Everyone knows that Santa delivers toys and gifts to little girls and boys each Christmas Eve. But what does he do with the sleigh the other 364 days a year?
Well rumor has it he hitches up the reindeer each July testing driving to ensure it’s still in operating condition. At the North Pole they mark their calendars calling it Christmas in July.
How do we know that?
Well, Virginia, each year Santa stops by Port Brewing to load up his sleigh with beer for his return trip to the North Pole.
He’s a big fan of Santa’s Little Helper, and for the last nine months the brewers have been extra naughty aging some in bourbon barrels.
Hopefully Santa won’t drink it all by himself, but we wouldn’t blame him if he did.
Barrel-aged version of Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper.
2009 was the inaugural release of this winter time classic. After brewing the 2008 batch of Santa’s Little Helper, Port Brewing thought “wonder what this would taste like aged in a bourbon barrel?”
The ABV is 10.0 and the IBU rating is ??
Style - Imperial Stout - Bourbon Aged
Glass to use- Pint Glass, Tumbler, Snifter or Oversized Wine GlassDelivery - 22oz Bottle
Can be cellared for long periods, under the proper conditions.
The Pour - Pours a dark reddish brown color with no head. Some lacing.
Aroma - Malts, boozy from the bourbon, sweet, vanilla and oak tannins.
Taste - Same as the aroma mostly bourbon and some bitterness and maybe just a hint of dark fruits.
Mouth Feel - No carbonation and a full body. A nice slow burn from the alcohol.
Drinkable - This is a sipper, very enjoyable on a very cold night in Philly. One of the best bourbon brews I have had in a while. I will purchase this brew again next year.
This beer may pair well with cheese and grilled or smoked meats.
This beer gets a Duper rating of A-
BeerAdvocate Rating =86
Ratebeer Rating =98
