Santa's Little Helper 2012 - Mikkeller ApS

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.48/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours ruby-tinted black with a dark tan head.
Nose shows doughy bready malt, sultanas, golden syrup, fruitcake, and faint chocolate.
Flavours comprised of booze, bready malt, soft roasted malt, treacle. The alcohol is a bit harsh.
Thick creamy body. Could use more carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2013 12:15:08 | More by CrazyDavros

ianjsullivan

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

ST: 750ml poured into a chalice.

A: Black with a huge brown head. Light gives the beer a deep chestnut brown appearance. The head sits on top like thick cream and does not move. Leaves thick lines of lacing.

S: Heavy metallic aroma that might simply be alcohol, roasted malt, coco, nutmeg, vanilla.

T: Sweet thick malt with some caramel, lots of dark bitter chocolate, and hints of smoke and medicine from alcohol.

M: Thick and creamy

O: Great flavor but unbalanced alcohol, this beer needs more time to age and mellow. The sweetness of the beer is balanced nicely by bitter chocolate flavors, but the alcohol at the end adds a medicinal edge and warmth that distracts. A noel should have some warmth, but I need more balance. A few years could turn this into a gem.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 21:56:13 | More by ianjsullivan

stephens101

Oklahoma

3.9/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Straight black in color with a dark tan head and a thick sheet of lace as topping. Nutty aroma is followed by chocolates, beer bread and plums. Tastes of molasses, nuts, ripe dark fruits, cream, milk chocolate and some phenols. Some astringency is noticed to the end, followed closely by a balancing bitterness. Creamy with a medium to heavy body. Hot and edgy. Good little winter respite as the gray days begin in earnest.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2012 23:49:23 | More by stephens101

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml red foil capped bottle. This year's offering boasts Northern Brewer, Hallertau, and Styrian Goldings hops. Thanks again to John from Solstice for the sample.

This beer pours a solid black abyss, with ever so slight cola edges, and one very anemic finger of thinly foamy mocha head, which leaves some rather prominent honeycombed lace around the glass as it lazily abates.

It smells of sweet caramel/toffee/treacle malt, some pungent plum and prune pudding fruitiness, a sugary coriander spiciness, prominent leafy, earthy hops, and a more than subtle booze warming. The taste is more sweet multi-hued caramel malt, restrained earthy savoury spice, a moderate anise character, some understated Belgian yeast, boozy florals, and tame earthy, leafy hops.

The bubbles are pretty sedate, the body a so-so medium weight, and adequately smooth. It finishes off-dry, the fruity caramel simulacrum malt ceding halvies to the hop and yeast dryness.

A nicely warming, Yuletide-friendly, boozy fruit bomb, of the Belgian persuasion. Something to keep one's cockles toasty at this early winter juncture.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 01:16:59 | More by biboergosum

Meerkey

Virginia

3.99/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: A good amount of beige, slightly apricot head ~2 fingers. Dark, impenetrable raw umber.

S: A lot of spices and something that vaguely reminds me of nail polish remover and metal -- probably just the alcohol. Lots of malts and vanilla. Molasses, chocolate, and burned toast.

T: Wow, lots of flavor. Chocolate malts, alcohol, smoke/roasted notes, molasses - something syrupy sweet like that. A little yeasty. Delicious.

M: Smooth, silky, and full with just enough of a bite from the carbonation to keep things interesting. Nice.

O: Good, the flavors linger for a while on the tongue and the sweetness does coat the mouth, but not in a cloying, unpleasant way. Smell is a bit too boozy for my taste to be really good. All in all, quite good. I'd have another. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 01:52:15 | More by Meerkey

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 750ml bottle into Globe glass.

A. Poured 3 fingers of dark tan colored head. Thick lacing. Good retention. Color is all black.

S. Belgian yeast, molasses, dark fruit, spices, caramel,. Spicy BSDA is what we got here. Has some roastiness to it that you don't often find.

T. Taste definitely has some stout characteristics. Molasses, roasted malt, Belgian yeast, a hint of coffee. Chocolate flavor lingers on the back of the tongue.

M. Medium/full bodied. Medium carbonation.

O. Very interesting. Maybe more of a Belgian RIS than a BSDA, but a good beer never the less.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:48:53 | More by siradmiralnelson

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.01/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer was served on tap at The Old Toad in Rochester, NY. It arrived in a snifter glowing a rich mahogany coloring. It held a one finger tall head of taupe foam, showing nice retention. Thick sheets of chunky lacing were left around the glass as it went. There was a chill haze to the clarity, with no sediment noted. Carbonation appeared average. The aroma gave vinegar, licorice, soured wood, and Belgian yeastiness off the top. Working in were thickly roasted coffee, chocolate, and caramel malts, booze, musk, raisin breadiness, molasses bite, and white sugar sweetness. Our first impression was that the flavoring was strong and complex, with nice spiciness to it. As we sipped, sweet and lightly roasted malts, soured woodiness, clovey phenols, fusel booze fire, and savory hickory smokiness started things off. The fusel booze came to a peak, working with buttery chocolates, bittered salt water toffee, raw coffee bean, and synthetic cherry syrups to the top of the palate. Washing through the finish were medicinal phenols, bittered wood, lightly roasted chocolates, yeast, fig, breadiness, and spicy booze. The aftertaste breathed of more bitterness of booze, licorice, molasses, phenolic clove, and leathers. The body was thick, and the carbonation was medium. There was fantastic slurp, sip, cream, and pop, with excellent froth on the tasting swirl around the mouth that isn’t overdone or overbearing. A thick coating was felt around the mouth, with boozy fuzziness and burn to the tongue, and no real dryness except, again, for boozy rumbles up from the swallow. The abv is fine, and the beer sips nicely.

Overall, what we liked best about this beer was the silky and thick feel, and beautifully foamy appearance and lacing. From the pour on this beer was warming and inviting, with dark spice and nicely contributory booziness to the sweet grainy base. The flavoring followed robustly in the same vein. The feel, however, is really what makes this beer. There was thick froth to the lip, with massive foamy creaminess to the back of the throat. This beer is nice for a cold winter’s day, and certainly worth your time.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2013 01:01:16 | More by TheBrewo

Brad007

Vermont

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a shapely goblet. Dark brown with a miniscule head. Very much like the color of a quadruple.

Plums,dates and a touch of boozy spice make up the aromas of this ale. Reminds me a lot of a winter warmer.

Sweet with a strong resemblance to plum and with just enough spice and alcohol to warm the mouth. Very stout-like finish to the malt.

Lingering sweet malt and spice. Alcohol heat too. It could probably use a bit of aging to mellow out the overall profile.

Not a bad ale for a cold December night. It's simple, unpretentious and warms the soul as well.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 03:03:16 | More by Brad007

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml red foil covered bottle poured into tulip 3/12/12

A pours more like a stout, nearly black with a deep cola edge, big three finger dark mocha head sits around for a few minuets leaving some random lace

S smells great, lots of molasses and some licorice, dried fruit, raisins, prunes and over ripe plums, some citrus peel, some random spices, earthy notes, dark rye bread, brewers candy and a little booze. there's plenty going on with this one and I'm liking all of it

T more licorice and molasses then the nose and a little chocolate and cola I didn't smell, its harder to pick things out like I could with the nose, everything's blended together, it works well and is quite nice but the smells working wonders for me

M not as thick as the color would let you believe, mellow carbonation and a little heat, long finish of chocolate covered licorice

O drinking well for a big fresh Belgian, lots going on and I could only imagine what some age would do as its smooth young

well suited for this chilly evening, a complex brew that's worth some attention and being reasonably priced for Mikkeller at around 12$ I might find out what an aged bottle tastes like

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 19:48:55 | More by wordemupg

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

great great holiday beer. my bottle said 11%, not 10.5% abv, but either way its a monster. the pour is dark brown with a thin looking texture. some light passing through creating an amber glow, and there is some grainy sediment settling out in the bottom of my snifter. the head is just a half inch and light brown, but it fades fast. the nose is very complex. lots of belgian candy sugar and a powerful yeast which reacts well with it to create a dubbel style brew. same taste notes as the smell, but theres some dried red fruits on the back end which proveide additional sweetness and a sprucey character that makes this just right for christmas time. i like that there isnt a ton of spice to this, just a rich and balanced belgian beer without all the frills. the alcohol is real potent though, and it feels like all of 11%, especially as it warms up. full body with light carbonation. a few more bubbles would make this even better, but i liked this a whole lot. worth the price, around 15 bucks for a 750ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 17:40:34 | More by StonedTrippin

beerdrifter

Germany

4.18/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up at a great little beer store in Arlon, Miorge Mihoublon. Surprising dark as night pour with caramel-colored two finger head with great retention and crazy lacing. Wonderfully earthy, unique nose with hints of soy sauce, roasted coffee, rye bread, licorice, and plums, becoming a bit boozey as it warms. The taste is really complex with hints of black cherries, cola, dark chocolate, licorice, soy sauce, cloves, molasses, espresso, and dates with a bit of coriander and vanilla as well. The mouthfeel is slightly thick and chewy with a subtle syrupy finish. This is a fabulous example of what I think a Christmas beer should be. A flavorful sipper to warm you up on a snowy winter day!

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 16:25:44 | More by beerdrifter

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.23/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's with a strong malty presence that Mikkeller relies upon the spicy and fruity interplay to govern the balance even among such strong toasty, chocolaty, and toffeeish flavor- ideally suited for the holiday season!

Starting off with the strong presence of heavy toast and chocolate, the note conjures the notions of nutty Columbian coffee, walnut, cocoa, and burnt toffee but doing so with a mild backdrop of cherry, plumb and grape.

Flavors follow with the strong presence of sorghum and chocolate sweetness that evokes a savory and lightly tawny taste. Exacerbated with a complementary plumb, fig, and raisin undertow the taste retains a pleasant fruity taste that hinges on dark, dried, and pitted fruit varieties. Notes of red wine rise and give a slightly tart taste that resembles chocolate covered cherries.

Full bodied, but with exceptions. The holiday ale sings the praises of coffee cake but with richer malt influences from brown sugar, pound cake, and bitter coffee. It's supple richness is aided by abundant carbonation, yet the beer remains weighted on the palate and prefers the more succulent sweetness and savory texture that the beer has to offer.

Closing with a malty-dry taste and texture, the beer does it all with earthy notes of wood, alcohol, and soil- but in the most pleasant toasty and fruity kinda way.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2012 06:28:53 | More by BEERchitect

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - nearly impenetrable black, finger of mocha head retained half way, plenty of random lacing
S - rich chocolate cake batter, mild raisins and spice, touch of coffee and a hint of booze
T - distinct dense chocolate fruit cake flavour, cherry and raisin, caramel and booze
M - rich and dense, bit of boozy heat mellows quickly, fully coats the mouth
T - must say I am impressed with both the xmas flavour quality and the drinkability given the high octane, well done!

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 03:32:36 | More by joemcgrath27

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.34/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge props to joemcgrath27 for this gem... The last of his most recent parcel to get consumed and well worth the wait.

A - Pours pitch black, thumb of dark mocha head with solid retention and nice sticky lacing.

S - Dark fruits, raisins, plums, cocoa, molasses, hints of burnt sugar and tobacco.

T - The dark fruit notes dominate with the burnt sugar, molasses and cocoa coming through alongside cloves, toasted bread and raisins that linger on the finish.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and surprisingly wet.

O - This brew is insanely drinkable, an ABV that at 10.5% drinks like an 8%-er and will sneak up on you incredibly fast. So pumped I got a chance to try this, thanks again Joe! Loads of flavour and a fantastic example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 23:13:59 | More by andrenaline

Ale-ienation

California

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted as part of last year's Kerstbier Fest at The Trappist, Oakland, CA.

A: Dark, light beige head, thick lacing.

S: Malt, brown sugar, fruit, raisins.

T: Bit of alcohol. Roasty. Chocolate. Bitter coffee finish.

M: Medium body, bit oily.

O: Delicious holiday quad.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2013 03:39:57 | More by Ale-ienation