Post-Present Beer

Why not cap off a nice easy day of family and presents with a beer!?  And a West coast at that..one I smuggled back with me.  Sadly, it's another that I think you can find around here, just not super-easily found..  I had such poor luck with the ones I brought back..  There just weren't that many 22's that I could find..most were 6's of West coast-exclusive brews, and places didn't allow the purchase of singles from the 6's.

Rogue - Santa's Private Reserve Ale.   How fitting!  A 6.0% ABV, 65 IBU Amber/Red Ale.  Another nice ruby brown pour, fairly heady with nice lacing left behind.  Some compared it to snowflakes! (which we actually saw a few of this morning)  A sort of muted barleywine aroma, huge sticky caramel and toffee, floral and piney hops, some orange rind, slightly bready.  Was expecting a bit of a spiced beer.. found none of that here!  Full out hops with some faintly hidden malts.  Somewhat fruity yeast notes, heavy sweet malts with piney hops dominating.  Some other floral and citrus hops are in the background a bit with the faintest nutmeg/cinnamon spice.  The finish is pleasantly bitter with some nice malt undertones.  Ho Ho Ho!