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

TommyW

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 Vintage

A- Black with a one-finger, tan head.

S- Lots of roasted aroma, big bourbon aroma, chocolate and dark fruits.

T- Followed the nose pretty well. The bourbon presence is there for sure but I didn't find it to be too much. Lots of chocolate, vanilla, coffee and dark fruit flavors to go along with it. A very nice balance of flavors.

M- Very smooth, silky feel; low carbonation

D- Very nice beer, perfect for a cold day

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 01:06:12 | More by TommyW

mikehblack

California

3.3/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2011 vintage poured into a snifter.

A- Surprisingly it's not totally black, but more dark brown with some light coming through the sides. Mocha head recedes very quickly.

S- Lots of bourbon up front. There's some oaky vanilla sweetness behind it but it's largely overshadowed by the bourbon. Seriously smells like a glass of bourbon with booze and all.

T- Jeez- bourbon all over this. Opens up more than the nose, however, with chocolate, espresso and vanilla notes. I'm getting some dark cherry as well, albeit cherries soaked in bourbon. Not as much depth beyond the barrel as I would like.

M- It's pretty silky, about medium mouthfeel with very little carbonation.

O- Pretty disappointed with this one, considering the price tag (14.99). It just doesn't go very far beyond the bourbon barrel and the low carbonation is going to make it sort of difficult to finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 05:09:02 | More by mikehblack

davey101

Connecticut

3.18/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

2011 vintage, 22 oz bomber into a DFH signature glass. Almost no carbonation. Pitch black body with no head, just some faint edging. There are legs and some lacing though. Smell is strong bourbon, vanilla, and oak. Taste is very boozy. Strong bourbon, vanilla, and some chocolate and coffe notes. Overall, not worth the high price tage. Great boozy bourbon notes work with the low carbonation, but I just wanted something with more body and weight to it. Mouthfeel is just too thin.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 00:39:50 | More by davey101

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz 2011 bomber into some wine glasses. Split with Oglmcdgl

Santa looks the part with a big inky black color that looks quite thick. A one inch tan mocha head stays on top with ok retentions that fades with time. Soda pop bubbles, no stick on the glass from the foam, but the liquid leaves a black gloss staining the surface.

Once this little helper warmed a nice roastiness from a big malt base is a good scent. Under that some bittersweet chocolate, light coffee, charcoal and some bourbon from the barrel treatment. The bourbon is bright and I wonder if it is Heaven Hill.

Santa tastes like a RIS with all of the above ingredients mixed in. Chocolate, coffee and big roasted malt come together but is rather bland. With some warming I get a big tootsie roll taste that is not huge but makes for a good sweetness. Bourbon and wet wood with some old world porter quality.

Medium bodied with a low amount of carbonation, well this is a port beer so it's to be expected. Some small bitterness in this somewhat fresh bottle. The ten percent is not in the taste at all but it's still high so sharing a bottle might be more doable.

Good beer, the taste is there, the body is a bit thin and dead like, a bit pricy IMO (16.49, and that's on the low end), worth a go, not anything after that, just like the regular version. I'm seeing a ton of bottles of this in Philly. I'm guessing the left coast wised up and stopped purchasing this BA version, or the LA barrel program is growing?

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 06:24:57 | More by onix1agr

seand

California

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12% according to the label, not 10%.

A: Pours a dark slightly translucent brown, with a small amount of tan head. Just some bubbles around the edge of the glass and some haze on the surface sticks around, leaving the occasional tiny spot of lacing.

S: Big, thick, and boozy. Strong bourbon, and a bit earthy. There's a little roasted malt and a hint of some subtle notes, but it mostly gets lost underneath the bourbon. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you like bourbon-y beers.

T: Light roasted malts up front, with a big concentrated boozy bourbon from the middle through the finish. There's this light, almost porter-like note right on the tip of the tongue; it's kind of like it goes from light porter through to strong bourbon as you take a sip.

M: Relatively full body, though the start of the sip feels surprisingly light. Medium carbonation.

Overall, this is a very bourbon-y beer, and if that's what you want, you will like this. If you want a subtle, complex beer that balances many notes together, look elsewhere. If you want some bourbon in a fairly taste beer package, go for it!

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 02:30:58 | More by seand

TKEbeerman

Florida

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured into my pint glass, this brew pour a super dark brown (not entirely black), with absolutely no head. Not impressive, I expected more, but the bourbon aging has really done a number on this appearance.

S: The aroma is strait bourbon mixed with dark chocolate and maybe a little anise. Not very complex, but if you're a bourbon lover, your mouth will water.

T: The flavor is pretty strait forward like the aroma. Mostly bourbon, sweet notes of anise and chocolate. Hints of the brew's roastiness begins to break free as the beer warms.

MF: This brew suffers from what many bourbon barrel aged beers suffer from...poor mouthfeel. The feel is thin, with minimal carbonation at best.

Overall: This beer is ok. I really enjoy bourbon, but when bourbon becomes the main flavor note and over powers everything else, you have a beer that is average at best.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 00:47:30 | More by TKEbeerman

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.6/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber bottle purchased at Eulogy in Philadelphia, PA (after the Founders dinner at Chifa, two thumbs up). Didn't check the dating, but I believe it's the 2010 put into barrels and released this past July. Pour ed into regular snifter

A: Deep brown to dark black. Some red on edges. Not as black as expected. Thinner. No head on pour. Barely any from swirl. Alcohol lacing.

S: Lots of vanilla. Dark fruits: rum raisin and prune. Some oak notes. Not the chocolate or coffee that I was expecting. There was some there, but not tons. The bourbon buries it.

T: Little bitterness on tip of tongue from the dark grains: choc and coffee. The the mid mouth mellowness from the vanilla and oak. Taste the alcohol.

M: it's full bodied but not as full as expected.

O: I have to go B on this one. I actually think that I liked the regular version more, but I think that with some mellowing this will balance out for sure. Have one in the cellar to check in a year or so.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 19:25:19 | More by inlimbo77

djaeon

California

4.8/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours an opaque dark brown to black with little head. Some retention consisting of larger bubbles.

S: Perfect mix of espresso & bourbon.

T: Same as the smell, with super dark chocolate thrown into the mix. Picks up some charred wood flavors in the finish as it warms up.

M: Little carbonation, bitter aftertaste, slight booze burn, in the best possible way.

O: Tastes like an imperial stout poured over a shot of bourbon. Love it!

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 22:10:34 | More by djaeon

waltersrj

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 Vintage.

Pour: Dark chocolate brown/black with slight red hues and a mediocre espresso brown head that quickly dissipates into a small ring around the glass.

Nose: Hot alcohol, vanilla, toasted coconut, caramel, fudge brownies, slight hops, slight cherry, and bakers chocolate.

Taste: Hot damn there's a lot of booze here. Almost as boozy as fresh BCBS but not as tasty. High alcohol, fudge brownie, toasted coconut, oak barrel (charred), vanilla, and more lingering booze.

Mouthfeel: Light, creamy, moderately velvety.

Overall: A pretty good beer. I really enjoy the base beer but the barrel here is too hot. Great mouthfeel, great nose, hot taste. I enjoy my bourbon but only when the mouthfeel is thicker. Would be good with a few, 2-3 years on it.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 04:51:12 | More by waltersrj

amphion1065

Massachusetts

2.4/5  rDev -37.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2

Bomber into a Duvel tulip. Label says 12.0% ABV. Reviewed from notes.

Predominately black, tough there is some light ruby around the edges. Barely a wisp of a head: what is there is dark brown with very loose bubbles. Virtually nonexistent bubbles.

The smell is pleasing, if straightforward. A lot of oak, this is a very woody aroma. Some hints of vanilla, and an unmistakable smell of coconut. Dark fruits and coffee are present as well, but the barrel is the star.

Holy -bals, this is a very barrel-forward beer. Just tons of bourbon in the taste, with a hot alcoholic burn throughout. There's also an oppressive wood character - drinking this is almost like biting into a piece of bark. Smoky, charred malts impart an acrid taste. There are some cherries, too, but they don't really help much.

Admittedly, the mouthfeel is really nice. Thick with low to medium carbonation. This is the one area in which the beer excels.

This was tough to put down, but at least it was a bargain. By that, I mean I paid nearly $20 for this bomber and now feel very, very stupid.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 23:21:58 | More by amphion1065

brew3crew

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

In line at founders for CBS

A-maroon or brown. One of those worjs

S-sweet mix of makt and Bourbon. Very inviting

T-very, very good. Sweetness on the bourbon makes it for q sweet taste

M-medium body and smooth

O-very fucking good. Glad I havvone one the cellar

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 10:53:33 | More by brew3crew

MrTopher

California

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 Release

Bought one of these at the brewery… Had the standard before, but thought I’d give the bals version a ride.

A – DARK black color, this is so dark you can’t see anything through the beer. Thin small dark brown head that dissipates very quickly leaves a little bubbles but nothing more.

S – This is very bourbon forward, a nice roast smell and some chocolate layered around more bourbon.

T – Bourbon is first that attacks the palette, but it’s not so much an attack as the more formal introduction. And then bourbon introduces his guest; chocolate, coffee and a deep roast flavor that is hard to pin point. They all come to the party together, but then bourbon sticks around, you get that nice lingering bourbon flavor in the mouth.

M – Extremely low carbonation, but I have no problem with that when it comes to this beast. A nice dense mouth feel, but nothing too chewy.

O – Have never really beer impressed with the standard SLH fresh, but the bals version fresh is very enjoyable. It’s a bourbon explosion.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 17:54:34 | More by MrTopher

maximum12

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to a man that almost kills with good beers, lothore, for this bomber. Split with my wife after a grueling day of working (her) & lounging (me).

Pour is blackest pondwater, with all the fizz of early spring mud. Lifting glass to nose, this is much better: overpowering bourbon, chasing down tiny nubbins of cocoa & vanilla. Not subtle. I'm OK with that.

Santa's Little Helper is one of the few beers I've ever had where the lack of carbonation truly dings the tastiness of the beer. So flat, so heavy, like drinking liquid black granite that is now reconstituting itself in my stomach in solid form. The actual taste is pretty good. Big-hand heavy on the bourbon with a bull-whip of charred roast: these are two of my favorite things. Vanilla as it warms, chocolate too, along with a grope of alcohol that would keep one warm on a sub-zero winter night. My stomach is very warm.

Well, this is a pretty good beer. It reminds me a bit of a cask beer, where the missing carbonation causes the flavors to lack bright, sharp contrasts, resulting in a muddled feel to the beer (I understand this makes me a heretic worthy of burning at the stake, but hey). I'm a huge Port Brewing fan, but this one just didn't hit my sweet spot.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 03:05:38 | More by maximum12

DoubleSimcoe

New York

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was at Malloy's Finest in Naperville and the guy asked if I needed help. "I love bourbon-barreled beers". So he went to the back and got me a bottle of Santa's Bourbon. Apparently a customer ordered it but didn't pick it up.

I had a bottle of 2009 Santa's regular the other night, so it's cool to try this.

Appearance: Classic major stout here, super thick and oily and black. One-finger head, dies soon and leaves a mantle, a rim and some good lacing.

Smell: Bourbon goodness, vanilla, wood and oak. Chocolate powder and sugar.

Taste: Not as exciting as the nose; a little thin. The bourbon comes through in the aftertaste, coating the tongue with a tad of burn and booze. Some coffee and even a hint of spice/pepper! Vanilla at the end too, maybe some hop.

Mouthfeel: Not the greatest/thickest body, but good enough. Dry, spicy finish, low-but-alright-carbonation. Really lingers on the mouth.

Overall: Drinks pretty good. Mostly a sipper but goes down rather easy. Not the best bourbon-barreled beer out there, though. And for $15.99, I would go for an Older Viscosity instead or something similar. Good but not great.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 03:44:25 | More by DoubleSimcoe

IdrinkGas

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I've been dying to try this one but it was $25 at my local bottle shop so I left it on the shelf. A couple weeks later I found it for $16.50 so I decided to grab a couple.
Vintage 2011 bomber poured into a snifter. Less than a finger of thin watery head. It was gone in about a minute. Mostly black in color but appears a deep dark brown when I held it up to the light.

Lots of bourbon with some faint vanilla in the nose. Also a buttery sweetness.

Taste is pretty one dimensional with the bourbon. Some drying alcohol, cocoa powder, and a little green apple in the finish.

Mouthfeel seems thin for the style. Almost creamy. Really lacking in carbonation.

To my surprise I prefer the non barrel aged version of this beer. Gonna let my other bottle hang out in the cellar for a while.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 00:27:20 | More by IdrinkGas

unitmonster

California

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Lost Abbey on 8/13.

A - Dark, black as night. Pretty viscous with some decent legs. Hard to tell from taster glass.

S - Bourbon. Maybe some chocolate. Oh, and bourbon.

T - Bourbon. There is also a slight hint of bourbon on the finish. There is actually some chocolate hidden in there.

M - Viscous! Heavy. My friends referred to these tasters as shots.

O - I like this beer. I know what I'm getting going in to it. It's very boozy, and it doesn't try to hide it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2011 01:30:41 | More by unitmonster

jm1229

California

3.28/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Lost Abbey.

A- Poured black with very little head, however proof of previous presence lies in the minimal lacing along the sides. Looks tasty but from here I can smell the...

S- Bourbon. Whoa. Bourbon- bomb. "Hello, sir. Do you like lots of bourbon in your beer? Yes? Try this." Oh man. So much bourbon. If there's anything else, I'm not getting it...

T- Also, I'm only getting the bourbon. There's just so much of it. It really just tastes like beered-down bourbon. If you like that, great; if not, you (like I) are in for a true test of nerves.

M- Very low carbonation and thick mouthfeel, but this one's definitely a sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2011 08:37:57 | More by jm1229

JoeySchlitz

California

3.6/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

(’10 release review) Additional notes from a bottle that I opened last weekend. This was considerably more enjoyable than the previous year’s bottle that I opened. The bourbon was toned down and the overall the flavor was much more balanced with a stronger vanilla note to neutralize the coffee and roasted malts. The carbonation was almost non-existent but there were some slight swirls in the glass which did help bring out the beer’s aroma and flavor. Much better but I would be hesitant to seek it out given the bottle variations.

(’09 release review) Pours jet black with soapy bubbles at the sides - a little bit of lacing creeps up after a few minutes but overall looks fairly still. Smell is of bourbon, bourbon, a bit more bourbon and some dark chocolate and roasted malts. Taste is similar - very hot and the alcohol is overpowering at first. After a few sips it recedes and there’s some chocolate cake, coffee, vanilla and more roasted malt. Almost zero carbonation and not too thick - kind of like a thinner, less balanced version of Older Viscosity. A bomber is drinkable in one sitting, but I won't be looking to open another anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 00:36:39 | More by JoeySchlitz

nbree00

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

2010 Bottling

A: Jet black in color with minal head, probably could use just a hair more carbonation

S: The nose is really where this one shines. Strong notes of bourbon, vanilla, espresso and dark chocolate. Super inviting.

T: Not quite as epic as the nose but a nice depth of flavor here. Robust flavors of bourbon, charred oak, dark roasted coffee, bakers chocolate and a hint of anise.

M: Has thinned out a little from when I tried it fresh. Still lush and silky just not as long a finish or as much texture from the oak.

O: Overall a seriously good beer, don't wanna say it's peaking cause I think it will hold up for a long time, but maybe not improving a whole lot. Beautifully rich and loaded with bourbony goodness, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 02:07:56 | More by nbree00

badboyrsl84

California

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at lost abbey/ pizza port

Pours a dark cola colored with a fizzy tan colored head that disappears down to a lacing around the top of the beer.

Smell- beautiful bourbon, vanilla, oak, and alcohol. Chocolate notes are present as it warms.

Taste- tons of bourbon up front and once it settles in your mouth the flavors open up and vanilla, chocolate, charred smoke taste. It ends with a note worthy alcohol bite.

Overall- its a solid showing for a bourbon barrel beer from port. Although older viscosity is still my favorite, but still very good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2011 17:52:57 | More by badboyrsl84

UCLABrewN84

California

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an opaque black with a very small 1/2 inch dark khaki head that fades to a thin film. Random sheets and spots of lace cling to the glass on the drink down. Smells of bourbon, vanilla, wood, and some cocoa notes. Taste is very bourbon forward with lots of vanilla, wood, and alcohol flavors along with some dark roasted malt and bitter chocolate flavors on the finish. This beer has a low level of carbonation and seems a bit flat and thick in the mouth. There is an alcohol warmth in the back of the throat with each sip. Overall, this is a pretty good bourbon barrel aged stout with more of an emphasis on the bourbon than the stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 03:09:21 | More by UCLABrewN84

FARGO619

California

5/5  rDev +29.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

BOTTLE 22oz into tulip. 55 degrees. Glass room temp.

A - Pours a deep black with some murkiness...so thick with a nice mocha head.

S - Strong vanilla and caramel aromas followed by some dark roasty smells. Bourbon is very noticeable, but not in an overpowering way...smells very good.

T - Smooth and creamy tasting with some spice and vanilla, caramel, brown sugar and molasses flavors. Lightly roasty and a well balanced bourbon flavor mixed with slightly hot alcohol.

M - Full bodied with a lowish carbonation level.

D - Excellent barrel aged beer...smooth and creamy, lots of barrel character, mild bourbon heat...enjoyed this very much.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 15:48:40 | More by FARGO619

seeswo

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bourbon 2010 bottle.

Pours black with a small tan head. The nose is huge bourbon - wood, vanilla, coconut, with just a touch of roast and cocoa powder. The taste is pretty substantial bourbon and wood, coconut, brewers licorice, cocoa powder, roasted malts. This beer is pretty boozy and has big wood characteristics, but it does come together at times in the flavor. Mostly in the middle do the flavors really meld. The front and the finish are a bit much. The mouthfeel is pretty sweet with low-med carb. I dunno - overall this is not as bad as some seem to make it out to be, but really is a bit much with the barrel.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 05:05:37 | More by seeswo

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 650 mL bottle from the infamous first batch.

A: The stout is quite dark, a full black color that eats up any shred of light. A miniscule head, cask-looking, reveals that, unfortunately, no carbonation has taken hold two plus years in. Oh well.

S: The nose is a dark chocolatey stout that has spent more than enough time in a bourbon barrel. The roasted sweet stout aromas mix with vanilla and coconut and wooden fullness. A boozy heat runs through the ale.

T: The bold stout flavors mesh nicely with the sweet booziness of the bourbon. Dark roasted malts with chocolate and coffee have an imperial vinousness that is amplified by the barrel. The bourbon adds wooden strength backed by vanilla and coconut, even a little aniseed. The lack of carbonation isn't noticeable, surprisingly, in such a big stout. Stout flavors are the lasting impression, lingering longer than normal due to the lack of carbonation.

M: The mouthfeel is plodding, oozing through its stout and bourbon routines. The carbonation, while it would be nice, isn't missed. I like the lingering stout body.

O: Not nearly as bad as I was expecting. The mild- to nonexistent carbonation isn't as big as issue.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 00:52:24 | More by akorsak

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Shared by beeruser at an impromptu Hobo Tasting in a parking garage before heading out to Pisgah for a ticking session... NO BLACKED OUT SANTA! Served from bottle into a Duck Rabbit snifter. Poured pitch black with a minimal tan head. There was no lacing evident throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of roasted malt, dark chocolate, and alcohol. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, dark chocolate, and sweet alcohol. It had a heavy feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. Really glad I got to try this one and what better way to do so than at a make-shift Hobo Tasting!? Nice flavor going on in this one, but it was still quite hot. Nice aroma going on here as well. Even with the heat from the alcohol this was still nicely balanced. Definitely worth trying!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 14:43:40 | More by thagr81us