Day Three: Seriously Bad Elf

Santa was right on the Very Bad Elf label in yesterday's post when he inquired what was next. Released in November, Seriously Bad Elf is the latest (and stongest at 9.0% abv) in the annual "Elf" line from England's Ridgeway Brewing. The label states it's a "rather serious English Double Ale" or more aptly classified as an English Strong Ale. Think of it as being somewhere between a Pale Ale and a Barleywine. Or as the brewer, Peter Scholey, sees it, his interpretation of a Belgian Tripel. Seems to me like an identity crisis is at hand.

"I suppose I should have seen it coming this time," groaned old Claus. "Holiday ornaments mysteriously disappearing - turning up broken - reindeer falling from the sky inexplicably... and then of course, I discovered that tiny hands have been prying into that cask of wonderful new Double Ale I've got stashed down in the cellar. That's when I called in a specialist from the Elf Department. He just confirmed what I already suspected. We've got a rather serious elf problem here at the North Pole."

Seriously Bad Elf pours a clear copper in color with a white head that dissipates rather quickly. Fruity (feint citrus) nose with hints of caramel malt and underlying alcohol. Ok, not so underlying, it's pretty noticeable. Medium-bodied mouthfeel. Mild malt flavor which transitions into a caramel sweetnees. Mandarine oranges and feint apple swathed in alcohol follow. Warming sensation as it goes down.

Despite the high abv this goes down pretty smoothly until room temperatures warm it up a bit too much. At that point the alcohol creeps into the forefront. It's tough to say which between the two, Very Bad Elf or Seriously Bad Elf I liked better. Both are pretty potent and easily enjoyable on a cold winter's night.