Santa's Little Helper - Bourbon Barrel Aged - Port Brewing Company / Pizza Port

bulletrain76

California

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz bottle. Port/LA beer #29 and still no flat bottles. There was a welcoming psshhht of air as I cracked the cap on this, though the head was small and carbonation was light. BA Santa's is quite inky black, with just a thin ring of dark brown around the edges, and a small tan head that eventually mostly recedes. The aroma is like dipping your head into a bourbon barrel. OK, I haven't actually done that, but this smells a lot like a bottle of bourbon minus most of the alcohol. Plenty of charred oak, vanilla, caramel, and... bourbon. But it seems to work on a more charred side of things that causes some interest, despite my boredom with bourbonified beers right now. The flavor first hit me with a lot of cola. Quite sweet, with lots of vanilla, charred oak, and caramel. Just a hint of roasty stout beneath, with some charred dark chocolate. Not exactly hot, but devoid of much stout character . Not the chewiest beer, but full bodied, and the low carbonation exacerbates that, leading to a somewhat sticky finish. A big intense beer, but hardly refined. I have to say that regular Santa's is definitely a better beer, and at half the price. A blend of the two might have been nice, but the bourbon character in this is just way too dominant and makes it way less interesting, even if it is still basely appealing.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 20:41:30 | More by bulletrain76

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.6%

05-19-2013 03:40:17 | More by spycow

notchucknorris

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

05-15-2013 04:21:31 | More by notchucknorris

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

05-04-2013 20:16:18 | More by Kelp

IPAyForHops

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%

05-03-2013 01:31:09 | More by IPAyForHops

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%

04-21-2013 15:01:39 | More by drgonzo2k2

Sparky44

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

03-24-2013 17:54:05 | More by Sparky44

Wantbeer

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%

03-24-2013 03:11:15 | More by Wantbeer

saeh

France

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

03-16-2013 06:23:55 | More by saeh

ObiWanKushnobi

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

03-12-2013 03:14:07 | More by ObiWanKushnobi

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

03-07-2013 19:53:29 | More by orangesol

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.46/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2011 Vintage, straight from the brewery poured in to tulip.

A - Poured dark brown and settled black. A thin layer of light brown head formed and quickly disappeared.

S - A big oak aroma up front with char, bourbon, chocolate and some noticeable alcohol.

T - Sweet bourbon and oak dominate. Char, chocolate and a big warming alcohol presence. The oak dominates.

M - Medium body. Very light carbonation, which is too low and detracts from the beer. The body detracts from the beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 02:34:19 | More by TheSevenDuffs

popery

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

03-01-2013 07:16:21 | More by popery

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.45/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1pt 6floz. Bottle. Oversized wine glass. Pours very dark brown in color. Dark beige froth builds close but thin & lasting crown. An aroma festival to the nose: prune & bigarreau cherry aromas, hints of chocolate, notes of marmalade, cane sugar & molasses, ginger & toasted malts. Smelling evokes rhum fragrances. Flavors are complex as expected from the aromas are involved by gentle warming sensation. Full body. Soft carbonation. Moderate oily texture. Subtle bitterness in the middle is covered by rhum & anise hues. Notes of chocolate & dried nuts on the aftertaste. Celebrate Xmas no matter what month is!!!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 15:47:55 | More by GONZALOYANNA

Scotchboy

Idaho

4.16/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 bottling split into snifters with my brother.

A: Very dark pour yields an inky-black beverage in the glass; opaque, with a large but quickly receding darker khaki head.

S: Pretty substantial bourbon, vanilla and a good kick of oak. Hints of spice even? Roasted malt and dark chocolate underneath that, with pretty nice layers of caramel and darker sugary sweetness. A bit of booze here but pretty minimal.

T: Pretty close to the nose: darker caramel and toasted oak & some nuttiness...dare I suggest coconut? Its faint. Pretty moderate vanilla and bourbon. Roasted malt and dark chocolate/cocoa lays a nice foundation. There is a bit of spice here too, not sure if thats from the barrels or the base beer? This says oak barrels, and I don't remember spices from the base beer. There is a light, burning alcohol here but more than manageable in an espresso-like finish.

MF: Medium-to-full mouthfeel here, dry and bitter finish. Alcohol is a bit drying.

O: Surprised this doesn't score higher, I couldn't find much wrong with my bottle. This was an enjoyable bba stout with plenty of spirit notes and a good base beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 18:36:35 | More by Scotchboy

smekermann

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.6%

02-09-2013 07:41:08 | More by smekermann

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.18/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle, 2010 vintage. Consumed 1-26-13, reviewed from notes.

A: Bottle opens with a soft plip. Obsidian sludge, devoid of any head. Very sticky legs.

N: Heavy bourbon, prune and some soy to start. Lots of vanill and some raisins. Blackberry brandy and coffee overtones. 2 yeras has not decreased the alcohol. Chocolate and fudge, of course. Mint.

T: Blended bourbon and chocolate. Vanilla is the most dominant flavor with some tannins from the oak. Stale coffee grounds and prunes. Brandy, more so than bourbon after a few sips. Raisins and licorice. Honey.

M: Stick, viscous, very, very hot and practically flat.

O: Despite the low rating, I did enjoy this, but there are a lot of fatal flaws in a very competitive field. Age hasn't seemed to help this much, surprisingly. I will say that's it's apt they put Santa Claus on this, because there's a lot of raisin/prune which I'm sure is good for regularity.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 23:37:15 | More by writerLJBerg

dirtylou

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

22oz bottle, 2011 vintage

Served in an oversized snifter - muddy garnet body, bubbly head - low carbonation. Overwhelming aromas of bourbon and vanilla, caramel and chocolate. And then, unfortunately, you take a sip. Absolutely fierce - burnt rubber, charred malt, torched oak, abrasive bourbon, caramel and chocolate. Heavily bitter - gonna be a tough one to choke down

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 22:34:03 | More by dirtylou

bsuedekum

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%

01-27-2013 02:37:53 | More by bsuedekum

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.6%

01-23-2013 02:07:54 | More by JAHMUR

appetiteforparis

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

01-17-2013 04:41:53 | More by appetiteforparis

fatmcb1

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.6%

01-12-2013 06:55:58 | More by fatmcb1

westcoastbeerlvr

California

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

01-10-2013 17:15:58 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

Auror

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

01-09-2013 05:35:34 | More by Auror

BWH999

California

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

01-08-2013 23:14:41 | More by BWH999