When Brian, the proprietor of my local beer specialty store down the street told me about Rogue Brewery’s Santa’s Private Reserve Ale, he described it like this. “I haven’t had it, but I’ve heard it’s like their Dead Guy Ale, but a little maltier.” That’s why I like Brian, even when he hasn’t had a beer, he still has something to say.

Usually I am wary of Christmas Specials in general. Just because you put Santa on something doesn’t make it any better- and it usually just makes it more expensive. But I think it is different with beer. In the beer world, the holidays just mean your favorite breweries are now mixing new recipes, hoping you will enjoy a new offering that will help you get through another holiday with the relatives. So with beer, I always look forward to what they are going to mix up come November.

Santa’s Private Reserve is a double-hopped Red. It has a nice, deep red color. Brian was also right, the malt comes through a bit more than in the Dead Guy. But comparing the two isn’t fair, as Dead Guy is a German Maibock and Santa is a Red Ale. In fact, it is a variation of their Saint Rogue Red, but with some interesting differences, such as being double-hopped, and a mystery addition of a hop called “Rudolph”, which is cool. Maybe we haven’t heard of it because the other hops won’t let it join in their drinking games.

Rogue makes such great beer that any addition to their extensive selection is always welcome as far as I’m concerned. Santa’s Private Reserve is one seasonal selection you won’t regret grabbing. That is the beauty of beer—unlike a fruitcake, or a sweater with an enormous snowflake on it—you are going to consume it gladly. Happy drinking.