. The tongue is left with a slight orange whisp of dryness. The mouth is very layered and complex starting with full coating maltiness then at mid sip sparkles with lively carbonation and finishes clean and dry. A roller coaster of a wit... good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2004 01:30:56 | More by frank4sail

Crosling

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Shared at a tasting with ratebeerians Ernest and Aubrey.

Hazy Yellow.

The aroma was incredible. Easily one of the best smelling beers I have ever come across. Notes of lemon peel, orange, butter toffee and coriander in the nose.

Flavor was more of the same. Notes of lemon, coriander, caramel, butter toffee and orange. This is by far the best wit beer I have ever had.

By the way, pour slowly.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2004 14:35:20 | More by Crosling

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Blind Tiger NYC, Poured cloudy, sort of off white,yellowish, not much head, tiny bubble film and leaving well defined lacing. Nose of yeast, and spice. Citrus, yeast, spice, alcohol, carry this one, medium body, silky smooth mouthfeel. Interesting concoction, style buster. Another winner from Phil and crew. Got to meet the brewmaster at the Tiger's S'hampton night, allways a treat.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2004 12:00:38 | More by Billolick

MJR

Missouri

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2003 corked and caged 750ml green bottle

Hazy, dull straw with a thick and creamy bright white head. Sturdy lacing. Aroma has tart wheat, perfume, soft coriander, medicinal phenols, faint orange peel, lemon, a hint of pear, and buttery, earthy yeast. Very soft and round nose here.

The flavor follows the same character as the aroma, with a softness and lightness which make the alcohol content all but forgettable. Medicinal phenols and soft coriander make themselves comfortable atop a huge base of chunky wheat, with black pepper spiciness and citrus notes (lemon, orange, and pear) making themselves known here and there. Fairly light in body, with a soft and gentle carbonation that lends a lovely creaminess to the mouthfeel. Ends with a warming shot of alcohol, with all of the various flavors in a congenial balance. Yeast pour at the end thickens it up and darkens it a bit. Hefty shot of coriander deep into the aftertaste.

Overall, a very well done ‘double gravity’ wit that would make a great summer refresher, despite its strength.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2004 16:54:55 | More by MJR

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.6/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I've been sitting on this since a recent trip to Southampton and am excited to drink this one. THe bottle is a 750,corked and caged.
I am sampling a slightly chilled sample in a snifter. The beer pours a clear bright gold color that resembles champagne coming out of the bottle. I get a bleached white head to foam up and fade to an edge layer that remains throughout sampling.
Aroma is rich and spciy, I get some cloves, yeasty bananas, lemon hits too. Very nice and appealing.
First sip reveals a fine bubbled carbonation, with nice body and a slight syrupy texture, which I like here. Flavor is light citrus with lemon and orange peel coming through. Also a yeasty bread flavor mixed in. The finish rolls to a slight tartness similar to a granny smith apple or white grapes. I also get a slight alcohol warming in my belly as I swallow.
This is a very appealing beer and simply complex. Much more going on here than a wit beer so I guess the double is appropriate.
Definitely will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2004 23:46:28 | More by sulldaddy

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.55/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2004 bottle Vintage, Sampled April 2004
As I pour this beer it generates a thick, white, frothy head. The beer itself is a murky yellow orange color. Aromas of bready yeastiness, lemon zest, and orange waft from my glass. As I take my first sip I note that this beer is nice and refreshingly light bodied. It finishes with an appealing acidic tartness, which is a great foil for the flavors that are in the front of this beer. There is a definite lemony/ orange character, and it is joined by a light coriander note. The carbonation reinforces the invigorating zing that is found in the finish.

The acidity in this is quite wonderful, nothing like a Lambic or a Flemish Sour, but it is here, and it is quite welcome. I really like this beer, of course I am a sucker for Wit beers. This beer finishes with a bit of astringency. This beer is straight forward, yet complex at the same time, refreshing yet contemplative.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2004 17:20:54 | More by Gueuzedude

marburg

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Double is right.

Double the opacity, for one. This is a significantly hazed brew with a color that's more than mere shades beyond that of a normal witbier. Rotting orange peel or over-ripe Fuji apple sort of brown with a fairly big frothy head.

Dusty, ground coriander in the aroma. Moist and musty. A zesty beer too, to be sure, but this carries more weight to it. You can tell right from the outset. Medium-bodied -- more oomph than one might expect from the style -- and thick. Pleasantly flavored, however, with all the usual suspects -- coriander and orange...bits of lemon. A touch of yeasty, organic "blah" helps keep this from being too intense in some respects. Quite good; very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2004 14:35:29 | More by marburg

pbrian

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

'03 bottling. Cloudy yellowish/orange, no real head to speak of. First wiff produced a funky barnyard aroma, but that was the first and last wiff I'd get of that. Damn. Subsequent aromas were more phenolic and fruity sweet supported by milder yeasty and spicy ones (I only picked up corriander 'cause it said it on the label, otherwise I probably would have missed it completely). Initial burst of flavors were sweet and fruity (orange, apricots). The middle was more lemony and yeasty and it finished a bit sticky, which was weird because it was medium to light bodied. I still couldn't pick up much of the corriander/orange peel aspects and I think that has to due it being a more mature bottle. Overall it was an extremely enjoyable, flavorful ale. It seemed to have more triple or double hefe (?) characteristics than "double white" ones, but who cares about style designations anyway? I'd thank Davo for the bottle but I won it as part of a bet (Pats Rule!) and I don't think he was too happy to depart with it. lol

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2004 16:12:42 | More by pbrian

ark57

Pennsylvania

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

When I think of white ales I think of a pale ale that is cloudy. This beer is a dark orange color and is clear. It has a sweet citrus aroma and some cedar notes. There is a taste of corriander in the medium to full body. It has a slight bitter finish. I liked this beer, but it does not make me think of the wits that I have normally had. It was a good change of pace.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2004 14:51:21 | More by ark57

erica

California

4.83/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Mmmmm! I tried this lovely Southampton beer at an Oscar's party, split a bottle with my boyfriend. I could easily have had the whole bottle, but we only had 1 and so we had to share. At least I got some. It was a yellow-gold colour, cloudy, with a big white fluffy head that took a while to go down. It smelled wheaty, with apricots and spice, very nice. It tasted amazing- like a white but with so much more going on! I tasted a definite grape/wine flavor, mixed with peppery spicecake taste and apricots and a hoppy taste near the finish, a bit dry I guess you could say. Mouthfeel was very good, soft and silky, and again, i could've drank the whole bottle, but I can't complain, as I'm very glad to have had any at all.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2004 17:58:37 | More by erica

francisweizen

Australia

4.6/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle, 2004 Edition: Pop the cork and pour. This is a very cloudy golden liquid with a frothy head of white foam. Aromas are those of a classic single wit beer, and consist of the following: coriander, pepper, other various spices, candy sugar, light bready malts, citrus fruits, and lightly snappy hops. The taste is spicy, malty, and hoppy on the back of the tongue. The alcohol precense is minimal, and this is very reminiscent of a souped up, more complex version of Hoegaarden. The mouthfeel is thicker than a regular wit beer, and more "triple like" in its carbonation. The drinkability is excellent, as this beer is insanely refreshing, yet slightly high in ABV. Watch out if you have a few of these....excellent stuff!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2004 23:06:34 | More by francisweizen

aracauna

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is something I'd like to try my hand at. I love witbiers and my wife enjoys them as well and this is quite simply an excellent witbier made with a bit more body (although not heavy) and just a hint of alcohol presence. The body is a little darker than the average witbier and a bit heavier (although if you've had Dogwood Summer, you've got an idea about it). The coriander and orange peel aromas meld nicely with the yeasty esters and phenols and the alcohol peeps through just enough that you know it's there, but not enough to slap you in the face and say "look at me! I'm big!" Great beer. I'd love to make a trip to this brewery's brewpub.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2004 19:09:22 | More by aracauna

ManekiNeko

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on tap at David Copperfield's.

Appearance: Slightly hazy lemon yellow with a bright white head. Very fine bubbles and great lacing,

Smell: Orange and lemon citrus aromas with bits of honey and coriander/pepper spiciness.

Taste: Nice snappy lemon flavor with not enough sweetness from the malt.

Mouthfeel: Very light bodied and smooth as silk. No astringency despite the citrus flavor profile.

Drinkability: Uber-drinkable. Too bad I had a beer tasting to go a few hours later.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2003 19:25:36 | More by ManekiNeko

jcalabre

California

3.1/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I must give a big thanks to herbjones for sharing this one with me. This pours a hazy yellow gold color with a white meringue head. There's absolutely no orange peel taste in here, but as the beer warms the spiciness comes out. It is very creamy on the palate & is a good hot weather beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2003 18:03:51 | More by jcalabre

Stingray5

New York

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle. Pours a cloudy burnt yellow with a large, frothy white head. Bit of cork in my glass was removed without incident. Haunting, biting spicy aromas. Medium mouthful, low carbonation. Taste is of multiple spices including cloves, nutmeg, coriander, white pepper. Nice yeasty presence rounds things out. Finished with warming alcohol, banana and almost a sour whisky flavor.

Wits typically aren't my thing, but I'm warming up to this one as it warms up for me. Aroma was outstanding, but the sourness in the finish made it not so drinkable for me. A bit pricey at 9.99 for the 750, but still a well crafted ale that deserves mentioning. Thanks to Malto for the recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2003 20:05:23 | More by Stingray5

dwarbi

New York

4.28/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer is very light colored. No head at all. It looks more like a tasty pilsner. What an aroma! Smells like I am standing in a wheat field, and it makes me want to dance! Very tasty brew. Not as crisp and clean as I look for in the style (a little thick), but rich and very drinkable.
*I'm surprised I'm the first one to review this on tap. NYers, keep an eye out, you can get in on draught now.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2003 17:58:18 | More by dwarbi