The Mad Elf
Tröegs Brewing Company

The Mad ElfThe Mad Elf
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #101
ABV:
11%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,492
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 14.95%
Reviews:
1,383
Ratings:
4,271
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 27, 2024
Added:
Dec 14, 2002
Wants:
  251
Gots:
  1,265
Hop Bitterness (IBU's) : 15
Color (SRM) : Ruby Red
Availability: Seasonal, 12 oz. & 3L bottles, 1/2 and 1/6 kegs (contact your local retailer to pre-order)
Malts: Pilsner, Munich, Chocolate
Hops: Saaz, Hallertau
Yeast: Spicy Yeast
Pennsylvania Honey West Coast Cherries
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kennylopez:
Photo of kennylopez
Reviewed by kennylopez from New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter.

Appearance: a slightly hazy reddish dark amber color that pours about a finger thick worth of fine white head that fades to practically a film and leaves tiny spot of lacing.

Smells: almost like a barleywine in my opinion, but a lot sweeter. There is a slight honey smell but it is mellow with the cherries.

Tastes: I taste a lot more honey than I smelled, but it is sweet and cherry note come through the Belgian yeast backbone.

Mouthfeel: for weighting in at 11% this ale is quite a punch...at least a lot of solid little jabs(every sip) because it is easy on the burn and well carbonated despite the appearance.

Overall: I picked up a six pack and enjoyed the first couple, I was going to see how the rest age, but I am going to buy another case because it will disappear and I know I will drink it for the holidays.
Nov 04, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of mpk2020
Rated by mpk2020 from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Draft at urban tap Pittsburgh
Feb 27, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by flgimp from Pennsylvania

Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 3.59 by Cathartes from Massachusetts

Feb 12, 2024
 
Rated: 3.81 by gongfu from Connecticut

Jan 31, 2024
 
Rated: 4.24 by asouth12 from Massachusetts

Jan 20, 2024
Photo of Smuggler8787
Reviewed by Smuggler8787

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
It’s a great beer when you don’t get flat ones. I bought a case last week (Jan 13 2024) and 8 bottles were pure syrup.

When it’s on, it’s a great beer. When it’s off, it’s like drinking cherry Dimeatap.
Jan 18, 2024
 
Rated: 4.34 by TallGreg from New York

Jan 13, 2024
Photo of easyrider1234
Reviewed by easyrider1234 from Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
I picked up a 6 pack of bottles from local supermarket late Dec 2023 and i usually drink a few of these for the holidays. not sure if I got a bad batch or if something has changed but I just couldn't finish one. Maybe its me, maybe it was a bad batch, maybe troegs has changed something but the heavy boozy overly sweet taste just didn't do it for me. I usually can drink anything I buy but had to pour out half and gave away the others. Anyone else notice a change in this years mad elf?
Jan 12, 2024
Photo of Hayesbro
Reviewed by Hayesbro from Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear copper with a light red tint and a brown head that disappears quickly. Aromas of yeast and cherries. Fairly sweet, those cherries come through but not overwhelmingly, some honey and spiciness. A little heat, fairly thick mouthfeel. This is apparently polarizing here but I think it delivers well on what it promises: Big sweet with cherries but not too much
Jan 07, 2024
 
Rated: 3.85 by Mikexw from New York

Dec 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.08 by SebastianOwl from Massachusetts

Dec 26, 2023
Photo of Bitterbill
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming

3.54/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Freshest by June 21st 2024. From Beer Drop.

Pours a clear deep amber with a small head of foam, very little lacing.

The smell is Belgian spices, yeast, cherries, more spices.

The taste is yeasty, cloves, cherries both tart and sweet (honey), massive spiciness, heat from the alcohol, big big flavours, not all of them to my liking. Especially the allspice and cloves.

Medium bodied, good carbonation.

I have another can that will be sitting for a while.
Dec 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Oktoberfest from Ohio

Dec 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.3 by Beermaine from Maine

Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Cholla
Reviewed by Cholla from New Jersey

5/5  rDev +28.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
You really get the taste of the cherries and a bit of the alcohol up front. The honey taste is on the back end of it. Not bad. The alcohol flavor does become more prominent as you finish the bottle. Couple of these and you’ll be belting out Christmas carols. I recommend it. Cheers.
Dec 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.08 by Hockey_Fan from Maryland

Dec 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.03 by ScottyB515 from Ohio

Nov 29, 2023
Photo of Cm55
Reviewed by Cm55

4.31/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
Bottle
L-clear amber to mahogany with minimal head and lacing
S-stone fruit and cherries predominate. There is a slight sharpness that reminded me more of a Flemish red and probably hints at the abv
T-complex flavor profile that includes hints of honey and sweetness that evolve to a pleasantly sharp, malted flavor. Avoids any medicinal component that I sometimes see in cherry beers.
F-outstandingly smooth. Would never guess this was 11abv.
O-pleasant Belgian style with a successful cherry element mixed in. Nice to mix in with other holiday beers, as it diverges from the common cinnamon/nutmeg/etc profile.
Nov 20, 2023
Photo of jadpsu
Reviewed by jadpsu from Georgia

3.59/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Gary D dropped a bottle off for me to try and review. A couple of friends bragged on this offering.
LOOK: Pours a very clear mahogany brown with a tan, light brown head that has decent retention wile settling to a bare minimum with a thin coat of side glass lace.
AROMA: Dark cherries and candied sugars and sweet caramel and booze. Never personally like picking up the scent of alcohol in beer.
TASTE: Up front I get some roasty malts and the dark cherries, it's sweetness blends with the malts and while I pick up some the ABV of 11% it is not as prominent as in the aroma. The after taste of dark or candied cherries lingers
FEEL: Warming, feels thick, syrupy.
OVERALL: Not my style, very much a sipper, not a thirst quencher. As one completes the 12 ounce bottle the high ABV is noticed.
Nov 14, 2023
The Mad Elf from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 4271 ratings