Mikkeller Santas Little Helper 2007

From glass to glass it traveled a deep thick motor oil brown but settled in the tasting vessel black as night, first topped with thick pillowy tan but later just extremely lacy brown suds. tart vinous and roasty was the nose, a lovable congregation of sensations. In these fumes i experienced squeezed grapes, melted chocolate bars, a red permanent marker, and an unknown spice. A journey this nose appears to be. The flavors are an extension of the nose, in the most beautiful of ways. The tartness reenters, the roasty malts join..dark, chocolate covered fruits start to melt in the sun, its raining grape juice..chocolate covered grape juice. very vinous/tart sensations in the mouth...instant light headedness...Need to get me some of this shit to age...

The body is an extremely dark, inky mahogany color, capped by a small, foamy, mocha colored head. Spotty lacing marks the glass. Aromas are malty, fruity and complex. Notes of melted dark chocolate and mocha with cream lay a baseline for figs, raisons, and dates. Vanilla, nutmeg and hazelnuts enter the fold intermittently, adding layers of depth. Flavors continue down this long and winded path. Rich, dark chocolate goes hand in hand with the dark, fruity and nutty elements, while vanilla and cream lend a mousse-like character. The palate is velvety and creamy, showing light carbonation. This is a great effort from Mikkeller. One of their best, for sure.

There’s nothing little about Mikkeller’s Little Helper. Putting this beer in a glass is like pouring black wax from a bottle, with only the cocoa colored head convincing me this is still a drinkable beer. As it sits there, quivering in the glass, I’m reminded of chocolate lava cake, and how sunny days must look like in the deepest part of the Marianas Trench. Very impressive. The aroma is fresh and clear, like freshly drawn milk, with strong vegetal and dairy notes and a heavy dose of 85% dark chocolate and espresso. There is abundance richness here that can only be approached with the meditative seriousness of a monk - any foolhardy actions could cause catastrophe. Mind you, the Mikkeller Little Helper is rich, not dark and treacle like, just intensely rich. The taste is just as incredible. It begins with a sweet coffee expose, followed by a slight toffee touch and after that, a dip into grassy, raw coffee bean flavors, lactose sweetness and the raw vegetable taste of brussel sprouts and brocolli. I enjoy the sheer variety of this beer, and while I don’t think the sundry tastes are orchestrated very well, I’m smacking my lips after every sip.

Bottle courtesy Beerlando. Pours a dark reddish mahogany with an off white head. Fruity, raisin, clove, chocolate malt aroma, very nice, not overpowering. Smooth sweet malt taste with spices like cinnamon and orange peel. Finish with a hint of fruit and malt. Very nice.

Bottled, 2007. Brown with small head. Aroma of caramel and spices. Flavor of sweet malt, dried fruit and a tone of alcohol.