Troegs Mad Elf: yay or nay?

Sorry if it came off that way. I would never recommend buying 3L of a beer someone has never tried (or of this beer in general). Just stating that it comes in other sizes.

 

NAY A version with a cleaner strain of yeast and I'd probably love it.

 

I drank a bomber of 2010 recently and thought it was quite good. But I'm a sucker for Mad Elf.

 

I'm with the others who only like this with a year of aging. Too much alchohol heat when fresh. Magically delicous with 1 year in the cellar.

 

I like it fresh as well as aged but I'm not a big old alcohol wuss like some people.

 

Tried a sip once. Ill pass. As far as the case, you should be able to find it in singles or 6ers easily enough.

 

im not the biggest fan of it.. : / might buy a bomber or two to share with some people during the holidays as it's fun to do so.. that's bout it though

 

I had a 09, 10 and 11 tasting for Christmas in July this year and the 10 was still good. The 09 wasn't that great so personally I would drink that 10 this year.

 

Even though I love it, I'll be the first to admit it's not for everyone. The alcohol can be heavy at times especially if you are sensitive to it, some people find it medicinal, and some others don't like the heavy clove and banana profile underlying it. But I like all that so more more.

 

Do those stores generally get Troegs seasonals? If so, they'll have it. It's not exactly hard to find in PA.

 

Fall would be Dead Reckoning Porter.

 

Also for what it's worth, I think Mad Elf is awesome both fresh and aged. It seemed to hit a sweet spot around 8 months to a year. I love it enough to buy a case but that's just way too much money. I was actually kind hoping they'd move down to 4 packs so I don't have to lay out $15.99 at a time.

 

FYI, Giant Eagle in Shaler has a ton of this years Mad Elf in six packs right now. I just grabbed a sixer.

 

Like others, I loved it with 1 year of aging. I didn't care for it fresh.

Fresh, I thought it had too strong of a fruit/cherry/hard cider/cough syrup taste. Aged, everything mellowed and blended perfectly (even the cough syrup flavor).

Honestly, this beer had the biggest difference between aged vs. fresh of anything I've made the comparison with.

 

Every year i buy a case, just bought this years version wensday, might do a 3 year vertical tonight, i love this beer, its not for everyone, some like it aged, some like it fresh, but id for sure buy a bottle or even a 6 pack, drink a few, cellar a few. I think 3 years is the perfect age on it but i do enjoy the fresh cherry kick it has.

 

insta-yay

 

You should split the sixer and age a couple bottles. It really changes with time (agreeing with so many above me).

Oh, and Geno's got a hell of an arm.

 

I like it. Nothing says holidays like Mad Elf.