Mikkeller Santas Little Helper 2012

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

A little spicier than I remember older vintages being. Smells at first of Christmas tree in a bottle. Super smooth though the alcohol shows as it warms. Pine, chocolate, dark fruit, molasses...really nice, as expected.

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

Looks great in the glass, very deep and dark with a thick, rich light brown head. Smells mildly roasty, belgian yeasty,and slightly metallic. A roasted bitter hits the tongue and really dominates, dark fruits are really non-existant. It has a nice boozy finish, very warming and perfect for the season, if not quite as good as the big Belgian Christmas beers.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Very dark brown.....we'll just call it black, a thin brown crown floats on top. Nose is full of raisins, pine, and hints of coffee. Aroma could be bolder. Couldn't wait needed to drink..... thick..... raisins.... molasses.... coffee finish. I let beer warm for half an hour, so much better now. Heavy almost burnt tasting malt, thick dark fruit that morphs into cheery in the finish. Ash, wood, prunes, coffee. Crap done half the bottle my head is vibrating/spinning. I think I'm hitting Belgian yeast but not sure. I swear this is more of a Porter the Belgian strong. So much cheery in the nose now. When I exhale my breath taste like booze and melons. BLETCH!!!!! All my thoughts are fuzzy and confused, I'm concentrating as hard as I can but unable to focus on anything. Dam this tasty. Burnt sugar bordering on soya sauce. Starting to notice a ashtray in the lingering aftertaste. A drunk Brad is a happy Brad..... until morning, hungover Brad hates everyone..... he'll cut you.