Secret Santa Reviews 2024

[Justin Dean]

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After spending an enjoyable couple of days with the family, I've now got the house to myself so I can give these the attention they deserve.

First up is an Oatmeal Stout. Very dark brown to black colour with a tan head that retains well. A very inviting chocolate aroma, which carries through to the flavour where it is backed up by some caramel sweetness and dried fruits. Smooth mouthfeel and a good level of carbonation make for a very easy drinking beer.

Thanks for sharing - a very nice beer!

Thank you for reviewing. Glad you enjoyed. It was basically the Greg Hughes Recipe but I changed half the cascade bittering hops with norrhdown

 

[Justin Dean]

Sorry not to have done reviews but away at the moment. Will do early January

 

[Stu]

I've not come across this before either, very intrigued

Me neither.

Have a read.
https://www.hopculture.com/cold-ipa/

This beer was exactly like it described.

 

[allotment_fox]

Sadly my final Secret Santa of 2024 Big boy dry hopped bitter beer it's weight @ 4 % bottled in October 2024

A good hiss with light smoke, always a jug at the ready in case of a gusher after it's post office adventures to the allotmentfox towers, but never a chance it's going to be needed It's just a lovely beer to poor, as seen In my photo.

A nice ice white soft fluffy head that sticks to my straight glass. Not a sign of the dreaded HB twang anywhere just a sweet light hop aroma & lemon twist

The beer is nicely conditioned clearly an all grain brewed amber beer, but also very clear and travelled well in the bottle for a bottle conditioned beer

A light toffee bitter taste with good mouth feel a good combination of hops in this one, got to have used some water treatment this is not just tap water (the sort of beer you want in a pub on hand pull for sure) and a beer you could happily sink 3 or 4 on a Friday night on draft.
Dam it my glass is empty

Thanks very much Santa another 5 star beer any brewer would be proud to havemade, would love to see the recipe.

 

[stubrewworx]

3rd and final ss beer - spiced winter warmer.

I always approach these beers with trepidation as I’m not keen on spiced beers, but this was lovely.

Colour was an ideal reddish brown, pulling you in from the cold and providing a warm reassurance.

Poured into same glass after the ESB and kept a small head, actually enlarged after this photo. Again, carbed just right.

Caramel and toffee with a hint of spices (guessing cinnamon was there?), a bit more hop flavour than the ESB? But certainly sweeter finish as you’d expect.

Nice fire side beer.

Thanks to the two Santa’s

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And thanks to @Alastair70 of course

 

[Twostage]

Second SS review from me, Citra Gold IPA. Nice carbonation, slight haze, very hoppy flavour. Clean tasting. Had a hint of green apple which can be a fault but it seemed to add to the cleanness of the flavour.

Good lacing...

Thanks Santa.

 

[Alastair70]

I’ve faced down the lurgy and emerged victorious . Time to face down Murgy, my last secret Santa beer.
It don’t know what this is, but it’s bl**dy good. First sniff and taste was full of spicy phenols and I thought saison. But as I settle into it sweet wheat malt flavours come to the fore. It’s got a lovely mix of sweeter malts, yeasty phenols and esters in balance, and a bright citrusy hop character.
Top brew, glad I waited until the senses cleared. Thanks for the bonus beer Santa

 

[dave_77]

Having my second swap beer.. American wheat.
Nice beer this one, aroma light grainy malt character with light citrus hops. Flavours were similar with a medium low bitterness. Seemed like a good example of the style thanks for sharing

 

[starseeker]

Here is my second Secret Santa review for a 4.2 % Dry Irish Stout , poured with a generous head ,nice amount of carbonation ,lovely mouth feel , complex taste of , chocolate ,coffee and dark roasted malts ,this is a delicious stout and i would love to have the recipe please , thank you to my Secret Santa ,for a well brewed and very well crafted beer

 

[tondy79]

Finally getting the chance to sit down quietly and enjoy these Santa-provided beers.

First up is this Extra Special Bitter at a healthy 5.8% abv:

Hopefully you can make out the lovely copper colour, beautifully clear, a real looker! A good level of bitterness that works well with the higher abv, you wouldn't know this was 5.8%, I could absolutely have a few of these (and then start to suspect the higher abv!)
Not much on the aroma side, and no head to speak of, but a really tasty bitter that I have very much enjoyed! Carbonation is spot on for me here, and as this is bottled from the keg I'd love some tips for this level of carbonation as I always seem to over do it!

Thanks very much!

 

[Stu]

Sorry it looks like a I took the photo on a potato. I didn't realise until just now.

Red IPA. This was very drinkable although possibly a little flatter than I'd expect as you can see.
I just had a look at the character expected from a red IPA

"Overall Impression
Hoppy, bitter, and moderately strong like an American IPA, but with some caramel, toffee, and/or dark fruit malt character. Retaining the dryish finish and lean body that makes IPAs so drinkable, a Red IPA is a little more flavorful and malty than an American IPA without being sweet or heavy."

Well, this absolutely hits the nail on the head. It had a lovely caramel taste, bordering on the chocolatey.
Not too bitter, but dry.

Great beer!

 

[phildo79]

Last secret Santa beer for me and it is a 3.5% stout. Good head upon pouring, that lasted a while. Carb level is good and mouthfeel is surprisingly good for a 3.5% beer. I get mild roast and faint chocolate from the aroma and taste.

Santa has noted on the bottle that this is their first attempt at a stout. Not a bad first outing. If I were to critique, I'd recommend ramping up to 5% to bring out the roast, chocolate and coffee notes more. But I am certainly enjoying this pint. Thanks, Santa.

 

[Libigage]

2nd secret santa from the same person, a very nice Christmas ale. Very much to my liking, malty and spicey. Poured with a big head. Thank you

 

[Justin Dean]

Special thanks to @Alastair70 for arranging a great Secret Santa swap again. Well done to all us brewers for getting involved. Splendid event again

 

[Kentish Mike]

Apologies to my Secret Santas for the delayed reviews, I'm just getting over this Christmas flu that seems to be everywhere!
My first was this beautiful 4% "Rotherham Best Bitter".
It opened with a gentle hiss and poured with a lovely near white head that lasted and laced the glass as I drank. It had a warm amber colour and decent clarity. Flavour-wise it was malt forward with a gentle caramel sweetness which I enjoyed, very slight hop aromatics and a bitterness that was subdued at first but seemed to build as I got through the pint. It had just the right amount of body. Overall a very enjoyable pint! Thanks Santa!

 

[Kentish Mike]

My second, and unfortunately final, Secret Santa gift was this decadent 8.5% imperial stout!
It opened with a slight hiss and poured a dark black with a short lived tan head. I was immediately hit with a sweet roasty/toffee aroma.
This was full of sweet chocolatey malt flavours but the body was light enough to avoid any of that cloying syrupyness that I personally dislike. There were no off-flavours or bitter astringency. This was a special treat that went down far too easily for its abv! I wish I had some more!

Thanks Santa!

 

[Stu]

My second, and unfortunately final, Secret Santa gift was this decadent 8.5% imperial stout!
It opened with a slight hiss and poured a dark black with a short lived tan head. I was immediately hit with a sweet roasty/toffee aroma.
This was full of sweet chocolatey malt flavours but the body was light enough to avoid any of that cloying syrupyness that I personally dislike. There were no off-flavours or bitter astringency. This was a special treat that went down far too easily for its abv! I wish I had some more!

Thanks Santa!

I very much like the sound of this!

 

[Kentish Mike]

I very much like the sound of this!

It was excellent. If Santa shares the recipe, I will definitely be giving it a try!

 

[Agentgonzo]

2nd secret santa from the same person, a very nice Christmas ale. Very much to my liking, malty and spicey. Poured with a big head. Thank you

Given all of my beers have been enjoyed now. I can reveal myself as the person who forgot to anonymise his labels (if anyone's paid attention to my beers before).

The Christmas Ale was Greg Hughes's recipe, minus the extra sugar
And Murgy Straight was of course the recipe from Four Priest's.

Glad they were both enjoyed!

 

[old dog new tricks]

I very much like the sound of this!

Sounds awesome