Mikkeller Santas Little Helper 2008

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottled (thanks fonefan!). Very deep amber colour with small beige head. Aroma is liquorice, dark dry fruits, caramel malts, some spices as well as some slight notes of alcohol. Flavour is rather well balanced sweet malts, some liquorice, dark dry fruits, some earth, mild spices as well as some fruityness. Warming alcohol in the finish.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

this is simply a great beer and put some other worthy belgans to shame. dark, with an aroma full of pine, half from the hops, half from the spices. quite lively, with just a hint of cocoa under the big pine hop and sugary sweet flavor. smooth full body, lasting finish. one of Mikkeller's best? 2009 up to the task as well.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

This was a special treat that I had recently as it had been a while since I had a Belgian Strong. A murky brown pour releases a plethora of pleasant aromas including sugar, chocolate, sweet malt, roasted nuts, and coffee. The flavour profile is just as complex with spiced malt, coffee, and licorice dominating.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle: Poured a deep cloudy brown color ale with a medium size foamy head with good retention but minimal lacing. Aroma of chocolate malt mix with some cookie dough notes. Taste is also somewhat dominated by chocolate malt with notes of cookie dough and light dry fruits. Body is fuller then average with some filtration and good carbonation with no appearance of alcohol which is appreciated considering the brewer has sometime issues with masking alcohol taste.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

750ml bottle
11.0% ABV
I tried this beer on April 23, 2009 at "Smokeless Joe's" in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The beer poured a solid brownish-black with a 1" light brown head. The aroma was roasted malt, coffee, chocolate, yeast, and spices. The mouthfeel was full-bodied, slightly creamy and with medium carbonation. The flavour was roasted malt, chocolatey, with a hint of plums and molasses. A very enjoyable beer.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours out in an opaque dark brown colour with a white rich head. Rich and warming aroma of figs, coriander, fudge, pepper and yeast. Full-bodied with yeasty, spicy and rather crisp notes of coriander, anise, nutmeg, sweet licorice and fudge. Long warming spicy finish of anise, milky chocolate and coriander. Felt a bit simplistic and un-inspired compared to last years versions. Still tasty.