Southampton Altbier
Most folks from the Northeast go to Florida when November arrives. But not the Southampton brewmaster, Phil Markowski. Back in 1995, Phil headed to Düsseldorf, Germany to taste the famous altbiers of the region. "Alts" are unique: less fruity than most ales but with a crisp drinkability of a lager. So what did Phil bring back from his trip? Authentic German ingredients and a recipe for an altbier that will surprise your senses. One taste and you’ll be happy that Phil decided not to go to Florida, too.
3.2
590 reviews
Southampton, United States
Community reviews
Pours copper with an off white head. Caramel malt, roasted malt. Pretty much what I would expect from a well done Alt.
Bottle. Moderate cookie note for the malt, light herbs and earth for the hops and yeast, with a hint of sugar. Head is small, wispy, white with fair lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is clear medium brown. Flavor is lightly sweet and acidic, then finishes lightly acidic and bitter. Palate is on the lighter side of medium, watery, with a soft carbonation. Nothing overpowering about this Altbier, but it’s easy drinking and has some bold aspects to it.
Pours dull and groggy, as the beer is hungover, and the head forgoes foaminess for fizziness. Smells of toffee, malt, and mouldering grains. The malts are nice, nutty and deep, but are bookended by bubbly saccharine unpleasantness, which kills both sides of the brew. Overcarbonated and sharp, don’t let this bottle be your introduction to Altbiers. (6/5/09)
Altbier - fermented warm, but conditioned cold. Kind of an ale / lager hybrid. This is a fine example of a very elusive style in the states. Pours clear, amber brown, with a large solid head. The aroma is malty, caramel, prunes, figs, maple syrup. The body is medium, crisp, and lean. Has a decent amount of fruitiness also. Plums, raisins, red grapes. The finish is very nicely balanced, with hops and caramel malt in unison. Very drinkable and unique.
Bottle, 12oz, courtesy of Enjoyit. A clear, dark copper body with an off-white head. Caramel maltyness on the nose, slightly roasted. A tad fruityness too. Dry on the palate, medium body. The flavor has caramel, some roasted malts and a hint of nuts. Nothing very interesting, but quite tasteful anyway. 110129
Reviewed from notes.
Pours a moderate brown color with a thin head that actually sticks around for a bit and leaves behind a little bit of lacing. The nose is really quite plain. There are some really, really faint hints of nuts as well as some lightly-toasted bread. The taste is slight grain and a bit of a burnt flavor. Light body that is a bit burnt. Does not drink terribly well; a pity, concerning how infrequently I’m able to try new altbiers in the States.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed on: 10-26-2010
Pours with an amber color, South Hampton has a caramel spice flavor. Not my favorite beer, but not bad.
Bottle 12fl.oz.
Clear medium amber color with a small to average, frothy, fair lacing, mostly to fully diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted - caramel, malty, light grain. Flavor is moderate to light light heavy sweet and light bitter with a average duration, spicy ? Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20110129]
Although not a very pronounced beer, I do like the flavor. It primarily consists of caramel malts, similar to a bock. The body is not nearly as full, however, and neither is the flavor. Decent bier, nonetheless.
Bottle 355ml @ fonefan
Pours clear amber with a off-white head. Aroma has notes of caramel and spices. Taste is light sweet and bitter. Body is medium, texture is thin, carbonation is soft.
Bottle @ Ulfborg Weekend, Jan 2011. Pours clear amber with a small off white head. Bread, caramel and grain. Dry flavor. Medium bodied.
Dark amber pour. Medium head with little lacing. Rich malt aroma and taste.
Aroma is rich with dark lightly roasted malt. Pours a moderate brown with an average head. Nice well balanced brown ale. the carbination is unique in that it a bit more active or bubbly than I’ve had in a brown. Not great but doesn’t detract from the overall experience.
12oz bottle pours a copper brown color with nice head. Malty, slightly floral aroma. Medium body with solid malt character with a very slight dry finish. Smooth and drinkable, great American German Altbier. Solid. (B-)
12oz bottle, believe it was a January ’10 bottling date, so this is a bit dated, but has held up quite well. Pours thin clear light brown/amber with a two finger off-white head that leaves some clumps of lacing and maintains a light cap and ring. Aroma is nutty with some grassy hops, toffee, caramel, and light fruit. Unfortunately there is some oxidation. Flavor is nutty, toffee, caramel, fruits such as apples and pears, some citrus and grassy hops. Good balance of sweetness and bitterness both at moderate strength. Hoppier than other Brown Ales I’ve had. Mouthfeel is thin and well carbonated. Pretty good stuff even being almost a year old. Will definitely check out a fresh bottle next year.
12oz bottle pours brown with thin tan head. Aroma is sweet malty and toffee carmel. Taste is sweet malty but a tad watery. Body is a bit thin sweet finish
Hastily necked, pre-flight pint at The Pony Bar, NYC. Clear copper with a tan rim. Faint hazelnut aroma. Dry, with streaks of berry fruit, hazelnut and chocolate biscuit. Long, softening, caramel oaky aftertaste with fresh husky malt and a lasting dab of creaminess. Good.
Decent beer, I was expecting more flavour, the bitterness is fine. But I think there could be more grains flavour. It does taste like the style.
Bottle. Pours a dark brown, dark copper colour. Little head. Little aroma. Caramel, coffee and bitter finish. Very good.
Sample from bottle at the Treasure Coast Beer Fest 9/11/10 Ft Pierce, FL. Very good.
This poured a medium brown color with an off white head. Aroma was light toasted malts and some grassy hops. Flavor was lightly toasted, semisweet, light caramel, and some grassy dusty old hops. Decent Alt but nothing special.
Bottle. Clear dark brown, small off white head. Aroma of caramel, taste is similar, with a bit of hoppy bitterness toward the end. Very light body.
Bottle from ABC. Pours an amber/maroon body with no head to speak of. My nose could detect a faint hint of toffee and bready malts. Big biscuits and bread round out the flavor with loads of cream cheese and grape upfront. I immediately perceived the taste of this brew to be unique. It’s almost like drinking a bagel with cream cheese. Medium carbonation and medium body. Definitely an interesting version of this style.
12oz bottle. Pours a medium amber with a slight head. Has an off taste I can’t quite identify. Not great.
pours deep amber with a medium white head and some spotty lacing. rich fruity aroma. thin body, crisp mouthfeel with a tart, bittersweet taste. bitter finish.
Clear copper rust color/ khaki head. Nice nutty, spicy, toasted caramel aromas. smooth mouthfeel. Nutty, spicy, toasted caramel flavors, easy drinking.
Bottle. Poured a clear deep amber with a thin beige head. Nose is nutty with notes of toasted malt, bread, some caramel. Medium body with a very crisp mouth feel and ample carbonation. Flavor is lightly acidic and bready, decent balance between earthy hop bitterness and toasted caramel malt sweetness. Finishes slightly bitter and nutty.
Bottle. Pours a nice autumbal orange color with a small beige head. Aromas of caramel malt, apple, nutmeg, brown sugar, and sour yeast; this could be a solid base for a pumpkin ale. Flavor is sour apple, caramel, and a slight bitter grassy finish. Crisp, slightly sour, and refreshing. Good.
On Tap at Mr. Beery’s in Sarasota. Pours clear amber with copper edges and tan head. The aroma is light initially and then one pull brought up a sliver of caramel and then ample amounts of dark fruity goodness, some raisin, a touch of pepper and mild roasted malts. The taste is smooth and Alt – ishly thin with sweet malts running into prunes, raisins and then a touch of roasted malts. Nice Alt.
above average aroma of roasty and yeasty malts perhaps a little maple/wood hint..nice looker plenty of head and lacing mahogany color..taste is malty,perhaps a bit syrupy tofee-like..very subtle hops if any just a tingly feel maybe..oily on the palate but drinkable..i dont know much about altbiers but as far as overall goes about average..strong flavor for the abv,just the flavors arent exceptional to me