Insanely Bad Elf - Ridgeway Brewing

jhammel01

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a caramel goldish color. Head quickly dissipates with some lacing.

Scent is pretty interesting; grapes, hops, grain, cereal and something that is very sweet..almost like green apple.

Tastes very yeasty, lots of green apple, belgian yeast, hops and white grape. Finishes very biscuity. Overall mouthfeel is a bit watery not thats not off putting in anyway. Very complex

A very nice ale from Ridgeway. I'd buy again! Perfect for the colder weather.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 01:03:11 | More by jhammel01

nick_asian

Nevada

4/5  rDev +18%

05-19-2013 07:07:19 | More by nick_asian

blknikon

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -18.9%

05-07-2013 23:05:18 | More by blknikon

BigTrubble

North Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -18.9%

04-13-2013 22:44:26 | More by BigTrubble

Tumble

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +10.6%

03-27-2013 21:13:12 | More by Tumble

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -41%

03-20-2013 22:32:47 | More by BGsWo22

richkrull

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev +3.2%

03-11-2013 23:46:52 | More by richkrull

chilidog

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I picked up one of these on clearance after the holidays, enjoyed it so I went back and got the remaining last bottle, would of taken a couple more.
This is the 2012 vintage. I like the bottle is stamped with a best before date of 2022.

Poured into a snifter, clear golden, not much carbonation, so very little tan tinted head. No lace. It does look like apple juice as noted by another review.

Aroma is malted, alcohol marinated dark cored fruit.

Taste is somewhat sweet, malty, cored fruit of apple and pear. The finish follows up with caramel and a fine brandy, stoned fruit like plum and cognac.

Mouthfeel is really smooth, easy to drink.

Overall a good special, high abv beer to enjoy when all is said and done. Oh ya, did I mention the holidays are over, oh ya, cheers

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 16:24:41 | More by chilidog

Thedrizzle

Florida

2/5  rDev -41%

01-31-2013 00:17:20 | More by Thedrizzle

DukeX13

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +10.6%

01-20-2013 22:26:04 | More by DukeX13

JimTeal

Nevada

3.38/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

2012 Vintage

Unique in many respects, it almost wants to be sweet, but ends up smooth and goes down with a caramel malt finish with hints of cognac. The higher ABV makes this one an attention getter, as in pay attention or it will kick your tail. I really appreciate the Brits giving a go to such a different beer. The head is almost non-existent upon pouring, and the hops are left way in the background, barely noticeable. What does that say, the aim, I believe for Ridgeway, was to create a good seasonal, able to stand up to the holiday beverage lists, and yet smooth enough to keep one's interest? So Insanely Bad Elf is not an everyday, but certainly way above average for special occasions.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 23:22:39 | More by JimTeal

Punkrckr281

Wisconsin

1.75/5  rDev -48.4%

01-15-2013 02:20:15 | More by Punkrckr281

lookrider

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%

01-09-2013 18:10:17 | More by lookrider

KevinGordon

North Carolina

2.25/5  rDev -33.6%

01-09-2013 05:22:05 | More by KevinGordon

gungoat

Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +40.1%

01-04-2013 21:33:12 | More by gungoat

kvnstfrd

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into a 12 oz. snifter.
Deep copper color with a 1 finger head on the pour. Some lacing, but not much. Aroma has notes of fruit preserves or maybe fruit liqueur. Big, malty flavor with hints of fruity liqueur, then it mellows on your palette to a dry, clean hop finish with noticeable alcohol. Mouth-feel is thick and full bodied; very lightly carbonated. This beer really fits an English Barleywine flavor profile more so than an English Strong Ale. Whatever the intended style, this is an amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 17:51:56 | More by kvnstfrd

rundocrun

Iowa

3.18/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - body is the color of crystal clear apple juice. 1 1/2 fingers of white foam on top with great retention. Tons of lacing.

S - tons of malt an caramel aroma. Not much in the way of hops except a faint whiff of earthy English hops.

T - malts take the day here. Tons of light caramel and pale malt flavor. Minimal undertones of herbal hops and alcohol bitterness.

M - medium-to-thick body with smooth carbonation. Very drinkable for 12%, but also strays toward the cloying side. Tone down the malt or tone up the hops and this would be much better.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 02:34:58 | More by rundocrun

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +10.6%

12-27-2012 23:16:36 | More by IvoryFoxhole

rcatalano

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%

12-27-2012 02:33:24 | More by rcatalano

MisledTitan

United Kingdom (England)

4.5/5  rDev +32.7%

12-25-2012 19:02:42 | More by MisledTitan

chris1919

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +10.6%

12-21-2012 03:29:20 | More by chris1919

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%

12-17-2012 22:04:31 | More by stereosforgeeks

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev +3.2%

12-17-2012 03:21:10 | More by t0rin0

muchloveforhops3

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +25.4%

12-11-2012 05:27:45 | More by muchloveforhops3

dmorgan310

Michigan

4/5  rDev +18%

12-03-2012 06:25:11 | More by dmorgan310