“Fat Santa 2020 has jumped on the jolly train of 1st use Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels. This vintage has loads of dark roast whole coffee beans, Madagascan vanilla pods, and the incredible tonka beans…
All these plus bourbon and American oak character lead to a decadent and truly feast worthy Christmas beer. Merry Christmas!”
Glassware: Snifter.
Appearance: Pitch black with a short brown head resting atop. It slowly retreats to the rim with scarce lacing as it ebbs.
Aroma: Holy moly this smells freakin incredible! The bourbon barrels lift out with sheer ferocity then make room for the base stout characters to shine – dark chocolate, molasses, licorice, espresso, toffee fudge and ash. All of those gorgeous bourbon qualities really open up as it settles… vanilla, spice, caramel etc. Stunning.
Flavour: This release just keeps getting better and better. The front palate is completely inundated with bourbon barrels, vanilla, spice, dark chocolate, licorice, molasses, coffee and treacle. This hedonistic fusion of flavour stretches well in to the burnt and warming finish then draws out for an eternity.
Mouthfeel: Dense and oily yet surprisingly smooth for its size (10.4 % ABV). Low Co2. Dangerously drinkable.
Overall: Would near have to be one of the best vintages yet. We’d give almost anything to do a vertical tasting of all the Fat Santa vintages. Boatrocker are without a doubt one of the best BA stout producers in the country.