Tröegs - The Mad Elf Grand Cru

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

Bought it today at Wegmans in Mechanicsburg/Silver Spring shopping center