Day 10 of the 5th Annual Advent-ure Calendar

Day 10: Zaftig Brewing Company I Believe in Santa Ale

Here’s another new calendar addition and a brewery we haven’t really had a lot of beers from. Zaftig is located in Worthington, Ohio close to Columbus, but we’re starting to see more and more of their beers pop up in stores around us. From the brewery: “With an expert blend of cinnamon, vanilla bean and orange peel, this porter is just the thing for those cold winter nights. Try it and you too will be saying ‘I believe in Santa.’”

Reflections

Beard & Broad
Beard: I’ve had a few Zaftig beers here and there and from what I remember they were hit and miss, not uncommon for newish breweries. I like this one a lot more than I thought I would. I was kind of scared of an ingredient list that included cinnamon, vanilla and orange peel in a porter, but all of these flavors are nice and subtle. I absolutely hate citrus and chocolate together (those orange chocolates that you hit on a counter to break apart? get that shit out of here. it’s not a candy it’s an abomination), but i can barely perceive the orange peel here and prob wouldn’t notice if it wasn’t on the bottle. The cinnamon is there in the aroma, but just adds a bit of a warming sensation to the beer. The vanilla is the most noticeable, but again, real subtle compared to most beers out there. I will say this drinks heavier than most porters I’ve had, even at 10%. It almost tastes like they used lactose, but that’s not indicated on the label. It is also a bit under carbonated, which contributes to the heaviness. All in all though, I’m a fan. I could totally see myself drinking this in front of a fire and falling asleep to a Christmas movie on the couch.

Broad: I was excited to drink this because I’m finally starting to feel better and was in the mood for a porter. Upon first smell, it smells delightful, rich and full of holiday spice. I liked the first sip but as I kept drinking, I didn’t like it as much. Beard told me it’s because it’s kind of like a Scotch ale and I don’t like those. It almost tastes metallicy again. Maybe my taste buds are just out of whack. I wish it was richer in the porter taste and less malty, if that makes sense?

Adam & Alex
Adam: I believe… this beer is interesting. I don’t know if i like it but I don’t DISLIKE it. And I will certainly remember it. It’s chocolatey and it says there is cinnamon and orange but I don’t notice those. It’s strangely thick. It’s like a chocolate milkshake beer. I would give it another try for sure.

Alex: This beer tastes very different to me.  I feel like it tastes a little smoky and a little vanilla.  I can’t taste any of the orange or cinnamon.  This is obviously repetitive, but I also agree it feels thick.  I honestly don’t know how I feel about it.  It’s not bad by any means, I feel like I will need to try it a few times before giving my complete thoughts.

Scott & Christa
Scott: Happy to try another new Christmas beer!  The “I Believe in Santa” is a unique brew, with the spices and sweetness of some popular Christmas ales but with the porter fullness.  It’s a bit sweeter than I prefer, but I’m enjoying it as I sit here having dinner.  Probably not the top of my list, but a very enjoyable beer!

Christa: This beer is a little sweet for my tastes. It has a maple syrup like after taste, definitely getting the promised cinnamon and vanilla bean but wish for more of the citrus peel. I don’t think I could drink more than one of these so while I really wanted to, with the cute bottle and name, I don’t believe in Santa.

Tony & Megan
Tony: I just can’t believe you’re actually standing here in my living room, Eddie. Just as if you found Santa himself standing in your living room. I Believe in Santa is a new addition this year and I really like it! Its from Zaftig Brewery, which in addition to being a candidate for most random brewery name, is apparently located in Worthington, OH which is pretty cool. This one is a porter so chances were high I was going to like it. It pours super dark and ours had very little foam so I was worried it might be flat but it seemed ok. Its got good vanilla flavor with some cinnamon and you get that slight smokey finish that comes with a lot of porters. At 10% you drink a few of these and you probably will start believin in Santa again. I’ll be curious to hear what our crew thinks but I really liked this one!

Megan: I’ve never heard of this brewery before but now I’d be interested to try other beers from them. Just like a porter, this is super thick, heavy and low on the carbonation but I think it pulls off the cinnamon and vanilla well. It’s on the boozier side at 10% so one will go a long way. I also don’t know how many of these I would want in a night due to its heavy nature but it’s good! I’d try it again. Fun new addition to the group 😊

Brad & Heather
Brad: I love porters and this one is awesome! The vanilla bourbon-ey (that’s a word right?) smell is great and I love the deep color. I would drink this porter all winter long. At 10%, it’s a great beer to enjoy while relaxing on the couch. I’ve never heard of this brewery but will definitely be on the lookout for more of their beers. Maybe we should make a group trip to the Columbus breweries and add this to the itinerary?

Heather: It’s a really velvety porter. I’m not usually into porters, but I could get used to this one. Smooth, warming, and a hint of vanilla makes it perfect for cold nights. I don’t know Zaftig Brewing Co., but I’m going to have to check out some more of their beers because if they can make me like a porter, I imagine I’d really enjoy some of the kinds of suds I typically dig.