Very Bad Elf
Ridgeway Brewing
- From:
- Ridgeway Brewing
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Imperial Red Ale
Ranked #73 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 80
Ranked #36,827 - Avg:
- 3.5 | pDev: 12.86%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 189
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 30, 2026
- Added:
- Nov 17, 2004
- Wants:
- 7
- Gots:
- 27
SCORE
80
Good
80
Good
"Is it just my imagination," queried old Santa, surveying the scene, "or is my Elf only getting worse and worse every year? What's next? Seriously Bad Elf, I'll wager. Mark my words." This Very Bad Elf is one fine ale - rich, hardy and flavourful, brewed to an original 1795 Thames Valley recipe, with a very special pale amber malt that is rarely used nowadays, and balanced by a modest addition of English Fuggle aroma hops. 'Ere's to your elf!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.41/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.41/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Copenhagen 3/12 2018. 50 cl bottle from SuperBrugsen, Kbh N. A very Bad Elf sporting a pair of scissors on the label. Pours clear dark amber with small white head. Settles as thin, patchy layer unable to cover the surface of the beer.
Aroma is slightly burnt caramel, sugar, butterscotch, light roastiness. Ominous if not unpleasant presence of alcohol.
Medium strong carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft texture.
Flavor is quite sweet but nicely balanced by a solid bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter and lightly roasted. Lingers for a while.
Fine Bitter which manages to hide a solid ABV quite well.
Nov 18, 2025Aroma is slightly burnt caramel, sugar, butterscotch, light roastiness. Ominous if not unpleasant presence of alcohol.
Medium strong carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft texture.
Flavor is quite sweet but nicely balanced by a solid bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter and lightly roasted. Lingers for a while.
Fine Bitter which manages to hide a solid ABV quite well.
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
4.01/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +14.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured the color of iced tea; a bit browner than expected and the beige head was short and brief.
The taste is malty with its caramel and bread and a touch of clove, some spice I cannot define and maybe, just maybe, some banana. Which I always find odd but certainly not off putting.
The feel is relatively light; this come in a 500 ml bottle and quaffing it quickly isn't a problem. (That said, I'm letting half of it warm a bit to see if any other flavors come out)
OA, I think this is a good seasonal beer, may need to try the entire series.
Dec 15, 2024The taste is malty with its caramel and bread and a touch of clove, some spice I cannot define and maybe, just maybe, some banana. Which I always find odd but certainly not off putting.
The feel is relatively light; this come in a 500 ml bottle and quaffing it quickly isn't a problem. (That said, I'm letting half of it warm a bit to see if any other flavors come out)
OA, I think this is a good seasonal beer, may need to try the entire series.
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
3.75/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy amber color with a nice head and lacing
Aroma has fruity and citrus hints
Taste has a fruity and citrus flavor
A medium bodied well carbonated beer
A good Imperial Red Ale
Oct 30, 2024Aroma has fruity and citrus hints
Taste has a fruity and citrus flavor
A medium bodied well carbonated beer
A good Imperial Red Ale
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
4.43/5 rDev +26.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +26.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
(2023 bottle, 500 ml, purchased single off shelf at Total Wine... poured into an imperial nonic)
L: polished-clear, light amber-colored (not red, not even tawny) liquid; brilliant clarity... foam builds about 2 fingers high on the pour, gradually crumbling into cauliflowered chunks; some streaky lacing
S: earthy, herbal hopping, apple highlights, and a golden bread roll crust which slowly establishes its foundation... all about the hop accents... (extra) special bitter quality, and quite inviting
T: beautifully bitter with toasted caramel and peppery-spicy notes lingering large in the aftertaste... bit of dried apricot slowly emerges... malty and minerally in all the right ways... almost maibock-like??
F: smooth, medium-full bodied, silky viscosity... spicy bite on the back end gives a subtle stinging accent to the finish, lending a little contrast to its rich roundness
O: I would classify this as an ESB or Winter Warmer, as its malt and spice nuances remind me a little of the Samuel Smith variety... surprisingly excellent and a nice fresh bottle, one I'll buy a few more of to give to friends and, of course, enjoy for myself (2240)
Nov 14, 2023L: polished-clear, light amber-colored (not red, not even tawny) liquid; brilliant clarity... foam builds about 2 fingers high on the pour, gradually crumbling into cauliflowered chunks; some streaky lacing
S: earthy, herbal hopping, apple highlights, and a golden bread roll crust which slowly establishes its foundation... all about the hop accents... (extra) special bitter quality, and quite inviting
T: beautifully bitter with toasted caramel and peppery-spicy notes lingering large in the aftertaste... bit of dried apricot slowly emerges... malty and minerally in all the right ways... almost maibock-like??
F: smooth, medium-full bodied, silky viscosity... spicy bite on the back end gives a subtle stinging accent to the finish, lending a little contrast to its rich roundness
O: I would classify this as an ESB or Winter Warmer, as its malt and spice nuances remind me a little of the Samuel Smith variety... surprisingly excellent and a nice fresh bottle, one I'll buy a few more of to give to friends and, of course, enjoy for myself (2240)
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.54/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Unknown bottling date; drank 1/20/22 @ Roadrunner Lodge.
Semi-opaque dull orange/red appearance.
A rough pour yielded a nice khaki head; decent lace.
Tart peach, dry yeast & mild allspice notes in the nose.
Sticky medium mouthfeel.
Tart peach & dry yeast flavors up front; mild allspice notes on the finish.
Bold, possibly old and pretty weird, overall. Interesting, at least!
Jan 25, 2022Semi-opaque dull orange/red appearance.
A rough pour yielded a nice khaki head; decent lace.
Tart peach, dry yeast & mild allspice notes in the nose.
Sticky medium mouthfeel.
Tart peach & dry yeast flavors up front; mild allspice notes on the finish.
Bold, possibly old and pretty weird, overall. Interesting, at least!
Reviewed by RedBalloon from Washington
3.99/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500ml bottle with a Julian date of 247 (9/3/20) poured into a Teku on 1/16/21.
Pours a 1" off-white creamy head. Amber opaque color.
Smells of spices; clove, banana, and some bready notes.
More clove and banana on the taste with a mild bitterness on the finish. Strong malty biscuit flavor.
Light- to medium-bodied mouthfeel. Smooth with a good amount of carbonation.
Overall, a nicely balanced English pale ale with good bitterness alongside spicy aromas and flavors.
Feb 07, 2021Pours a 1" off-white creamy head. Amber opaque color.
Smells of spices; clove, banana, and some bready notes.
More clove and banana on the taste with a mild bitterness on the finish. Strong malty biscuit flavor.
Light- to medium-bodied mouthfeel. Smooth with a good amount of carbonation.
Overall, a nicely balanced English pale ale with good bitterness alongside spicy aromas and flavors.
Reviewed by kevanb from Illinois
3.2/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
500ml bottle, no easily found bottling date, poured into a 10oz rocks glass.
The beer pours a bright copper color, amber hues with nice clarity of a foamy finger of off white head that has very good retention and minimal spotted lacing. The aroma is fine, lots of bready malts, a hint of earthy hop, little grassy and piney with just a tiny bit of citrus. The flavors are okay, predominantly hearty grains, fusel alcohol, sharp earthy hop bite with a touch of fruit. The mouthfeel is good, coating, lively medium body that feels substantial without too much heft and a dry finish.
Verdict: A decent winter pale ale from Ridgeway. It's quite boozy and doesn't offer much outside of the grain bill as the hop profile is extremely underdeveloped. Perhaps this is an older bottle but there is no sense of oxidization.
Dec 30, 2020The beer pours a bright copper color, amber hues with nice clarity of a foamy finger of off white head that has very good retention and minimal spotted lacing. The aroma is fine, lots of bready malts, a hint of earthy hop, little grassy and piney with just a tiny bit of citrus. The flavors are okay, predominantly hearty grains, fusel alcohol, sharp earthy hop bite with a touch of fruit. The mouthfeel is good, coating, lively medium body that feels substantial without too much heft and a dry finish.
Verdict: A decent winter pale ale from Ridgeway. It's quite boozy and doesn't offer much outside of the grain bill as the hop profile is extremely underdeveloped. Perhaps this is an older bottle but there is no sense of oxidization.
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