Saint Arnold Sailing Santa (2011)

Formerly brewed at Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Houston, Texas USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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Bottle:   Amberish, slight haze, moderate frothy off-white head, so-so lacing.   Pale hop nose, not real bright or strong.   Mild hop bitterness up front, a little pithy and citrus peel like. &nbps Not real strong, a bit bigger than a PNW Pale Ale, or just about on par.   Smooth, but not big.   This is like a realy nice Pale Ale.   Body and mouthfeel are moderate.   Soft hops linger.   This can be summarized as an IPA that is very soft and clean.   Could easily be confused with an American Pale Ale had it come from the PNW.   Its like a beginners IPA or something.   Thanks Bill for this seasonal rarity!

This sample is from a year-old bottle. Saint Arnold Sailing Santa (2011) has a fairly thin, cream-colored head, a hazy orange appearance, lots of splotchy lacing left behind, and many bubble streams. The aroma is medium roasted malt, bread crust, hop oil, and slightly-turned fruit. Taste is of the same, with some sugar and pine. There is a pretty strong hop bitterness at the end of the sip, but it’s pleasant. Mouthfeel is medium, and Saint Arnold Sailing Santa (2011) finishes dry, refreshing, and drinkable. Overall, this is an excellent Christmas beer. RJT

22 oz. bottle. Pours a clear golden amber color with a small off white head. The aroma has pine, orange and grapefruit citrus, caramel malts, with grassy and floral notes. The flavor has pine resin, citrus, caramel malts, herbal notes, winter spices, and toasted grains. Lighter end of medium bodied. OK, but I think I like the Elissa better by itself.

650 ml. bottle. Pours a well retained, off white head, with some lacing, over a clear amber copper (SRM 15) body.....nose is citrus, treacle, light cereal....taste is toffee/caramel, light bread, finishing with a lingering bitter bite....mouth feel medium, alcohol hidden, carbonation makes a creamy mouthful. This is a fairly standard IPA. It meets the style but is not particularly unique or interesting. BJCP 6/3/13/4/6

Slightly hazed copper color with a bit off bubbles for head. Maltier aroma, sweet-bready. Fairly balanced bready malty with a sweet-floral hop side that lingers in a bit of an earthiness. Just ok.

22oz. Bottle: Got in trade from Errl; THANKS Chris! Aroma of slight caramel, slight malt, slight hops, light citrus, slight bread, and light pine. Poured deep orange/amber in color with a small-sized, creamy, dense, off-white head that mostly disappeared but lasted throughout around the edges and as a film on top of the beer. Clear. Some small-sized particles throughout. Flavor is medium sweet and lightly bitter. Tastes of malt, light caramel, bread, slight Earthy hops, and a hint of grain. Medium body. Lightly sticky, then dry texture. Average carbonation. Lightly sweet, lightly bitter, malt, caramel, slight Earthy hops finish is dry. 7%ABV is completely hidden throughout.

Bomber. Pours light brown, clear, with very little head. Slight malty nose-not a ton of aroma on this one. Taste is very malty, with some nice subdued hoppiness and a note a sweetness. Very slight alcohol kick. Not bad but I prefer these beers individually.

Rich amber color with a vanishing frothy head. Strong aroma of both malt and hops. Malty flavor with a sweet finish. Palate is a bit harsh. Sweet grain undertones abound.

Bomber from ericandersnavy. Pours clear dark copper with no real head. Aroma is fruity and lightly caramel. Med minus body. Flavor is fruity and caramel. And floral. It finishes pretty neutral/balanced. Interesting and unexpected. IPA doesn’t seem right, but no style does!

Bottle shared by bhensonb. Pours clear reddish brown with a tiny beige head and an enticing candi sugar aroma. There is a smooth caramel malt flavor with candi and a surreptitious hop bitterness. This is a unique blend that turned out to be pretty good.