Southampton Imperial Porter

Brewed by Southampton Publick House
Style: Baltic Porter
Southampton, New York USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker, Snifter

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I poured a 12oz bottle into a goblet. There was no freshness date whatsoever. The bottle cost $2.50, that’s $0.208 per ounce.

Appearance: Opaque black with no visible carbonation. Forms a fairly large, light gray, frothy head which retains and laces well.

Smell: Generic porter smell. No distinguishable notes.

Taste: Southampton is a brewery that has not impressed me much. I’ve heard good things about their imperial porter, and figured if any of their beers would wow me, this would be it. While this is not a bad beer at all, it’s only a plain "good" beer. If good is what you want and good is what they’re going for then consider it a success.

Technically a Baltic Porter, this beer does have a bit of lager-like character to it (Baltic Porters are a hybrid lager/ale style). I notice a tangy consistency throughout the entire palette. Mild roasted malt flavors and a hint of chocolate or maple syrup in the first half, followed by a quick bitter sensation and finishing with hint of tanginess. The sweetness is nice and delectable, but has a ways to go to be on par with the more gourmet imperial porters and stouts. A well-balanced brew, though, which is nice. Not too intense, though I think more robustness would actually serve this beer well. Satisfying is good enough I suppose.

Drinkability: I think Southampton Imperial Porter is a bit of a misnomer because at 7.2% ABV, it’s not all that imperial. The body is on the thinner, more calm end of the spectrum as well. Nothing sticky or cloying and the aftertaste is actually quite clean. A nice velvety texture with a smooth finish makes it easy to drink in bigger sips. No alcohol presence either.

Bottle at home. Charred wood, chocolate, licorice on the nose. Taste follows. Great creamy palate, high carbonation, sweet malty base. The finish is dry with a bit of acidity.

12 ounce bottle. Translucent dark brown color. Small tan head dissipates quickly. Faint roasted malt nose. Sweet roasted malt flavor is redolent of cocoa and coffee with licorice undertones. Nicely complex and flavorful. Cloying, earthy, full bodied and delicious.

This was pretty solid. Aromas of coffee/chocolate. Tastes of dark chocolate, some muted dark coffee notes, earthy flavors, some molasses, and roasted malts. A bit dry, yet sweet on the finish. Somewhat boozy, but in a good way. I liked this one.

12 ounce thanks to UDBeernut. Creamy with some chocolate. Nice tan head. Slight bitterness. A little light in the body for "imperial," but tasty.

12 oz. bottle, pours a deep dark brown with a medium beige head. Aroma of candied sugar, chocolate, cocoa powder and some lager yeast. Flavour brings out sweetened cocoa powder, lager yeast, and a little candied sugar. Well-balanced, quite light-bodied and easily drinkable. Quite a well-made Baltic porter. Good stuff.

Bouteille 22oz, courtoisie de Hogtownharry ou Blankboy. De couleur brune-noire et opaque. Nez de chocolat noir, de malt rôti doux, léger de petits fruits aux petites notes sûres (cerises noires, petites notes de raisins) et de caramel avec des notes de chocolat au lait. Moyenne-mince en bouche avec une pétillement moyen et une texture légèrement crémeuse. Goût de mélasse douce avec un goût légèrement fruité aux notes sûres (cerises noires, notes de raisins et de prunes) ainsi qu’avec des traces de chocolat au lait lors de l’entrée en bouche suivi d’un goût de chocolat noir, moyen de de malt rôti et léger de caramel sucré puis en finale l’on retrouve de fines notes d’alcool doux avec des traces de café. Post-goût plutôt long, légèrement amer de chocolat noir, de rôti doux, avec des notes de café, d’alcool et de fruits. (2006)

Sample from Erica at the Pour house, pours brown with light off white head, lacing is sporadic and spotty. Aromas and flavor of roasted grains, caramel malt, nuts, chocolate, rye, light vanilla, and cream. Light to medium body for a porter. Good example of the style. If it was thicker, it would be great.

Dark brown pour. Smell is kirschlikoer, cocoa, booze, malt, caramel. Complex. Flavor is sweet cocoa, sugar, caramel, some roasted malt. Thin body.

Poured from bottle. Aroma of nut, dry cocoa, vanilla. Stout black, lacing tan head. Nut, burnt malt, cocoa, toffee flavors. Maybe a touch of smoke Earthy bitterness in back. Hearty feel. Well done.