Bethlehem Brew Works Rude Elfs Reserve

Brewed by Bethlehem Brew Works
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA

Poured maroon and hazy with the fizziest head I’ve seen on a beer. Bubbled highly then completely vanished in a matter of seconds. Aroma was sweet, caramel malts, alcohol soaked cherries, and typical Christmas spices. I wouldn’t call it a fruit beer but the flavor was highly sweet with a little balancing spicy flavors. Body was a little thin and fizzy for my liking.

On tap at the Allentown location. Pours a deep red, clear, with a small white head. Aroma of lots of spices -- ginger, cinnamon, gingerbread, clove. Flavor again is dominated by the spices mentioned above. Heavy mouthfeel. This was just a little overkill for me with all the spices and alcohol. 6/4/6/3/12 [3.1/5]

It has the delicious potent aroma of cherries and a ruby red appearance. The sweet cherry malt flavor is delicious, but there is a boozy flavor more prevalent on top.

I brought this one out of reserve and sat around a nice warm fire, christmas tree all aglow only to watch my Kings lose to the Trailblazers. The beer was kickass though, and a damned fine beer to have near Christmas time. The aroma was full of wonderful aromas...cordial cherries, nutmeg/cinnamon, figs, slightly vinous and the alcohol was picked-up too. The body was a dark brownish/purple, hazy with a nice 1" off-white head. Flavor starts sweet up front, with a heavy dose of caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg and cherry. The alcohol kicks in about mid-palate and the rum raisin-like effect takes over and it finishes with a molasses/gingerbread kind of flavor. The alcohol masages the tongue throughout the beverage and seems to mesh well with everything into one nice package.

Bottled. Poured medium orange with a short-lived cap of beige head. The aroma picked up a whole host of spices with coriander, nutmeg, and cardamom represented.. sweeter, candied caramel base.. just a hair of fruit joined in at the back. The flavor opened with tangy spices and Jager-inspired licorice warmth.. warm darker fruit sweetness at the core.. cinnamon, cardamom, and more licorice are amplified by boozy warmth on the finish. Heavier-bodied and a tad syrupy on the palate.. quite spicy and in-your-face.. some interesting stuff in here, but I can’t say it was entirely enjoyable.

Draft at Allentown locations. Pours dark amber red with a dissipating off white head. Great aroma of dark belgian malts, cherry, and brown sugar. Medium bodied with a very slight syrupy texture. Intial flavor of dark wheat malt and cherry, with banana, christmas spices, and yeast coming out mid palate. You get some alcohol on the finish, which lingers. Not too bad.

12oz. Bottle: Aroma of dark fruits, cherries, alcohol, Belgian yeast, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Poured dark amber in color with a medium-sized, creamy, tan head that lasted throughout. Clear. Sparkling. Fully of large particles throughout. Medium sweet flavor. Flavor of alcohol, cinnamon, raisin, and cloves. Medium to full body. Thick, oily texture. Average carbonation. Sweet, malty, alcohol finish. Alcohol burn. Too sweet.

Bottle: Instant aroma of spices as it pours a dark, hazy amber with a large beige head. Thick lacing. Citrus, corriander, nutmeg, and a little cinnamon fill the air. Smells like a scented candle... Taste is spicey and floral, yet remains balanced. The coridander, cloves, and allspice are much more present in the flavor, yet not so much in the aroma. If you like a ton of spice, this is one to try. Too intense for me to really enjoy, but still fun to try.