I was reading a beer review the other day on one of the geek sites, specifically about Abita Christmas Ale. One of the reviews there was complaining that the beer was not good because it did not have the spice he expected from a holiday ale. As if such was prerequisite to celebrate with.

My friends, I do love a well spiced holday brew, and truth be told I look forward to them every year. That said, not every holiday beer has to be spiced to quaff during this festive season. Would you turn down a Sierra Nevada Celebration because it isn’t spiced? I hardly think so. Such beers, after all, are the pause that refreshes and every bit as much a holiday treat.

In that vein, I bring you Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout. To be quite frank, I had no idea what this beer really was until I had a draught glass served up to me at Taco Mac recently. The menu identified the beer as an imperial stout of 10.5% alcohol by volume, and it seemed reasonable enough at $5.25 for an 11 ounce glass.

From the Port website:

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.

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

Availability – Early Winter

My glass of Port Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout arrived jet black in color with a light creamy tan head formation and a huge roasty espresso nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a rich oily texture and is huge with roasted malt flavors. Espresso was the first to hit, followed by bitter dark chocolate, licorice, and powdered cocoa. Above all, though, the beer is wonderfully roasty, almost harshly so, and more roasty than any other descriptor that comes to mind. The finish is very roasty bitter of course) without much hop aroma. Amazingly intense. There’s warm drying alcohol to boot.

Have I said roasty enough? Probably not. Comparisons with Brooklyn Black Chocolate, the classic winter seasonal imperial stout, are I suppose inevitable. To be fair, though, they are two different beers, and both gems in their own right.

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