Mikkeller Santas Little Helper 2007

THOUGHTS: Still really behind on rating. I had this one Easter weekend. And a wonderful Easter surprise it was. I didn’t think I’d find another perfect beer without seeking out something I’d read a lot about, but I found this one by mistake. This is just incredible. It had everything I love in a beer. It’s sort of like an old ale, a double, a foreign stout, a Belgian strong ale and a Baltic porter had a baby. It always seems like these beers that defy style are my favorites. I may have found a new favorite beer. It reminds me a lot of my favorite Gouden Carolus Grand Cru, but a little more sour. This probably winds up being third on my favorites list. But I did but one away to try next Christmas. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a dark brown that looked black and nearly opaque in the glass with an average-sized, light brown head that mostly diminished. The aroma was moderate chocolate malt, dark fruits, port wine, light yeast, a little vanilla. It was a little weak, but it’s so great I can forgive the lack of intensity. The initial flavor was moderately sweet and lightly acidic; while the finish was heavily sweet, moderately acidic and a little sour. There was chocolate, dark fruit, a little prune and sourness, a little cola and maybe a little tobacco. It also hid the alcohol incredibly well. The medium body was oily with fizzy carbonation and a light astringent finish. It went down so very easy.

Bottle. Very dark colour with brown head. Fantastic flavour, great taste. Caramel, orange and koriander/cilantro. Absolutely love it. Mikkeller have done it again. Makes me proud to be a Dane!

Pours black as night w/ a tall bronze colored froth. Superb hangtime reducing to a full canopy that lingers. Aromas are mild w/ a smokey, roasted Belgian style with rock candy and mocha. Full nectar w/ mellow residual effers that just seem to lounge around effortlessly. The texture is soft and oily. Flavor wise I don’t know where to start with this one. Plump darkfruits like blackcherry and plumb meld gracefully w/ a mild roast component. A defined spicey character comes alive but only subtly. Strongly flavored and very warming. Fruit rollup comes to mind. Make that chcolate covered fruit rollup. Banana and clove show up as it warms. The finish is as long as I can remember. The flavor profile is bright and fresh in contrast to it’s seemingly dark nature. A defined souring factors in creating a nice sweet and sour volley. I highly recommend this brew. Is way out of sight amoung all the ordinary styles. It’s generous, warming, and totally enjoyable.

Glass: Trappist, shaker, tulip Purchased at: Joe Canal’s, Lawrenceville, NJ Price: $12.19 Size: 25.4 fl oz ABV: 11% IBU: n/a Estimated Calories:450 C RateBeer Rating: 98 Aural: pop opening, low carbonation, quiet pour Aroma 10 out of 10 Intensity: strong Balance: sweet and sharp Impression: nice Malt Aroma: brown sugar cinnamon toast truffles chocolate roast coffee Hops Aroma: oregano cinnamon cilantro Other Aroma: bubblegum Notes: An enticing aroma. Appearance 4 out of 5 Color:deep brown black Clarity: opaque Head Retention: poor Lace: poor Notes: despite the issues with head retention, the body is very deep and rich. Flavor 9 out of 10 Intensity: strong Balance: sweet Impression: nice Malt Flavor: barley rye bread brown caramel chocolate mocha coffee Hops Flavor: rum raisin orange Other: melon Notes: Like dessert. A wonderful flavor much more focused on malt flavors than hop flavors, but a great taste. Palate 5 out of 5 Mouthfeel Sensation: creamy slick drying warming Body: full Carbonation: average Finish Length: long Intensity: strong Balance: bitter Notes: finish has strong warming effect - nice hidden abv. General Impression: 18 out of 20 Craftmanship: excellent Freshness: fresh Personal Taste: loved Notes: Very malty, high ABV, but well hidden. Dark chocolate and coffee flavors. Not as fruity as I’d expect, but still a wonderful ale. Thanks, Mikkeller!

Bottle from Capone’s. Pours blackish with deep ruby highlights through direct light, a 3-finger or so brown head, asnd wonderful lacing. This is a definite 5 for appearance. The aroma is rich dark malt, chocolate, molasses, some mild chery, blackberry, and plum notes. Tastes roasty dark malty, a bit on the sweet end of the taste spectrum, with heavy chocolate syrupy flavors, plus some mid-palate cherry tartness matched with some blackberry hints. Very well balanced, complex, and with very well hidden alcohol, this one is a true masterpiece.