Tröegs Mad Elf - Tröegs Brewing Company

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Murky reddish brown body with a small quickly sinking head and some nice slippery lacing. Aroma packed full of yeasty Belgian esters that are both spicy and quite fruity; vague honey notes and booze follow. For me the flavor was much the same, a big punch of yeast esters bringing lots of fruit and spice, with a late arriving wave of honey sweetness and warming alcohol. Decent grainy malt base, cherries overwhelmed by both yeast and booze and fail to bring much in the way of tartness that would clean things up a bit and cut the syrupy character of the beer a bit.

Medium body, medium carbonation that's pretty much right on target for a Belgian style brew. Moderately smooth and sticky. In the end this is a pretty solid take on a dark Belgian but its a bit sweet for my tastes and doesn't surpass the better iterations from overseas.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 04:46:00 | More by tobelerone

LeRose

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle to snifter.

Aroma seems to lack any cherry. Smells boozy, hint of honey like sweetness.

Pours dark honey brown with reddish hues. No appreciable head, but plenty of bubbles. Attractive looking.

Initial taste get the alcohol burn, not getting the cherry. Dry finish, sweetness and honey notes. Still not finding the cherry taste at all despite some medicinal hints. Surprisingly bitter. The honey and sweetness seemed to build, then a bit of sourness after a few minutes. Coats a but with lingering sweetness.

Overall, a little disappointed but this is quite warming and it is pretty old here today. Will keep sippin on it, but nothing I would rush out to buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 18:36:05 | More by LeRose

StretchZep

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Awesome just the right amount of "heat" and sweet! Wish I had picked up two of these. Got it in the bomber bottle and am three sips into it and bumming out about has little is left. It is the good! Lots of smooth maktyness and a nice bitey cherry finish! Merry Christmas!!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 23:45:28 | More by StretchZep

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- pours a clear ruby red color with a small creamy white head that reduces to a ring around the glass with some short lasting lace.

S- ripe cherries with some other dark fruits, slightly medicinal, twizzler candy, sweet honey, and a bit leathery.

T- slightly tart cherry juice up front with some dark fruit notes, transitions into some sweet honey with some peppery spice, medicinal notes creep in afterword. Finish is sweet-yet-dry and warming. Definitely a sipping beer!

M- medium body, low carbonation, a bit heavy in the palate, creamy mouthfeel and velvety finish. Slightly warming on the throat, but hides the alcohol quite well.

O- a string beer that will sneak up on you, however the alcohol is hidden quite well and the cherries make it an enjoyable sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 02:22:54 | More by Treyliff

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a New Belgium chalice at cvm4's holiday sampling. Thanks for the trade, Gus!

A: Opaque, ice tea amber with a half finger head that scampers quickly. Few bubbles.

S: Dark fruits, particularly cherries. Sweet, honey, leather.

T: Cherry sweet, caramel, malts, honey. Robust. A very easy drinker.

M: Medium. Bubbles like crazy.

O: Very festive. Alcohol is well hidden. More malts pop through as it warms. A mad elf worth catching.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 15:51:48 | More by brewskifan55

cvm4

Mississippi

3.83/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours amber with a white head to it.

S - The cherry comes through a lot, with bready malts and sweet yeast.

T - A nice spiciness that leads into cherries and sweet malts. I'm surprised at how well hidden the abv is.

M - Medium body & carbonation.

O - Really good, crisp on the palette.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 00:54:02 | More by cvm4

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer is the first to emerge from my cellar after a short two month sleep. The beer pours a ruddy ruby, with a light, gently cream colored head. The body of the beer is clear and caramelly with little to no carbonation coming up through. On the nose the beer smells big with honeyed raisins, slight candied sugars, bready caramel, and only the faintest ghost of cherry. Spicy alcohol, similar to what you might find in a quad, is also definitely present in the nose. The beer tastes lightly of cherries and honey, transitioning into bready caramel and Belgian yeast character, with a light alcohol spice. The beer begins with an almost framboise like cherry sweet flavor, mixed quickly with spicy alcohol and then creamy honey which opens the beer into grainier caramel and Belgian yeast notes, and light candied sugars. There is a huge cereal bread taste in the middle of the flavor which dies off quickly, but does leave a light bread lingering in the finish and aftertaste. This beer is hugely complex in flavor, and with only 2 months in the cellar it seems to have none of the huge alcohol flavors that other reviewers describe. On the mouth this beer is smooth and caramelly, sitting on the tongue at a medium to heavy body with nearly no carbonation to speak of. The only bite comes from the faint alcohol at the back of the throat, but this is really quite faint, and considering this is 11%, I really don’t taste the heavy alcohol flavor. Overall, I’m a huge fan of this beer. It is a great holiday sipper, to be had in moderation for sure. I could obviously not slug this beer back, but if you put it in a small glass, swirl it around and observe its holiday appropriate color, and then savor and enjoy it. It kisses the tongue, packs a wallop of alcohol, and seduces my taste buds with warm sweet flavors that I want in a holiday beer. A beer to have on Christmas night for sure!

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 00:40:11 | More by Maxwell

themind

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A nice brew from Troegs. This beer pours a nice head and has good aroma. The cherries can be tasted but the beer is not sour. I must say this was very enjoyable and I will seek out another sixer next year to enjoy. The 11.5% abv is slightly hot but the brew still has a decent mouthfeel.

Bottom Line: A good holiday beer to enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 10:49:15 | More by themind

KajII

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Trappist Glass]

The pour was a clear ruby red with a small (less than 1 finger) white fizzy head that dissipated rapidly, down to a small collar with a wisp of residue left floating on top and poor runny lacing.

The aroma was upfront with a nice cherry scent along with a light bread malt and a sweet yeast and had notes of honey, cinnamon, a bit of spice and a little more than mild alcohol tinge.

The taste was fruity sweet and a very lightly malty with a touch of cherry and honey throughout, with the finish becoming rather yeasty with a hint of cinnamon and a slight spicy alcohol ending. The flavor lasted a decently long time following the swallow, having a nice yeasty and fruity cherry taste along with a mild alcohol warming sensation left behind.

Mouthfeel was a few shades above light in body and dry in texture with an almost prickly carbonation.

Overall I found this brew to be exceptionally tasty with a good fruity flavor that was blended very well with the yeast and spices, allowing for a very good concealing of the exceptionally high ABV thus creating a superb drinkability. I do believe this is the best Winter Seasonal I have tasted to date, and I want more…

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 14:03:34 | More by KajII

ChrisPratz

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a 12 oz glass, shows a ruby reddish brown color with about an inch of head with large bubbles that dissipates quickly. No lacing down the glass.

S: Sweet cherry coming thru on the nose with a large spice profile from the yeast. Some malty sweetness as well.

T: Nice, not overly sweet cherry flavoring up from leads right into a nice spiciness that leads into some heat from the alcohol. Some nice candy notes on the after taste with that spice and alcohol heat clinging to the palette.

M: Nice carbonation, with some heat and dryness from the high alcohol content.

O: NIce enjoyable winter holiday ale. Good cherry flavor that isn't overly sweet and the spiciness works well with the heat form the alcohol. Would def get a sixer to enjoy on a cold winter night.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 03:12:50 | More by ChrisPratz

PeterIngemi

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a mad elf glass

A: pours a dark ruby red, with a finger of off white head, no lacing to speak of.

S: bit of honey, a bit of cherry, a bit of brown and candy sugar, and a while lot of Soicy Belgian yeast aroma.

T: much like the nose, I taste honey, and cherry with alotnofnapice coming from te Belgian yeast, caramel and alcohol

M: medium with light carbonation almost syrupy, bit lush a the same time.

O: a nice winter time beer, deffiantly a sipper for a cold night, especially if you like spicy Belgian yeast. The only thing holding me back from giving a higher score here is that i personally not a fan of spicy Belgian yeast, and by that I mean cloveyness, that's the best way I can explain it, but if you are a fan I could see how this is an excellent brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 01:52:40 | More by PeterIngemi

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber to worthy sniffer

A: ruby red not even brown almost like a Shirley temple in terms of color with a white to grey head that goes away quickly with no ring. The thought of dark cherries is there.

S: I don't know what it is but as soon as I smelt it my first thought was "this is definitely a belgian style" its that spiciness i guess. There are strong smells were I feel like I can almost smell the hidden alcohol but I cannot smell it directly. The smell is very pungent but I can't describe what it smells like other then belgian maybe a hint of cherries but thats a reach.

T: It has that spicy nature to it that follows the nose the honey sweetness and flavor is actually fairly easy to distinguish. As the flavor continues the cherries definitely start to come out there is a tart flavor there that balances well with complex malt flavors in the finish. It is also a good combination with the spices that comes out as well in the finish.

M:Light carbonation surprisingly that makes the feel more delicate. It is very oily but not necessarily thin. The abv is literally no where to be found this stuff is dangerous its not sniffer totally drinkable and it will knock you out quick if your not careful but this isn't my first rodeo with this beer.

O: First off I tried this beer for the first time last year solely for the name/label (with the drunk elf) and the abv so ill give it that as selling point. The taste is decent but did not blow me away above average for sure but not greatness same is true for the mouthfeel. The fact that blows me away and will keep me coming back to this beer is the back that the abv is 11% and its totally drinkable., the average person wouldn't even notice. Needless to say it will warm you up quick during the holidays and as long as its tasty ill take it.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 00:28:44 | More by Pinknuggets

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this is the quintessential holiday brew for me, i look forward to it each year, and have been cellaring different vintages for experiment. i find a year really cools down the alcohol heat and lets the flavors develop. the fresh one im drinking now pours a rich cherry amber color, with a sexy frothy pearly white head nearly three inches tall. the nose is lots of fruity, cherries, plums, baked pears, lots going on. also some honey or molassas sugar, a lot of booze, and a curious blend of winter spices, a little heavy on the clove. the flavor is identical to the nose, if a bit less fruit forward. its very balanced, and you dont taste the alcohol as much as you smell it, but you sure do feel it. whew. belgian yeast and candy sugar work magically together, creating a velvety grog that is sure to warm up the coldest bones in the winter time. relaxed carbonation and about as full a body as you can have in a beer that still lets some light pass through it. it gets really hot in terms of booze as it warms up, but thats just fine by me. overall one beer that is not to be missed come christmas time, and one that i keep going back to again and again. if you get youself a case, put a few in the basement until next year too, youll be glad you did!

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 20:35:57 | More by StonedTrippin

PsilohsaiBiN

New York

3.78/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Reddish amber, with a head that dissipates fairly quickly.

Smell: Cherries with some vinous undertones and some honey underneath it all. Pretty strong and pleasant.

Taste: Cherries, booze, malts and belgian style yeast. The ending is a bit too boozy for my liking, in that it's not covered effectively enough to hide the 11%. If the funky(corianderish), boozy ending could be fixed through aging, I'd probably buy these a year early, just to mellow them out before I drank them. Being that I bought a sixer of this and I'm not exactly crazy about it, that will probably happen. I guess I'm just not crazy about coriander type ending.

Mouthfeel: A bit thick with average carbonation.

Overall: Again, there's just something going on in the ending, be it strong booze and/or coriander, that just doesn't do it for me. I bet that if you let this age, the cherries will eventually hit harder on the back end. I don't know if aging can fix this, but one can dream...can't they?

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 04:47:52 | More by PsilohsaiBiN

FosterJM

California

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1646th Review on BA
Bottle to Goblet
12oz

2012 Bottling
Thanks to TroyG2352 for this one.

App- A almost pure ruby red color with a good amount of density and weight behind it. Poured out of the bottle a bit thicker than I was thinking for some reason. A good bit of deeper reds on outside with only a small 1/4-1/2" head that was there and gone. No lacing or cling.

Smell- Right upfront I get most of the cherries and that honey kick is there. I am pretty against honey but will try it when its in beers. Hell maybe one day Ill like it. The spices come into play and seem to be so-so on this. Not the most well integrated with the style but drowned out a bit by the 11% as well.

Taste- This just reminds me of a spiced beer blended with Wisconsin Belgian Red. Big bold cherry with some good honey note (still not sold on honey in beer) A lot of spices from the style direction but just tastes flat and un balanced to me. Not necessarily a harmonious thing.

Mouth- A big full medium body with a good medium carbonation level. Residual cherry and spice are there and this was the best aspect of the beer.

Drink- I was given a few bottles of this. I will hold some back for a year or two and see what happens as the 11% mellows and fades and just changes this beer. I can see good things but not really fresh.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 17:30:54 | More by FosterJM

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 121001 (not sure what this means, but ok):

Into the Mad Elf snifter (purchased from my haulback from Pennsylvania):

A: clear ruby amber colored body leaving a half finger white head that appears for less than thirty seconds and dies to a slight film with a hill in the center of the snifter. Some small bubbles are seen rising slowly when held up to the light.

S: Belgian yeast up front supported nicely by spices, cherries, honey, plums and sugar.

T: cherry in front of the yeast and takes the rest of those flavorings to combine with the alcohol which is tasted mildly.

M: medium with some slight harshness on the tongue. It leaves a slight stickiness in the mouth. Though a very high ABV, it still feels fairly drinkable.

O: though I've had this over the holidays when visiting my parents, I'm glad I'm finally able to get around to review this. Yeah, I would have this again. This is great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 00:40:47 | More by kangarooAdam59

Scotchboy

Idaho

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber from dope (thanks man!) split 3 ways with the gals...my portion poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint...

A: Clear amber/ruby ale with some visible carbonation bubbles; short-lasting off-white head (especially for a Belgian) but beautiful body and clarity...

S: Yeast phenols and distinctive spices make this a decisively Belgian nose, but there is also plenty of fruitiness to be found mixing with the malt and candy sugar...dark fruits, cherries, raisins, honey, brown sugar.

T: Moderately strong cherry notes and dark fruit with plenty of candy sugar and malt sweetness as the backbone. Brown sugar, flashes of warm booze, apples, spices, raisins...

MF: Creamy, medium-bodied mouthfeel with a light alcohol burn...just a bit vinous...dry finish.

O: Good beer, easy drinking (though the alcohol comes through a bit), and a tasty BSDA with great fruit character.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 21:40:41 | More by Scotchboy

VeganBrewz

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a rich reddish amber, very slightly viscous with evidence of legs visible on the wall of the snifter after a swirl. Nice healthy, off-white head fades quickly to a thin film.

The nose is all fruit and candy sweetness (probably due to the honey, but I don't get any specific honey aroma). Takes a minute for the cherries to show up, but they're there.

Juicy, almost winelike up front. Ripe cherries * dark fruit followed by alcohol warmth. Finishes with cloves, cinnamon, and woodiness. Very slight hoppy bitterness. Nicely balanced.

Mouthfeel is somewhat thin but satisfying. An almost vinous fruitiness and alcohol dominate.

Overall: A nice offering. Pronounced, interesting flavors and definetly enough of an abv to warm things up.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 21:36:49 | More by VeganBrewz

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - ruby amber with a soft, off white head

S - sugar, faint belgian yeast, some spice

T - cherries, sugar, belgian yeast, faint spice, faint alcohol

M - medium bodied, warm, good carbonation

This was a really nice beer. I thought it had great balance and flavor. The cherries were a nice touch to the Belgian yeast and spice. They aren't tart or sour. I was very impressed. I would have given a higher score if the flavor was more than cherries with underlying notes meaning I wish it had more of a Belgian character. As it is this is a very good beer that is definitely worth your time.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 23:53:29 | More by tdm168

tastymug

Ohio

3.39/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: This beer pours a beautiful ruby red color (a clear, red amber) with a half finger head, about half of which retains while drinking.

Smell: Primary aroma is cherries, sweet, fruity.

Taste: Very sweet, yeasty, definitely tastes like cherries, which is kind of funky (but a good funky), syrupy, chocolate, and there’s also a bit of spice that hits the tongue.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, syrupy consistency, carbonated but smooths out at the end.

Overall: This is a complex beer but I think it could be a little more balanced for more drinkability. However, considering the alcohol content in this brew, it surprisingly doesn’t override the taste. It’s an interesting beer, but probably not for everyone. I personally find it a nice switch from the more traditional, spicy winter warmers or Christmas ales.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 00:53:44 | More by tastymug

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Beautiful clear, light red color with a light pink head that fizzes up quickly and fades quickly. No lace and a thin ring of retention.

S: Sweet, sugary booze, deeply roasted malt, dark fruits, candy sugar, some citrus, and more booze at the back. Effervescent and inviting.

T: Dark fruits and honey shine when the beer is warm. Boozy, fruity, malty...delicious. This beer needed to warm up to allow the proper flavors to show themselves.

M: Sweet and smooth as it should be, properly boozy, and full of flavor. Very Belgian but plenty of American character. A pleasure to drink near room temperature.

O: Troegs pulls of a fantastic American interpretation of the style. Perfect for sipping.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 06:10:27 | More by Gatch

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown bottle served in a chalice.
Vintage 2012-2013, batch #120913.

Tea-tinted oak in color. Carbonation-filled off-white head that disappears to a broken sheet after only a moment leaving no lasting lace.

Sweet, Belgian candied sugar marry beautifully with the cherry, fig, raisin, and plum fruity esters. Spicy anise, brown sugar, and nutmeg add another layer of depth to the already deep aromas.

Slightly tart fruit flavors: orange and cherry, come through initially. The Belgian candied sugar is a bit heavy with a touch of an artificial taste. The yeast adds a hefty dose of spiciness along with the strong anise flavor. All of the individual flavors are bold and do not quite make for a balanced sip; including a hefty alcohol presence.

A full, medium in body. The body, much like the flavor, is a bit out of balanced creating a rather slick, slightly unpleasant mouthfeel particularly for the style.

A bold ale in more ways than one. I can really envision this one only improving with age, allowing the flavors and alcohol character to mellow.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 02:13:58 | More by NEhophead

microbrewlover

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew pours a dark almost ruby red color with a 1/2 inch mocha head and thin lacing.

The smell is strong on cherries and kind of a wheat/wet hay smell. Sweet malts, honey and some type of spice. Possibly peppery hops.

The taste is a sip of heaven, sweet cherries, wheat, sweet malts and honey. There is also some type of spice which I can not identify. The cherries are the dominant taste throughout however the other flavors are well balanced.

The mothfeel is very smooth and creamy. A spicey residue remains on the tounge after swallowing.

This is a very spicey and sweet winter warmer. I would never guess that this brew is 11% ABV, one can not taste the alcohol at all. Everthing mixes nicely, and the 11% alcohol, along with the spice, gives a warming feeling. I could easily drink a case of these.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 02:04:35 | More by microbrewlover

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a 13 oz tulip glass. Pours a beautiful amber, with a half inch of off white head, that leaves some lacing. Smell is cherry, banana, clover, and biscuit. Taste is all of those things, really well balanced. Body is maybe medium, not much life, a little dry, and very approachable for its heft. This isn't my favorite style, but I do enjoy this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 03:53:29 | More by SawDog505

Bills453

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into my Duvel tulip glass.

This is a year aged 2011 edition...very curious to see how it aged!

Appearance - bright orange-red, off white head. Full of delicious sediment!

Smell - cherries very prominent, can smell the alcohol packed into this one too. Heavenly!

Taste - cherries and honey mix together so deliciously in this beer, it is always one of my favorite winter releases. The aging really worked well! Recently tried frosted frog by hoppin frog, just too much with the cinnamon and nutmeg, Mad Elf is what Xmas brews is all about!

Mouthfeel - nice

Overall - like I said, one of my very favorite winter/Xmas offerings...keep up the good work Troegs Brothers! Again aging works nicely in this brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 19:27:29 | More by Bills453