Christmas Porter
BrewDog

Christmas PorterChristmas Porter
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
BrewDog
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
English Porter
Ranked #106
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
82
Ranked #24,557
Avg:
3.5 | pDev: 11.43%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
17
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 11, 2023
Added:
Dec 08, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.09/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Nov. 2011: 330 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 6.2%. "Brewed with cacao, chilli and festive spices." Black colour, large tan head. Moderate aroma of mild coffee, Christmas spices and chilli, hints of chocolate, also some less pleasant sourish notes. The flavour is moderately roasty and sourish with some spicy notes, a slight chilli burn and some metallic hints in the finish and aftertaste. Not BrewDog’s best. Won’t buy again.
Mar 11, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Goofster from Sweden

Feb 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Kirk from England

Jun 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by mdagnew from Northern Ireland

Mar 20, 2013
 
Photo of koganator
Reviewed by koganator from Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
2012 Batch

Brew dog christmas porter notes

A: A deep brown color bordering on black, pure of essence, the color is harmonious and instills one with a sense of wellbeing 4.5/5

S: The aroma is sticky sweet, heavy plum and some cinnamon... I think. The fruit scent dominates any spice that may possibly be present.4/5

T: Woah, first sip is a Heavy cacao punch, Medium body, not heavy, or spicy, but a strong chocolatey presence. I expected a thicker body and more spice, theres something here again, fairly certain it's cinnamon. Good, but I wanted a more fulfilling experience. 3.5

M: Kinda sticky and a sipper! 4.0

O: Generally pleasant, but I payed 4 Euros for this, which I think honestly is a bit overpriced for the quality that I could have received from a cheaper holiday beer. 3.5
Dec 19, 2012
Photo of GONZALOYANNA
Reviewed by GONZALOYANNA from Spain

3.17/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
330ml bottle. Stem glass. Enjoyed on dec´11. Mahogany in color, dark copper to the light. Large bubbled, quickly dissipated head. Some thin rings. Roasted malts & green wood to the nose, herbal notes. Flavors include dry puckering bitterness, black coffee, hints of tobacco & peppery touch. Medium body, high carbonation. Sharp hoppy dry finish. Coffee on the aftertaste.
Apr 29, 2012
Photo of flyingpig
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland

3.75/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Dark mahogany, almost black. A thumb sized, foamy red to brown coloured head. Retention is okay.

Roasted malts, burnt sugar and grain aroma. Followed by some cocoa and dryed fruit. There is a little chocolate and good spicy notes.

Warming with some strong roasted malts and a rich chocolatey flavour with chilli and other spices. There is a touch of grain and hints of alcohol with a lingering chilli finish.

Medium, smooth feel to it, this porter is very festive and warming. Touch of dryness at the tail end of the drink. It is lightly carbonated with good spicey notes.

A very nice tasting beer and for once I can say this one was worth the money and probably worth trying again. Hopefully this one will be brewed again towards the end of this year, I look forward to trying it again.

1001 Beers To Try Before You Die Blog:
http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com
Mar 12, 2012
Photo of somestranger
Reviewed by somestranger from Sweden

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Testing this beer well chilled and poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.

A: A pitch black porter with a big foamy head created when poured into the glass. Neither the beer or the foam is that thick though.

S: The smell is loaded of roasted malts which is very nice to fell. There are also some sour notes going on that reminds of some vinegar like touch that is not that pleasent to smell from a porter.

T: Great taste loaded with the roasted malts you could feel from the smell. The almost vinegar sour notes that could be found in the smell is nowhere to be found. As the label on the bottle states there should be some chocholate and chili going on, and well, there are some chocholate tones there but i don't pick up any chili. Altough this porter got a great taste.

M: The carbonation and roasted malts does a good job creating that dry bubbelling feel in your mouth and leaves you with lots of roasted malts.

O: A good porter with a great taste, the downside is the smell that i don't find that good compared with the taste of it.
Feb 25, 2012
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.13/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
A 330ml bottle with a BB of Sept 2012. Picked up from my local beer specialist. The label describes it as a porter with cacao, chilli and festive spices. One of the last Christmas beers I have lurking in my collection.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. Intense black hue; a dark brown is revealed when held to the light. Produces a large head of light-brown foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding. Aroma of fruity roasted malt with a distinctive sour, yeasty, vinous note. Hints of coffee, cocoa, molasses, dried fruit and a green fruitiness (the flesh of peppers, perhaps?).

Tastes of dark, roasted malt with a fruity, sour character. Notes of coffee, burnt grain, cocoa, dried fruit, leafy stewed hops and earthy yeast. An acidic, vinous flavour envelops everything. A very subtle hint of peppers in the background, but without heat. A dry, mildly bitter finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, but a bit thin. Slightly astringent. Aftertaste of roasted malt and sour yeast.

Hmmmm - I was excited when I bought this and it doesn't come across as expected. Certainly the dark malt flavour is there, and the flavour is quite complex. But the spices and chilli have gone AWOL, while the cocoa notes are no greater than might be found in a typical dark ale (without the addition of cocoa to the brew). It's also rather thin and watery for a strong porter. I can't shake the feeling that it might be infected, but I'm not sure. I've given a lower 'overall' score as I feel that this doesn't live up to the description, or compare well to other dark Christmas beers. Take it as you find it.
Feb 05, 2012
Photo of Evil_Pidde
Reviewed by Evil_Pidde from Sweden

3.32/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours deep brown with some hues of red. Medium pale brown head, creamy. Dissipation is rather quick and leaves poor lacings.

S: Mild, but not weak. Hard roasted dark malts, semi-sweet. Faint vanilla in the back. X-masy spices. Chocolate.

T: Lots of spices up front, quite offensive. Then follows some cacao, dry - chocolaty. Hard roasted.

M: Lovely long bitter aftertaste. Body is medium while carbonation is rather strong for this style.

O: The cacao was great, but the spices was strong and dominated over other flavours.
Jan 21, 2012
Photo of bark
Reviewed by bark from Sweden

3.9/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Sold as "Winter Porter" in Sweden and Norway.

The colour is deep warm brown (90 EBC), the liquid is clear. The three finger head is pale brown and compact. It sinks slowly leaving very little lacing.

The smell got a fine black malt-sourness. Some bitterness and a smooth sweet caramel note. Hints of Christmas spices and a touch of coffee.

The taste starts off with a fine dry chocolate flavour. Lots of roasted malts, fruity hints of chilli (no hot flavours, though), very fragile spicy hints in the background. Lots of cocoa and chocolate in the aftertaste as well as a mild fruity bitterness and a solid roasted malt falvour. Spicy hints in the finish.
The carbonation is medium to strong, the many small bubbles smooth. The liquid is smooth.

A fine strong porter with a delicate addition of spices. I like.
Dec 20, 2011
Photo of Ruds
Reviewed by Ruds from England

3.13/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Served into a tulip glass at Brew Dog Camden, pours very dark brown to black in colour with a finger or so's head

Aroma - was that of malt, slightly burnt but not greatly so, toffee/chocolate, herbs

Flavour - Slightly smoked/burnt, spiced taste with some herb flavouring, less chocolatey than in the smell

Didn't enjoy the mouthfeel - a bit too thin

For possibly the first time with a brew dog keg offering, I truly believe this would be have been far better served on cask
Dec 18, 2011
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

3.68/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Black that goes clear garnet in light with a beige head that fades quick but leaves crazy rimming lace. Smoke, saltwater taffy, and maybe some chili skin.
Oily black malts, some molasses, cocoa dust, blueberry, a mild chili hum, and gentle allspice hops finish.
Orange twist ending and warming linger. Medium, chewy, some cling.

Alice Porter is a big brawny wonder, so disappointing a bit that this hack of it isn't a step up. The added cocoa, chili and orange peel are noticeable, but just barely. Nice for the holidays, I guess, but nothing to get fussed about.
Dec 18, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by MaryCeleste from Sweden

Dec 16, 2011
Photo of pixieskid
Reviewed by pixieskid from Germany

3.55/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Brewed with cacao, chilies, and spices.

Pours a light black with a thin off-white head.
Aroma, some roastines, chocolate, and a hint of dry spiciness.
Taste; pretty straightforward porter, some chocolate, a bit of bitterness, roasty. There are mild overtones of said ingredients, mainly the chilies.
Overall; a well balanced porter with a touch of character; but nothing impressive.
Dec 08, 2011
Christmas Porter from BrewDog
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 17 ratings