Santa's Little Helper
Red Star Brewery & Grill

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Red Star Brewery & Grill
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Barleywine
ABV:
10.1%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 10.7%
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
4
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 14, 2007
Added:
Jan 13, 2003
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by foureyedgeek:
Photo of foureyedgeek
Reviewed by foureyedgeek from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Growler from the brewpub, filled January 13. 2006, cracked open last night for a sample, but mostly saved for today. Poured into an oversized wine glass.

Pour is hazy and opague, body color is a dark brown, with some amber highlights. Small head, fades to a ring of bubbles, small cap with some smaller swirls within the ring. This beer had a bit more head last night when I poured it into a pint glass for a sample.

Smell is of sweet maltiness, caramel, as well as a little fruitiness, apples maybe. Some hop presence. Not a huge aroma.

This is right out of the fridge, so I'm going to let it warm a little.

Taste is quite fruity, notes of alcohol but its fairly well masked. Definite hop bitterness in the taste, somewhat citrusy in nature.

Mouthfeel is medium in body, low levels of carbonation. Nice, mild alcohol warming.

Drinkability is good, I've filled my oversized wine glass and I'll be sipping it for a while, noting more flavors as it warms. A nice, drinkable barleywine from Red Star.
Jan 14, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of Boto
Reviewed by Boto from Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one poured an orangish-copper color. It was hazy, with almost no head whatsoever. There was a very sweet aroma, with hints of fruit and caramel. The taste was on similar lines. There wasn't any alcohol flavor coming through. It was well hidden. It was also a tad harsh, however. It needs some additional aging.
Jan 18, 2004
Photo of beergeek279
Reviewed by beergeek279 from Pennsylvania

4.32/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served as a 5 oz. sample at Red Star. The color was copper, with a ring of white head. The smell was a mix of malt and alcohol. The taste was a very nice malt, with a nice balance from the citrus hops, and a very mellow taste without a harsh alcohol. Mouthfeel was smooth. Drinkability-wise, could have a few.

A nice barleywine without harsh alcohol in the way, and this is certainly one I'd have again.
Jan 10, 2004
Photo of aaronh
Reviewed by aaronh from Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
2002 batch. This beer pours a hazy orange with amber highlights. The head is minimal, and fades to a thin malt foam. There is a touch of malt and fruit on the nose. The taste is very sweet and fruity. Caramel apples first come to mind. Good hop bitterness on the finish that borders on agressive. This bitterness builds as you continue to drink the glass, as does the sweetness. However, the aftertaste is just a touch of bitterness. This brew could definitely age longer to mellow out a bit. In fact, the brewmaster, Jefff Guidos, bottles some of the barleywine each year for aging and makes it available the following winter. Next year, both one and two-year old reserve will be offered. As is, it is a nice warmer with a potent ABV that is much too young to have more than one in a sitting. Shows much potential.
Jan 13, 2003
Santa's Little Helper from Red Star Brewery & Grill
Beer rating: 3.83 out of 5 with 4 ratings