Santa's Butt - Ridgeway Brewing

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16.9 oz bottle. 2005-2006 vintage.

This porter poured a very dark, red-brown color with thin, tan foam that settled. The smell was malty with faint dried fruit and a very light sweetness. The taste was upfront dry caramel with some tangy maltiness and a bit of molasses. There was a very light hoppiness coming through the malt flavors. The mouthfeel was smooth with medium body and low (flat) carbonation. The finish was richly sweet. This was an OK porter, though a bit lacking. It did grow on me by the end of the glass.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2007 23:44:28 | More by UncleJimbo

RBorsato

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +28.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark brown to black with lots of mahogany to the light. Nice creamy light brown head with nice active carbonation. Light roasty and dark fruit aromas. Complex light roasted, spicy, fruity, and chocolate malt-driven porter. Medium-light bodied with a dry roasty finish.

A very nice Robust English Porter.

Per Label: "Bottle Conditioned"

Tasted: 03/16/07

(11.2 oz / 330 ml bottle)

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2007 17:45:14 | More by RBorsato

sulldaddy

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Well I bought this one for the gimmicky label, which made me chuckle in the store. I am drinking it at just below room temp in a snifter. The brew pours a dark brown color with a 2cm tan head faoming up and fading to an edge layer quickly. Aroma is chocolate and roasted malt with some brown sugar sweetness and a bit of grassy hop.
First sip reveals average carbonation but much lighter than expected body and an almost watery finish. I think I have gotten used to bigger "robust" porters. So I find the density of the beer not very exciting, although I think it is true to the original porter style.
Flavor is chocolate and roasted malt just as the nose was with a bit of roasted malt lingering on my palate for the finish. Overall the flavor is mild and light. An enjoyable brew that goes down easy. I prefer some more umph though!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2005 02:53:22 | More by sulldaddy

rye726

Colorado

3/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nothing special here. Pours a medium brown with a weak head. The nose has roasty malts and a touch of cocao. The taste is equally unimpressive. Not bad, just a bit light for the style. Light body has decent carbonation. Good brew to wash down some fish and chips, but thats about it.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2009 21:12:53 | More by rye726

allengarvin

Texas

3.43/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tall half-liter glass, this makes for a ruby-tinted dark beer with a good solid half-inch head. Aroma, however, is almost undetectable: just a faint faint hit of malt. Caramel-flavored malt dominates, with a hint of nutty roastiness. There's a little cocoa flavor as well. General flavor is sweet, with little bitterness around. Body is creamy but light.

Nothing particularly interesting about this beer. Does Ridgeway make anything complex or unique?

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2007 02:34:21 | More by allengarvin

Arbitrator

California

3.03/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Chilled bottle into a glass.

A: Dark chocolate brown; some red highlights when held to the light. 2 fingers of head that recede quickly into a film that leaves lacing throughout the drink.

S: Chocolate, coffee, and a modest aroma of roasted malts. No hops come through the nose.

T: Chocolate and roasted malts at the forefront, balanced by a kick of hops in the mid-taste. Both of these flavors combine in the finish with a lean towards coffee bitterness. However, the taste is not strong. No alcohol warmth detected.

M: Medium-bodied brew with decent carbonation.

D: Was decently enjoyable to drink, but it lacked the complexity and depth of flavor that I expect from winter brews. The flavor was also a bit weak. I paired the latter half with food and its weakness really came out then. I won't turn down another, but I won't pay for one either.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2009 00:16:54 | More by Arbitrator

clvand0

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Santa's Butt. Hilarious. Pours a dark color with a small head that dies down quickly. There is a lot of chocolate in the aroma as well as a light bit of hops. The flavor has some of the chocolate character, but it also has something that I can't identify. Not sure what it is, but it's weird. Drinkability is good. Bit of diacetyl there as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2005 18:16:49 | More by clvand0

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on December 3, 2011. The pour is dark chestnut-amber with no head but good clarity. Lots of sweet roasted malts in the aroma along with sugar and a nip of laid back hops. The bodu is in the medium range and also rather smooth and creamy.It definitely espouses a pleasant bitter flavor but it really reminds me of most sweet British ESB's which always seem to have this soft water characteristic and lots of approachable flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 02:41:43 | More by puboflyons

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

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown pour with some glints of purple light peeking throught the sides, topped off with khaki frothy head cap that quickly settles to a ring in my mini-nonic glass.

Deep roasted cocoa scents and dry biscuit. This is what a porter should smell like. Also has some vanilla twist and slightly vinous.

First swigs: Ok, so what does Santa's Butt taste like? I never thought I would answer that question but, slight dry cocoa and pancake. Some chocolate ice cream and stays focused on the well done vanilla porter flavor that lends to a creamy feel. Easy roasted maltsand the tiniest bit of citrous hints.

Soft plush carbonation. Medium body, with a middle of the road carbonation feel that leads to an easy drinkability. Smooth porter.

Last swigs: Gentle cocoa and cream. Curiosity about the label influenced trying this one, I'll admit, but seriously good. Thanks to Shapudding for the bottle.

Beer is good. Happy beering.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2005 17:44:26 | More by blitheringidiot

bashiba

Iowa

3.35/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a clear dark brown/red in color with a big thick tan head. Good lacing all the way to the bottom.

Smell was light with a bit of sweet cocoa and light coffee odor.

The flavor is very mild with a lightly bittersweet chocolate malt flavor with a touch of brown sugar, milk and coffee. Almost Latte like in flavor. Very mild overall.

Mouthfeel is very creamy and silky smooth.

An easy drinking light porter, not bad.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2008 00:51:23 | More by bashiba

WoodBrew

Illinois

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

I was at the Kendall Pub in Yorkville, IL and they had plenty of Ridgeway Brewing bottles for sample. I tried the Santa's Butt Porter. The beer poured from a brown 16.9 oz. bottle with a deep amber color that you can still see through. There was a small slightly off-white head. Smell is of peat, roast and malt. Taste is mild, with roast and peat tones. The mouthfeel is actually light in body with decent carbonation. Overall this is a fairly decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 22:48:29 | More by WoodBrew

DogFood11

California

3.2/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Santa's Butt causing quite the stir on the east coast due to the bottle graphics apparently being "kid friendly" even though kids can't buy alcohol so its really a mute point. Anyway, this Porter poured aggressively into a chalice it forms a loose and fast fading head that falls to a small thin island, no lace.

Dark fruits are a factor and at the end of the day this is one of the ligher fruity Porters in my consumption history. Root beer enters the picture and combines with a low carbonation punch. Hops are present and ends there. Suggestions of chocolate in the backdrop and somewhat in the finish. Slightly sour but for the most part this is pretty light.

Notes: I gobbled this up without any troubles. Uneventful would be the best way I could sum up this review. Nothing off, disturbing, detracting or offensive in any way, just average at best.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2006 05:21:13 | More by DogFood11

Pegasus

Texas

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

Appearance: Deep amber in color, almost opaque, with a dusting of white foam, which rings the glass walls as well. Thin, broken lacing adorns the glass walls.

Aroma: Mild notes of coffee and bitter chocolate dominate, as well as sweet vinous aroma.

Taste: Mild roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee carry the taste from start to finish. Beneath this there is a wave of sweet alcohol. Finishes with a mild coffee note.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, full, and pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: Pleasant and drinkable, an understated, but quite drinkable porter.

Presentation: Packaged in a sixteen-ounce brown glass bottle with a pop-off crown, served in a standard pint tap glass.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2007 03:24:38 | More by Pegasus

StJamesGate

New York

3.55/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Garnet brown with a loose tan head that recalls cola, setting in a thin film. Milk chocolate, root beer and vanilla bark nose.
Maltesers, vanilla and some earth, and vague tea leaf and dried orange rind hops.
A hint of rye spice at the end and a dry finish. Thin, round, slight cling.

I drank this one Christmas day before I was into beer so I'm glad to finally catch up with it again. Unfortunately, I'm not sure the wait was worth it.

This would be a thin porter at 4.5%; at 6% it's watery and definitely not wintery. The rye addition does add a bit of a twist, and it cleans up after itself, but it's overly sweet and I practically had to gargle with it to get the hops.

Just not enough here to hold my interest.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 20:51:39 | More by StJamesGate

orbitalr0x

Illinois

3/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

50cl bottle with a unique shape shared with the girlfriend. Pours into my glass a deep dark brown with garnet highlights shining through when held to the light. A light fizzy brown head appears and then fades as soon as it came. Aromas start with light roasted grain with a hint of cocoa. Some cardboard/metallic oxidation is present, maybe I held onto this a bit too long. Subtle hops with some raisins and molasses. Not really doing it for me here.

First sip brings a roasted somewhat caramel malt upfront along with a touch of a burnt, almost smoky flavor. Light cocoa flows down with some dark fruits and raisins in tow. Finishes with just a dash of herbal hops on the way down. Overall this one just ends up boring me for a porter.

Mouthfeel is rather light with fast moving carbonation. Goes down easy but doesn't really satisfy me like a normal porter would. Almost seems a bit watery. Overall, I personally found this to be a pretty forgettable brew and I don't see myself going back to it again. Maybe I'll have to try some of the other Ridgeway offerings.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2007 02:00:14 | More by orbitalr0x

BeerSox

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle into Scandanavian mug.

Almost opaque black with ruby edges. A one finger head slowly settles to a thin cap.

The aroma is thin with dark roasty grain. Pretty much the standard aromas for an English Porter.

The same with the flavor. A little more robust than than a Brown Ale, but not quite up to the same level as a mild Stout like Guinness. Full bodied with medium carbonation. Lingering dark malt lasts for a while.

Not a bad porter. Nice and smooth, without much hoppiness, which is normal for an English Stout. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2007 03:16:54 | More by BeerSox

HardTarget

Texas

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle Inspection: Big 50 cl brown bottle, label banned for a short time listing 6% abv.

Aroma: A certain English yeast quality I find hard to describe. Nice malt base seems both toasted and roasted. Light grassy hop note.

Appearance: Deep brown/black glass shows thick edges of good clarity. A scant cover holds for about half the glass while a thick collar gives up some loopy lace.

Flavor: Malt base has some molasses flavor and a mild coffee note. A bit of toffee in there as well, I’m guessing some kettle caramelization.

Mouthfeel: Very low carbonation, but not flat.

Overall Impression: Easy drinking English ale. No real “Christmas” elements about it, but a fine way to celebrate the season.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2007 22:59:07 | More by HardTarget

AgentMunky

California

3.8/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 33cL bottle into a cervoise glass. Stamped F13 266.

A: Two fingers of creamy head. The beer is dark brown in the shade and a clear, brilliant red in the light. Some bubbles within. Looks great!

S: It smells...like a pilsner? Sweet and grainy. Maybe a hint of darker fruit like plum.

T: Yummy! Sweet fruits, banana foremost amongst them. Malty, perhaps lightly spiced (clove? anise?). Distant bitterness on the aftertaste. More like a winter warmer than a porter in my book, but I'll roll with it. Touch of chocolate.

M: Sweet-wet then (barely)bitter-dry. Interesting...

O: Overall, I quite enjoyed this beer; it seems underrated. I received it for Christmas in a mysterious beer of the month box that a stranger signed me up for. I look forward to drinking the rest of these beers and would recommend it others.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 22:52:13 | More by AgentMunky

Drew966

Florida

3.05/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Santa's Butt pours an almost black color (with ruby at the edges) with a thin off white head from a brown 50 cl bottle. The aroma is dominated by sweet malts. The flavor is on the light side for the style, the roasted malt is very tame by porter standards. There is some roasted malt, but it's not as strong as I would expect. There are some chocolate notes and some mild fruity notes too. Just kind of an average beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2007 02:12:55 | More by Drew966

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Deep, clear brown color with a red hue. Poured a 3 finger rocky tan head that settled to a thick cap. Laced in thick webs.

S: Roasted nutty malt. Hints of coffee, chocolate and licorice. Earthy hop bitterness.

T: Coffee and chocolate. Some fruity flavors in the middle. Wet wood and nutty malt in the lightly bitter finish.

M: Light body. Low carbonation. Smooth and rich. Malt characters linger in the finish.

D: Flavorful, smooth and rich. Not as much character as I hoped for.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 21:51:41 | More by Haybeerman

granger10

Wisconsin

3.13/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Deep mohagany color with a thinnish tan head. Aromas of chocolate and cinnamon dominate but there's also a sour lactic note in there along with a bit of saltyness. Taste is grainy and minerally in the body with ripe dark fruits and spices filling in. Some roasted flavors and hop spices towards the finish. This really is just a bit too weak in body and mouthfeel to really be anything much above average. Cool bottle design but decent beer at best.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2005 13:40:11 | More by granger10

budgood1

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +14%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

pours out a nearly opaque garnet colour....ruby hues and crimson edges. thin head and light wisps of lace. yeasty aroma. a bit of anise and chocolate too, with a slight sour note. the taste is dark roasted flavours of chocolate and nougat. alcohol spice, a bit of sour cherries... some coffee and cream. has some sweet stout qualities, and enough hop bittering to notice. it's very balanced and pleasing. the body is almost perfect for a porter, and the smooth mouthfeel follows suit. drinkability is great; i dig the all the slight nuances of flavours, all delicately balanced to provide an enjoyable holiday quaffing experience.

i liked santas butt. i wish i had a whole butt of this to myself.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2006 01:11:33 | More by budgood1

adamette

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

"And Santa sat on his great butt enjoying a hardy brew..." so mentions the label as the inspiration for this beer.
Live review. Poured from the 50 cl bottle that I bought at Reider's in Painesville last week. This is the third of four in a series from Ridgeway Brewing Company focusing on Christmas that I will be tasting and rating. Poured into my Great Lakes Brewing Company Christmas Ale goblet glass. F11 204 stamped on bottom of back label.

A Nice, light brown creamy head of about 1 inch after vigorous pour over a dark brown body that glows mohagany in front of direct light. Good, solid look. 4.0

S Immediate smell of a nice, light sweetness along with medium to dark roast malt. I was not sure of what it was initially (maybe a roasted marshmallow?) but repeated sniffs revealed a bit more of a light chocolate. Whatever it really is, I like it and it is inviting. 4.0

T A basic porter taste with a muted sweetness and actually the back of the taste reveals a bit of barley as well. I find English beers to be more sublte with their tastes and this beer is no exception. This is a fine beer but no one should consider it an extreme beer. Gone is the "chocolate" sweetness that I perceived with the smell but there is that light sweetness none the less. 3.5

M Somewhat smooth, creamy. Nothing too inspiring with the feel. 3.0

D Just fine for the style and for the beer itself. Again here, not inspirational in terms of drinkability. 3.0

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2010 05:30:52 | More by adamette

far333

Connecticut

3.28/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Great label, except the expression on Santa's face is not so jolly. Looks a little baboonesque actually.

Inky black with ruby highlights, and an oatmeal colored head that rises up quickly like soda carbonation, and falls quickly with the sounds of exploding bubbles, also like soda. Hardy aroma of clovey spices, some spruce, and a teeny bit of hops. Mouthfeel is thin and watery, a bit chalky. Flavor is not my idea of a porter. Not malty or biscuity, no hints of cocoa or coffee, molasses or fig. That's what it's not, but what is it? Clove and spice, soft ripe apple, some brown sugar, a little yeasty, and minimal hops riding beneath. A bit of a tannic puckery finish. I'm actually confused by this beer. But, again, cool label.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2005 04:04:44 | More by far333