Rogue Ales 'Santa's Private Reserve' Red Ale. 5% abv. 65 IBU. Orange-red color. Thin ivory head. Moderate retention, good lacing. Nose of caramel, fruity, malty, sweet citrus, earthy spice. Front taste of toffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, light brown sugar, orange peel. Aftertaste is fruity bitter hops, roasty malt, earthy spice, with a sweet finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, thick, sticky, juicy.

This is a wonderful beer. Despite being a seasonal winter/xmas beer, the flavor profile reminds me of the year-round BrewDog 'Dogma' Scotch Ale. Malty with a balanced sweet citrus and plenty of fruit and spice notes. Despite the moderately high IBU count, the hops profile here is set to the backseat by the tall malt and and spice. Hopheads will still enjoy this beer, so long as they know not to expect a hop bomb.

Though this beer is similar in taste and body to a good Scotch ale like Dogma, it's not quite as rich and nutty, which is likely what landed this unique brew as a red. However, it's surely a dessert beer best enjoyed after dinner, ideally relaxing in front of a fire, presumably during the holidays. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"A double hopped Red Ale, reddish in color with a roasty, malty flavor and a well balanced spruce finish."

[source: rogue.com]

Mikkeller 'Santa's Little Helper' 2013. 10.9% abv. Barrel aged in cognac casks. Dark brown-black in color. A finger of tan head that falls to a nice collar. Good retention. Excellent lace. Nose is intense with sweet caramel, cognac. Front taste is rich, sweet malt and a very present cognac. Aftertaste is warm sugar, almost butterscotch, that ever-present cognac, with notes of bright hops and long lingering bittersweet notes. Full body. Mouthfeel is sticky, creamy, alcohol.

This is a world-class beer that certainly delivers what it promises. The amazing aroma is followed by a equally impressive taste down to the bottom of the glass. This beer rivals Anderson Valley Bourbon Barrel Stout, another favorite. Strongly recommended.

I was lucky that Beer To The People had a tap serving the 2013 recipe of this seasonal brew toward the end of 2014, and I eagerly look forward to trying the upcoming years.

From the brewery:

"We aim to brew beer that challenge the concept of good beer and move people. We do this by using the best ingredients and work with the most talented and creative minds around the world... make quality beers a serious alternative to wine and champagne when having gourmet food. We fail to calm down. We are always thinking in new ways and ideas, always working on the next project. Sometimes it’s hard for people to keep up… make beer that is watery and tasteless. In our world beer challenges people’s taste buds – whether it’s in a bitter, spicy, sour or fruity manner. We love to explore the existing beer genres by using the best raw material available. The refined product is the aim – not to keep down costs. This leads to very special brews by Mikkeller: Stouts with Vietnamese Kopi Luwak coffee, chipotle chili, lychee fruits – just to name a few… barrel age quality beers on exclusive wine barrels. For instance the Belgian Ale ‘Mielcke and Hurtigkarl’ brewed for the Danish gourmet restaurant by the same name has had the pleasure of being barrel aged on exclusive Chateau d’Yquem barrels… cooperate with other breweries around the world, who inspires us and teach us new ways of doing things. We hate to work with people that don’t give a damn. There are so many wonderful, passionate and honest people in the beer world, why spend time on the rest?"
[source: mikkeller.dk]

Santa Clara Valley Brewing Kölsch. 4.5% abv. 20 IBU. Yellow-gold color. Clear. A finger of white head. Good retention and lacing. Sweet nose of light malt, notes of corn, distant hops. Front taste is sweet biscuit, light floral hops, background corn. Light body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, effervescent wash over the tongue. Aftertaste is candy sugar, light malt, round faint floral hops that sustain. A good brew that serves its category well. Pleasant taste, some hops, low bittering.

This brew is also known as 'It's Kölsch, Drink It' and is a collaboration between Santa Clara Valley Brewing and Palo Alto Brewing Co..

From the brewery:

"Before software and silicon took over, the Santa Clara Valley was home to thousands of acres of rich farmland and orchards, where proud farmers worked tirelessly to supply the world with fresh, delicious produce. At Santa Clara Valley Brewing we pay homage to this industrious past by providing our friends and neighbors with a selection of fine handcrafted beers created with the highest quality ingredients. We hope you enjoy drinking our beers as much as we enjoy brewing them."
[source: scvbrewing.com]