Tröegs - The Mad Elf Grand Cru

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by jmdrpi, Oct 27, 2017.

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  1. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Looks like 11% abv, 750ml bottles, and distributed to Troeg's full distribution footprint.
     
  2. DISKORD

    DISKORD Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2017 South Carolina

    Damn! Sounds like a perfect Christmas beer. Too bad we don't get their stuff in these parts.
     
  3. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, North Carolina is the furthest south:

     
  4. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Yeah and I'm not sure they have full coverage of those states yet. Less than a year ago I was in Blacksburg, VA. They have the Vintage Cellar there (one of the outstanding VA bottle shops). In a chat with the manager, as I was checking out with some stuff not easily found around here, I learned that they were soon to have a public tasting session with the Troeg's rep and there were already some discussions going about which beers and how many cases.
     
    #4 drtth, Oct 27, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2017
  5. RobHB

    RobHB Zealot (586) Aug 20, 2017 New Jersey

    I may have to give this a try, I usually bring Mad Elf to the Christmas Tree party I attend maybe this one goes with me this year.
     
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  6. seth27

    seth27 Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2015 Pennsylvania

    So is this basically just regular Mad Elf but like 1% abv higher and bottle conditioned or am I missing something?
     
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  7. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Typically Grand Cru is used to describe something unique or special. Compare the description of the ingredients above with the regular Mad Elf and you'll find that there are a few other differences between the regular and the Grand Cru versions.
     
    #7 drtth, Oct 30, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2017
  8. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I hope it has more cherries in it. Any sightings in PA or NJ? I haven't seen it yet.
     
  9. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    The post from Troegs said "In early November".

    Same ABV. The Troegs sell-sheet for Mad Elf lists the cherry varieties as Bing, Lambert, Van, Royal Anne, and Monmarte. Those are all sweet cherry varieties except for the last one (appears to be a typo, should be Montmorency?)

    The sheet for Grand Cru says it uses the same cherries as Mad Elf, plus a lot more tart cherries of the Balaton variety. Plus the raw sugar.

    http://www.troegs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Sellsheet_Individual_MadElf.pdf
    http://www.troegs.com/asset/sellsheet-mad-elf-grand-cru/
     
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  10. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well the additional tartness should be interesting, and probably lead to a better balance but we'll see.
     
  11. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I think Mad Elf is better after a year of cellaring that seems to dry out the sweetness a bit. Maybe this Grand Cru will taste similar.
     
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  12. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Just drank a bunch of Mad Elf at a wedding reception this weekend (for the first time in years) and would agree with this assessment.
     
  13. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    So since this is out there, does anyone else think that the Mad Elf used to have more cherry to it? And I don't mean recently, it might go way back. I remember Chris Trogner having a growler at the Grey Lodge one night that had much more cherry to it than it has now - no idea what year that was but it was soon after it was introduced, if not the first time.
     
  14. EvenMoreJesus

    EvenMoreJesus Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2017 Pennsylvania

    After not having it for years, that was my first impression on Saturday. "This doesn't have as much cherry as I remember."
     
  15. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hmmmm. It used to be my wife's favorite beer but she seems to think it's lost cherry over the past 4 years or so and she actually gave away the sixer she bought this year after having only one or two.
     
  16. onthebusin03

    onthebusin03 Zealot (611) Jan 11, 2008 Pennsylvania

    It has been a totally varied run over the years as far as my relationship with that beer (original Mad Elf). Hated it early on > started getting back into it > didn't drink it for a year or two > really enjoyed it the past two years > this year, have had it just once.... didn't care for it. Seemed like a sweet gloppy quad with little to zero cherry.

    Could be all me, I guess. Or could be a bit of me and a bit of the beer.

    This release screams for a side by side, though. I'll pick one or more up if the price isn't outrageous.
     
  17. HoppingMadMonk

    HoppingMadMonk Grand Pooh-Bah (5,208) Mar 3, 2017 New Jersey
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    First time I've had it,seemed a bit thin and light on the cherry flavor. Still decent and was impressed by how well the high abv was hidden. I consider it to be good,maybe very good,but not great[​IMG]
     
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  18. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Ugh, I still hate how the new label looks like a drunk egg-headed baby. Gotta be the worse of the re-designs.

    Glad it is diminished on the Grand Cru label.
     
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  19. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Update on release date - November 6th:

     
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  20. Bchlver

    Bchlver Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2017 Pennsylvania

    Bought it today at Wegmans in Mechanicsburg/Silver Spring shopping center
     
    HoppingMadMonk likes this.
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