Santa's Helper Porter
The Blue Ridge Brewing Co.

Appearance: Pours a black, near still body, with only a little blip of carbonation trying it's damndest to form a head.

Smell: Dark malts with a slight roastiness and a rich scent of dark chocolate. Mild spicy hop notes.

Taste: Great dark chocolate flavor with a medium amount of complimentary sweetness. Hint of spicy hops emerge right about the earthy bitterness kicks in. Bittersweet chocolatey finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Mild carbonation.

Drinkability: You know what? I like it. It's a rich, flavorful beer just made for wintertime drinking.

thanks to mikesgroove for this via trade! Nothing like being able to try great beers via a fresh growler!

A - rich black with a wispy tan head. Subsequent pours from the growler produced a much more robust thick head. Nice lacing on the glass.

S - might have been a bit cold at first pour. Nice combination of espresso and malts in the aroma.

T - Espresso, hops and malts. Not to far in any one direction.

M - Medium bodied - smooth drinking porter. Finishes dry.

D - goes down nice and easy. Not over the top in taste or ABV. A very nice example of the style. I can imagine having this with a good burger at the pub!

Pours a jet black, with a thick cream colored head that stayed throughout the entire drink. Smell is rich caramel and chocolate. Taste is about the same. This is a very nice porter, really nice burnt malt taste and a good chocolate hint in there. Has a nice hoppy back as well. All in all this was a good brew from Blue Ridge and I will be trying it again.

I have to disagree with the last reviewer. Maybe they have changed the beer since 02 but this was a great beer in my opinion. Poured an opaque black witha creamy tan head. Very syrupy in appearance. When held up to the light, I can see the slightest, slightest bit of light penetrating. This was also an Oatmeal Porter so maybe the recipe changed but the name stayed the same.

Smell is of wonderful chocolates and coffees. Nice hop aroma as well. Fairly fuity and citrusy hop aroma, maybe Cascades.

Huge chocolate taste. Coffee as well and a nice hop bitterness. Great balance with respect to the hops and malts in this one.

The oatmeal adds a nice creamy mouthfeel to this. Gives the beer a great body. I think this is one of their better offerings. The ESB is also a nice offering as well (although looking at my review it seems that beer has changed as well).

Geez, not another strangely light beer from these guys in category for hearty brews. Please, beef up your porter and stout! Some roasted bitterness is detected if you get out your magnifying glass. Smack an AB label on this and voila!…Porter light! Sorry, this one misses the mark. This brewery is still a worthwhile stop when in Greenville, just stick to the Colonel Paris.