Tröegs Mad Elf - Tröegs Brewing Company

Reaper16

Alabama

3.28/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

*thanks to stephenjmoore for the extra!*
12.oz bottle -- 2011 vintage -- served into a tulip glass

Pours a sort of burnt copper color. Not at all "ruby red" like the label claims. Lots of clarity to the body. There was about a finger of buttermilk colored head at first, but it quickly dissipates to a tiny ring. Not really any lacing.

This is a strange beer because the severity of my smells gives me a different profile. If I lightly take in air through my nose, then Mad Elf gives off notes of cherry pie, flower petals, and sugarplum (Seriously. Though they aren't dancing in my head or anything). But a full-on deep sniff is way more earthy and yeasty: lots of botanical notes and lots of clove. There's a bit of an oxidized character to the nose too. I wish the two dynamics would come together more seamlessly.

The flavor is very fruity upfront. There's dark cherry for sure, along with the more figs-and-dates dark fruits that you expect from a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Lots of sweetness. The yeast gives off lots of clove and, like, a flavor that reminds me of the aftertaste of a dish that uses allspice. The yeast helps to balance the sweetness. The finish is the most surprising aspect of this beer. It quickly goes from being fruity and yeasty to a more dry, amber malt-based flavor. This is an amber malt flavor that I want to say I've tasted in other Troegs beers before, but I might only be thinking of Nugget Nectar. But yeah, the finish on Mad Elf is very much like an Amber Ale to me. In fact, this beer is in some respects like an Imperial Amber or something, just with a Belgian yeast strain.

The mouthfeel is pretty light for all of the fruitiness. I realize that the yeast is contributing to the relatively dry finish, so the mouthfeel is accomplishing some positive things. Overall, this is a different take on the style. I appreciate it, but it's not really my thing.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 01:58:00 | More by Reaper16

Jonada

New Jersey

4.24/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle. 2012 vintage. Served in a snifter.

Appearance: Pours a murky dark red color with one finger of head, which dissipates quickly to a slightly off white collar. Body is hazy with quite a bit of suspended sediment.

Smell: Cherry, clove, dark fruits, honey and some light medicinal notes.

Taste: Spicy Belgian yeast, cherry, dark fruit, pepper, sweet bread. Insanely drinkable for 11%.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, slightly heavy mouthfeel. Carbonation is medium and ideal for this particular beer. Finish is lightly sweet with medium alcohol warmth.

Overall: Extremely tasty and very unique beer. One of my favorite winter seasonal beers and always worth seeking out a 6 pack when it's released.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 07:52:43 | More by Jonada

spw109

New York

4/5  rDev +3.1%

06-17-2013 21:48:11 | More by spw109

jaxon53

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

06-15-2013 18:58:12 | More by jaxon53

JakeEsterly

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%

06-15-2013 18:57:44 | More by JakeEsterly

martinproulx15

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

06-15-2013 02:47:05 | More by martinproulx15

Yummmmiller

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

06-13-2013 20:57:20 | More by Yummmmiller

djre4orm

Virginia

3/5  rDev -22.7%

06-13-2013 19:26:19 | More by djre4orm

dsnyder61

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%

06-11-2013 17:54:05 | More by dsnyder61

cwalter

New York

4/5  rDev +3.1%

06-10-2013 07:04:20 | More by cwalter

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +3.1%

06-08-2013 14:26:42 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

sporr

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is my all time favorite beer. I refer to it as "The Closer" especially from a night of tasteing other quality craft beer. This beeer always is a pleasure to drink and usually puts me in that special place. If you haven't had this then you really are missing something special.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 03:04:25 | More by sporr

savagepm

Colorado

4/5  rDev +3.1%

06-07-2013 23:15:40 | More by savagepm

DeutschesBier

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

06-07-2013 14:40:45 | More by DeutschesBier

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

06-03-2013 12:36:02 | More by twenty5

TriageStat

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

06-02-2013 22:14:05 | More by TriageStat

MikeyJ777

New York

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

06-01-2013 01:16:25 | More by MikeyJ777

tbryan5

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

05-30-2013 02:37:10 | More by tbryan5

jkrug5

Maryland

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-29-2013 19:36:49 | More by jkrug5

domnalbrecc

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-29-2013 10:05:57 | More by domnalbrecc

knuxdude

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-27-2013 23:16:37 | More by knuxdude

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

05-26-2013 20:13:43 | More by mikeincharleston

RummyRedbeard

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

(copied from blog - written January 12, 2013)

Appearance – Pours a transparent dark ruby red/amber.
Smell – Very sweet, like cherries dipped in honey (obviously).
Taste – You can taste the sweetness of cherries and honey upfront. Some sort of spiciness hits the tongue. Chocolate in the aftertaste.

This year was the first time I had the pleasure of enjoying Mad Elf, when I tasted it at a craft beer tasting. After that I had bought the six pack once, and since it’s so damn expensive I never cared to do it again regardless of how good it is. That was probably two months ago. Tonight however my lovely girlfriend was in the mood for it so I’m drinking it at her expense (thanks baby)! Anyway, this ale is like a mead or a sweet wine and very appropriate on bitter cold winter nights to warm the blood pleasantly. It has a gorgeous color and a wonderful aroma to be appreciated for a while before you actually indulge in to the liquid itself. Its taste is kind of like cocktail cherries with honey laced in between, and a hint of liquor. The inclusion of chocolate malts leave a chocolaty aftertaste with a spiciness on the tongue that I can’t put my finger on. This is a heavy beer with a high ABV that should be consumed slowly, and enjoyed to its fullest, perhaps even shared with a friend.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 00:19:21 | More by RummyRedbeard

NJBeer265

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +16%

05-22-2013 19:39:52 | More by NJBeer265

Skabiski

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%

05-21-2013 16:29:08 | More by Skabiski