Santa vs Unicorn American Barleywine Style Ale with Centennial, Mosaic, Cascade and Columbus Hops
Pipeworks Brewery
Well hello, Pipeworks Brewing of Chicago, Illinois, and welcome to Christmas in July! You certainly bring a lot to the table for the holidays, be they in July or December, with three (at least) winter seasonal brews, two of which I am imbibing this month. Those beers are: Rudolph vs Unicorn (sorry I am all out), Abominable Snowman vs Unicorn (still have a few cans), and the beer I am here to talk about tonight, perhaps the ultimate of the three, Santa vs Unicorn! That Unicorn sure is a fighter, always in a brawl with somebody.
Pipeworks calls this beer (get ready for it) an American Barleywine Style Ale with Centennial, Mosaic, Cascade, and Columbus Hops. When he fought the Abominable, Unicorn was a hazy IPA; against Rudolph an imperial peppermint milk stout. Whatever your style preference, Pipeworks has you covered for the holiday season.
Pipeworks does not have listings for their beers on their website but here is what I know. Pipeworks Santa vs Unicorn American Barleywine Style Ale with Centennial, Mosaic, Cascade, and Columbus Hops has an alcohol content of 9.3% by volume and my can was stamped 11/12/25 on the bottom.
About Pipeworks Brewing
Pipeworks Brewery Co. was established in Chicago in 2012 by friends with a shared dream of crafting quality and creative beers. Since putting the first cap on the first bottle, the brewery has garnered accolades for its distinctive beers and original artwork thanks to a growing and enthusiastic team.
Pipewroks Santa vs Unicorn in a Pipeworks Brewing Glass
Tasting Notes
Pipeworks Santa vs Unicorn American Barleywine Style Ale with Centennial, Mosaic, Cascade, and Columbus Hops pours to a brilliant mahogany color with a thick creamy tan head and a nose of toasty nutty and burnt caramel malts laced with resiny, citrusy hop aroma. Taking a sip, the beer is medium to thin in body, and I definitely want more in a barleywine. It pops though with the toasty nutty malts and burnt treacle the nose promised, brown sugar, red berry fruit, then the hops emerge: bright citrusy orange and grapefruit, hints of tropical pineapple and mango, and finally deep layered resiny pine. The beer finishes warming with alcohol and with a lingering dry earthy bitterness.
Value & Verdict
I paid $7.49 for a pint can from Half Time. This is the only pricing information that I have.
As I said I would like more body, but the beer as it is allows the hops to shine in all their glory. I would absolutely drink this treat again.
