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

mscudder

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a New Belgium Globe

A - Dark black with a nice dark tan head. Leaves some beautiful lacing. Not much more to say here, excellence.

S - Dark, almost burnt malts, light dark fruits, and a touch of cocoa and coffee

T - This is dominated by roasted flavors, yet tied together by sweet chocolates and cocoa. Up front I am getting notes of coffee and some pinches of dark fruits. Nice complex "warmer."

M - Smooth, creamy mouthfeel with a slight amount of heat on the end from the alcohol. That said, the booze is well masked. Carbonation is minimal and optimal for this style. Well done.

O - This is a fine imperial stout that should be sought after for the winter season. While I am enjoying it after a few months aging in the spring, I will undoubtedly purchase a few more bottles for the coming winter season!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 07:13:24 | More by mscudder

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark black with some brown hints and a big finger of thick and frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades down slowly leaving behind some lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of deep roasted chocolate malts with a touch of burnt character. There is a bit of dark fruit and coffee as well.

T - Starts out with some dark fruit flavor with a touch of raisin and lots of roasted chocolate malts. Through the middle, more deep and lightly burnt chocolate malts come through with some coffee flavor. The finish is a mix of dark fruit sweetness, some chocolate, and some booze.

M - Full bodied with light carbonation. Feels smooth and a bit thick with a sweet warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice big imperial stout. The malt profile is strong and complex, but feels balanced with the body and alcohol level.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 02:57:32 | More by ngeunit1

57md

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours opaque black with two big fingers of tan head that lingers for a long time and leaves healthy lacing on the glass. The nose combines roasted malt with alcohol astringency. Roasted malt upfront with classic stout bitterness on the finish.

Perhaps my only criticism is the lingering alcohol astringency that becomes unpleasant as one moves down the glass.

That said, I am going back to the place where I purchased this bottle to see if there are any remaining. I think that this offering would be a great candidate for cellaring. If I can find another, I will store it for Christmas 2012 and see how it tastes with some aging on it.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 06:19:33 | More by 57md

DevilsCups

New York

3.73/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber into a Duvel tulip

A - Very pretty dark pour, almost black, with a nice khaki pillowy head. Great lacing throughout the drink.

S - Roasted malts, tiny bit of metallic scents, small traces of coffee-style notes.

T - Follows the nose completely. Roasted malts followed by the coffee aftertaste. The metallic notes come in on the aftertaste, but they aren't really unpleasant. The taste works well. Nothing outstanding, but solid. No alcohol burn for a 10% brew.

M - Too thin for the style. Could use more thickness and then it's a winner. This is the only spot where it lacked a bit. It's carbonated well, almost too well, with a similar mouthfeel to a regular brown ale.

O - Pretty enjoyable and I'm glad I picked one up, but I wouldn't pass on Rasputin for it. Old Viscosity is a superior brew to this seasonal, but it's certainly worth a try if you're into Impy stouts.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 03:49:06 | More by DevilsCups

biglite351

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2009 bottle drank 2/14/12

A - dark as night with a creamy dark tan head

S - Dark dried fruit; prune juice, crushed raisins, malt, yeast and bitter cocoa.

T - Burnt dried fruit, baking chocolate, malts. Possibly just a bit past it's prime.

M - Thick coating with a tingle on both sides of tongue.

O - Probably would have been better 6 months ago. Not a favorite at this stage.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 02:59:03 | More by biglite351

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a very dark brown, appearing black. Half finger fine light brown head dissipates to a ring around the glass and light lacing. Rich aroma of dark and roasted malts, chocolate, coffee. Great flavor of dark and roasted malts with dark fruit, chocolate and light coffee notes. Nicely integrated and the high ABV is not noticeable. Medium to heavy bodied and creamy. Tasted next to a fresh 2011 bottle. This stout has aged extremely well and I like this two year old bottle much better than the fresh one. I still enjoyed the fresher bottle, but it rated a half point lower; a good candidate for aging. Excellent

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 05:11:37 | More by LiquidAmber

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pitch black body, not a hint of red, topped by a big billowing rocky dark tan head. Thick lacing.

Strong aggressive roasts coffee dominates the nose. Some subtle chocolate notes in he background.

Coffee starts the taste, but it's quickly engulfed by thick chocolate syrup. Dark fruits swim in the background. Big fresh hop bite at the swallow jumps from the darkness. Alcohol well hidden.

Mouthfeel is thick and rich, but not in the higher classes of imperial stouts.

Overall, not a true classic among imperial stouts, but a good and enjoyable one.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 06:04:09 | More by RonfromJersey

Bfarr

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Black and foamy brown head with okay retention and good lacing. Chocolate and spice aroma. Roasted with notes of chocolate and spice with a fairly long roasted bitter linger. Robust with a moderately strong bite.

Roasted malts start dominating with light warming. I wish the spice came through a little better. It’s a fine hoppy imperial stout that may benefit from some aging. An okay sipping beer to while away Christmas eve. Aside: I’m getting very tired of overhopped Imperial Stouts.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 00:27:04 | More by Bfarr

jsanford

Georgia

2.35/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

22oz bottle poured into a Lost Abbey Tumbler. 2011 Vintage

A - Dark black with a dense, creamy espresso-colored head that settles to a thick cap, leaving lots of spotty lacing.
S - Mild aromas of dark roasted malt, ash, coffee beans, and a touch of soy sauce.
T - More bitter roasted (burnt) malt, espresso, and ash. Acrid and burnt, and it only gets worse as it warms.
M - Full, creamy mouthfeel with a pretty full body and low carbonation.
O - Way to bitter and acrid for my liking, this was a rare drainpour for me. I'd almost be willing to see in the Barrel-Aged version is better, but that's a risky $16 gamble that I probably won't take.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 18:18:49 | More by jsanford

yesyouam

New York

4.68/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper is a pitch black ale with a thick, lumpy, waxy light brown head that has eternal retention. The aroma is very roasty and perhaps ashy. There is a note of licorice and something fruity-- maybe cherry. More smells come out as it sits, like mint and vanilla. It's quite full bodied, very soft and smooth. The finish is clean and delicate. Wow, this is a really smooth flavor. There's no sweetness in play here. It's roasty but without any coffee flavor. There's a touch of licorice and caramel. The aftertaste is kind of like toffee... but without the sweetness. The flavors are really melded to make a single, simple taste. It's moderately bitter and the bitterness hangs around for a while after the swallow. This is along the lines of a Pennsylvania style imperial stout. It's very full flavored, but it can be just guzzled at room temperature. Thanks to Josh and Lisa (and ask4jenny) for this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 17:04:09 | More by yesyouam

BucannonXC5

California

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Original rating only on Jan. 16, 2012: 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.5
Updated rating only on Dec. 12, 2012: 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0

Poured from a draft into a snifter at Toronado in San Diego, Calif. Color was black. Minimal head. Grayish tan lacing on the top. Uneven film on the sides.

Smelled like caramel malts. Also toffee and chocolate.

Tasted dark chocolate with some coffee in there. Very, very smooth. Fantastic.

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth finish.

Really liked this beer. Smooth rules the day here.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2012 08:16:51 | More by BucannonXC5

mdvatab

Indiana

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

Poured from 22oz bottle into large red wine glass.
Vintage 2011

A: Rich dark chocolate, molasses, a touch of smokiness, coffee liquer, vanilla, and some oak.

A: Dark brown, not quite black, body. After pour, a thin layer of off-white foam remains. Pours a bit thinner than anticipated from the bottle.

F: Nice, sweet chocolate syrup, then some peppery booze, toasted oak, vanilla, some strong bitterness from hops as well as alcohol, and a bit of coconut on the finish.

M: Medium-full, somewhat chewy body. Low carbonation.

O: Definitely a complex mix of flavors with each sip. Sweetness, pepper, bitterness, coconut/vanilla. The alcohol is a bit more foreward that I'd consider to be ideal, but overall a very enjoyable brew!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 20:04:45 | More by mdvatab

scottbrew4u

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: This beer poured a pitch black color with a bubbly tan head that fizzled out quickly. No light was coming through this beer.

S: Rich roasted, burnt barley, cocoa, cream, some light molasses and a strong alcohol vapor.

T: There was a malt explosion and rich coffee, cocoa, char and deep nuttiness. Some bitterness from hops and ample burnt barley. Alcohol presence comes through with too much of a bang.

M: Deep rich, full body with crisp carbonation, and
Alcohol burn.

D: Although this beer had some good aspects, overall it needs to either sit and age or just have less alcohol to mellow it out and make it easier to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 20:25:40 | More by scottbrew4u

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a 16 oz. Snifter.

A- pours black with 2 finger light brown head. Lacing remains on glass.

S- coffee, dark chocolate

T- roasted malts almost burnt, coffee, bitter dark chocolate

M- full body, medium carbonation

O- good imperial stout. Not a big wow factor but still a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 04:16:08 | More by kawilliams81

haazer

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Huge thick brown head, slowly creeps down to a completely opaque black brew. Decent spotty lacing left down the glass. Head really lasts.

S- Chocolate syrup with the usual burnt malt profile. Some molasses perhaps as well. The nice smokey mint scent that I get from RIS's is here. Nothing jumps out, booze is well masked.

T- A smooth chocolate flavor, with crisp burnt malt. A little bit of coffee and lingering caramel. Theres a faint smoky flavor as well.

M- Smooth medium to full bodied stout with mid level carbonation. I'd like it a bit thicker but it is fairly easy drinking.

O- A nice easy drinking RIS. The booze is very well masked. A few aspects could be improved upon to make this great, but it will do as my first review of the new year.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 03:58:31 | More by haazer

brotherloco

California

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

22oz bomber. Bottled 08/25/11. Served in a tulip.

Pours almost pitch black with two fingers of mocha colored foam. Head sticks around for awhile. Some lacing sticks to the glass.

Aroma of roasted malt with a surprising amount of hoppiness. Malt is dry bakers chocolate and anise. Hops have a light citrus west coast quality.

Flavor is a nice balance of heavily roasted malt, subtle sweetness, and bitterness that is both roasty and hoppy. Middle maintains this balance and lingers for a second, but then leads to a really dry finish. Alcohol takes over at this point with a mild sting on the tongue and all around the mouth astringency.

Full bodied with a medium-high level of carbonation that keeps things moving. Finish is a bit rough with the high ABV coming through.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 01:32:56 | More by brotherloco

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at 1702 Speedway. Poured into a tulip tasting glass; pours opaque black with a small, medium-brown head that falls to a nice foamy ring. Aroma is of rich roasted coffee, charred wood, licorance, and baker’s chocolate with some mild smoke. Moderately sweet flavor up front, though there is a decent amount of coffee bitterness underneath that bounces in and out of the flavor profile. Finish is sweet and reminiscent of molasses and brown sugar. Moderate alcohol tingle in the lingering aftertaste. Very mildly carbonated with a sticky, full mouthfeel. Great winter brew!

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2011 19:06:02 | More by CuriousMonk

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. brown bottle. No freshness date. Served in a 50 cl Ittala mug.
Pours a thick dark root beer color with a big fluffy tan head a lots of sticky lacing.
Robust smells of burnt caramel malt, coffee, dark chocolate and rum burst out of the gate. Minor smells of licorice, piney hops, cut flowers and figs roll in behind.
The flavors are bold as well. Dark roasted coffee, cocoa, spruce, citrus zest and potent dark rum all have plenty of elbow room. A light metallic tang is noticed in the after bite.
This a full, creamy brew with few subtleties worth mentioning, except for the distant taste of licorice and a slight plastic glue-like fuminess perceived when inhaling after a large gulp.
BIG Stout!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 00:43:26 | More by BeerResearcher

BilbosNuts

California

4.03/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz. bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a dark brown that is almost black as coal. It has a huge mocha colored head that has great retention and leaves scattered lacing.

S: The aroma mostly consist of sweet caramel malts and a roasted coffee bean smell. It also has a light hop profile.

T: The taste is similar to the aroma with a slight hoppy and big roasted malt backbone. A sweet caramel flavor also comes through.

M: It is pretty thick and very smooth. A light carbonation moves the flavors around. It is very drinkable.

O: This was a very nice treat and a fine way to start the holidays. I will definitely pick this up again next year.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 20:45:39 | More by BilbosNuts

ChugginOil

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Been savin' this bad boy sice last Christmas. Celebration time!
2010 Vintage

Pours a solid black color with a bit of cola edging. Theres an inch of tan head that sits around for awhile and slowly dissipates. A bit of lacing.

The nose is coffee and cocoa dominant. There's some dark fruit involved that is fig-like. Theres some honey in there as well. Booze is present but not harsh. The chocolate has some bitterness to it.

The taste is very nice. Smooth semi-sweet chocolate and bakers cocoa are prominant and velvety smooth. The ABV is completely masked and makes this dangerously drinkable. The dark fruit is less noticeable here than in the nose but its noted after the cocoa impact. Sweetness evenly meets bitter cocoa in this delicious beast.

The mouthfeel is very smooth after a year of aging. Light carbonation mixed with such a silky texture makes for a damn good feel.

Overall, im glad I had the willpower to hold on to this as long as I did. I havent had it fresh but I cant imaging it getting better than this.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 04:59:08 | More by ChugginOil

oberon

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured jet black with only faint ruby hue when held up to the light,a large mocha colored head atop.Dark fruit stands out most in the nose along with bitter chocolate and dark roast,the fruitiness is the main component going on here.A little more sharp than I like in the feel but it's not overly annoying.Dark fruit and black licorice flavors at the start with some earthy tones and unsweetened chocolate as well,a nice complex palate.A good close to great RIS,tweek the mothfeel and it is great,I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 22:06:57 | More by oberon

Jaycase

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: pitch black with good sized mocha colored head

s: bitter chocolate, bit of coffee, roasted malts

t: creamy bitter chocolate is the most prominent flavor. Roasted malts and coffee in the background

m: creamy, lightly carbonated. A bit thin though. Finishes dry.

o: decent RIS. Does seem to get better as it warms. Don't think I'll seek this out next year but worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 04:26:25 | More by Jaycase

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured aggressively into a 20 oz giant Duvel tulip. Pours a complete black with a huge 4 inch mocha head, that slowly settles into a fluffy layer of foam, and a good amount of lace. Smell dark malts, chocolate, earthy hops, and maybe a little licorice. Taste is lots of dark chocolate, expresso, smoke, and a hoppy finish. Body is a touch heavier than average, very dry, plenty of life, and for the style goes down fairly easy. This is a very bold flavored Imperial Stout and I would love to have it around the holidays for many years.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 00:23:25 | More by SawDog505

Drinkerofales

California

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with a dark hazelnut head with some lacing. The head sticks around until the finish.

Smells strong of coffee and bitter chocolate, with some boozy scent in there. Gains bready sweetness as it warms.

Tastes of dark fruit and sweet malt, with a touch of alcohol, as the beer warms, it smooths out and gains more deep fruit and chocolate taste.

Feels a little bubbly with a slight alcohol burn, which lessens as it warms.

Overall I feel, this should definitely be enjoyed about 20-30 minutes out of the fridge, all aspects of the beer are better when it loses it's cold. Great body and flavors make this beer good, and I am glad my local beer monger recommended this to me.

DOA

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 08:02:29 | More by Drinkerofales

jdense

Oregon

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, 2009 vintage, shared at Twelve Beers of Christmas tasting, 12.18.11, paired with chocolate covered bacon (The Devil's Candy).

1/2 finger brown head, small bubbles, medium dissipation with minimal lacing. Cocoa nibs dominate the nose, offset by a bit of vanilla and caramel. Chocolatey goodness tastewise, cocoa nibs and bittersweet chocolate, some caramel in the middle, and good citrus hop notes though I think these have faded a bit. Mouthfeel is medium, slick and viscous, not sticky, still a bit boozy. Not the best RIS The Alpha King makes, I like the barrel aged version a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 15:03:51 | More by jdense