Secret Santa 2019 Reviews

[Subtle Duck]

The coconut porters were mine. I agree and don't think the coconut travelled well with conditioning, even though it was dry hopped with 100g per 5ltrs. It smacked you in the face when I first bottled it and then just seemed to fade. Just didnt want to use essence and risk it tasting like sun cream. Thanks for the reviews.

 

[samale]

The coconut porters were mine. I agree and don't think the coconut travelled well with conditioning, even though it was dry hopped with 100g per 5ltrs. It smacked you in the face when I first bottled it and then just seemed to fade. Just didnt want to use essence and risk it tasting like sun cream. Thanks for the reviews.

I have been looking about brewing a coconut porter. 100g per 5 litres seems loads. How old was the porter that was reviewed

 

[Harbey]

Great pint @Subtle Duck . Many thanks for your efforts.

 

[Subtle Duck]

I have been looking about brewing a coconut porter. 100g per 5 litres seems loads. How old was the porter that was reviewed

It was around about 5/6 weeks in the bottle. Maybe I didn't leave the coconut in for long enough, was only dry hopping for 3 days, as was rushing to get it finished for Christmas. Just a quick question @Harbey, what temp did you drink it at? Cold or room temperature?

 

[strange-steve]

I would say that the holiday period is by now well and truly over, and it's past time this was finished up.

So first of all a special thanks to @Justin Dean and @Markk who very kindly acted as last minute backup senders which really helped me out :hat:

But I'd like to thank everyone who got involved, it was the biggest swap yet with 84 beers swapped and hopefully everyone enjoyed it.

That being said there were a few hiccups so commiserations to the two senders who had bottles lost or smashed in the post. Also I believe there are three people still waiting for a review: @Leon103, @pmh, and @Justin Dean so my apologies to them, it's disappointing to make the effort to send your beer and not to have it acknowledged (I've been there). I have PMd the members who received your beers but they went unanswered I'm afraid.

 

[strange-steve]

For those who may be interested, this is the complete list of swaps:

 

[Cwrw666]

I hope whoever got my beers isn't doing dry January, this is taking the **** now

Me and the mrs are kind of doing dry january. More of a zero homebrew month as we're still having the odd pint if we're down the pub in social situations.

 

[uDicko]

For those who may be interested, this is the complete list of swaps:

Santa ain't secret anymore!

Apologies to my recipients for my dire lack of instruction on the brews...

 

[uDicko]

I would say that the holiday period is by now well and truly over, and it's past time this was finished up.

So first of all a special thanks to @Justin Dean and @Markk who very kindly acted as last minute backup senders which really helped me out :hat:

But I'd like to thank everyone who got involved, it was the biggest swap yet with 84 beers swapped and hopefully everyone enjoyed it.

That being said there were a few hiccups so commiserations to the two senders who had bottles lost or smashed in the post. Also I believe there are three people still waiting for a review: @Leon103, @pmh, and @Justin Dean so my apologies to them, it's disappointing to make the effort to send your beer and not to have it acknowledged (I've been there). I have PMd the members who received your beers but they went unanswered I'm afraid.

Cracking job @strange-steve
By no means an easy feat to co-ordinate and to only have 3 AWOL is a top job.

Genuinely appreciate the effort and found it good fun.

 

[Leon103]

I would say that the holiday period is by now well and truly over, and it's past time this was finished up.

So first of all a special thanks to @Justin Dean and @Markk who very kindly acted as last minute backup senders which really helped me out :hat:

But I'd like to thank everyone who got involved, it was the biggest swap yet with 84 beers swapped and hopefully everyone enjoyed it.

That being said there were a few hiccups so commiserations to the two senders who had bottles lost or smashed in the post. Also I believe there are three people still waiting for a review: @Leon103, @pmh, and @Justin Dean so my apologies to them, it's disappointing to make the effort to send your beer and not to have it acknowledged (I've been there). I have PMd the members who received your beers but they went unanswered I'm afraid.

Ban them next Xmas

 

[Chippy_Tea]

strange-steve
it's disappointing to make the effort to send your beer and not to have it acknowledged (I've been there). I have PMd the members who received your beers but they went unanswered I'm afraid.

Leon103
Ban them next Xmas

I agree unless they have a very good reason for not answering these PM's.

.

 

[RichardM]

View attachment 22055
First beer. A great malty bitter, notes of grain and bread. Was delicious to drink! Thanks for sending this.

View attachment 22056
Second beer beer, a lovely brown ale. Quite a bready aroma and a peppery taste, with a citrus hoppy flavour. Quite a full mouth feel. Thanks for the lovely label and kind message too!

Thank you both for sending great beers.

I think I've worked out that the first one was my Black Sheepish Too, glad you liked it

 

[chrisb8]

Thank you very much @strange-steve for organising, great job

 

[Harbey]

Great work @strange-steve many thanks for the efforts in organising this.

@Subtle Duck I drank your brew at just below room temp. I think coconut and vanilla are both difficult additions to maintain flavour with. I've done a couple of both and they all faded quite quickly.

 

[samale]

First time taking part. It's a great idea and format. Good opportunity for new members to take part and compare the standard against their own beer. It should also give new members the encouragement to enter the monthly competitions. I totally understand why some are not happy about not getting a review. To go to the effort to prepare and post it's disappointing not to get any feedback.
Thanks Steve for organising :hat:
The only thing I would change is the cut of date for posting. The 18th is really cutting it fine.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I would say that the holiday period is by now well and truly over, and it's past time this was finished up.

So first of all a special thanks to @Justin Dean and @Markk who very kindly acted as last minute backup senders which really helped me out :hat:

But I'd like to thank everyone who got involved, it was the biggest swap yet with 84 beers swapped and hopefully everyone enjoyed it.

That being said there were a few hiccups so commiserations to the two senders who had bottles lost or smashed in the post. Also I believe there are three people still waiting for a review: @Leon103, @pmh, and @Justin Dean so my apologies to them, it's disappointing to make the effort to send your beer and not to have it acknowledged (I've been there). I have PMd the members who received your beers but they went unanswered I'm afraid.

Glad to have been able to help out. Was my first year of brewing and so first time taking part and I really enjoyed it. Many thanks for organising.

 

[user 23602]

I would say that the holiday period is by now well and truly over, and it's past time this was finished up.

So first of all a special thanks to @Justin Dean and @Markk who very kindly acted as last minute backup senders which really helped me out :hat:

But I'd like to thank everyone who got involved, it was the biggest swap yet with 84 beers swapped and hopefully everyone enjoyed it.

That being said there were a few hiccups so commiserations to the two senders who had bottles lost or smashed in the post. Also I believe there are three people still waiting for a review: @Leon103, @pmh, and @Justin Dean so my apologies to them, it's disappointing to make the effort to send your beer and not to have it acknowledged (I've been there). I have PMd the members who received your beers but they went unanswered I'm afraid.

Thanks again for organising, was a great success for many of us. But it is a real shame about some people not receiving a review.

 

[RichardM]

As others have said, a big thank you to @strange-steve , @Justin Dean and @Markk . It must be a lot of work to organise but it's good fun for everyone who takes part

 

[strange-steve]

The only thing I would change is the cut of date for posting. The 18th is really cutting it fine.

Hi Samale, the 18th wasn't really supposed to be a cut off date as such, I only mentioned it because that's the final date for guaranteed delivery before Christmas according to Royal Mail. Everyone had the addresses PMd to them on 5th Dec which I imagined would be more than enough time to get them posted, and I do urge people to post as soon as they can.

Even if I closed the entries earlier than that there would still be some people waiting till the last minute to post, happens every year despite my numerous reminders via PM

 

[Justin Dean]

I would say that the holiday period is by now well and truly over, and it's past time this was finished up.

So first of all a special thanks to @Justin Dean and @Markk who very kindly acted as last minute backup senders which really helped me out :hat:

But I'd like to thank everyone who got involved, it was the biggest swap yet with 84 beers swapped and hopefully everyone enjoyed it.

That being said there were a few hiccups so commiserations to the two senders who had bottles lost or smashed in the post. Also I believe there are three people still waiting for a review: @Leon103, @pmh, and @Justin Dean so my apologies to them, it's disappointing to make the effort to send your beer and not to have it acknowledged (I've been there). I have PMd the members who received your beers but they went unanswered I'm afraid.

I would say that the holiday period is by now well and truly over, and it's past time this was finished up.

So first of all a special thanks to @Justin Dean and @Markk who very kindly acted as last minute backup senders which really helped me out :hat:

But I'd like to thank everyone who got involved, it was the biggest swap yet with 84 beers swapped and hopefully everyone enjoyed it.

That being said there were a few hiccups so commiserations to the two senders who had bottles lost or smashed in the post. Also I believe there are three people still waiting for a review: @Leon103, @pmh, and @Justin Dean so my apologies to them, it's disappointing to make the effort to send your beer and not to have it acknowledged (I've been there). I have PMd the members who received your beers but they went unanswered I'm afraid.

Yes I never saw the three I sent get reviewed. Sad