Secret Santa Reviews 2024

[Alastair70]

Merry Christmas everybody.

There appears to have been very little in the way of postage dramas this year so hopefully everyone has a at couple of beers to look forward to

Post a photo and some comments on your beers below. The thread will stay open until all the beers have been reviewed. Then, I‘ll post the usual round up of who sent to who and what beers were swapped. If you are unlucky enough to get a problem beer, send me a PM rather than post in the open forum and I’ll pass on the bad news to your Santa.

Happy drinking and I hope you all have a very merry Christmas

 

[SMP Brewery]

Back from the pub so I’ll go first, I was looking forward to this American Wheat beer, I know Alastair said don’t post if you have a bad beer but I’ve no idea if it was or not. Anyway I found it funny, so when opening the bottle (luckily in the garage) it was like a volcano went everywhere, for some reason I thought it would be good idea to pick it up and as I’d changed into my crocks I now have wet soggy feet as well There wasn’t a drop left in the bottle to try.

With trepidation I opened the Belgian Wit, phew this was fine. I’ve made a Wit once and mine wasn’t even close to this. I’ve only had a few sips but this is right up my street, well balanced with spicy and citrusy notes, the only thing was a lack of head retention but after the first one I was thankful for that thanks for sending loved it

 

[Alastair70]

First up, a special thank-you is due to @Twostage whose talents extend to glass art. He sent me a glass engraved with my rescue kitten taken from this photo. Thank-you so much, the likeness is incredible and I’ll be using it for my festive supping.
Post in thread 'Show us your cat'
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/show-us-your-cat.88463/post-1233014

First up, a gentle start to the evening with a Best Bitter. Nice mix of toasty malts and British style hops on the nose. Lovely caramel malt flavours and a confident level of bittering make it a superb intro to the festive season. Cheers Santa, great brew and it hardly touched the sides!

EDIT - I’ll pour a stout into the glass at some point so you can see the class engraving!

 

[Moe]

My first secret Santa beer.

I really enjoyed this. It doesn’t look clear, that’s half condensation on the glass and half my wife “rearranging” the fridge to fit in the Christmas food

To me it was remiscent of Badgers Fursty Ferrett. Nicely balanced with bitter, malty flavors, with a hint of nutty.

Really enjoyed this thank you.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I'm away for Christmas, but had this as a first try on the night before leaving.

Rich, malty ale. As moe has said, a nuttyness to and a chunk of bitterness at the end that in guessing (and am probably wrong) could be a decent handful of chocolate malt. I'd say it was darker than a best as a result, but a decent pint nonetheless. Very easy to drink. Nice traditional pint that went well with the warmth of the fire

I'll post the rest when I drink them for new year!

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Usually save mine for Xmas day when I'm cooking but thought a stout possibly wasn't the best to consune at 10am basting the turkey.

A lovely beer this, looking at the bjcp guidelines it hits all the right notes, had to look at a description of a certain flavour, 'unsweetened chocolate'! Coffee notes, a light to medium body and a jet black beer with a light fluffy head makes this a perfect beer to sup after getting the kids off to bed, thank you very much santa!

 

[Alastair70]

My second and final Secret Santa beer for the evening, a Christmas Ale.
Does exactly what it says on the tin, rich malts with gentle spicy overtones. It’s the perfect for Christmas Eve, I think I’ll brew something like this for myself next year! Cheers Santa, this hit the nail right on the head

 

[Nottsbeer]

I opened this very nice West Coast IPA to kick off the night. Opened with a slight hiss but then was slightly lively when pouring! Settled nicely (not on pic). Wasn't sure what to expect so dived in. Subtle aroma and nice and clear. Tasted great, maybe a touch of pine or citrus. Very easy drink, and went well with my curry. Thanks for sharing, a great start to Xmas. After googling this style after drinking I'm going to make this in 2025.

 

[Begbie]

Last night, I couldn't resist opening the Leffe that a Secret Santa sent me. Here are my notes:

Slight hiss on opening. Poured with a small head which dissapated after a minute. Almost crystal clear - maybe slight chill haze.

Smells like Leffe! Slight spice, floral and malty.

Taste has slight bitterness, malty, toffee then a dry finish. Entices you in for another gulp! Carbonation was actuality perfect for me.

It hides the strength well too, drinking like a 4.5% or 5% beer.
Really enjoyed this and would love the recipe. Santa has done well to keep this beer as long as this (bottled in April this year) as it's so moreish. Well done.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Perhaps I should have had the Pilsner first but really fancied the IPA and it doesn't disappoint.

A lovely aroma of grapefruit and other citrus, taste is absolutely like the aroma with perhaps a little bit of pine in there too, nice sweet malt and a dry ish finish. Not too bitter which is great for me. A lovely beer, thanks again santa!

 

[YeastFace]

Midland Mild.

Caramel, some dark fruits, a slight treacle mineralness. Well conditioned. Nice. Thanks Santa

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Thought I'd have my last secret santa, this ones a Pilsner, and wow what a looker, a clearer more golden beer I've not seen. Pour terrible, sorry.

Aroma, some bread, some sweet malt. Taste, I get a hint of diacetyl, corn, nobel hop? My wife thinks lemons....either way it's nice! Thank you for sharing again!

 

[YeastFace]

Leffe.

Banana and some light citrus fruit. Slightly tart on the finish. Well carbonated and leaves some Belgian Lace. Slight warmth on finish. Been a while since I had Leffe, so can't say how close it is, but a decent Belgian Blonde. Thank you.

 

[pmh]

My first one a Pilsner, the pour formed a perfect head as can be seen, the beer was crystal clear, had an ever so slight malty after taste and very crisp, was carbonated as I'd expect a lager, I'd be very proud to have created anything of this standard, thank you Santa you beast

 

[pmh]

My final one of today, dry Irish stout, poured with a good head that lasted a while, had initial malty hit with a dry morish after taste, a very typical stout and much better than I could make, hats off to Santa

 

[brewhaha]

My first SS beer & it's a Cold IPA. Big citrus vibes from this one & with a nice, crisp finish I couldn't help but be reminded of a lager & lime! Fantastic!
I'd have a guess at some NZ hops in this, maybe Rakau or Motueka? Cracking beer regardless, thanks for sharing Santa!

 

[brewhaha]

Final beer of Xmas Day & it's my brewing nemesis, a red IPA. I have tried everything to brew a decent example of this style & always fall down. This hit the mark for me in terms of colour, carbonation & caramel sweetness. A good bitterness balanced this out & made it a nice easy drinker, even though it was 5+%. Thanks again Santa, 2 cracking beers I've enjoyed on Xmas Day!