Southport Big Head Brewnette
SBC Restaurant & Brewery - Southport

 

Not a huge head, but it leaves some nice lacing. Deep copper in color giving off a really nice nutty smell atop hints of caramel. Very true to its English roots with great English hops aromas coming off, but the malts are the star, as they should be. Not as nutty in the flavor, but still malty with that hint of caramel. There's also a smoky flavor that stands out as one of the first impressions...sort of like the peat flavor inherent in Scotch.

It's a little on the thin side for the style, but not watery. It dries out nicely and delivers the appropriate amount of carbonation. An excellent interpretation of the style from a brew pub with excellent food! It's been a while since it's been reviewed and they must have improved their brewing techniques as I found little to dislike in this beer.

 

 

Pours a slightly hazy clear brown with no head retention and some powdery white looking yeast at the top.

Smell of a dry english brown ale, malty, and slightly stale aroma.
Taste very similar to the aroma, slightly stale tasting, low carbonation, low mouthfeel / watery presence and dry tasting. I had a hard time finding something to like in this beer. Sessionable? yes, but please do yourself a favor and order the Sam Adams Boston Lager that is one of the few beers worthy of being drank off tap in this bar.

I got a laugh when some middle aged ladies asked for a light beer, similar to Bud Light that they brewed and the bartender said "The blonde" implying their blonde ale.

Not quite an English Brown ale, not at all sweet - does not remind of a newcastle for example. More of a lighter stout taste than anything.

Tasted on tap to the SBC in Southport, CT. Color was a very dark brown, almost black, with a little white foam. Smell was modestly malty, but otherwise not discernable.

Taste was a mix of malt, some hop bittering, and some roasted notes. SBCs beers don't tend to be heavily carbonated, and this one is no exception. Just a bit watery in the mouth.

I've taken home growlers of this beer. I find it to be drinkable - a decent enough brew. I'd like this to have more of the nut brown feel it purports to offer, but its otherwise decent.

I will first note that the quality of this beer is VERY inconsistant. The first 2 times it was decent, but not anymore. It used to be a nice malty English tasting brown ale with a toasty caramel sweetness to it. Now it is just watered down Newcastle, except that I would rather drink a watered down Newcastle than this. What is up w/ this place? They have a GREAT location and a great facility to brew, but I feel they are lacking any sort of passion about beer. What's the point???

Nice color and an acceptable head, but the beer tasted as if they had watered it down. The flavor was distant and weak. Subtle carbonation... maybe brewed that way on purpose, but probably because it tasted like it was half filled with tap water. Depressing after enjoying their porter the last time I was there.