Santa's Little Helper

Beer Name: Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout
Brewery: Port Brewing Company
ABV: 10%
Serving method: 22-oz bottle in a pint glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Bottled 9/1/11

As usual, as soon as I say one thing, something completely different happens to make me look foolish. I end 2011 by saying I probably won't be trying as many new beers this year, and then I start off 2012 with a record-setting month. This puts me on an absurd pace for 176 new beers this year, which I am fairly certain neither my wallet nor my liver could handle. I think I'll have to slow things down for February.

Santa's Little Helper is a very dark beer, practically solid black. It poured with about a finger and a half of thick, fluffy, caramel-colored head that lasted for quite a while before finally fading away, leaving a heavy lacing behind. This beer has a very strong aroma of roasted coffee and some toasty malts. There's also a noticeable alcohol aroma, presumably due to the potentially ass-kicking 10% ABV.

Well, in spite of the alcohol present in the aroma, it's not as strong in the flavor as I was expecting. Instead, there's just a faint alcohol taste with a bunch of roasted coffee flavors, some dark chocolate, and some very roasted malts. The carbonation here is very light, and the beer has a big mouthfeel, making it very thick and smooth feeling with each sip. The finish has a bitter punch, but the aftertaste doesn't linger very long.

Final thought - This is a tasty brew, but it is strong. It's very smooth, and it can be easy-drinking if you want it to be, but I wouldn't recommend it because you will end up feeling it quickly. Sit back, sip this baby slowly, and relax.

-Jon

Wipeout

Beer Name: Wipeout IPA
Brewery: Port Brewing Company
ABV: 7%
Serving method: 16-oz draft in a pint glass
Born/Bottled/Shipped on: Unknown

Despite the week of no new beers, I am still nicely on track for my 100 new beers this year. I suppose I should start April off with a few new brews.

Wipeout IPA is a cloudy golden color with about a half inch of head that fades slowly and leaves a sort of heavy, erratic lacing pattern. The beer has a very strong aroma of citrus hops, particularly grapefruit. Before the first sip, you can tell that this beer is going to be a hoppy one.

No surprises here. This beer is strongly hoppy. It actually hits you at the end of the sip. At first there's a little bit of citrusy flavor, and then the hops come in full force. The beer finishes very dry, and there is a strong aftertaste. This combination makes this beer a definite sipper in my book. The glass stays flavorful all the way until the end.

Final thought - While I do enjoy a hoppy beer, this one is just a little too strong for me. I think it would be good paired with some food, but on its own it kind of kicked me in the tastebuds. It was obviously a well-done beer though, so Port Brewing will stay on the radar as a place whose beers I should try.

-Jon