4 Elf
Dark Horse Brewing Company

4 Elf4 Elf
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From:
Dark Horse Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
Ranked #58
ABV:
8.75%
Score:
86
Ranked #20,011
Avg:
3.8 | pDev: 11.58%
Reviews:
216
Ratings:
861
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 02, 2023
Added:
Nov 27, 2003
Wants:
  59
Gots:
  165
4 Elf is holiday cheer in liquid form. Spicy aromas like cinnamon and clove give this dark brown winter warmer a proper holiday welcome. Balanced between malt, hops, and spice at 8.75% ABV this beer goes great with all holiday foods—from sweet snacks to the roast beast.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeRanger:
Photo of BeRanger
Reviewed by BeRanger from Michigan

4.17/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
2011 Vintage, poured into a pint glass.

A: Deep brown, about one finger of creamy foam that stuck around for quite sometime.

S: Wonderful Christmas Ale smell with all the flavors coming out - cinnamon, spices, nutmeg and roasted malts.

T: The alcohol is hidden very well. The cinnamon and nutmeg hit you first, kind of resembled a sugar cookie that I was snacking on right before drinking it.

M: Medium body with good carbonation - finishes very smooth.

O: Very nice Christmas Ale from Dark Horse, one of the best I've had. Looking forward to cracking open my 2009 Vintage later this evening to compare.
Dec 27, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.81 by Ox8840bo from Illinois

May 02, 2023
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

4.03/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured the promised brown color and sported a tan head which left rings of lacing.
The aroma was cloves- about the only scent that managed to make it through the damage of my nose.
The taste, well, it’s nicely balanced but has a whole lotta flavors going on. Cloves, cinnamon, orange peel, coriander and oh yeah, the malts. Nice bread, toasted forward malts.
It’s not one of my favorites but I can see how others would really enjoy this. Nice Winter Warmer.
Jan 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.59 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Dec 12, 2022
Photo of Historiker
Reviewed by Historiker from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured a nice clear ruby brown. Produced around 3/4" of head that disappeared quickly with next to no lacing.
Smell was - as Dark Horse describes - a spicy aroma. Primarily cinnamon, clove, orange zest, and spicy hops.
The spicy profile applies to taste as well. The hops, clove, cinnamon, and orange are the main players. A bit of brown sugar and toffee as well. Honestly, I'd like a bit more sweet to balance out the spicy hops.
Mouthfeel is medium.
Overall, this is pretty good. It's certainly unique with its spicier profile, and I appreciate that it's neither a spice bomb or overly reliant on ginger. I do wish there was a touch more sweet (honey, malt, brown sugar) to balance it out better.
Dec 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Mar 03, 2022
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the 12 oz can in a snifter. This different winter warmer pours a dark
murky brown with a very nice head of khaki foam that settles to a thick ring, thick
clumping layer, and shows off some very nice l;acing. Nose of cinnamon, clove,
orange peel, and spicy / grassy hops amongst some dark brown sugars. Flavors
follow with grassy and spicy hops, clove, orange zest, leather, brwon sugar
touches, caramel, and cinnamon notes. Nice mouth feel; medium body verging
on medium light, medium light soft carbonation, and a herbal bitter hop finish.

Overall, decent, but could use a touch of balance from the hops and spices.

Cheers
Jan 22, 2022
Photo of mjvlasic
Reviewed by mjvlasic from Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Look is dark brown in color. Smell is good. Taste is that of a slightly spicy beer. Contains some malt and hops. The flavors are well balanced- no flavor overtakes another. Feel is nice and smooth.

I’m definitely interested to see what other winter warmers Dark Horse has to offer! I have not tried the rum barrel aged 4 elf yet, but I’m sure after trying this one, it’s excellent. Would recommend this brew for sure.
Dec 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by AshBlackstone from Florida

Dec 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.23 by harrisjohnson from Maryland

Nov 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.66 by desint from Belgium

Oct 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.91 by Eyedoc27 from Illinois

Jul 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4.04 by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

May 04, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled 9/1/16; drank 12/12/16 @ the Yarchives.

Opaque brown/purple appearance.

A mild pour yielded a small khaki head; decent lace.

Caramel, plum, leather, light roast coffee bean & allspice notes in the nose; complex & enticing!

Smooth medium thick mouthfeel.

Caramel, plum & dry leather flavors up front; allspice, milk chocolate & faint booze heat notes on the finish.

A complex, drinkable winter warmer. I'd have another!
Feb 14, 2019
Photo of Bluerabbitbell
Rated by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Good for what it is. Bourbon bacon and beer
Jan 02, 2019
Photo of damndirtyape
Reviewed by damndirtyape from Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle served in a tulip glass. Date 9.25.17 KAR 219.

Appearance: Dark brown with ruby red highlights - looks like sediment came along for the pour, but sank to the bottom of the glass. Thin off-white head with no persistent lacing.

Smell: Lots of spices with cinnamon and ginger dominating. Some underlying caramel and toffee sweetness as well.

Taste: Lots of spices again - cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger. There is some underlying caramel malt, but it's well hidden under all the spices. There is also a bit of herbal/leafy hop flavor at the end - a bit bitter tea like.

Mouthfeel: Nice thickness - quite smooth. Very warming from all the spices. Light carbonation.

Overall / Drinkability: Not sure about this one given the date stamp. The spices held up well, but I'm wondering if this beer didn't age well. Very spice heavy to the point I felt the beer got lost - more caramel malt sweetness to counter the spices I think would have made this a better winter warmer.
Dec 30, 2018
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Dark mahogany brown pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Nice lacing.

S: Sweet dark sugars and spice. Clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Holiday mix.

T/F: Follows the nose... with toasted grains, brown sugar, and all of the above spices. Not obnoxiously spiced which helps, and some hopping to balance out the sweet. Medium bodied.

O: A decent Christmas spiced beer. Not one I'd want a lot of, but a nice change of pace.
Dec 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by BarryMFBurton from Indiana

Nov 13, 2018
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

3.99/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz brown bottle - not dated

Dark Horse 4 Elf has a very dark brown almost black color. A 3/4-finger tan head was formed that left behind very spotty lacing. The nose is dominated by spices common during the holidays; cinnamon, clove, nutmeg. The taste starts out with all those spices noted by the nose then a flavor of caramel and chocolate come through. The mouth feel is high-medium with moderate carbonation and a spicy finish.

Overall, if you like the Winter Warmer style that is to the spicy side then this ale is for you. 4 Elf is a flavorful easy drinker.
Jul 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4.16 by lovindahops from New York

May 20, 2018
4 Elf from Dark Horse Brewing Company
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 861 ratings