Seriously Bad Elf
Ridgeway Brewing

Seriously Bad ElfSeriously Bad Elf
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From:
Ridgeway Brewing
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
9%
Score:
77
Avg:
3.37 | pDev: 16.62%
Reviews:
138
Ratings:
218
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 29, 2021
Added:
Nov 11, 2005
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  17
"I suppose I should have seen it coming this time," groaned old Claus. "Holiday ornaments mysteriously disappearing, reindeer falling from the sky inexplicably and then of course, I discovered that tiny hands have been prying into that cask of wonderful new Double Ale I've got stashed down in the cellar. That's when I called in a specialist from the Elf department. He just confirmed what I already suspected. We've got a rather serious Elf problem here at the pole."
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Ratings by beerguy101:
Photo of beerguy101
Reviewed by beerguy101 from California

2.42/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
This English Strong Ale pours a medium orange color from a 50cl bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is caramel and sweet with a touch of hops. A medium bodied English Strong Ale. The malts are caramel, fruity and sweet. The hops are slightly earthy and floral. A weird tasting beer, there is a lot of orange peel and spices, but there are also a bunch of stuff that tastes like vegetables, grain and something that might be better left unidentified. What’s even more distressing is the bad flavors intensify as it warms. Again one can’t help but wonder if Hepworth spent as time in designing the beer as the label design and marketing the name, if they would have a better product. I still buy them -once- and am usually disappointed, but I still buy them. Yet again another ho hum, bah humbug beer. Ah well one more to go. The beer is a little watery and a touch thin as well as that weird taste. Mouthfeel is thin. Finish is crisp and clean. Aftertaste is slightly sweet and a touch vegetative.
Dec 23, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.52/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
500mL bottle stamped L21 254 poured into a snifter at 51° Fahrenheit 9% ABV. The beer pours opaque honey amber in color with off white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and and peninsula. No lacing. The aroma is mild with wheat & barley malt plus a hint of orchard fruit. The taste is semisweet caramel and light fruitiness with notes of oxidation. Moderate bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with just less than medium carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Minimal alcohol presence. Overall, ok.
Nov 29, 2021
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.6/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
L- Mid/dark amber, clear, pours with 2-3mm white cap.
S- Quite fruity.
T- Much more fruitiness, fermented fruit... notable ABV% but mostly fruits, a little over-sweet?
F- Easy drinking, too easy? No disregard, it's quiet lovely
O- Nice. Esp suits winter, No screaming reason to be unique or maybe £max to buy again. Very good though.
330ml bottle. Bought from TremblingMadness/York, mixed-case, home delivery etc
Nov 25, 2020
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

3.49/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This brew is a caramel colored, mostly still brew. Not much of a head at all on this one. The aroma is a little malty, with a pungent herbal hop scent backing it. The taste is warm with alcohol and bitter. It is full and forceful, with lots of boozy heat...but it lacks depth and complexity. Just okay.
Dec 23, 2018
Photo of justme
Reviewed by justme from Massachusetts

4.01/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A very nice holiday beer. Pours a golden carmel color. A bit boozie but pretty decent. Spicy and malty. Will not be liked by IPA folks. But I’m not. Enjoyed it Sutherland family.
Nov 24, 2018
Photo of DrMullet
Reviewed by DrMullet from Florida

2.94/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a clear medium yellow with minimal head and thin lacing.
Smell is sweet, grape and a bit of apple.
Taste is very sweet malt, boozy and some apple.
Too syrupy sweet for me.
Apr 08, 2018
Photo of tfsimpkins
Rated by tfsimpkins from Florida

1.14/5  rDev -66.2%
look: 1.25 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.25
Definitely infected. But still decent along the lines of drinkability. Funky english strong. Check your bottling lines.
Jan 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Jan 03, 2018
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

3.86/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from 50 cl bottle into a glass tumbler. Bottle date unknown, but sample was over two years old at the time of sampling. Clear, light caramel color, with a decent off-white head that left lots of sticky lacing. The beer was allowed to warm to cellar temperature prior to sampling. Aroma is malt forward, with dark caramel, dried fruit, and dark bread. There is a grassy / floral / herbal character in the background. Dark toffee dominates the flavor profile, with some tart fruit on the finish and surprisingly little alcohol warmth. Very low bitterness. Would make an excellent pairing with cheeses and charcuterie, especially this "aged" version.
Jan 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by NotAlcoholicJustAHobby from Vermont

Dec 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.65 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Nov 22, 2017
Photo of Retroman40
Reviewed by Retroman40 from Florida

3.03/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Pours a pale yellow with minimal foam that quickly vanishes. The smell is malt with a hint of sweetness. That sweetness is evident in the taste; I even noted a slight bit of spice which I can't get my taste buds around. Very clean/smooth mouthfeel. I need to add that there is literally no indication that this is a 9% ABV beer even as the beer warms to room temperature (I started cool and let in warm). Overall I just can't find anything special enough about this beer to recommend it at 6.99 US for a 50cl (16.9 ounce) bottle. Sure the art work is super cool but I can't taste that label!
Nov 21, 2017
 
Rated: 5 by OzmanBey from Massachusetts

Oct 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.89 by JohnTurano from Florida

Dec 22, 2016
 
Rated: 2.9 by Chico1985 from Massachusetts

Dec 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Aug 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.57 by Jodio from Texas

Jul 27, 2016
 
Rated: 2 by wpreynolds from New Jersey

Jul 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3.45 by IceAce from California

May 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.31 by Noooddle from Washington

May 06, 2016
Seriously Bad Elf from Ridgeway Brewing
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 218 ratings