Wait-Wait-There's One More!

I must have been a really good boy in 2009 because Santa brought me one last Christmas gift... (and it looks as though he may have saved the best for last!)

For my 12.5th (and LAST) beer of Christmas I had the

pleasure of sipping on Port Brewing Companies Santa's Little Helper. SLH is a 10% ABV Monster. It's an Imperial Porter that could kick the ass of any of the other seasonal beers on my Christmas list. If you were a Pale Ale your grandmother would scold you for hanging out with it. 'Stay away from that beer' she'd say, 'he's too big, too rough, and too strong... 'He might not mean harm, but he doesn't know his own strength and he might hurt you by accident.'

The beer pours black. Not chestnut, not mocha or coffee brown, black. It's unbelievably dense (I held it up to a flame out of curiosity and got nothing--not even the faintest hint of light penetrated the viscus brew). The bouquet was equally dense. As I poured the beer, intoxicating aromas of espresso, cocoa bean, and double roasted malt filled the air.

The head that formed was a wonderful, amorphous, brown froth, that constantly swirled and evolved with each lift, sip, and swirl of the glass. In my perfect world, soothsayers don't use a crystal staring ball, but rather hand your a magnum of Ports' SLH and a church key and read your future in the patterns that appear in your crystal goblet as you imbibe.

The texture of the beer was thick and creamy. It managed to do what so very few beers are capable of by feeling both heavy on the palate but also finishing clean. Roast espresso bean was by far the strongest component that came through on the palate. Hints of hazelnut and macadamia nuts give it a round, full flavor. A touch of Vanilla also comes through, and dried red-fruits on the finish add complexity to the mix. Although it rocks in at 10% ABV, it's not hot like on the tongue like the 9.5% Winter Warmer by SanTan, but rather smooth and rich. It's warming and inebriating without being over-powering. I asked Sir Alan to give it a swirl and tell me what he thought: "Don't let its coaly* guise fool you, Santa's Lil' Helper is only for those few on the 'nice' list" I agree Alan, 100%!

So, to conclude, let me just say, if you haven't tried this beer, go now and try it. Pick up a bottle--better yet pick up two--you won't regret it!

-Prost!

D.Lux

*yes, it has been verified, 'coaly' is actually a word.