Southampton Biere De Mars

Head is initially large, frothy, off-white, mostly lasting. Body is hazy medium amber, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted bread, cookie, caramel), moderately hoppy (flowers, herbs), moderately yeasty (cobwebs, barnyard), with notes of peach, plum, honey, graham crackers. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, velvety texture, lively carbonation. Damn! Phil sure knows what the hell he’s doing. This guy is making some of the most authentic French and Belgian style beers in the States, without question. His saison and this biere de garde are on a par with the best in Belgium and France, and that’s an extremely rare thing. This style requires a very tight and characterful balance of malt, yeast, AND hops to get it right, and damned if he didn’t nail it. Nothing short of amazing. This made my jaw drop. Only slightly less rich than Bavaisienne...drier finish as well, which makes drinking the entire bottle go too fast.

Foggy pumpkin. Clumpy, sticky head of meringue density. Invigoratingly spicy aroma of perfume, fir, dandelions, and sprucey hops. Airy and immensely estery with pinches of mango, leathery yeast, and white pepper. Tight, yet fluffy, carbonation. Array of spunky, waxlike yeast flavors prevail atop an assorted tropical fruit overlay, which immediately lends softness to the body. Beautifully-placed note of peach fuzz and coarse ginger esters underscore the bright peach flavor, which deflects the perfectly-stated acidity and continually underlies the brew. Plaster and tangy wheat soften the alcohol spice. Extremely shy honeyed malt emergence comes and goes amid traces of mint leaf and glazed peaches. Harmonious interplay between the relentlessly spicy yeast attack and staunchly round hop anchor. Takes on a leafier, dried herb flavor, post-swallow, accompanied by a drying minty alcohol effect and a crescendo of zippy yeast, white pepper, and glazed peaches. A voluptuous Fantôme-esque farmhouse rendition, teeming with Brewers' Gold and complex/funky yeast character. Closer to Saison than Biere de Garde, though.

750 ml bottle. After having the french country christmas ale last ngiht and the biere de mars tonight it is easy to see why this one has a higher overall score. Better carbonation, better head rention, more spicy aroma, and finishes smoother, with no astringency. Deep copper/light amber and very clear with an awesome tight head with excellent lace. Aroma is complex with lots of farmhouse/barnyard characteristics- hay herbal spicy and some horseblanket. Also noticed some phenols, cloves as well as some fruitiness. The aroma is almost as complex as their saison. Flavor is also very yeasty with an excellent malt backbone of toasted malts, biscuit and bready flavors. Goes down very smooth and is the perfect springtime beer. I will buy this one again, but probably pass on the biere de garde in the future.

750 ml bottle. I completely forgo that I had this very generous gift from beastiefan2k. Hazy orange pour with a very tight laced head. Rich biscuity/crackery malt base. Rich and bready yet light and drinkable at the same time. Crisp clean malts with a hint of nuttiness and a light sherryish oxidation. Beautiful bright minty aroma over the sweet malts. There is a light orange peel, soft cardamon and spice and a light fruitiness as well. On the back there is a soft tropical pineapple character and light tartness. Corky mustiness adds yet another layer to this already very nuanced brew. An amazing balance of yeast, hops and malt. What a fantastic beer... thanks Eugene.

Hazy dark orange pour with a huge yeast cloud in suspension. A small, creamy and very tightly compacted off-white head forms and remains throughout. Light sheets of drooping lacing. Tons of sediment particles. The aroma is nicely spiced and well-rounded. Notes of coriander, Belgian yeast, noble hops, grassy plains, herb gardens, flowers in bloom, very sweet malt and peach nectar. Alcohol is undetectable. No flaws noted, no DMS, no diacetyl. Just a soft aroma of springtime. The flavor is lightly bitter, very earthy and herbal, with additions of sweet and sour fruits and rustic barnyard nuances. Hops in the aroma combine with ample but never excessive yeastiness to create a soft, succulent blend of spices. Acidity is reserved until the country-feeling finish, where bitterness and drying start to come into play. the length of the finish is superb; it’s also a very clean and caressing style of earthiness, leaving lingering floral hints and touches of sweet caramel. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, with soft carbonation that’s flows freely and keeps the whole experience very upbeat. Exceptionally creamy and balanced, never bogged down by any weighty, unneccessary, overdone additions. This is a fantastic blend of hops, malt and yeast. Everything is plentiful yet reserved in it’s agression, resulting in a feeling of authenticity and a true love and skill in brewing this difficult to master style. A wonderful beer, brewed with a degree of craftsmanship that should render any fan of the style speechless. At least, speechless long enough to soak in all these wonderful subtleties.