Secret Santa Reviews 2024

[Stu's Brews]

@allotment_fox and @Kentish Mike both received bottles of my Imperial Stout. Glad to hear you both enjoyed it, the recipe is posted here: https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/autumn-forum-brew-‘n’-swap-reviews.103542/post-1253697

As pointed out further down the thread, there is a typo on the mash duration. Should have been 90 minutes rather than the slightly alarming 690!

Finally, a big thanks to @Alastair70 for once again organising this superb Christmas tradition!

 

[Leon103]

First review from me.

Going in for a throat lube. No idea on style but guess a west coast ipa. Aroma is really strong, Unfortunately it's a tad flat.

Thanks Santa.

 

[Leon103]

I am on a roll.
Next up is a Biere de Garde, only ever had two pints of this style and it's always been one on my brew list. If I brewed this I would be happy, a lovely beer.

Thanks Santa.

 

[Begbie]

My second Secret Santa - an ESB at 5.8%

Nice hiss on opening, great pour and the head stayed around. Nice copper brown colour which was a little hazy, but it turned out to be chill haze, as it was clear once warming up a bit.

I could smell a bit of citrus at first, then malty sweetness. The taste was malty, with a little toast. The body was full and rich.

This was another crackin beer, and another that I'd like the recipe for. I haven't brewed an ESB before, so this is on the list for 2025.

Thank you Santa!

 

[Twostage]

Snap.

I've got a bit of a cold so the nose isn't functioning properly. I got liquorice flavour with a bit of nuttiness and burnt caramel. Had a hoppy background. I could taste the 5.8% . Nice.

 

[Twostage]

Didn't have much to go on from the label. Hadn't heard of this yeast before, (bit of a brewing novice), but I googled it and it sounds interesting.

Opened with a nice hiss. Poured into a nucleation glass, and it was quite lively. Bit cloudy. Not sure if that was intended or due to travel, but didn't seem to affect the taste.

Turned out to be a very pleasant IPA. Nice smooth head. Plenty of citrus, very smooth taste. Reminded me a bit of a hoppy American pale ale.

Very nice beer all round.

@jeremy Hall and @old dog new tricks the beers were from me.

The one labelled Kviek A was (unsurprisingly) a Kviek. The one labelled Kviek B was actually fermented with Fermipan bread yeast at 30c. I should really have named it Farmhouse but I wasn't sure what trepidation it would cause.

Glad you enjoyed them.

Must say I've enjoyed reading everyone's reviews. Also think it's good that people are trying beers they wouldn't normally have (including me) and putting it on their do list.

Good one this year.

 

[jeremy Hall]

View attachment 107338

I was really intrigued by this one when it arrived.

"Fruity winter stout"

The ingredients list on the bottle lead me to believe this might have a cidery edge but that was not the case at all. Nicely fruity, not at all thin, a bit of a hint of smoke and chocolate, caramel coloured head, good lacing too. I'm guessing it was a kit brew? Quite a good one though, I thought. I didn't detect any off flavours and it was very drinkable. The 'high ABV' label was correct I think, because it definitely delivered on drunkenness. Thanks Santa!

I have another SS to drink - maybe tonight if I manage to get back in time.

Thanks for the positive reviews @fury_tea and @Moe. It was a kit brew. All my brews this year were from the "simply" range, as they had an offer with a free kilo of brewing sugar. This was "simply" stout. But I added an Extra 500g of demarara and a kilo on damson and a kilo of blackberries.

Glad you liked it. I've been drinking them over Christmas. I did have one that foamed so I was a bit worried how they would travel. I also didn't put the fruit in a bag, so I apologise for any fruit residue. Schoolboy error.

I enjoyed this SS, but I'll probably skip next year, and hopefully join the year after when I retire and I'll have time to try brewing from scratch and hopefully be a bit more adventurous. Thanks again.

 

[Moe]

Thanks for the positive reviews @fury_tea and @Moe. It was a kit brew. All my brews this year were from the "simply" range, as they had an offer with a free kilo of brewing sugar. This was "simply" stout. But I added an Extra 500g of demarara and a kilo on damson and a kilo of blackberries.

Glad you liked it. I've been drinking them over Christmas. I did have one that foamed so I was a bit worried how they would travel. I also didn't put the fruit in a bag, so I apologise for any fruit residue. Schoolboy error.

I enjoyed this SS, but I'll probably skip next year, and hopefully join the year after when I retire and I'll have time to try brewing from scratch and hopefully be a bit more adventurous. Thanks again.

I really enjoyed it thank you very much

No foaming and no fruit residue, so no worries.
Thanks

 

[tondy79]

Next up for me was this Rotherham Best Bitter. I haven't been to Rotherham, but they put out a decent beer!

Poured out with a nice white head, a bit of a bad pour but that is on me. The head lasted throughout with good lacing, which was nice to see.

On the aroma, I couldn't quite place it. It was familiar and inviting, but it stayed just out of my grasp!

Nice bitterness, not too much and just right for me, and some herby, aromatic kind of flavours behind the malt. That's not quite correct, but like the aroma, I couldn't quite put my finger on the flavours.

Another beer I've really enjoyed here, thanks very much!

One more to go, sorry for being slow!

 

[tondy79]

Okay, sneaking this final beer in before the calendar rolls over to 2025!

This last beer was a "Spiced Winter Warmer", and I've just realised that I forgot to take a photo! It was a deep red/copper colour, a little head but nothing that lasted, but nice level of carbonation for this type of beer, at least for my preferences.

Perfect for the Christmas period, this beer had a real mulled wine type of aroma, and flavours to match, but with a nice caramel sweetness rather than a more cloying mulled wine strength of flavour.

I was a bit nervous about what to expect with this one, but really nicely done with aroma and flavour strong enough to evoke that Christmas feeling, but subtle enough to still be enjoyable drinking.

Great job!

Thanks to the Santas, thanks to @Alastair70 for organising, and Happy New Year to all!

 

[YeastFace]

Thanks to @stubrewworx and @tondy79 for the feedback, I was the Santa for the ESB and Winter Warmer.

ESB I did intend on having a bit more hop character. I had earmarked some First Gold as a keg hop, but ended up using Challenger as was already open. At first it gave a woody aroma, but that has just about faded to my nose. I think the orange from the First Gold would have been better-suited so will stick with that for v2.

The Winter Warmer was originally designed as a Pumpkin Brown Ale, but ended up tasting more like a Christmas beer to me. Cinammon is the predominant spice (others are nutmeg, clove, ginger, and a touch of vanilla).

Interesting on the head, as both of these had a decent head off keg and from glass bottles off keg. The winter warmer possibly too much if anything. The ESB I carbed quite low as intended on transferring 10l to a polypin to serve off beer engine. As it happened to you both, bottling seems the most-likely cause, so I will look at that.

Glad you enjoyed them. And thanks again to our compère, @Alastair70.

 

[Libigage]

Final 2 reviews, firstly an apple cider. Nice refreshing drink, plenty of bubbles and beautifully clear. Dry is my liking. I might try one of these in the summer if I can find a good easy recipe
Finally an Irish stout, very nice too, maybe just a bit over carbinated but I'm no expert. Saying that if I had anymore in the fridge, they'd be gone in the same night.
Thank you very much santa

 

[andyb13]

Sorry about the slow review, was away over Christmas, this is my 1st SS beer this year. Really excited about this beer, my year has been everything Japanese happening recently been to Japan. Anyway there was a nice hiss on opening, good amount of life on pouring and was nice and clear. My first impressions were of a grassy/ lemon smell, not unpleasant just different to the lagers I brew. The taste was pleasant, still lemony with a good amount of carbonation. The initial head died quite quickly, but I wasn't too concerned about that as it was a lager. Felt stronger than the 2.5%abv. I haven't tried a yuzu lager before, but looking at some that are available, I would say this gives a good nod to those with the lemon and lime flavours coming through. Thanks Santa for letting me try this new style of lager, it was very interesting and I could have happily had another one.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Apologies to everyone, particularly my Santas, for the delay in reporting back. I wasn’t too well over Christmas so only tried my kind gifts yesterday.

My first SS is a hells bells lager

Slight hiss in opening made me think it may be a bit undercarbed but it actually poured very nicely. Good clarity and good blend of malt and hop flavour. My first drink of the night and a great one to start with. Thank you Santa.



My second SS is a Swartzbiere.

Don’t think I’ve ever had one before but I can see, I think, it’s a dark lager. Nice hiss upon opening and poured nicely. Although dark it was also very clear so you could have seen right through it had it not been so dark. Flavour not too dissimilar from the hells I had before it apart from an obvious additional maltiness. I had this with some finger snacks and cheese and biscuits and it went down very well indeed. Thank you Santa.


I was lucky enough to receive two bottles from both of my Santas so still have two more to try. I’ll attempt these in the next day or so

 

[fury_tea]

View attachment 107603
Sorry about the slow review, was away over Christmas, this is my 1st SS beer this year. Really excited about this beer, my year has been everything Japanese happening recently been to Japan. Anyway there was a nice hiss on opening, good amount of life on pouring and was nice and clear. My first impressions were of a grassy/ lemon smell, not unpleasant just different to the lagers I brew. The taste was pleasant, still lemony with a good amount of carbonation. The initial head died quite quickly, but I wasn't too concerned about that as it was a lager. Felt stronger than the 2.5%abv. I haven't tried a yuzu lager before, but looking at some that are available, I would say this gives a good nod to those with the lemon and lime flavours coming through. Thanks Santa for letting me try this new style of lager, it was very interesting and I could have happily had another one.

Thanks Andy. This was a Kveik beer I brewed on 8th December. I think the yuzu plays to the flavour of this yeast and covered for the age a bit. I think it'll be great with a bit more age on it (if it lasts that long) and perfect for the garden in summer (it won't last that long).

I felt a bit mean for sending a low % beer when I see others sending 8%+ Imperials but glad you liked it! I had a minor health scare relating to my liver so thought I would try some lower % beers and I am quite happy with how it turned out, would brew it again, likely for the summer months.

Brew day is here if you're interested: https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/fury-teas-brewdays.86078/page-3#post-1306453

 

[andyb13]

Thanks Andy. This was a Kveik beer I brewed on 8th December. I think the yuzu plays to the flavour of this yeast and covered for the age a bit. I think it'll be great with a bit more age on it (if it lasts that long) and perfect for the garden in summer (it won't last that long).

I felt a bit mean for sending a low % beer when I see others sending 8%+ Imperials but glad you liked it! I had a minor health scare relating to my liver so thought I would try some lower % beers and I am quite happy with how it turned out, would brew it again, likely for the summer months.

Brew day is here if you're interested: https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/fury-teas-brewdays.86078/page-3#post-1306453

Thanks for that fury, I did have a read and very interesting. Also had to smile as you had one of my SS this year, the direction bitter, so thanks for your kind words on that one.

 

[old dog new tricks]

Final 2 reviews, firstly an apple cider. Nice refreshing drink, plenty of bubbles and beautifully clear. Dry is my liking. I might try one of these in the summer if I can find a good easy recipe
Finally an Irish stout, very nice too, maybe just a bit over carbinated but I'm no expert. Saying that if I had anymore in the fridge, they'd be gone in the same night.
Thank you very much santa

Glad you enjoyed the cider it's really simple turbo cider from supermarket apple juice I find cml cider yeast to be perfect just let it sit for a couple of months before bottling I leave it out in my garage on the concrete floor settles and goes clear amazing the yeast will still bottle carb up to 3 months no issues. Once bottled leave for at least a month and it just gets better.

The Irish stout is over carbonated rookie error normally make cider or wine lol. That started as a kit but got lots added to it and again aged about 9 months to get full maturity.

Glad they made it safe and you enjoyed them

 

[UKSkydiver]

Second and final SS2024.

Israelite Hazelnut Brown Ale 6.2%

Well....

Screw capped and small hiss on opening. No foaming from the bottle. Sneaky sniff revealed something akin to the sorts of beers I enjoy drinking.

Poured from a height, again, my preference. This might be a little under carbed for me. Suspect bottled from keg?

Lovely dark brown pour. Looks nice and clear. Decent tan head with that reverse Guinness cascade thing. Fantastic.

Lovely coffee aroma, but I may be confusing the nutty flavour. Either way, very nice indeed.

Lacing remains 5-10 mins as I type this out.

This is exactly the type of beer I buy and drink on a regular basis; dark, malty brews with a strong, aroma and flavour.

I would personally maybe have a bit more carbonation, but thats just my preference.

Very nice brew indeed. This is as good if not better than commercial beers that I've had.

Thank you for sharing this amazing beer. I will be looking for the recipe...

 

[old dog new tricks]

@jeremy Hall and @old dog new tricks the beers were from me.

The one labelled Kviek A was (unsurprisingly) a Kviek. The one labelled Kviek B was actually fermented with Fermipan bread yeast at 30c. I should really have named it Farmhouse but I wasn't sure what trepidation it would cause.

Glad you enjoyed them.

Must say I've enjoyed reading everyone's reviews. Also think it's good that people are trying beers they wouldn't normally have (including me) and putting it on their do list.

Good one this year.

Many thanks not my usual tipple but very nice indeed and very enjoyable

 

[andyb13]

My final SS review. Ding Dong Bells, a 6.8% American IPA. Good hiss on opening. Small head on pouring, did disappear quite quickly, but not an issue. Nice aroma from the cascade and centennial hops. It was slightly cloudy but it may have been me that got a little sediment into the beer. Good carbonation during the whole pint, and the hop taste lasted nicely. Could pick up the warmth from the alcohol, I certainly felt the beer was very nicely balanced between hops and malt. A very nice beer, would have liked another one, even the wife liked it and was convinced it was one of mine. Would quite like the recipe. Many thanks for the beer Santa.