Secret Santa Reviews 2023

[YeastFace]

Secret Santa beer number 2, a golden ale.

Poured clear with a frothy head which subsided.

Aroma is light sweet maltiness and citrussy fruitiness.

Flavour wise, more citrussy fruitiness. Orange and grapefruit. Firm bitterness leads to a long, dry finish.

Another really well-made beer. Thanks, Santa.

Apologies for the awful photo.

 

[MashBag]

Oooo. Drank one of mine. Eerrm. Didn't think about a photo. And I have a feeling a empty brown bottle might not cut it.

Cunning plan forming......

 

[MashBag]

Secret Santa beer number 2, a golden ale.

From that photo, I get the feeling secret santa beer number 1 was quite strong

 

[YeastFace]

The bonus beer, a dubbel.

Not quite clear but bottle conditioned so perhaps a pouring fault, a dark copper/light brown. Fantastic head. Plenty of lacing left on the

Aroma is spice (pepper and clove) banana, a touch of alcohol.

On the tongue is more banana, burnt sugar and some creaminess. The spritzy carbonation and firm level of bitterness both work through to cut through and dry the pallate.

Another great beer.

 

[YeastFace]

From that photo, I get the feeling secret santa beer number 1 was quite strong

Just a really poorly lit kitchen, think my phone camera went into night mode and unless you are perfectly still every photo looks like you've got the DTs.

 

[MashBag]

First one.

Smashing. Beautifully clear and this must have been counterpressure bottled. Good work.
Nice delicatey flavour, and pleasure.
Thank you.

The honey beer is next. Sooo looking forward to this.

 

[allotment_fox]

Many thanks for the brew what a nice clear well carbonated brew, straw in colour bottled from the keg, I could taste a mellow citrus type hop in the background would be pleased to have brewed this one myself Cheers and merry Christmas

 

[SMP Brewery]

My first secret Santa, Milk Stout isn’t really my thing but I thoroughly enjoyed this, not having a Milk Stout before I wasn’t sure what to expect but it had a very nice coffee bitterness that counter acted any sweetness that made it an easy drink to have. I might have go a brewing one in the future. Thanks for sharing.

The head was more a coffee colour than the image depicts.

 

[tondy79]

Just enjoyed my first, a cracking Oatmeal Stout. I tend not to drink too much stout but that could be because I've never made one as enjoyable as this!
Not much of a pop on opening the bottle, but poured well and was carbonated to my taste!
A very dark brown beer, close to black with a creamy tan head, lovely silky mouthfeel, oatmeal/malty flavours and an almost chocolate like bitterness, with a very slight roasted/coffee coming in at the end.

Does life get better than this??

Merry Christmas one and all, my next one arrived in need of conditioning, so I'm planing to leave it to NYE.

Cheers!

 

[andyb13]

Spot on colour, and carbonation, good head today lasted most of the pint, some slight ester notes but a clean taste overall. Very nice pint would have happily had another and would also love the recipe. Not sure on the% anv, but very nice. Thanks Santa.

 

[RichardM]

My second beer from Santa. It's a Sorachi Saison

There was a satisfying hiss when I opened the bottle. Carbonation is perfect and the head is lasting well.
I'm afraid the beer is very murky, no clarity at all, or is it meant to be hazy?

I'm sure it's a great beer, but confirms what I said to my wife when I opened the package, "Sorachi is one of the few hops that I don't like".

 

[MickDundee]

Last up was the 8.7% Belgian Red which had a beautiful Amber color and distinctive toffee/treacle notes which belied how strong it was Antilles I got about half way down the glass and it started catching up with me
But it remained pleasant all the way to the bottom and I rarely go for stronger beers these days, so it was a pleasant surprise.

I just had my Belgian Red and unfortunately I think mine was oxidised. First swig was incredibly bitter, second swig was definite sherry, third swig I decided I couldn’t drink anymore. It’s a shame, and just one of those things, because it looks like you enjoyed yours.

 

[Griff097]

I just had my Belgian Red and unfortunately I think mine was oxidised. First swig was incredibly bitter, second swig was definite sherry, third swig I decided I couldn’t drink anymore. It’s a shame, and just one of those things, because it looks like you enjoyed yours.
View attachment 93901

Wow, that's the polar opposite of mine, it retained a sweetness and toffee notes until the end!

 

[Begbie]

Apologies to the secret Santa's awaiting reviews from me - the past few days have been full on with no opportunity to give each beer the time it deserves. Hopefully tomorrow night.

 

[samale]

My last Santa beer, a 4.2% Saison
Bottle conditioned beer, good carbonation and clarity. Nice spicy aroma, very light with a dry finish. Very enjoyable after the dinner and wine.
Cheers and merry Christmas

 

[nidge]

1st of my ss beers was a delightful Saison , light Fluffy head lasting to the last sip, clean and perfectly dry-ish balanced with the taste of the malts and almost fruit/citrus notes comming from what i presume is a traditional Saison Yeast. Cracking pint

 

[nidge]

Unfortunately due to technical issues and the fact that it was swiftly consumed no pic. Of pint.(sorry)
Festive stout 7.3 tight cappuccino head,full body with a great mouthfeel, malty backbone ,bitterness balanced with a rich chocolaty sweetness. They say "crack" is moreish but this WOW Best stout I've ever had by far.
i would very much appreciated some information regarding recipe.
Thank you

 

[Justin Dean]

Murky neipa

Some nice hops too many I think because of hop burn.

Carbonation is good

Colour is clay

Sweetness to the hops.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Griff097]

Murky neipa

Some nice hops too many I think because of hop burn.

Carbonation is good

Colour is clay

Sweetness to the hops.

Thank you for sharing.

View attachment 93934

How would you describe hop burn?

Do you think it may of oxidized looking at the color?

Neipas are tricky from what I understand.

 

[Justin Dean]

How would you describe hop burn?

Do you think it may of oxidized looking at the color?

Neipas are tricky from what I understand.

Oxidised yes and hop burn is heat on the lips and top of off mouth like spicey which comes with too many hops.