Troegs Mad Elf Ale
November 9th, 2007 by COD
My love for all thing Troegs is well known. Mad Elf Ale is their Christmas seasonal. It’s brewed with Belgian yeast, honey, and cherries. It’s also 11% alcohol. I know that because the proprietor of my local gourmet beer and wine shop warned me when I was buying the beer. When the shopkeeper warns you about the strength of a beer, always add another to the cart. It’s an essential rule of beer shopping.
It pours a rich ruby red color with a thin head that dissipates almost instantly. The nose is deep and rich with cherry and spice notes. It definitely hints of a very complex brew. It starts almost Scottish Ale like, with the alcohol burning though just about everything else. However, that is only when the beer is fresh out of the fridge. As it warms the richness and complexity comes through. Once it warms a bit, and your palate acclimates to it, the start becomes a bounty of spice and cherry. It’s incredibly well balanced for such a complex beer. The spices, cherries, malts, and hops all compliment each other perfectly.
This is a sippin’ beer though. I can’t imagine drinking more than 2 in a session. But it one mighty fine sippin’ brew.
Did I mention that it’s 11% alcohol?
Yum.