Santa's Butt - Ridgeway Brewing

Offa

California

2.23/5  rDev -34.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This was a big disappointment, especially since I love porters and had already fallen in love with Ridgeway Bitter.

It's almost black red-brown with a small light brown head that soon dissipates to a thin foamy ring and some bubbles.

The aroma is mostly of chocolate but it's not very strongly roasted smelling, with hints of fruit and brown bread.

The taste is much worse: almost nothing but prunes and alcohol, with faint hints of red wine and chocolate. The body isn't too thin but it is not complex at all and is really very bland for a porter, tasting pretty much just of alcohol-soaked prunes. It is far too bland and alcoholic. However, it is drinkable and some enjoyable feel and warmth.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2008 17:09:18 | More by Offa

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -12.3%

05-15-2013 17:10:42 | More by twenty5

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.69/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

I'm not going to lie. I purchased this exclusively for the name and for the picture on the label. I guess that's what they're betting on. 500ml bottle purchased from BevMo in Menlo Park, CA.

Pours a pleasant ruby-brown colour, with a lightness to the body and good clarity. Head is a disappointing film of off-white, not really creating itself to begin with, and then fizzling out to a minor ring. Carbonation is fine. Some streaks of lacing. It's ok, without looking magnificent.

Nose is sweet and toasty, with a slightly nutty, slightly buttery character coming through above a solid, standard grainy English malt character. It's really quite sweet and quite potent—even if it's something of a one-character aroma, it at least has conviction on its side.

Taste is light, but pleasant. Again, toasty grain notes drive it forward, with a smoothness in the flavour, if not in the feel. Mild watery coffee tones, a suggestion of red cherry, and a rather dry finish, again with some weak roasted tones. It's pleasant enough, but the strength on the nose isn't really present here.

Feel is a little weak and watery: if it were fuller I think it would really help the beer.

Overall, this is decent stuff. It's not really exciting, but there's a little interest there, and it's structured in very much the way it should be. In the end, there's a little class hiding behind the gimmicky label, at least.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:31:24 | More by lacqueredmouse

jefftuck47

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -5%

05-09-2013 23:26:24 | More by jefftuck47

dacrza1

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

date reviewed: 25 January 2013...
glassware: Victory Hopdevil nonick...
occasion: research paper grading, round one...
appearance: jet black body that intimidates as only Santa can; off-white rim more like a dirty Santa...
aroma: punchy peat malts--with some grassy, oaty--a bit of cornbread(?); this shouldn't diminish the effect....
palate: smooth, weighty, active strength--drinkable but stern...
taste: a scotch-like experience, with a dialed-down peat and ping--delightfully agreeable...
overall: I recall this beer catching flak for its name and label; Santa's nothing if not humorous, so the State needs to take some soma and drink this; juvenile packaging aside, the beer is a medium-strength winter warmer that has me in a giving mood long after the holiday season...

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 04:25:21 | More by dacrza1

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -41.5%

03-21-2013 00:06:28 | More by BGsWo22

agreenman19

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

03-12-2013 23:54:27 | More by agreenman19

moreyswig

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -12.3%

03-12-2013 19:58:06 | More by moreyswig

spycow

Illinois

3/5  rDev -12.3%

03-10-2013 20:28:43 | More by spycow

TheSixthRing

California

2.28/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

Appearance - Pours a clear, dark reddish brown with a finger width, off-white head. Poor retention, leaves behind no lacing or bubbles.

Smell - Slight metallic aroma. Watery hints of toffee.

Taste - Not much. Ghostly earth tones. Slightly metallic. Really watered down toffee notes.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium in body with low to moderate carbonation. Smooth and drinkable, in the least.

Overall - One of, if not the most disappointing porters I've ever had. I've had BMC Light products with more flavor. I bought this at a severe discount, and I still feel like I got ripped off.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 03:39:34 | More by TheSixthRing

DmanGTR

New York

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%

02-06-2013 04:08:10 | More by DmanGTR

st9647v3

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%

01-31-2013 02:59:14 | More by st9647v3

SFC21

New York

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

01-27-2013 01:03:56 | More by SFC21

CommanderOfAwesome

California

3.4/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

bottle poured into Snifter.

Pours dark brown with finger khaki head. Decent amount of lacing on the glass.

A: Sweetness, stale coffee smell or coffee that's been out a bit and gone cold, hint of molasses, and some toffee. Almost reminds me of a baltic porter smell.

T: Sweetness is first thing I notice, followed by a bit of cold stale-ish coffee. Very mild bitter taste to finish. Really reminds me of baltic porters I've had.

M: Thin which is to be expected for a porter. Dry finish and mild carbonation.

O: Fairly sweet porter, thin and leave me wanting more. Sickly sweet feeling but not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 06:16:22 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

Charlie_Hoss

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -12.3%

01-02-2013 17:58:40 | More by Charlie_Hoss

GPHarris

Alabama

3.53/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a - poured a one finger thick light tan head into a tulip glass which left good lacing that disappeared halfway through. the body was black with brown edges.
s - coffee and burnt chocolate.
t - burnt chocolate with a hint of dark fruits.
m - medium and slick.
o - a solid porter but not one i would seek out yearly.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 16:50:27 | More by GPHarris

Willytee3

New York

4/5  rDev +17%

12-31-2012 03:51:55 | More by Willytee3

cliff1066

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

12-28-2012 01:28:02 | More by cliff1066

KajII

North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

[Suggested Glassware: Nonic Pint]

The pour was a clear medium to dark brown with an average (1-2 finger) off white creamy head that reduced down to a small cap and had good streaky lacing.

The aroma was of a roasted dark malt and a leathery yeast with notes of dark chocolate, coffee and a hint of molasses.

The taste was lightly sweet with a roasty malt feel, a note of chocolate and a touch of molasses from the start, progressing slightly into a mildly bitter taste with a nice roasted coffee finish. The flavor lasted a decently long time after the swallow, with a roasted coffee taste left lying on the taste buds for a short while longer.

Mouthfeel was medium in body and dry in texture with a mild carbonation.

Overall this was a brew that possessed a nice bitter sweet roasty flavor, a smooth and easy drinkability and only a moderate ABV. Although it is nothing over the top, it is still quite good and I could see my self having a few of these...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 18:37:26 | More by KajII

BeerTwigs

New York

3.08/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle on Christmas Eve into my Dogfish Tulip.

A - Very dark brown, very little lacing and about a one finger head on the pour

S - Light aroma that includes caramel malt, hints of vanilla and chocolate.

T - Taste is spot on with the aroma, light vanilla and chocolate hints. Very light and a basic English style porter. Nothing really jumping off on this one.

M - Thin with decent carbonation.

O - I bought this beer to drink for Christmas, Thankfully I wasn't aging or waiting to drink this beer. it was a impulse buy and it will probably sells more because of its name. The beer is decent, not terrible. I wouldn't seek it out again, but I'd drink it if it was around. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 01:26:48 | More by BeerTwigs

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Santa's butt has an copper amber color which does't resemble a porter really.
No head but good carbonation. No retention ability what so ever.
Aroma is sutle roasted malts.
Taste is sweet smooth and cloying. Just hints of roasted malts or malts in general.
Drinks thin and flat and is really unappealling in every catagory.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 13:39:52 | More by micromaniac129

sandiego67

California

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

12-22-2012 04:14:11 | More by sandiego67

Travcofarms

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -12.3%

12-17-2012 17:32:41 | More by Travcofarms

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

12-17-2012 03:24:24 | More by t0rin0

carteravebrew

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%

12-16-2012 18:45:15 | More by carteravebrew