Ridgeway Seriously Bad Elf

Brewed by Hepworth
Style: English Strong Ale
Horsham, England

16.9 ounce bottle - $5.99 at Bullock’s Wine & Spirits in Marietta, Georgia. Appearance: Clear, light copper body with a smallish, short-lived, white head. Smell: If blind-folded and given this to smell, I’d have guessed it was possibly malt liquor from Melanie Brewing. Not just notable, but completely glaring alcohol and sweet-scented, faux apple notes. 16.9 ounces, eh? It’s going to be a grueling, uphill battle as I lost interest around the 1.69 ounce mark. Taste: Woof! Sweet, all-too sharp alcohol with some vague fermented honey tones and a fruity hint of all-natural apple flavoring. Good grief, Ridgeway. Not much hop character, and what’s there is stymied by all this coarse alcohol and unnecessary sweet. That alcohol never lets up, searing the tongue like cheap mouthwash. Sweet, lightly fruity, grotesquely alcohol finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-light carbonation. Drinkability: The relatively okay-ness of Very Bad Elf had inspired me to give the rest of these goofy beers a ’go’, but after the seriously poor showing of Seriously Bad Elf, this may be it for me and Ridgeway’s Christmastime line-up.

Lemon meringue aroma. Clear yellow, constant streams of carbonation, thin head. Malty, medium body. Cloying, with alcohol obvious, if not exaggerated. Light grassy finish, with little personality. This was my third in the Bad Elf series, starting from Bad Elf proper. They seem to be getting progressively worse. After this, I’m seriously dreading the barleywine.

Given the smells and flavor, it is surprisingly light--dark gold and clear. Moderate head with some lasting power; light spotty lace. Strong sweet caramel aroma. Coyingly sweet with a strong bitter punch at the end. The aftertaste is similar to having a sweet hard candy. The body is very full, like whole milk. This is interesting but too extreme on the upfront sweetness.

Cask/gravity at Pig’s Ear 2009. Dark gold with no head, nose brings malt, hints of banana and sour ale, and loads of alcohol. Palate backs that up, along with vanilla, peach, and oak. Yes, it’s sweet, but the huge alcohol bite and the dry hops mopre than compensate.

Bottle at Nya Tröls, Malmö. Clear amber coloured with a medium sized off white head. Fruity aroma of yeast, berries and spices. Fruity flavour of caramel, spices, alcohol and berries. Warming alcoholic finish.

500 ml bottle at the Bayou drank with Andrew. Pours a clear golden/amber color with a medium white head. A similar alcohol and chemical-pear nose as the criminally bad elf. A sweet flavor, light fruits, pretty drinkable despite the ABV, somewhat spicy.

clear gold pour. Small white head. Tons of banana on the nose. Flavor is sweet with apples, banana, light hops and honey. Ok. A bit sweet for me.