Santa's Little Helper - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

Nugganooch

California

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

BD: 09/10/12 – Sierra Nevada Luettich Balloon glass

A: A somewhat viscous jet black body with just the slightest coffee colored edge on it. Topped with a thick froth of stubborn tan leather cream. Quite bubbly for a stout with some real fatty lace sticking to the glass. Looks very nice and presentable to the style.

S: Pretty tame aromas comprised mostly of dark roasted malts. Takes a bit of effort to get a good draw. Sugary sweetness with some soft roasted grain character brings a mix of cocoa, coffee, dark berry, molasses, charcoal, and earthy hops. There is a bit of alcohol detected in the nose as well. Not bad just lacking that vibrant quality.

T: Tastes of dark fruits and raisins/currants layered with semi-sweet chocolate. On the sweet side with a dark berry tartness to it. Some burnt caramels with vanilla and an influx of bakers chocolate. Lesser amounts of toasted cereals and brewers licorice. Like toasted marshmallow. There is a rather high level of bitterness to the beer with no real distinguishable hop flavors coming through. Perhaps a touch of earthy minerals. A search for some rich coffee flavors comes up a bit short although delicately present. There is a dash of alcohol spice lurking in the background that never becomes harsh or offensive. Really nice roast flavors overall and a tremendous step up from the nose.

M: A great creamy texture gives the impression of a much lighter brew than this really is. Couple that with an upper moderate amount of spritzy carbonation and some prickly bitterness to the palate. There is a light warming alcohol and a crisp drying finish that carries well, keeping the beer from becoming heavy and overbearing. A nice lingering sleek feel after. Very smooth overall.

D: What this stout may lack in the aroma more than makes up for in flavor. Big dark fruit presence with some rich chocolate notes. I was not picking up much coffee roast here however flavors are still very nice. Great approachable balance. I am actually wondering if Port has modified this recipe as I distinctly remember previous years being pretty hot when fresh. However that was not the case here. Tasty brew.

Makes for a real nice Holiday night capper.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 22:28:24 | More by Nugganooch

Geno206

Washington

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-17-2013 08:08:05 | More by Geno206

ediaz

Florida

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-16-2013 05:03:56 | More by ediaz

doremite

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-13-2013 22:03:18 | More by doremite

megamass

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-07-2013 04:37:22 | More by megamass

jkane101

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-05-2013 23:03:47 | More by jkane101

pisano

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +6%

06-05-2013 12:33:43 | More by pisano

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%

06-04-2013 00:35:31 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

jl28r1

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-02-2013 03:29:51 | More by jl28r1

beersvh23

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

06-02-2013 01:59:27 | More by beersvh23

JamLand

Texas

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-29-2013 02:25:01 | More by JamLand

abcdefghijkyle

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%

05-24-2013 04:57:30 | More by abcdefghijkyle

jakecattleco

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-21-2013 18:09:03 | More by jakecattleco

pmarlowe

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

05-20-2013 00:28:26 | More by pmarlowe

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 14:33:33 | More by drgonzo2k2

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-12-2013 16:49:43 | More by mikeburd1128

Casey3236

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.2%

05-12-2013 03:10:42 | More by Casey3236

superspak

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled on 8/27/2012. Pours dense pitch black color with a 2 finger dense and fluffy tan head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice dense foamy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big dark chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, toast, brown sugar, char, candi sugar, raisin, light coffee, and earthy hop spiciness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark malt notes with moderate hop balance. Taste of big dark chocolate, roasted malt, pine, char, caramel, toast, brown sugar, coffee, and roasted earthiness. Fair amount of roasted pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, char, toast, brown sugar, coffee, pine, and earthy spiciness on the finish for a while. Very nice balance and complexity of roasted flavors, dark malt sweetness, and piney/spicy hops; with no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and full bodied; with a creamy, slick, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very excellent Russian imperial stout. All around nice complexity and balance of roasted/dark malt flavors with moderate piney/spicy hop balance; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 03:35:44 | More by superspak

Kelp

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +6%

05-04-2013 20:16:06 | More by Kelp

josephwa

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +18.5%

05-02-2013 16:55:41 | More by josephwa

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%

04-20-2013 03:10:04 | More by browniewithnuts

vfgccp

New York

3.94/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Killer looking stout. Towering khaki head with thick clouds of lace. Near-solid black with just the lightest rim of cola highlights.

S - At first whiff it feels relatively simple, but a second look shows some remarkable complexity. Light white booze and burnt caramel. Nutmeg, edge of cinnamon, andes mint chocolate, candy cane, and allspice.

T - Spicy for a stout. Dusty mint, burnt chocolate, charred coffee beans. Allspice, booze, gingerbread, and raw licorice root.

M - Medium frame.

O - Great appearance and nice complexity in the nose. Nice spice notes in the flavor profile, but I'm ambivalent about the mint flavors I'm picking up in the beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 02:36:24 | More by vfgccp

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.79/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2011 vintage acquired via trade. Poured from a bottle into a DFH snifter. Pours out dark brown, not quite black, with some light getting through. It's almost like an extremely dark Scotch Ale. On the nose I get some dark fruit, vanilla, oak, and bourbon. Sadly, I don't get much in the way of roasty notes. Still nice.

The beer is full-bodied and has intense flavors. I don't get roasty flavors out of this one. No noteworthy coffee or chocolate notes. None of the flavors one expects from an imperial stout. There's plenty of toffee, plums, figs, and of course, bourbon. There's lots of nice bourbon flavor to be found here. It's not hot, but it is definitely warming. The feel is good, though a bit thinner than I like in this style, which seems to contribute to the booziness.

This beer drinks more like an American (very) Strong Ale or barleywine. It's good, but I swear if it didn't say ``Imperial Stout'' right on the label, I wouldn't have been able to identify the style. I'm sure the age has something to do with it, but I wouldn't think that roastiness would vanish and bourbon flavors would intensify and the color would fade. At any rate, a very enjoyable beer, but not one I would trade for again. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 11:31:25 | More by deadonhisfeet

kels

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev -2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Cheers to Carly for this unexpected gift! Don't get to see much lovely Port brew out here in Virginia.

Pours a lovely super dark chocolate brown, completely opaque with an assumed heaviness from the way it holds the rich skim of cocoa-powder brown foam. The head hangs around throughout the drink, little chocolate-milky bubbles studding the surface and stringy rings of lace hang about the walls of the glass.

Smell is powdery - a little Nestle Quik going on with a medium-bodied coffee roast. A hit of something vegetal sneaks in there and messes with my senses.

Holy mouthful of roast! Excellent boldness of the roast with a smooth and dry finish. Hit of chicory-like flavor. No hint of any cocoa in the taste. Hops are surprisingly notable in a dank way that seems to contribute a little to the veg in the nose. Carbonation higher than expected for the style. Helps lighten it up but interferes with the ability to get the full effect of the taste.

Overall pretty enjoyable beer. Definitely something worth sharing.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:14:01 | More by kels

buzzy

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%

03-30-2013 01:19:03 | More by buzzy