Criminally Bad Elf - Ridgeway Brewing

Shiredave

New York

3.58/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Taken from the cellar @ 58 deg F and poured into a snifter. A huge off white head billowed up - big foamy, soapy bubbles with some specks of lace. Head receeds slowly to a glass hugging ring and whispy film. Very clear with an occasional bubble rising.
Aroma is all english hop up front - wet leaves and crushed herbs with some faint banana notes and some whiskey like alcohol.
Fruity flavors at the start - apple and pear with some sugary toffee. Alcohol heats things up from midway on pushing everything else to the side, leaving a smoldering boozy aftertaste.
Body is full but not heavy with a smooth and silky viscocity.
Flavors are not well rounded or overly complex, unless you find alcohol complex. An okay sipper but not even close to my favorite barleywine. Maybe it would have been best to let this sit for a year or more.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2008 01:51:36 | More by Shiredave

kvnstfrd

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +31.6%

05-23-2013 03:38:37 | More by kvnstfrd

st9647v3

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -12.3%

05-04-2013 04:24:32 | More by st9647v3

Thedrizzle

Florida

3/5  rDev -12.3%

04-06-2013 05:10:18 | More by Thedrizzle

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -41.5%

03-20-2013 22:32:23 | More by BGsWo22

spycow

Illinois

3/5  rDev -12.3%

03-10-2013 23:40:40 | More by spycow

TheSixthRing

California

3.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a clear, entirely copper hue with a white, half finger head. Sub-par retention. Leaves behind no lacing.

Smell - Aroma consists of toffee and caramel character. Sweet, slightly boozy.

Taste - Sweet toffee and caramel upfront and throughout. Moderate booziness. Not much else.

Mouthfeel - Closer to medium than full in body, with low carbonation. Smooth. Drinkable. Does well to hide the 10 and a half. Fairly thin for a barleywine.

Overall - In a nutshell, caramel and booze. No hops to be found. Not a very impressive barleywine, though somewhat enjoyable nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 03:49:41 | More by TheSixthRing

Wiedemann

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +31.6%

02-26-2013 17:08:21 | More by Wiedemann

im4beer

Utah

3.25/5  rDev -5%

02-09-2013 01:42:00 | More by im4beer

matjack85

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +31.6%

01-31-2013 21:35:54 | More by matjack85

CyBEERooster

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%

01-25-2013 04:21:40 | More by CyBEERooster

Hopmodium

Washington

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

01-14-2013 00:18:58 | More by Hopmodium

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

2.45/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

P: Clear copper body with a short lives crown that rests to a nice thin white film.

S: Vanilla, French oak, booze, banana taffy, sweet toffee, acidic, candied malt, Christmas spices, barley is present but faint. Very malty and syrupy.

T/M: Heavy malt base with almost a dairy creamer taste. Super sweet candy, banana snow cone syrup, and toffee. Again barley is not really a player and faintly bitter apple peel hops. Thick chewy body with little carbonation and a spicy finish.

O: I see why they callbthis Criminally Bad Elf because IT IS crininally bad. Not what I expect from a barley wine style brew. This is more of a winter warmer with banana influence. A search and rescue team is required to find the barley and the overall delivery is not great. I think this beer is confused on what it wants to be. I can honestly say I would not purchase this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 02:18:27 | More by Hopswagger

sandiego67

California

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

12-30-2012 05:52:26 | More by sandiego67

kbnooshay

New York

2.63/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a light copper-orange color with a think beige colored head. Aroma sweet with hints of bananas, booze, christmas spice and hard candy. This beer is wayyy to sweet, and I have had some great sweet barleywines. The sweetness helps in hiding some of the alcohol taste but it can't cover it all up. There is some hints of dark fruit and christmas spice. Body is kinda thin. Not impressed.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 05:49:20 | More by kbnooshay

imbuckeye

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%

12-28-2012 04:04:53 | More by imbuckeye

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +9.6%

12-27-2012 23:15:52 | More by IvoryFoxhole

Mick-e-d

3/5  rDev -12.3%

12-24-2012 22:26:30 | More by Mick-e-d

CJS

Florida

2/5  rDev -41.5%

12-23-2012 16:51:33 | More by CJS

ste5venla

California

3/5  rDev -12.3%

12-22-2012 19:04:45 | More by ste5venla

DreaminBeer

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +24.3%

12-22-2012 13:25:13 | More by DreaminBeer

Hex92

Virginia

4/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm a big fan of barley wine and I think this is a good representative of the style.
T doesn't look like much in the glass, but I thin it smells great. The high alcohol content is we'll hidden. I wish it had a slightly thicker mouth feel, but the flavor is dead on.

I am surprised that it doesn't rate higher than it does. I would definitely pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 05:27:02 | More by Hex92

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -5%

12-17-2012 15:57:47 | More by stereosforgeeks

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

12-17-2012 03:20:54 | More by t0rin0

KatieKaBoom

2.75/5  rDev -19.6%

12-16-2012 07:14:34 | More by KatieKaBoom