Southampton Biere de Garde (French Country Christmas Ale)

Brewed by Southampton Publick House
Style: Bière de Garde
Southampton, New York USA

I tasted this with a friend this evening and I really enjoyed the upfront maltiness that prevailed here. The aroma was outstanding as it invited a taste of sweet malt that had many other elements to show as well.

In short: A fluffy caramel/honey take on the Bière de Garde style. Way above average for the genre.
How: Many times tasting sessions. Stable quality and stable (3.5-3.8) ratings
The look: Cloudy golden body with a large fluffy beige head
In long: As expected with the style the beer is rather sweet with a lot of honey taste. However this one is crisper than usual for the style with roasted hay and quite a bit of crisp caramel. Earthy. The carbonation is very lively, borderline aggressive. Creamy fluffy body. Tasty beer. This is an above average Bière de Garde although in all fairness, having a lot of the Bière de Gardes brewed in France helps to keep the average pretty low.

Verre de dégustation, provenant d’une bouteille de 750 ml avec bouchon de liège, dégusté lors de la soirée "La croisée des chemins" chez Cathshlag. Arôme: Odeur de caramel et d’épices. Apparence: La couleur est blonde orangée. Présence d’un moyen col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de caramel et de malt rôtis. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement minérale. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. (Rating #1022)

Rerate (2006 Christmas Ale): 750 mL bottle, courtesy of notalush @ BCTC. Thanks, Brandon! Pours a clear, orange-amber color with particulates; fluffy off-white head with large-bubbled retention and good lacing. Bready, creamy butter aroma with some xmas spice. Lively carbonation upfront; sharp citrus, leading into a bready and vanilla-laden mouthfeel; creamy and pleasant spicing. Lengthy, bready and white pepper finish. 7.4.7.3.13=3.4

Earlier rating (Biere de Garde): 750mL bottle, courtesy of artusory. Thanks, Ryan! Pours a hazy, golden-orange color; fluffy, off-white head with good retention and lacing. Light, yeasty and candy sugar aroma. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: plenty of yeast and bready esters; doughy and light citrus; layered, tasty stuff. Lengthy, yeasty and doughy finish. 6.4.7.4.14=3.5.

750 ml bottle. Poured a deep copper color with a HUGE foamy head and a virtual tornado of carbonation at the bottom of my Duvel tulip glass that ws just awesome looking. Aromas of yeast, spice, pepper and earth with no hop aroma at all. Flavor was of yeast and spice and very very dry. Very interesting beer but was a little to dry for my taste.

Bottle via beastiefan2k . Clear copper color with a huge, lasting off-white head. Warm caramel malt aroma with some spicy fruitiness. Musty and fruity with very drying mouth feel. Caramel, grapes, dark fruits. Sweet and dry.

Hazy orange with a large head, good lacing and retention. Aroma is yeast, caramel, lightly spiced with a good amount of various fruits. Flavor was very caramelly, medium bodied. Solid.

750 ml bottle. Pours cloudy amber color with full foam off white head. Aroma and taste of spice and malt with a very dry finish. Alcohol % on my bottle is 7.2%.