Bad Elf - Ridgeway Brewing

Billolick

New York

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Blind Tiger in NYC. Bartender Kate told me this one was "a little flat" I saw it as simply on the low carbonation side and that was just fine. Poured light honey golden amber, Mildly hoppy nose, minor head, natch, and no lacing. Agressivly hopped for a British IPA, thats a good thing!, Grainy hops evident and fresh tasting. Overlaid on a nice biscuity malt base. Long malty finish. Tasty and very pleasant, Brit brew with pleanty of character, I havent tried it in bottles, but the tap version is deserving of a try or two If you find it on at your local.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2005 11:01:27 | More by Billolick

Tballz420

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a slightly hazy golden color, lots of bubbles rising up to a big white head on the top.Nice lace trails. Fairly light nose, piney hops. Light pale malts in front, fairly dry, nice levels of bitter and pine hops rounding out the backbone. Some spice involved. Bits of fruit as well. Exceptionally hopped for the style, at least compared to what i have had. Not quite as intense as the west coasters here, but a nice hoppy treat. Med bodied. Nice english style IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2005 04:34:29 | More by Tballz420

brentk56

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, slightly golden color with a nice head; a bit of lacing, but not too much

Smell: Kind of funky, with alcohol and a bit of malt

Taste: The malt flavor is quickly overtaken by the phenolic alcohol flavor; somewhat sour at the very end

Mouthfeel: Just about right for this style; medium bodied and moderately carbonated

Drinkability: Just OK; marred by the alcohol penols that get in the way of the malt and hop flavors

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2004 21:57:31 | More by brentk56

Luigi

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A cloudy golden color, and if you put it up in light you can see tiny yeast particals. The head is very good. Not sticky but stays in place. I can smell a nice aroma of hops. The taste is very balanced. Malts hit the tounge first, but followed soon with a spicy hop flavor. The hops tend to stick around a bit. A very good English Pale ale, but I can't say it is a IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2004 03:37:28 | More by Luigi

gentlebubbles

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

on cask at Spuytin Duyvil

Lovely toast color under light, coarse froth. High head that doesn't leave any mark on the glass. Citrus aroma. Lemony resin in the finish. Perfectly tender mouthfeel. Lemon and grapefruit over slight toasty malt. Simple, clean flavors. Overall, so light and lovely, that despite all the other fantastic beers in this place, I must have another .

Serving type: cask

12-22-2004 01:09:25 | More by gentlebubbles

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.58/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had a small sample of this beer from what was left in the firkin after the big opening of Saturnalia last night at Rich-O's. The beer poured a nice yellowed golden color with a nice figer or two of head with some retention. The nose was full of grapefruit hop and some very earthy undertones as well. The flavor was really nice, with a great hop profile with grapefruit and caramel from the malts. How nice. The beer was moderate to thick and creamy. Nice. Overall, this is a fantastic brew, and I think I enjoyed it more on cask better than from the bottle.

Serving type: cask

12-19-2004 03:08:46 | More by kmpitz2

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - a hazy orange topaz color. Maybe 4 fingers of head of suds up top. Took several minutes to squeeze the rest of the bottle into the glass. Finally, there's about a finger's worth of stiff foam resting above the glass like a crown. My bottle rested a while so the yeast was fairly caked on the bottom, allowing minimal sediment into my glass.

Aroma - orange and pine with a spicy, peppery bite.

Taste - robust hop flavor, full of citrus and pine without much bitterness. After the swallow, the taste turns grapefruit and lemon rind, showing some typical dry bitterness on the finish.

Mouthfeel - smooth and crisp, not very oily or resinous.

Drinkability - a great beer that would be tasty any time of year.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2004 20:18:31 | More by brewdlyhooked13

mntlover

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a nice 2 finger white dense head but lacing is light. Aroma is hops floral earthy hops musty grass lots of hops hard to find the malt in the nose. Taste is hops mixture of bitter grapefruit and musty grass leave a lingering bitterness that asks for more please, not overly bitter by any means just lots good hop flavors. I get a touch of sweetness from the malt at the start that is soon overtaken by glorious hops this is one serious English Style IPA must say I enjoyed it. Mouthfeel is little light but then again hops don't have much body. Drinkability is good it has restored my faith in English style IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2004 18:18:27 | More by mntlover

hero27

Iowa

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: I wanna start off by saying that I love the label...very appealing and festive. We got a kick out of the warning label on the back.. "WARNING: Drinking Bad Elf may impair your ability to drive a sleigh or operate toy-making machinery.." Classic. Anyways, pours a mostly pale golden-orange color. Relatively thin white head..lacing is spotty but leaves a nice thin cap on the brew all the way to the finish.

Smell: Definite herbal-hop aroma right off the bat. Crisp overall smell with some mild fruits picked up..maybe a tad of spices and very little on the malt side.

Taste: I gotta admit..i love the 6% ABV. I'd love to try the "Very Bad Elf" to compare the two. Best quality of this brew was the taste..while not complex, the IPA character comes out in full-force with the grassy, herbal hops. Alcohol is present but not over-the-top at all.

Mouthfeel: Decent carbonation and crisp, refreshing mouthfeel. Medium-bodied, smooth, and easy as pretty much anything to drink.

Drinkability: Good overall drinkability. Hops are not overwhelming but can be appreciated again & again.

Overall, I was really pleased with this brew. I was expecting the same old "Spicy Winter" taste and was pleasantly surprised to find a really nice Winter IPA. Would definitely recommend anyone trying, no matter what time of year.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2004 20:47:20 | More by hero27

crookedhalo

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

50 cl bottle. Pours a straw gold color with some deeper golden highlights. Fluffy eggshell colored, rocky head. Fresh, flowery/oily hop aroma; notably Cascade. Hop bitterness that is herbal/vegetal and citrusy and lasts into the finish and lingers afterwards. Light maltiness, but only a glimpse that manifests itself as tea-like tannins that meld well with the hop bitterness. Minerally water portion. Lower carbonation allows the hops to shine through without becoming too acidic. Finely crafted and highly enjoyable for those that like hoppy ales.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2004 00:25:26 | More by crookedhalo

CRJMellor

Arkansas

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear depp golden color with a big puffy white head that leaves some lace.
Aroma of pale and crystal malts with some underlying bread, grass and hay. Also noted were some resiny, herbal hop notes.
Flavor of biscuit, pale malt and hint of citrus and strong herbal tones.
Mouthfeel starts sweet with a bready/biscuity middle and finishes with a citrus and herbal hop presence.
Drinkability is solid. Traditional English Ale well done for the most part but underlying note of sulfur and mineral water is slightly off-putting.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2004 18:27:40 | More by CRJMellor

clvand0

Kentucky

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

I sampled this at the local pub - actually stole a drink from kmpitz2, as it was he who ordered it. It pours a golden color with a small head that dies off quickly and doesn't leave much lacing on the glass. The aroma is very hoppy - citrus hops, mostly, with some caramel malt backbone. The flavor was much the same. Definately an IPA, British hops. Nice mouthfeel and easy to drink. Very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2004 19:12:49 | More by clvand0

mrfosters

New Jersey

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

Off white head , a hazy amber hued pour.Aroma is kinda citrusy and yeasty.Ditto for the taste,though there is a slightly sour and alcohol finish.I like the label ,and that warning about driving and machinery. We need humor wherever we can get it.I was happy with this ,though, for a winter ale,I prefer SNCA.Unfortunately I haven't gotten hold of this year's version yet.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2004 23:13:56 | More by mrfosters

oberon

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poures a light golden with a orange hue to it with a huge fluffy that sticks like glue to the sides of my pint glass that was a little unexpected,big aroma of lemon rind and some leafy hoppness very fresh and vibrant definently bold.A really dry brew some spearament notes and some grean leafy elements a big crisp dry malt backbone holds up well with the big bitterness of this beer.A real English IPA highly hopped but not over the top by any means dry and crisp a real drinker I wish I had more.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2004 21:54:49 | More by oberon

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear, light golden color, pear peelings, apple slices, under a crystalline white, lacey head.
Aroma: bright, vibrant, sunny nose, a fruit salad blend, tropical fruits unfold, pineapple, slightly spicy, ...very English.
Taste: hmmm, spark of hops at the tip, fruity, but, all in all, a bit underwhelming. Rolls nicely in the mouth, tasty, with the 6% peeking through jsut a teeny bit. feels more appley further in, such an interesting take on a Wintery Ale...or is it bad to have this so far from the season? In summer, the Elf is more mellow, perhaps?
Nice enough, but the grinning, evil elf on the label led me to believe something more sinister.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2004 05:57:33 | More by feloniousmonk

moulefrite

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a bad (elf ass) deep honey color and displays ample sticky head and lace. Aromas feature lemony hop and sweet biscuit. In the mouth the beer offers more lemony biscuit flavors and a big kiss of bitter hop. While I find this beer attractive it seems to lack individualality, hence making it just another decent IPA in my book. Albiet, I love it when a Winter seasonal is something other than a spiced up load of...

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2004 01:06:15 | More by moulefrite

Guinness4me

Florida

3.08/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

As IPA's are not my favorite, I was expecting to recoil at first taste. However, either my palate has calmed or this beer is better than some IPA's I've tasted in the past.

The color is that of a grilled cheese sandwich with teeny-tiny bubbles fighting their way to the respectable white head.

Like most reviewers wrote, it's got a fruity aroma that seems more spring-like than winter. I could see drinking this on the beach. I don't quite care for the metallic bitterness that seems to linger a bit too long, but not a bad beer.

Props for the 6.0 alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2004 02:49:32 | More by Guinness4me

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Appearance: Light golden amber tone with a full frothy white head leaves large evenly strung patches of lace, nice. Aroma: Hop cones fill the air very citrus in nature almost easy to call it lemon or lime blended with flowery hops and an easing light malt backbone definitely some hops in an English IPA oh yeah. Taste: Layers of bittering hops as for the hop flavor it comes through in micro bursts of zest from a citrus fruit and slight pine needles not bad just a bit unbalanced not enough sweetness to balance out the hops here. Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied ale not bad nice fine carbonation good stuff. Drinkability: Decent brew out of the UK thank heavens for American IPAs man am I thankful, this is good but it's not a Stone IPA or Sierra Nevada Celebration.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2004 04:31:19 | More by WVbeergeek

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

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

Pours to a deep golden color with a white head that leaves good lacing. The aroma is full of fresh, juicy hops…resiny and citric. The flavor is malty and spicy with a resiny hop flavor throughout. It is a drying brew that is medium in body. A very different English brew because it is so hoppy. A decent beer.

Sampled 12/31/03

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2004 17:08:55 | More by BeerBuilder

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.38/5  rDev -33.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours with a two-finger white head that stays and leaves a nice lace. Nearly clear, golden amber color and nose is seriously hoppy. Medium bodied. Starts hoppy, finishes bitter. Unusual for a winter ale (no spices) but the label points out that they are heavy handed with the hops. $3.99 for 500ml.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2004 00:02:21 | More by jdhilt

hollicetales

New York

2.05/5  rDev -42.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

bad elf was probably a good choice for the name of this, because i could imagine a couple of elfs gone bad being squeezed into the mix of this concoction...i hate to be mean to beer, but the old saying too many spices ruin the soup..can be applied. I can't completely knock this advent beer...i can see where it was trying to go but maybe it shouldn't have gone that far. The beer does pour a decent orangy color with a good head, it's thick and coaty to the tongue which would be good except that the overrush of fruity, nutty, bready, and spicy just seem to remind me of a swedish herb cough drop, but hey if you are ever laid up in bed with the flu..it would make a great alternative to cough syrup and the buzz would be much better. sorry bad elf...but when people ask me what i think of you..the usual reaction is gak

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2004 16:29:37 | More by hollicetales

NearerMyBeerToMe

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a small-bubbled, bone-white head about a finger deep that slowly recedes to less than half a finger but regains some life with a good swirl. No cling to the lace; there are a few streamers. The beer is translucent amber-to-gold, but really kind of ordinary-looking. Smells of fruity, primarily lemony/citric hops; deeper down (brought out by agitation) there are almost tropical fruitnesses--papaya/mango? and sour apple. Nosefeel is leafy, long, and high. Taste begins with an element of sweet, tangy fruit (definitely mango now) overtaken by an emergent, rolling bitterness that ends up very smart on the midpalate. Here, the hops get herbaceous: fruitiness is by now powerfully displaced by a basil-bordering-on-rosemary, sharp herbal quality. Pretty well balanced; sustainedly bitter. Mouthfeel is somewhat foamy at the roof of the mouth; the rest of the body thinnish; light resins pucker the mouth for a few good moments. Wow, that bitterness just really has me coming back in the drinkability dept... invigoratingly refreshing! Personally, I find this brew's flavor and character more in fitting with the celebration of spring's thaw than for stretching out next to the fireplace in winter... but I still found this quite enjoyable. A pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2004 22:24:02 | More by NearerMyBeerToMe

mickeymac

California

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

On tap at Lucky Baldwin's it golden-orange with a thick white head the leaves lace all the way down the glass. The smell is decidedly hoppy with load of malt and some spice. The taste is on the bitter side, but certainly not over the top. Moutfeel is nice and it goes down well. I used it to wash down some chicken curry at Baldwin's. If I hadn't known, I would have pegged this as a Pacific Northwest IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2004 02:31:36 | More by mickeymac

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

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

I haven't opened the bottle and already I'm surprised. An English Christmas seasonal IPA? Interesting.

Pours a hazy light-metallic-orange, topped off by a two-finger frothy steamed milk head. Piney nose highlights the hops. but does not overpower. Malt base starts off the taste, laying a nice foundation for the hops to follow. The hops in this IPA are not all grapefruit and pine however. There is a hefty dose of earthy, herbal, and floral notes. Definitely an English IPA, and there is nothing wrong with that. Mouthfeel could be a little...Fuller (pardon the pun).

Not at all what I was expecting, but very satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2004 07:26:51 | More by RonfromJersey

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Slightly hazed light amber tone. Small and disjointed bone white head. After a minute, a thin rimming is all that's left. The aroma is strong and upfront. And quite nice. Citrusy, resiny, pungent, mint and bigtime Bubblegum. The taste is stylin. This has got to be the most hopped up UK beer I've ever had. You'd guess it was from the West Coast USA if you didn't know better. The hop flavors are pungent and somewhat raw....bitter and piney...smoky and cannabis like...resiny and ctitc. Damn, this is pretty good. The malt backing proves to be more than capable and is toffee based. Body is a little better than medium and this beer flows over the tongue with ease. The one negative is the price tag...5.39 for 16.9 oz. It's good, but I can find IPAs from this country just as good for lesser $$$$. Glad I tried it once though.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2003 06:17:32 | More by Bighuge