Black Diamond Elfs Ale

Brewed by Black Diamond Brewing Company
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Walnut Creek, California USA

Bottle:   Deep amber, brownish, coppery, moderate finely bubbled off-white head, a few rings of lacing.   Spicy nose, anise, all-spice, nutmeg, cinnamon.   Somewhat like a Dubbel crossed with a spiced Winter Ale.   Bright dark pitted fruit both and the nose and on the tongue.   This is already much better than all their other offerings.   More spicy than your average Dubbel, and also not as much dark pitted fruit.   Sweet, but not cloying.   Body and mouthfeel aren’t heavy as one wouth think for a Dubbel.   Lingering spiciness on a background of sweetened malts.   Big on spices, especially on the nose.   Good Winter offering, even if they try to play this as a Dubbel.

6 pack from Beverages & More! Arden. Pours a clear dark amber with a small tan head which quickly reduces to a thin film. Aroma is spicy with some banana notes. Oh; flavor is a lot richer than expected. Lots of honey, bitter fruits, medium hops, on a thick malt body. Thinner palate, low carbonation. Not bad. Overall, good.

Boozy and over sweet. This beer was a disappointment, and I have no idea what it has to do with the holiday season. The aroma is alcohol, caramel malt and a mess of Belgian phenolic/fruit character. There are some interesting fruit notes, raisins, apricots, grapes, in there that might be appreciated, but I’m not a huge fan of dubbels. The beer is a reddish copper with little head. The flavor is sweet and boozy with some bitterness, but it doesn’t really come together. Ok beer but not great for a winter seasonal or the style.

Bottle served in a tulip. Clear dark ruby in color. Short lived small off-white head that ends in a bubbly ring. Light, pink bubblegum nose. Sweet Belgian flavor. Palate is moderately creamy, fizzy, and sticky. Not overly complex. This isn’t like your everyday winter ale. Seems quite sessionable, but at 7.2 ABV that could be dangerous.

12 oz bottle of "Winter Ale" from Sandy’s liquors. Nose of caramel, sweetness, and bubblegum. Clear copper with a medium beige head. Flavor is nutty caramel and light sweetness. Decent and cheap.

Packaged this ’09 season as "Winter Ale" and not Elfs Ale. And it’s quite good, all full of Belgainy goodness. It’s one of those darker Belgian ales, not the golden types but rather of the more Abbey type with nut-brown appearance. I think I would liken this to the Fat Tire Abbey Ale.

outstanding! tasted against other Abbey style doubles and exceded or held its own It is called Black Diamond Winter ale now.. a very good value

Bottle. Poured clear dark red with medium off white. Caramelly and malty aroma. Medium flavour with caramel, raisin and dried plum notes. Plummy finish with hop and candy sugar notes.