Beer Review: Troegs Mad Elf Ale

The beer I came across last night came from one of the better craft breweries in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Troegs Brewing Company. Mad Elf Ale doesn't make its annual appearance on the beer market until about mid-October. The word on the street is that this beer is infamous for its high alcohol content and winter-warming ability. I was really disappointed.

Serving Type: Draft

ABV: 11 percent

Appearance: Mad Elf is a deep shade of red. If any winter/Christmas seasonal looks like it belongs in front of you around this time of the year, it's this one. The head is very thin and white. It doesn't have a good retention at all.

Smell: I was expecting the typical scent of cinnamon, spices and the dominant fruit that was used in the brewing process, but i didn't get that. This beer smelled like a wooden barrel to me, which is something I expect from certain types of bourbon. Nothing Christmas-like made its way up my nostrils.

Taste: Alcohol, alcohol and more alcohol. I don't think I've ever come across a beer with such an overbearing alcohol content. The lack of carbonation doesn't help either.

Overall Rating: 

This really wasn't my cup of tea, uh rather glass of beer. Maybe if the alcohol taste was toned down or dubbed over and there was more of a carbonation feel to it I'd warm up to it. I've come to love many beers from Troegs and I've heard a lot of talk about the Mad Elf. Maybe I just had high expectations before I went into drinking this.