Name: Santa’s Little Helper
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Brewery: Port Brewing Company website
Country: San Marcos, California
ABV: 10.0%
How served: 22 oz bomber, capped bottle poured into a Bavik glass.
My Overall Opinion: Very Good
I paired this beer with: nothing, but had during an intense game of péntanque (a.k.a. boules).
Tasted on: Friday November 27, 2009
Note: This is the 2nd of my daily Christmas/Winter beers which I will be having until Christmas. There is only 27 more beer until Christmas! I would say to hunt down this beer, as it is good to have on a “cold” Florida night.
From their website: Each and every yer, the Jolly Old Fatman sits down and compiles a list of who’s been naughty and nice. It’s curious that he never knows which list to put our brewers on as this is one naughty but incredibly nice beer.
Originally brewed at the Pizza Port in Solana Beach in November of 1997. As dark as the biggest lump of coal Santa can deliver, this beer has earned a dedicated following and is code named Satan’s Little Hangover by those who have indulged in a holiday like manner from time to time.
Originally shipped from London to the Czarist rulers of Russia, Imperial Stouts are stronger, richer and more robust versions of traditional stouts. The increase in alcohol content means that literally, many of these beers are a meal in a glass all on their own. Made from copious amounts of Roasted and Black Barleys, our stout invites you to share a silky black body with hints of freshly pulled espresso from the coffee house, melding with dark bitter sweet chocolate from a Belgian Chocolateer and the ash of a smoldering fire on a dark winters night.
Just remember that somewhere out there, the jolly old fat man is making a list and checking it twice. He knows who’s been naughty and nice… Might we suggest that you forgo the Milk with the cookies this year and leave him of bottle of something incredibly nice- Say like Santa’s Little Helper? Mrs. Clause would probably like some as well. That is if Rudolph doesn’t drink it all himself. Bad Reindeer.
Malts- Two Row, Wheat, Domestic and English Crystal, Roasted, Black and Chocolate Malts
Hops- Phoenix, Challenger and East Kent Goldings
Yeast- White Labs California Ale and Proprietary Yeast Strains
Original Gravity- 1.092
Terminal Gravity- 1.014
10.5 % ABV
Draft- Available in Southern California and Arizona 22 Oz Bottles and Cases- At Port Brewing San Marcos and Pizza Port Carlsbad, San Clemente and Solana Beach and wherever better beers are sold.
