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Scratch Beer 46 - 2011 (Naked Elf)
Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Tröegs Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Pale Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 7.8%
- Score:
- 88
- Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 10.74%
- Reviews:
- 79
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 25, 2023
- Added:
- May 06, 2006
- Wants:
- 11
- Gots:
- 46
Naked Elf takes a hard look at the less-is-more theory. Ever since we developed The Mad Elf, we’ve speculated what it would taste like without the cherries and honey. So what lies beneath the fruit? Naked Elf is unfiltered, so the spicy yeast taste is more prominent in this strong, hazy orange ale. The combination of the Pilsner, and Vienna malts give a lot of body and minimal sweetness, but Naked Elf has a dry finish. Finally, the heat of the alcohol makes its presence known in the finish. The Naked Elf’s finest quality is the delicate balancing act between a lively yeast kick and a slight alcohol note that lingers in the back of the mouth—constantly reminding us not to overindulge in this complex, warming elixir.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by number1bum:
Reviewed by number1bum from Pennsylvania
4.08/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked up a growler of this at the brewery. I've never had the Naked Elf (or the Mad Elf for that matter) before, so I'm not sure if they changed the recipe for this year, but it's previously listed at 8.5% and a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. This years version is 6.8% and to me it's definitely a Belgian Strong Pale Ale, rather than a Dark. So that being said...it's pretty much a different beer than in past years. But who knows, so here goes.
Pours a dark orange amber color, with a light beige head that fills the tulip glass but recedes pretty quickly. Leaves just a thin lace and not too much stick.
Smell is very bready, yeasty and spicy. They say they use a spicy yeast and that is definitely pronounced in the nose. The other aromas are more subdued, with some malt sweetness, lemon zest and a floral hop nose, as well. I also think I smell a bit of cherry in there, but I know cherries is one of the ingredients that is left out.
Taste is very smooth. A subtle sweetness is there from start to finish, with some bready flavor from the yeast and some spice. Taste is not as "zesty" in terms of spice as the nose is, but the spice is there. Again, smooth is the best way to describe it. Very nice.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and somewhat slick and creamy, while the drinkability is good. While I'm ignorant of previous batches to compare it to, this beer is quite good and I am enjoying this growler.
Jul 28, 2007Pours a dark orange amber color, with a light beige head that fills the tulip glass but recedes pretty quickly. Leaves just a thin lace and not too much stick.
Smell is very bready, yeasty and spicy. They say they use a spicy yeast and that is definitely pronounced in the nose. The other aromas are more subdued, with some malt sweetness, lemon zest and a floral hop nose, as well. I also think I smell a bit of cherry in there, but I know cherries is one of the ingredients that is left out.
Taste is very smooth. A subtle sweetness is there from start to finish, with some bready flavor from the yeast and some spice. Taste is not as "zesty" in terms of spice as the nose is, but the spice is there. Again, smooth is the best way to describe it. Very nice.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and somewhat slick and creamy, while the drinkability is good. While I'm ignorant of previous batches to compare it to, this beer is quite good and I am enjoying this growler.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by AlfromPA from Colorado
4.1/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked up a recently canned 4 pack of this at the Troegs brewery last week. Victory has been very successful with Golden Monkey, and Naked Elf would seem to be an obvious competitor. It still has some of the spice flavors of Mad Elf, without the heavy cherry overlay. It is not as sweet as either Mad Elf or Golden Monkey. If they bumped up the ABV slightly the latter would have a real competitor.
Aug 23, 2022Rated by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I prefer this over the Mad Elf.
Oct 29, 2020Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey
3.75/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Copper color. Creamy off white head. Good retention.
Belgian yeast, apple, cinnamon, plum,
Orange, coriander, lemon peel. Bread. Wine. Molasses.
A little flat, but medium body plus.
Good winter dark Belgian. Rough around the edges, but tasty.
Sep 20, 2019Belgian yeast, apple, cinnamon, plum,
Orange, coriander, lemon peel. Bread. Wine. Molasses.
A little flat, but medium body plus.
Good winter dark Belgian. Rough around the edges, but tasty.
Reviewed by Newbeergeek1 from Maine
3.81/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Cloudy with a reddish tinge, a fruity smelly, malty(ish), can really taste the spices and that’s OK, kind of a course heavy mouth feel. Overall a nice beer.
Oct 17, 2017Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.68/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
marked here as retired, but clearly resurrected by Troegs, as it was available in the tasting room this afternoon. This is a stripped down version of their Mad Elf, without the honey and cherries. As a disclaimer, I do not care for Mad Elf.
Looks pretty good, slightly hazy red/brown body, small off white head, some lacing.
Not much on the nose, except a hint of belgian yeast and spices
i can detect the mad elf base, the yeast is prominent. a little on the sweet side, alcohol well hidden.
mouth is medium, finish is slightly sweet and yeasty.
Overall, i guess i should avoid beers with the word elf in it, as this did not hit my palate well. on the other hand, they have a wild elf fermenting away for release in 2018, so........
Sep 17, 2017Looks pretty good, slightly hazy red/brown body, small off white head, some lacing.
Not much on the nose, except a hint of belgian yeast and spices
i can detect the mad elf base, the yeast is prominent. a little on the sweet side, alcohol well hidden.
mouth is medium, finish is slightly sweet and yeasty.
Overall, i guess i should avoid beers with the word elf in it, as this did not hit my palate well. on the other hand, they have a wild elf fermenting away for release in 2018, so........
Scratch Beer 46 - 2011 (Naked Elf) from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
263 ratings
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