Secret Santa Reviews 2020!

I may not be able to review both my secret beers today but while the Turkey is in its last half hour and the rest of the food prepped.... I’ve a wee half hour to enjoy a beer and a pause in the day.

This is Vienna lager - a silver capped bottle marked with V..

first tried at 4 deg then again at 13 deg and a really marked difference in flavour.

Good pfizz on opening and more carbonated than I’m used to. Lovely stable creamy head on a golden amber beer.
Aroma: initial light citric sharpness which transformed when warmer into a yeast sour citric aroma which I really liked and was new in a lager for me.
early bitterness that intensified through to the finish, at the warmer 13 deg this has a near sour bitterness that hits the tongue edges like pear drops. There’s more mouthfeel than I’d expect from a lager, that lends itself to taking time over drinking. Despite that it’s most definitely a lager with that clean classic lager finish.
Overall this would be brilliant as a summer beer to take time over in the garden. Rather impressed by the bitterness with a citric zing that’s pretty fab.

Ok that’s the family arrived and I’d better look at that turkey...thanks to a THBF Santa for this chance to pause in the day

SteveH said:

Yes this one was mine, sorry it wasn't for you @Cwrw666, pass on my apologies to your Mrs and Merry Christmas!

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That's ok, it wasn't actually bad. We've since had 4 bottles of milk stout and are feeling totally fine about absolutely everything. So do have a jolly fine Christmas etc etc.

Cowman said:

Another lovely beer: amber cascade 4.7%
Biscuity with hints of orange/ citrus in the aroma
Malty with light citrus in the flavour.
It didn't last long and was a good beer. Thank you santa

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That one was mine. Quite a simple recipe but with EKG bittering hops and home grown cascade hops at flame-out. Plus homemade amber malt.
Glad you liked it, it's one of my favourites.

This is the first of 2 beers that a very kindly secret Santa sent me; a Norsk Bitter.
Almost no hiss on opening, carbonated perfectly to style. A vigorous pour resulted in a fluffy white head. Bready malt and caramel sweetness give way to a refreshingly dry finish and a cleansing bitterness. Nice herbal / floral notes from the hops and earthiness I think from the yeast. This is a lovely pint of bitter, one I'd be very happy indeed to sit down to in a pub with a bag of peanuts next to an open fire. Thank you secret Santa, very well brewed

Ajhutch said:

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American IPA came with a card telling me it’s 4.6% and 40 IBUs of Citra, Cascade and Centennial. Nice hiss on opening proved itself with good carbonation, the beer poured with a good foam that stuck around well. A strong malt backbone (the note said Munich was used, good choice!) with firm bitterness, and plenty of piney resin hop character. This is a really good old school west coast style IPA, the bitterness is well balanced with the gravity and it’s a clean, crisp and refreshing beer. Loved it, thanks a lot Santa!

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That's one of mine!! Thanks for the nice review Ajhutch!
That's two on the forum that like it...it's now my house AIPA! And I'm actually drinking one now!
Cheers
Clint

Clint said:

That's one of mine!! Thanks for the nice review Ajhutch!
That's two on the forum that like it...it's now my house AIPA! And I'm actually drinking one now!
Cheers
Clint

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A bit of Munich makes everything better

samale said:

I really like the bottles, where did you get them

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They are recycled Peroni Gran-reserva bottles, normally not a great fan of Peroni but the Gran-reserva is stronger and more malty, passable way to acquire the bottles IMO

Cwrw666 said:

That one was mine. Quite a simple recipe but with EKG bittering hops and home grown cascade hops at flame-out. Plus homemade amber malt.
Glad you liked it, it's one of my favourites.

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It's a very good pint. I'd definitely order it In a pub

DocAnna said:

I may not be able to review both my secret beers today but while the Turkey is in its last half hour and the rest of the food prepped.... I’ve a wee half hour to enjoy a beer and a pause in the day.

This is Vienna lager - a silver capped bottle marked with V..

first tried at 4 deg then again at 13 deg and a really marked difference in flavour.

Good pfizz on opening and more carbonated than I’m used to. Lovely stable creamy head on a golden amber beer.
Aroma: initial light citric sharpness which transformed when warmer into a yeast sour citric aroma which I really liked and was new in a lager for me.
early bitterness that intensified through to the finish, at the warmer 13 deg this has a near sour bitterness that hits the tongue edges like pear drops. There’s more mouthfeel than I’d expect from a lager, that lends itself to taking time over drinking. Despite that it’s most definitely a lager with that clean classic lager finish.
Overall this would be brilliant as a summer beer to take time over in the garden. Rather impressed by the bitterness with a citric zing that’s pretty fab.

Ok that’s the family arrived and I’d better look at that turkey...thanks to a THBF Santa for this chance to pause in the day


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That was mine. You got my last bottle - I think this is one of the best beers I’ve made, so I’d been saving it for the Secret Santa.

I thought you would have sussed that it was me, because I’d re-used your own packaging from the November comp (but removed all your labels).

I was lazy with my priming (“och, that’s about a teaspoon”) so some bottles were more carbonated than others, so it looks like you got a more highly carbonated one. The mouthfeel must because Vienna and Munich were the only malts used, as it was done with plain old Dundee tap water which is incredibly soft.

Markk said:

Thanks Steve. I’ll kick this off.

My first Secret Santa was described as a sort of Pseudo Lager

This was pretty dark for a lager but it had a dose of Vienna malt so I assume it’s actually a Vienna lager. Bottled off the keg so I didn’t want it hanging around too long and treated myself to this on Saturday 19th December. Santa thought there might be a carbonation issue due to bottling from the keg and the fact he/she tends to under carb anyway but it was actually perfectly fine for my taste. It poured with a very nice head actually as can be seen from the photo. Lovely malty aroma and nice Vienna sweetness but not overly sweet. This was a very nice beer and didn’t last long as I found myself picking the glass up for another sip almost as soon as I’d put it down again. Helped get me through the Mrs and Daughter watching the Strictly final whilst I was waiting for MOTD start. Thanks Santa.

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This is mine. It's supposed to be a California Common, based on The Bible with some tweaks from @MickDundee suggestions (PM me your address and I'll send you one) and my own preferences for how I wanted this to come out. I've no idea whether it's true to style, hence why I just described it as a pseudo lager, but I quite like it and ticks the boxes I was aiming for in terms of being on the lager side but with a bit more interest and flavour. And I'm glad it retained its carbonation for you!

Thanks for the kind comments.

While I'm making my forum noises....
This Secret Santa Review thing is cool. I just wish i was in-country so i could participate. Yet, i don't think the g-folk would approve of sending/receiving alcohol stuff internationally. <-sigh->

Who's g/folk?

We used ta call'em "Gmen", but that's so antiquated now.

Government folks

Why's that?

My first is a black IPA, abv unknown which adds to the excitement. When first poured was quite lively but soon settled, not much sediment either. Huge aroma of citrus, I'd hazard a guess at citra and centinal? The flavour is malty and citrus hit with an interestingly moorish pinal after taste. Would happily drink another, thank you and merry Christmas

Worf said:

This Secret Santa Review thing is cool. I just wish i was in-country so i could participate. Yet, i don't think the g-folk would approve of sending/receiving alcohol stuff internationally.

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I think we have several USA based members, I'm sure it would be possible for them to be involved next time, but sending to each other rather than to us here in the UK.

First up, this beautiful beer.

After popping the top I get a big fruit aroma, which when smelt turns into a white grape and gooseberry, with hallertau blanc really putting in the work.

Body is smooth and soft but not chewy, well rounded finish. All round a really great beer. Very nice
Thanks sender

Appearance: light straw and slightly hazy. Looks like the kind of beers I enjoy on the regular (when I can go the pub).
Smell: hoppy, citrussy, lovely HB hops, lightly malty, you can really smell the wheat actually
Taste: citrussy, light, very subtle wheat on the palate, definitely my kind of drink!

Would I be happy if I paid pub prices for it?

Definitely!


Appearance: brown, a bit hazy, thin white head which gave way quite quickly but never completely dissipated.
Smell: oh my god it smells like raisins.. alcoholic raisins.. the more I smell the more the aroma opens up to cognac and smokey dates
Flavour: it's cognac and raisins, very deep and cognac. Man this is quite intense, heavy but not unenjoyable.

Would I be happy if I paid pub prices for it?

I think this would cost about £5+ for 1/3rd in somewhere like brewdog so not really something I would buy but also glad I did try it.

Thank you Santas!

My second beer I'm enjoying after my meal. A stout at 6%, I've only started appreciating darker beers recently but this is a really good stout.
It poured really well and no sediment at all. The aroma definitely that of coffee and a subtle smell of cocoa. I wish I had a mug of this when I woke up instead of my coffee. The carbonation is perfect.
The flavour is a prominent taste of coffee but not overpowering, it's smooth and not overly bitter which is pleasantly surprising as you'd expect it to be very bitter with how much coffee flavour is running through it.
Hats off to the brewer and merry Christmas

Clint said:

Why's that?

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Not sure about international, but mailing 'non taxed/unlicensed' alcohol is frowned upon in may places