Tröegs Mad Elf - Tröegs Brewing Company

brewsclues

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass. Deep crimson that is perfectly clear with no head or lacing at all.

Sort of a standard Belgian-style smell (nothing to complain about here) with plenty of cherry, phenols, bananas and banana bread, and some cloves. I get some chilli peppers in there, too - certainly some nice spice to it.

Some good Belgian flavors and some good spice at the back on the mouth at the finish. Big cherry flavor with it hits the tongue - not particularly subtle. Not really sure what all the fuss is about though. The alcohol taste is prominent, and smacks a little bit like cough syrup. In comparison to other strong ales, this is average at best.

A flat mouth feel to it - didn't like it compared to other strong Belgian ales. Little carbonation, and a flat, watery finish to it is below average.

I like Troegs, just not sure that the Mad Elf is all it's cracked up to be. For such a strong beer, it leaves the palette unfulfilled and tastes a bit too much like cherry cough syrup. Average at best.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 20:32:27 | More by brewsclues

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

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

05-21-2013 15:27:26 | More by JAHMUR