The Twelve Beers of Christmas - Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve
My next winter seasonal is brewed by Rogue in Newport, Oregon. The brewery’s website reports that Santa’s Private Reserve “is a variation of the classic Saint Rogue Red, but with double the hops–including Chinook, and Centennial, and a mystery hop called Rudolph…” I can only guess what the Rudolph hop might be. The presence of Centennial is easy to guess from the aroma and the taste. Here’s what else I get:
Eyes: In the light this beer is a translucent red with a hint of orange. Just looking at it, I would think its a Red or Amber Ale. The head is substantial and creamy. The beer pours clear (but there is a small amount of appropriate sediment in the bottle) and is playfully gassy. [2/4]
Nose: All I detect with my sniffer are the hops and the aroma of citrus. [2/3]
Taste: This beer is intensely hoppy. If you’re a hophead, you’ll like this one. The primarily component of the taste comes from the grapefruity hop oils. The beer fills the mouth with a lively tingliness. This level of hopping reminds me of tea, a characteristic impression I get from many of the American Ales. [6/10]
Overall: Santa’s Private Reserve is refreshing. It’s certainly an American take on the Christmas Ale theme, similar to Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale. This is darker and mellower than Celebration Ale. [2/3]
My Rating: 12/20 or 6/10. (See also Beer Advocate and Ratebeer.com)
Pro: This is a clean, full bodied, hoppy beer.
Con: The flavor profile is one dimensional with grapefruit dominating.
