Mikkeller Santas Little Helper 2008

Bottle from Nqualls at Barrio’s tasting. Pours a murky brown with a tan head. Aroma is unique, as I pick up a melding of sage, orange zest, and anise. Medium to full bodied with a nice, rich earthy mouthfeel. Flavor of dark wheat malt, pine, brown sugar, molasses, and cinnamon. Some yeast and alcohol on the finish. Enjoyable holiday brew.

Thanks to Adam for bringing this! Poured near-black with a rich cap of deep beige head. The aroma was warm and darker with plenty of spicage over some cocoa.. warmth brought out some woody character, but the nose really wasn’t that interesting. The flavor was warm as well with some cocoa upfront leading toward molasses and black patent malts on the core.. wintery spices surrounded and were amplified by the booze factor.. just not very enjoyable. Heavier-bodied with OK balance on the palate.. I wanted to like this more, but it came across as brash and forgettable.

Bottle at Barrios’ Impromptu Tasting to pop Smitty’s Surly courtesy of nqualls. Dark brown pour with very nice light brown head. Bubblegum, chocolate, anise, lots of alcohol. Flavors is herbal hop (sage), milk chocolate, oats. Alcohol on the finish. Medium velvety body. Very enjoyable.

Bottle thanks to bu11zeye. Pours a dark brown color with amber highlights and a small tan head. Nose is poop, mud, earth, chocolate, and booze. Taste is boozy dark chocolate, chalk, vanilla, oak, and dark fruits. Alcohol is pretty well hidden and finish and mouthfeel are both good. I like.

Pours dark brown bordering on black with excellent tan head. Aroma is on the caramel side of roasty chocolate. Flavor is espresso, cocoa nibs, roasted barley. Hop character provided excellent balance to the delicious sweetness but did not prove to upstage the balance. Palate is silky smooth and rich. Amazing beer.

pours black with a brown head, looks like a stout, with noticeable sediment at the bottom. Aroma is heavy with cocoa, roasted malts, caramel, and some dark fruit. Flavor is excellent- roasty stout qualities stick around, but alcohol and spice give it some of the belgian strong feel. Chocolatey palate, very tasty.

Bottle thanks to bu11zeye. Pours with a small, off-white head that goes and a murky dark brown body. Some lacing. Aroma of prunes, chocolate, raisins, rum, and plums. Taste is alcohol, prunes, spices, chocolate, nuts and a burnt taste. Somewhat vinous. Warming. A bit thin on the mouth, light carbonation.

Bottle thanks to Bu11zeye. Pours a dark, deep brown with beige head. Aroma of dark roast and dark fruit. Flavor of dark roast, fruit, and alcohol. Mouthfeel is med-heavy body with med-high carbonation. Overall, pretty good stuff!