Secret Santa 2019 Reviews

[DavidHatton]

New England IPA 4.6%

first of my 2 swaps, was enjoyed as an xmas eve libation, but didn't have time to get on the pc.

Appearance, not overly cloudly but cloudly enough to add that neipa style.
The nose & Taste, you get dank hop aroma, which you expect from a neipa, the dankness is there in abdundance on the flavour.
Body, it's a very mild malt flavour with a hint of biscuit in certain swigs, carbonation is good adding a nice bite in the back.

I have drunk several commercial versions, this is a cracking attempt, refreshing but earthy, not massively malty.
A fine example of the style and a nice change to what I usually drink.

Thank you

Santa

 

[strange-steve]

This one is from me.
Since you organised the swap, you would know who sends you yours, so I decided to give you a surprise ha hah.

That explains why I received three bottles then, well played my friend

 

[dan125]

ok, my first review was for a hazy ipa with a nice crimbo wreath bottle, cant take photos im afraid as my phone is smashed to hell.

this is a style i have brewed quite a bit and im quite picky about, so i was prepared to be disappointed, but actually very pleased. cracking punchy dry hop flavour that is so hard to maintain on a pleasing light body, no astringency, kept me going back for gulp after gulp.

from what i remember the head lasted well and the carbonation was right.

my guess would be a high amount of flaked stuff, probably mainly wheat with a bit of oats, 35-40 percent even, london fog yeast, hops maybe ekuanot, citra, possibly a little mosaic or something more herbal. thought i even got a whiff of nelson but probably not as thats one hop thats pretty unmistakable

if i had brewed this id be well pleased, my only preference would be for slightly less flaked stuff as i find it holds onto too much yeast for longer giving a slightly bitter yeast twang which does clear but usually not till after ive already devoured most of the keg, and id also like maybe 10 ibus more up front from first wort as it could have been a bit more bitter to balance out the full mouthfeel, but both these things are aspects that are up for argument with the style, undefined as it is.

anyway great beer cheers.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
You did well picking out the hops as there was indeed citra and mosaic, and although there was no Nelson I did use some hops from down under - rakau & experimental 035.
No flaked ingredients in there, but there was 10% wheat malt & 10% golden naked oats, fermented with CML Pia yeast.
Glad you think a few more IBUs wouldn't do any harm as the next iteration is planned to be a bit more bitter.

 

[Hoddy]

Had my Xmas swap last night. A bit darker than I would have thought an IRA would be. But I’ve never brewed one tbh. Thanks Santa.

 

[Harbey]

Had my 1st yesterday - Midlands Mild.

Beautifully dark with a nice initial head, although this disappeared quite quickly. Malty on the nose. Taste was good, malty biscuit with a woody and very subtle smokey flavour. A nice way to toast Christmas. Thanks Santa.

 

[Lawrence22]

Well this was the beer that Santa sent to me. An Octoberfest Marzen. This beer was right up my street, very fond of this style. It was a nice dark golden colour and perfectly clear. I really enjoyed this beer, had a nice maltyness to it and it is certainly better than my own attempt at this style earlier in the year. Thank you to the brewer, a really well made beer. Came with lots of information too which was good.

 

[pmh]

View attachment 22062

First up is Filthy Animal Xmas Ale 4.6% ABV

Crystal clear, nice amber colour. Earthy, almost liquorice-like aroma. Caramelly and bitter, quite earthy with just a hint of citrus in the after taste.

I liked this one a lot. Went down far too quickly!

Glad you enjoyed it, sorry about the shredded paper was all I could find at the time to make sure it made it, I haven't heard from other person it was sent to so hopefully theirs is still in one piece

 

[divrack]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
You did well picking out the hops as there was indeed citra and mosaic, and although there was no Nelson I did use some hops from down under - rakau & experimental 035.
No flaked ingredients in there, but there was 10% wheat malt & 10% golden naked oats, fermented with CML Pia yeast.
Glad you think a few more IBUs wouldn't do any harm as the next iteration is planned to be a bit more bitter.

interesting, thats about the exact same grain bill as i would use but it looked and tasted a lot thicker than mine generally look, i wonder if i didnt let it sit long enough before pouring

 

[Leon103]

ok, my first review was for a hazy ipa with a nice crimbo wreath bottle, cant take photos im afraid as my phone is smashed to hell.

this is a style i have brewed quite a bit and im quite picky about, so i was prepared to be disappointed, but actually very pleased. cracking punchy dry hop flavour that is so hard to maintain on a pleasing light body, no astringency, kept me going back for gulp after gulp.

from what i remember the head lasted well and the carbonation was right.

my guess would be a high amount of flaked stuff, probably mainly wheat with a bit of oats, 35-40 percent even, london fog yeast, hops maybe ekuanot, citra, possibly a little mosaic or something more herbal. thought i even got a whiff of nelson but probably not as thats one hop thats pretty unmistakable

if i had brewed this id be well pleased, my only preference would be for slightly less flaked stuff as i find it holds onto too much yeast for longer giving a slightly bitter yeast twang which does clear but usually not till after ive already devoured most of the keg, and id also like maybe 10 ibus more up front from first wort as it could have been a bit more bitter to balance out the full mouthfeel, but both these things are aspects that are up for argument with the style, undefined as it is.

anyway great beer cheers.

Had one of these last night (outside of the swap) amazing beer.

 

[MickDundee]

Glad you enjoyed it, sorry about the shredded paper was all I could find at the time to make sure it made it, I haven't heard from other person it was sent to so hopefully theirs is still in one piece

It was like a party popper, I pulled the bottle out and it shot all over my kitchen.

 

[mitchmalt]

That’s me (pretty sure! Unless there’s a massive coincidence) glad you enjoyed it. I will put the recipe on tomorrow, need to get the brew log out of the garage.

Not sure if it’s legible.....

6.0 kg Pilsner
0.45 kg Vienna
0.30 kg Munich

mash 67 for 45 min
Fly sparge 76 for about 30 min

Boil
Hetsbrucker 2% 50g 60min
Tettnang 3% 50g 15min
1.0 kg Candi syrup - home made using Info from HBF 10min
Irish moss 10 min

I used yeast I cultured from Westvelerten bottles after a recent trip.

Ferment
19C for 4 days
20C for 1
21C for 1
Up to 26C

cold crash 3 days and bottle with 3.5 vol

Need any more please let me know!

Andy

 

[Subtle Duck]

I was thinking about culturing the yeast from your bottle, but before I knew it the mother in law had swilled it out and it was in the recycling bin. Such a shame
Thank you for your recipe

 

[uDicko]

2 of 2
Maple and pecan stout.
13%

Well... Can santa please tell @strange-steve the recipe so I can have a stab at making this myself?

This is such a smooth stout and does not taste at all like its 13% label would imply.
A really rich and luxurious mouthfeel, low carbonation but spot on the the style in my opinion.

This is a truly great beer and I would love to make something as good myself.

Again santa, you have spoilt me this year. Shame you only sent me one bottle.

 

[SteveH]

Today my second, a "Flemish Stew Dark Strong Belgian" at 8.2%

Lively carbonation well suited to the style, good persistent head. Very nice intense flavour, caramel and dried fruit with assertive bitterness that's well balanced with the alcohol.

Really enjoyed this, thanks to the sender, Merry Christmas!

 

[brewhaha]

I received Rudolph's Nose from Santa, a red IPA weighing in at 6.5%. Now I love a red IPA so I was looking forward to this.

A lively pour left a fluffy head & that great red hue you expect from this style. Top marks for appearance!

Aroma
Juicy tropical fruit (Citra hops?) with a caramel sweetness.

Flavour
Great balance of bitterness & caramel malt sweetness. It's why I love this style as there's complexity from both hop & malt & this is s great example.
Almost a boozy dried / candied fruit once it warmed. The alcohol made itself known but it wasn't harsh & I like to know I'm drinking a big beer!

Fantastic beer so cheers to Santa. Top brew!

 

[dave_77]

This was mine.
It was loaded with Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook and simcoe so was was disappointed that the flavours faded.
I'm just glad you enjoyed it

Makes sense with the hops you have used as I thought it had a citrus taste, rather than tropical. Very nice all the same

 

[RichardM]

My second tonight. Rhubarb Berliner Weisse

Not much carbonation, head quickly dissipated. The rhubarb flavour is quite strong. A refreshing beer. Thank you Santa

 

[mitchmalt]

I was thinking about culturing the yeast from your bottle, but before I knew it the mother in law had swilled it out and it was in the recycling bin. Such a shame
Thank you for your recipe

I’ll send you some if you want?

 

[dan125]

interesting, thats about the exact same grain bill as i would use but it looked and tasted a lot thicker than mine generally look, i wonder if i didnt let it sit long enough before pouring

Should have been minimal yeast in the bottle to settle as it was bottled force carbed direct from the FV after cold crashing - I think the Pia yeast really helps with the body as although its clean and flocculant its not all that attenuative

 

[ClownPrince]

Merry Christmas Everyone, I've never done a review before so I'll keep this short and sweet.

'Chocwork Orange' Stout:

Drank this on Christmas Eve. A very nice tasty stout. Got a lot more chocolate flavour than orange though, the orange was more of an aftertaste.

Breakfast Stout:

Drank this on Christmas morning. Slightly fizzier than i was expecting but a very nice brew. Lovely coffee/nut flavour to it.

I'd happily drink either or both of these again :)