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Geary's Hampshire Special Ale
D.L. Geary Brewing Company
- From:
- D.L. Geary Brewing Company
- Maine, United States
- Style:
- English Strong Ale
Ranked #8 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #15,468 - Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 12.82%
- Reviews:
- 392
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 08, 2024
- Added:
- Sep 30, 2001
- Wants:
- 41
- Gots:
- 65
Once Maine’s legendary seasonal specialty, Hampshire is now available year round. Hampshire has a huge toasted malt flavor balanced by assertive hoppiness. The finish is long and lingering with the malt and hop notes blending with alcohol warmth. Original gravity - 1070; alcohol by volume - 7%; two row English malts (pale, crystal and chocolate); Cascade, Mt. Hood and East Kent Golding hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Thrasher:
Reviewed by Thrasher from Oregon
3.37/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.37/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A very violent pour is the only way to get a lasting head on this puppy. The buttery flavors of the ringwood are strongly dominant and a little bit goes a long way. Malts and hops are diminished because of it. There are some interesting fruity undercurrents, some intriguing spiciness which I think is derived from the alcohol, and the malts (if you can discern them buried underneath all the butterscotch) are sturdy, salty and delicious. I would love a bit more crispness from a more forceful hop presence. Other reviewers have mentioned a fair amount of hoppiness, but I'm not getting any of it. The sweetness and butteriness of this beer gets cloying, especially as it warms; I preferred it at a cold right-out-of-the-fridge temperature, unusual for this style of beer. This is not a bad beer but I think it is overrated. That said, it does grow on you and each bottle tastes better than the last. Perhaps a fresher bottle, or a cask-conditioned pint, or even a more wintery setting would enlighten me as to why this beer basks in universal acclaim.
Jun 22, 2003More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Lexluthor33 from New York
3.92/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Amber color with a nice head and a great lace.
Very foamy.
Aroma of hops, fruit, malts and candy.
Taste was sweet then the malts hit with following hops.
Some citrus hints as well.
Feel was medium to full body with medium carbonation.
Smooth with some alcohol warmth.
Mar 08, 2024Very foamy.
Aroma of hops, fruit, malts and candy.
Taste was sweet then the malts hit with following hops.
Some citrus hints as well.
Feel was medium to full body with medium carbonation.
Smooth with some alcohol warmth.
Reviewed by BWSpoon from New York
4.05/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From a can purchased at the brewery. Distinctive, a little hard, and better than the sum of its parts. This would make a good pub beer. Smells like caramel, malt, and rum filled chocolates. Not easy going. Edgy and gnarly like a well-loved pair of leather boots.
Sep 20, 2023Reviewed by LagerMan_US from Maine
4.34/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Brewer's description is right on: a rich combo of dark malt, with hops overlay. Actually a bit complex. Deep body with a decent carbonation. All the right elements. Solid hit.
Feb 03, 2023Reviewed by Kgoldsbe from Colorado
4.15/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is an old school amber ale with a toasted malt start and a balancing hop finish. It is delicious, and I am glad that it is now offered year round. It paired perfectly with a bowl of oyster stew!
Sep 23, 2021Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
4.24/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
So many times I've had this beer and so many times I've had in various drinking vessels.
Here's what I have to say about this fabulous beer:
The appearance was a murky dark amber to brown color with a finger's worth of white foamy head that slid off pretty slow. Nicely speckled lace.
The aroma had a wealthy blend of dark fruits, caramel/toffee malts, clean earthiness and a little bit of dark bread.
The flavor was moderately malty sweet scanning through the dark fruits and dark bread gently flowing into the aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sessionable to sipping sort of quality about it. Carbonation rode fairly low. ABV felt good.
Overall, an English Strong ale by an American brewer, damn right it is and always a worthy offering of coming back to.
Jun 15, 2017Here's what I have to say about this fabulous beer:
The appearance was a murky dark amber to brown color with a finger's worth of white foamy head that slid off pretty slow. Nicely speckled lace.
The aroma had a wealthy blend of dark fruits, caramel/toffee malts, clean earthiness and a little bit of dark bread.
The flavor was moderately malty sweet scanning through the dark fruits and dark bread gently flowing into the aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair sessionable to sipping sort of quality about it. Carbonation rode fairly low. ABV felt good.
Overall, an English Strong ale by an American brewer, damn right it is and always a worthy offering of coming back to.
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey
4.24/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Mahogany color malt hop aroma. 7% abv was well incorporated was warming but not too boozy. It had an obvious hop taste but not excessively bitter and was well balanced with malt. A very enjoyable beer that I would get again if I could find it
May 21, 2017
Geary's Hampshire Special Ale from D.L. Geary Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
653 ratings
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