-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Santa's Little Helper - Oak Barrel Aged
Port Brewing
- From:
- Port Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- 96
- Avg:
- 4.41 | pDev: 6.12%
- Reviews:
- 9
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 21, 2020
- Added:
- Dec 24, 2013
- Wants:
- 13
- Gots:
- 11
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by t8dd:
Rated by t8dd from Illinois
4.74/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Dec 26, 2014
4.74/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Dec 26, 2014
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.99/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours black but with a slightly better head than the bourbon barrel aged version, sitting at about 1/5" of tan/light brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, can't really tell if that is oak i'm getting beyond it, its not like Splinter Black which dropped like liquid wood in the nose.
Taste here is much the same. I'm legit wondering if this is the same as the bourbon barrel one, because they taste pretty much the same, only variance I can tell is the slightly better head on this one, something easily attributable to variation/age or whatnot. Its good and thick and probably around the 100ibu level, but the largeness of it all makes it relatively no problem to drink. Hints of leather, charred wood shift around. I'm legit wondering if this is the same beer with two different labels, one says oak, one says bourbon. Either way, they're both as enjoyable as the other basically.
May 21, 2020Taste here is much the same. I'm legit wondering if this is the same as the bourbon barrel one, because they taste pretty much the same, only variance I can tell is the slightly better head on this one, something easily attributable to variation/age or whatnot. Its good and thick and probably around the 100ibu level, but the largeness of it all makes it relatively no problem to drink. Hints of leather, charred wood shift around. I'm legit wondering if this is the same beer with two different labels, one says oak, one says bourbon. Either way, they're both as enjoyable as the other basically.
Reviewed by Radcpa from Washington
4.25/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very dark appearance with tan head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is a slightly sweet malt and vanilla. Taste is a very good malt with vanilla accent without any alcohol aftertaste.
Apr 19, 2019Reviewed by Tele from California
4.07/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Serving Type: Bottle (2013 vintage)
Consumed: 12.25.15
A: 4.75 Pours pitch black with a dense, dark tan head. Good retention and lacing.
S: 4 Lots of roasted malt, molasses, and alcohol on the nose. A bit of bourbon and vanilla in there as well, but the aromas are dominated by roast and char.
T: 4 Starts off a bit sweet with vanilla and bourbon. Moves quickly to char, roasted malt, coffee, and molasses. Things seem pretty good, but there’s some fairly strong alcohol flavor and astringency that throws everything off a bit. Mild bitterness and berries on the finish.
M: 4.25 Pretty nice and thick body with decent carbonation. Finish is a little too dry for my tastes.
O: 4 I recall this one being better fresh – more integrated and bourbon forward. Still a pretty nice beer, but not up to the standard of some of the other BA stouts out there.
Dec 25, 2015Consumed: 12.25.15
A: 4.75 Pours pitch black with a dense, dark tan head. Good retention and lacing.
S: 4 Lots of roasted malt, molasses, and alcohol on the nose. A bit of bourbon and vanilla in there as well, but the aromas are dominated by roast and char.
T: 4 Starts off a bit sweet with vanilla and bourbon. Moves quickly to char, roasted malt, coffee, and molasses. Things seem pretty good, but there’s some fairly strong alcohol flavor and astringency that throws everything off a bit. Mild bitterness and berries on the finish.
M: 4.25 Pretty nice and thick body with decent carbonation. Finish is a little too dry for my tastes.
O: 4 I recall this one being better fresh – more integrated and bourbon forward. Still a pretty nice beer, but not up to the standard of some of the other BA stouts out there.
Reviewed by Brolo75 from California
4.6/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
375 ml bottle poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass
A: Pitch black, no light coming in, tan head, lots of lacing, the head stuck around for quite awhile.
A: Big bourbon, chocolate, getting a lot of alcohol burn on the nose, smells great.
T: Big bourbon up front, some toasted coconut, chocolate, definitely picking up the oak from the barrels, big alcohol on the end that lingers, finishes semi-dry on the palate, lots of flavors, really good.
M: Viscous, dry, not much carbonation, very nice mouthfeel.
O: This is a world class barrel aged stout, very complex, lots of flavor, oak, coconut, chocolate, my only complaint is that it's very hot, for 12% I am surprised how much burn lingers, but with some age I bet this mellows out really well.
Feb 09, 2015A: Pitch black, no light coming in, tan head, lots of lacing, the head stuck around for quite awhile.
A: Big bourbon, chocolate, getting a lot of alcohol burn on the nose, smells great.
T: Big bourbon up front, some toasted coconut, chocolate, definitely picking up the oak from the barrels, big alcohol on the end that lingers, finishes semi-dry on the palate, lots of flavors, really good.
M: Viscous, dry, not much carbonation, very nice mouthfeel.
O: This is a world class barrel aged stout, very complex, lots of flavor, oak, coconut, chocolate, my only complaint is that it's very hot, for 12% I am surprised how much burn lingers, but with some age I bet this mellows out really well.
Reviewed by StraightNoChaser from Georgia
4.42/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2012 Vintage.
appearance: very dark, nearly opaque. Crimson highlights. almost no head other than some tan bubbles on the pour.
smell: Smooth bourbon, oak, coffee, vanilla and chocolate treat. Decadent and well...oh so good.
taste: More of the same. This is why I loves the new wave of beers over stuffy wines.
overall: Wonderful. Shared with family on Christmas eve and everyone loved it.
Dec 26, 2014appearance: very dark, nearly opaque. Crimson highlights. almost no head other than some tan bubbles on the pour.
smell: Smooth bourbon, oak, coffee, vanilla and chocolate treat. Decadent and well...oh so good.
taste: More of the same. This is why I loves the new wave of beers over stuffy wines.
overall: Wonderful. Shared with family on Christmas eve and everyone loved it.
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania
4.65/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.65/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Review from notes. Black color with dark brown head that doesn't stay for long. Aroma has intense bourbon, vanilla and dried figs. Taste is not really sweet but has nice dried fruit, dates and figs mostly, ans also nuts. Alcohol is well hidden, you get the warming feel but not the taste. Complex, easy to drink, christmassy imperial stout.
Dec 15, 2014
Santa's Little Helper - Oak Barrel Aged from Port Brewing
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
62 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!