Bad Elf - Ridgeway Brewing

kaufmaal

Alabama

3.4/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A new find at World Market, this one and two other beers from this brewery. As the season is Winter, I thought that I would try this one first.

Ah, but it doesn't taste like a winter ale, or really look like one. That said, it is a fairly dry IPA with some bitter orange flavors and alfalfa. Golden orange color, a nice big head that fizzled away but left some nice lacing. I might just drink another one.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 03:45:50 | More by kaufmaal

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: dirty orange/golden bubbly, finger white head, solid lacing

S: lemon peel, grassy, sugary

T: same as nose, but earthy grain, low bitter/oily finish

M: med body, smooth, oily mouth

O: Nice English IPA. I would get again and recommend.
Curious why this is a Winter Ale?

GOOD, NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 21:18:03 | More by BeerLover99

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16.9 ounce bottle into a plain pint glass.

A: A light-medium, golden copper color beneath a two-finger head of off white foam that holds nicely and leaves a little pillowy lacing. Clarity is very good, with a slight chilled haze and wisps of carbonation.

S: Spicy, fruity and floral esters with a bit of citrus and grassy hops to offset its mild, acidic aroma.

T: Clean, bright and balanced up front, this English IPA has a nice bouquet of floral, citrusy hops blended with toasted grains and satisfying cereal malts. A slightly sweet and quaffable palate dries out and becomes a bit bitter with a tangerine zest and hint of spice in the finish.

M: Medium-bodied and solid mouthfeel offers great balance and drinkability. A little cloying bittersweet builds before the finish, but it doesn't act as a deterrent.

O: A pretty nice and balanced English IPA. I could have stood for a little more malty, fruity esters and a stronger malt backbone, but it was still good. At 6% ABV, it reminded me more of a German Helles than an English IPA, but I do know that I liked it regardless.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 23:56:16 | More by Gambrinus1184

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

That bastard elf... This stuff pours a wan tawn topped by a finger or so of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises musty orange peel, dark greens, dusty green apple, and dry biscuits. The taste brings in more of the same, with everything coming through blander, mustier. Gotta tell ya, it ain't all that satisfying. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly watery feel. Overall, a pretty sad EIPA all-around. Straight up.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 04:45:37 | More by TMoney2591

kojevergas

California

2.63/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

50cl bottle served into a transparent hard plastic cup at me friend's gaff in Palo Alto, California. Acquired at a local BevMo. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger head of slight cream, fair thickness, and decent retention. Colour is a nontransparent orange-copper.

Sm: Butterscotch (diacetyl?), cream, pleasant buttery malts, and clean barley. A moderate strength aroma.

T: A bit buttery in terms of malt, but clean and enjoyable, if simple. Not real well balanced, but built fairly well (albeit far off style). Not as hoppy as the label would like us to believe. A bit bland and disappointing. Light honey is a nice touch.

Mf: Sharp but smooth and wet. A touch too heavy on the palate. Fairly complementary of the flavours.

Dr: Decently drinkable. I wouldn't have it again; it's too simple and bland - especially for the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 03:21:51 | More by kojevergas

GallowsThief

Florida

2.7/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured out of a 1 pint 9 oz bottle into my tulip.

A – Poured out a very light but somewhat hazy golden. Small stark white head that quickly dissipated and left spotty lacing.

S – Fruity and somewhat sweet. Grape, apple with light malt.

T – Hmm not much here in the way of taste. Almost flat taste. Grain and malt. No real sweetness. Totally devoid of flavors you would expect with the smell which was pleasant. Light alcohol at the end. Bitter.

M – Sharp carbonation and light mouthfeel. Very drying.

O – Looks good, smells good….tastes bland.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 00:33:00 | More by GallowsThief

k7sw

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale amber color with a head that quickly diminished but left a nice lacing.
I can't smell.
Not what I would usually expect from a winter ale being classified as an IPA I'd say that's more in line. Hoppy and citrus flavors come through strong. Another tart, almost berry-like, flavor comes through midway.
Mouthfeel is a little flat.

I would drink this beer if it was around but overall I felt it was fairly average.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 08:31:32 | More by k7sw

Auracom

Illinois

2.35/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Completely random bottle from a friend to celebrate working from home. Served from whatever size bottle it comes in, into a Cantillon flute.

A - Light, completely clear golden coloring with a single finger of white head. Lots of bubbles clinging around the edges of the glass. Average lacing.

S - More APA? Soft, fruity hops with light spices. Possibly a little yeast-like, with a touch of banana, clove, and bread loaf. Not too bad.

T - Very little fruit in the taste and virtually no malt balance. Hops don't kick in until late-mid palate and they aren't really that appealing. It gets worse as it warms up, something rubber-like comes across in the finish.

M - Light body, average carbonation. Amazingly short finish with as little hop bitterness in the aftertaste as I've come across. Not smooth.

D - The aroma was typical and fine. The taste was quite underwhelming and got to the point of slightly gross near the end.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 20:16:03 | More by Auracom

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bad Elf has a very thin, soap-bubble white head and a clear (a little hazy once the dregs are swished & poured), orange appearance, with lacing. The aroma is peppery, citrusy, and bready, and the taste is hop forward- citrus hops, sweet bread, bitterness, and cracker. The mouthfeel is light and watery, and Bad Elf finishes crisp, clean, refreshing, and mostly dry. The drinkability with this is ultra high. Overall, this is very good, and I recommend it.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 12:39:25 | More by RonaldTheriot

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a bright, vibrant, honey-gold coloring with no head. Aromas of dry, light hops, with an effervescent feel. Lemony citrus highlights on the nose, with a rich malt character, as well. The beer's flavors are light at first, with a dry, peppery hopping on the tongue, followed by a more full, robust, roasted taste that leads to a slight, sweet, malt flavor. Light bodied, with no cling to the glassware. The palate ends up being very well blended, with a spicy and slightly citrusy aftertaste. The finish is very crisp and clean, with a slight drying bitterness and spice that clears the palate for the next drink. Tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 03:18:06 | More by GarthDanielson

TheGrunt

Finland

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Colour light brown with strong yellow tint with medium haziness. Light foam and carbonation.

Smell is very nice with fruit and honey flavors.

Very nice medium strong taste with clear hops. Fruitiness, which is strong in smell is very mild in taste.

Overall very nice and well done Winter Ale. In my opinion this compares easily to some other easy winter beers such as Sam Adams Winter Lager: there is nice and rich flavor, easy to drink for every beer drinker and even suits very well with food. This is still far from the some dark, deep and even smokey beers which somebody may dislike.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 12:09:19 | More by TheGrunt

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I was at the Kendall Pub enjoying themany fine offerings they have from Ridgeway which included the Bad Elf. The beer poured a copper color with a slight haze. There was a thin white head that provided good retention. The scent was slightly fruity yeast aroma and earthy hops. The taste was good, fruit and butter flavors are prominent with an earthy hop note beneath. Bitterness is moderate, a little astringent and at odds with the diacetyl. Overall not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 22:51:56 | More by WoodBrew

steveh

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I liked the Very Bad Elf so much I thought I'd sample the others in the series -- going back to the start.

Not sure just what style this may be, 6% Winter's Ale on the label. Since the Very Bad was much like an ESB to my palate, I'm wondering if this might be a Special Bitter, though 6% is a bit high.

A -- Pours a clear, golden color with a thick, off-white head.

S -- Light biscuit malt character with some mild toffee and a light floral fruitiness, some earthiness with warming.

T -- Initial dryness, seemingly from hops because of the quick blend through sweetish biscuit malts into a very dry bitterness. The in-between sweetness is cookie and fruitcake like, though not so luscious that it becomes sickly sweet. And the bitterness is there at the finish to help balance anything out. The aftertaste becomes a bit resiny, but never to a point of palate-stunting.

M -- Mouthfeel is smooth to dry with a light medium body.

O -- Yes, I would definitely slot this into an English IPA and recommend it to anyone who likes the American cousin and would be interested in trying one brewed on original soil. The neat balance between biscuit malt and fruity to dry bitter hops is very appetizing.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 22:21:23 | More by steveh

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Serving type: 500 ml bottle A batch code is printed on the label but there is no discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a half-liter Hobgoblin glass. The color is a clean and slightly hazy honey that is a touch on the light side. Three fingers of dense, billowy white head dissipated fairly quickly to leave trails along the glass, a rocky lacing, and eventually a ring around the edge.

Smell: This is truly an English IPA as the aroma is dominated by floral, earthy hops. However, it definitely has a citrusy aroma to it, along with pale malts, caramel, toffee, honey, buttery biscuit, and apple cider.

Taste: The mouthfeel is coarse and grassy and the flavor follows suit. Lots of floral and earthy hops, which the labels warns about. The hops are not overpowering, but they provide a consistent presence throughout each sip that keeps the cheeks and tongue tingling. Along with the grassy/earthy element are flavors of lemon citrus, caramel, pale malts, toffee, and honey.

Drinkability: If this elf was bad (and the dude on the label looks pretty sinister), then he cannot be too far from good. It is pretty decent stuff, though.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 04:50:08 | More by TheQuietMan22

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16.9 oz bottle. Erin got it in Richmond at World Market-- I think. No date.

Appearance: Pours a clear light orange color with a white, soft looking head. Average head retention. Above average lacing looks like, well, lace.

Smell: Earthy and bitter citrus hops. Little hint of caramel sweetness.

Taste: Very much like a Cascade-type hops flavor with bitter citrus and some earthy grassiness. Malt is crackery, with a very light sweetness. A hint of toast in the finish which has lasting bitterness. Some sips seem to leave a very slightly metallic taste on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium feel, carbonation slightly tingly. A little sticky hops resin residual.

Overall: I'm not a huge fan of English style IPAs, in part because of the hops profiles, and in part because of freshness issues in imported beers. I do like the bitter citrus hops in this one, but I think it suffers from freshness issues. I need to go to England. Overall its a decent, drinkable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 01:04:17 | More by rapidsequence

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bonus kudos need to be given for the excellent label art : That elf looks totally malevolent!

Pours out a bronzed hazed cloudy yellow color with two fingers of fluffy creamy white head. Nice longevity and lace patterns on the head as well. Nose has some noble hop floral with a tint of spice, and biscuit bready malts are in attendance. I suspect I may have gotten an older bottle as some of the more shelf-fragile scents described in other reviews of this brew are completely absent from my bottle. Too bad I can't seem to decipher their date code, no matter how much Google I apply to it.
Taste is very much in the English IPA spectrum of heavy bittering on top of breaded yeasty malt. Although once again I find that the yeasts and hops seem shelf-degraded. I'll have to come back and modify this review should I ever get my hands on a fresher example. The florals notes have been dulled and made sparse, but one can tell that the bittering of the hops has been carefully balanced against the sweetness. Too bad that's all I'm left with in this somewhat chewy, medium bodied brew. IMHO, the body could stand to benefit from either being much heavier or much lighter, this middle ground doesn't play right across the tongue for the flavors it carries. Of course, it might be just perfectly bodied for the flavor profile of a fresh bottle, but I am forced to review with what I have.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 17:16:21 | More by WastingFreetime

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.23/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours out as a light golden color. The head was soapy and white. There was a light amount of lacing on the glass. The smell is hoppy with some malts in the back end. The taste has a good bitterness to it and some grainy flavors in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel was on the light side. Overall it's a pretty standard English IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 22:16:01 | More by Knapp85

GRG1313

California

3.7/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours gold with a very short white head.

Nose is light spice and medium assertive esters.

Mouthfeel is rich and creamy; nothing special yet you just want to keep drinking it. Light carbonation but a really nice balance.

Flavors are yeasty and lightly but richly hoppy bitter. There are some green herbs and spices and a light bitter hop/green finish.

While this beer is not "wonderful" or "amazing," it is incredibly drinkable. Really pleasant all around and an almost "quaffing" brew that's just simple but good.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 06:34:13 | More by GRG1313

KajII

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Best served in a English pint]

Poured a murky orange-brown in color with virtually no head. Aroma was that of molasses and bread like malts with a light hoppy and doughy yeast scent.Tasted slightly bitter with a nice hoppy flavor and a hint of molasses and citrus.The aftertaste was sweet wit a touch of grapefruit which lasted a short while. Mouthfeel was full bodied and creamy with light carbonation. Overall a good beer Very Tasty!!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 17:15:37 | More by KajII

beerdrifter

Germany

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at the biggest beer store in the UK, Beers of Europe Ltd. Clear copper-yellow pour with big, fluffy two finger head with good retention and lacing. Hoppy, perfumy, floral nose with a malty backbone and hints of apples and caramel. Nice tangy, citrusy, bitter hop bite in the taste, well balanced by a sweet malty caramel base with a hint of apples and bubble gum. The mouthfeel is crisp and dry and slightly fizzy with a touch of chewiness. Slightly higher ABV then your typical English IPA, but you definitely can't tell. I'm thinking that some of the critical reviews were due to beer past its prime. This was extremely drinkable and enjoyable. It was closer to an American IPA then I had expected. Pleasantly surprised!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 18:05:09 | More by beerdrifter

metter98

New York

3.65/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is slightly hazy yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that quickly died down but left a thin film of bubbles coating the surface.
S: There are moderate aromas of floral and spicy hops in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and also has some hints of biscuit malts and fruits. There is a mild amount of bitterness throughout.
M: It feels medium-bodied and slightly crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some hints of dryness in the finish.
D: The beer goes down very easily and is quite sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 01:19:52 | More by metter98

jbertsch

Massachusetts

1.63/5  rDev -54.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

An aptly-named brew...

Appears solid gold in color. Easy to see fingers through the glass. Aroma is of adjunct corn, pils-like malt, faint hops and very faint spice.
Tasts cheap and macro like. The adjunct flavoring is off-putting. Its bitterness seems to stem from low-quality ingreidents rather than quality hops.

Mouthfeel is crisp and well-carbonated, so I'll give it that. But, thumbs down on its drinkability as I couldn't stomach the entire bottle.

What's sad is that I don't think it tasted like an off-bottle...just a poorly made brew. Also interesting, is that the bottle claims it's a winter ale. BA claims it's an IPA. It hits neither style well at all.

Stay away.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 21:20:51 | More by jbertsch

nickthetick

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a light gold into my duvel tulip with a white head that slowly dissipates.

S: a lot of malt and hops mixed. There's a lot of biscuity malt mixed with a fair amount hop citrus hop.

T: the taste is a little more toned down. The malt is a lot more up front and the hops is just there. Its good just not what I expected from the nose.

MF: light body and refreshing.

D: a nice seasonal but there are that are better. I'll pick this up, but not in great qualities.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 20:01:12 | More by nickthetick

Cresant

Kentucky

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured this .5 L brown bottle into a Newcastle Geordie Schooner glass. Coded: F12 207. ? The body was a hazy rich golden color. The white creamy head left a tight/fine lace.

The smell was fruity, lemony. Understated and balanced.

The taste was apples with a gentle hoppy bitterness. Faint caramel. Well constructed and highly drinkable.

The mouthfeel was smooth, really smooth. Medium body. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 22:09:05 | More by Cresant

robhunta

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear yellow. Much lighter than I would expect from a winter ale, which brings up an interesting point; the beer label says this is a "winter ale" while BeerAdvocate says this is an English IPA, so I'm not sure which style I should be comparing this too. The aroma has some spiced scents, but not nearly as much as I would expect in a winter ale. It also have very low hops aroma as expected in an IPA.l The same can be said for the taste, it has a hint of spices and low hops flavor. The mouthfeel is nice and smooth and crisp, this is a very drinkable beer. However, no matter which style this beer is judged on I find that it falls short on flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 00:01:25 | More by robhunta