Bad Elf Winter's Ale

[steveh]

Ridgeway Brewing, Oxfordshire, U.K. 16.9 oz bottle (bottle conditioned) 6.0 ABV

Pale gold with a very thick, soap-suds, eggshell colored head that leaves nice lace in its wake.

Fruity, pear/apple nose, mellow bitter hops back, some pininess.

Crisp, fruit ester flavor. Very citrus, grapefruit tartness. Bitter, earthy hops back, mild biscuit malt meandering between other flavors. Crisp, dry alcohol finish.

Thin to medium body with a crisp, dry mouth-feel - so dry, it's nearly cloying.

A terrific "winter's brew" that BeerAdvocate, and Ridgeway's site list as an IPA. While not a thick and chewy beer we may be used to in a winter beer, it's still very full of character and flavor. This may be the hoppy English brew Grainbrew has been looking for.

An edjicated guess leads me to believe Fuggles and Kent Goldings, Cascades - maybe even Saaz. The web site says English grown Cascades are part of the bill.

Yes - finishing the bottle, I know for sure that Grainbrew would be happy with this one if he can find it. There's a hop resin dryness to the finish. The label says that near to 3lbs. of hops are in every barrel. Hmm, highly hopped and bottle conditioned...I need a few to lay down!

Merry Christmas all you "Bad Elves."
S.

http://www.sheltonbrothers.com/

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by steveh

An edjicated guess... What, are you just testing my eyes? ;)

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
What, are you just testing my eyes?

No, making fun of my edjimication. ;)

S.

[stronk]

I'm amazed you managed to get hold of this; it's not very widespread even in the UK. I have had a beer called 'Good Elf' from the cask in several pubs this winter and found it delicious.

The beer I had wasn't particularly hoppy and was dark and malty. I suppose they brew the two alongside each other for Christmas. You would have thought that the dark one would be 'bad', not the light one, though.

[steveh]

Originally posted by stronk
I'm amazed you managed to get hold of this; it's not very widespread even in the UK.

Hmm. I knew that the particular paint store™ I frequent had good sources, but I didn't know how good. Also picked up a bottle of Santa's Butt* Porter from the same brewery that I'm looking forward to.

You would have thought that the dark one would be 'bad', not the light one, though.

Well, the Good Elf is 4.9 ABV, the Bad Elf is 6.0...while the Very Bad Elf is 7.5.* I surmise that's where the titles come from. ;)

S.

*We all know the definition of this in connection with English ales, let's not go too junior high.

*Edit: Sorry, the Very Bad is 7.5 -- it's the Lump of Coal that's 8.0.

[chazwicke]

As long as it is not called Santa's ENTIRE Butt. (Hope that was not too junior hs.

[steveh]

Close enough: Santa's Butt. (http://www.sheltonbrothers.com/beerProfile.asp?BeerID=152)

S.