Happy Holidiculous
Saloon Door Brewing

Canned 10/24/22. Drank 2/12/23
Pour is black with a dense two fingers of deep khaki foam.
Nose is milk chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla
Taste is milk chocolate, roasted malts. Hints of marshmallow. Finish is hints of salted caramel

Another beer from a trader in Texas, now my second tasting from Saloon Door out of Webster, TX. It's not the holiday season anymore but it's still drinking season! There is a tattooed flying pig wearing an elf hat on the side of this can, very unique and original. Poured out into a Yeti mug (yeah that's right, a Yeti mug), dark brown and a nice inch head that's nearly brown in color. Man that smells good, rich caramel and chocolate. Oh the taste! caramel, toffee, and coffee! Wow this is a true Russian Imperial Stout, heavy on the malt, slight warming from the alcohol, big bold flavor. And there's also almond and peanut flavor highlights as well. This flavor profile is quite impressive, very delicious. Consistency is thick and very mildly carbonated. Overall, an impressive beer. Who cares if it's no longer the holidays? I'd drink this all year long!

Poured into a snifter, it has a nice thick and almost creamy head, about a finger and a half thick that slowly thins out to form a thick ring around the glass. The body if dark and ever so slightly transparent near the edges showing off reddish brown hues.

The aroma is strong, very strong; butter and brown sugar are the first smells to hit you followed by the caramel and marshmallows. There's a hint of chocolate and peanut butter in there too.

The salt hits you first followed quickly by the caramel, these two flavors make up the majority of wheat you taste, the chocolate comes next followed by a maple syrup flavor. Its very sweet overall, not too over powering and very interesting.

This is a full bodied stout with strong hints of carbonation and full of flavor. The alcohol just envelopes your mouth and really warms it up.

This is a very good representation of the style and very fun to drink, do not pass this one up!

 

 

Appearance: The body is a dark amber, surmounted by a large, somewhat coarse tan head with very good retention. The lacing is Belgian-like. Before a very strong light, ruby highlights can be seen before a strong light.

Aroma: The aroma is quite surprising, as odd as it may seem, I perceive sweet chocolate, bitter cocoa, and... malted milk balls, This is in no sense unpleasant, just quite unexpected. There are also notes of cold coffee and sweet alcohol.

Taste: Opens with a surge of semi-sweet cocoa and milk chocolate. Soon after, there are the malted milk balls as noted in the aroma. Midway through the taste, the alcohol is a strong presence, both in its sweet taste, and pleasing warmth. Late on, there is a surge of bitter cocoa, cold coffee, and burnt caramel. Burnt caramel and sweet chocolate syrup embrace to bring the taste to a gracious and lingering close.

Mouth feel: Very rich and full, with a mouth feel like that of whole milk, and only a slight suggestion of carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: A superb dessert in a glass, would pair well with a rich chocolate dessert. Superbly done and very well-worth finding.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce aluminum can, served in a La Fin du Monde tulip.