Mad Elf Clone Experiment

I decided to attempt a Troegs Mad Elf clone this winter. I really enjoy Belgium strong ales and stouts during the cold months and I thought this beer would be a fun and exciting one to try to clone. I first went to Troegs website and was pleasantly surprised that they listed Mad Elf's main ingredients (www.troegs.com). I wrote it down and brought it to my local homebrew shop (love2brew) where we concocted our own little clone recipe. 

Here is our list of ingredients:

Munich Malt

Chocolate Malt

Extra Light Dry Extract

Hallertauer

Saaz

1lb of honey

1lb of sweet cherries in the secondary (rinsed, frozen, and destemmed... with pits)

My Malt

My set up... notice the home brew to the left. That would be my first batch! It's an Irish Red :)

After 2 weeks in the primary I transferred it into my secondary fermenter on top of 1lb of sweet cherries for another 2 weeks.

Time to bottle! 

SG: 1.075
FG: 1.030

I jumped the gun a little bit on this one by only leaving it in the primary for 2 weeks thinking that would be enough but it was not. My goal was to get an abv. of 8.5% but instead it's only 6%. It's also a little too sweet because I only added sweet cherries (Troegs uses both sweet and tart). When I try to make this again I am going to do 3 weeks in the primary and 2 weeks in the secondary. This was a serious experiment for me having never brewed a beer over 5% and having never used food in the fermenters.

After waiting about one month after bottling I decided to do a side by side taste test. My beer is the one on the left and Mad Elf is on the right.

   

Pour

Mine poured more of a dark red color compared to Troegs clear bright red/copper. Mine also had a thicker head then Troegs. 

Smell

Both had the same sweet smell that you come to expect from a Belgium Strong Ale with cherries. 

Taste

I came very close to an exact replica in terms of taste. The only difference was that Troegs had a little more of an after spice bite that mine lacked. 

Mouthfeel

Overall I am very pleased with how my clone turned out. It had a malty, fruity sweetness with just a touch of hops. It was smooth and much more drinkable at 6% compared to the 11% Mad Elf. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this learning experience and besides the fact that I didn't hit my expected gravity I did create a beer very similar in terms of taste to Troegs Mad Elf. I only hope to make it better next time. =)

*** For more details on this recipe please visit http://www.love2brew.com/Articles for an article written about my brew. ***

Ommegang, Left Hand, and Weyerbacher Seasonal's

Ommegang  - Scythe & Sickle - 5.8%

Description provided by Ommegang.com:

Scythe and Sickle is Ommegang’s foray into honoring the harvest season. Using barley, oats, 
wheat, and rye, we’ve brought the mood of fall to life with vibrant and flavorful passion.

Farming is about precision, timing and care. At Ommegang we place the same emphasis a farmer has for his crops into the creation of our beers. Scythe and Sickle is a testament to the craft and care of farming, from which our farmstead-brewed beers benefit greatly.

Brewed with balance in mind, Scythe & Sickle reveals a smooth and creamy mouthfeel with light toastiness and gentle sweetness. Bright amber in color from the mixed malts, the beer is balanced with delicate hopping to counter rather than overpower the malt profile.

My Thoughts:

And now here's my attempt at video blogging haha. Enjoy. Cheers.

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Left Hand Brewing Company - Fade to Black - 6.5%

Description Provided by Lefthandbrewing.com:

That time of year when the light fades away. Brewed for the darkness, Fade to Black speaks in volumes. Welcome to Volume 4, the Beer pours pitch black with an off white head. Citrus (bergamot) and roast dominates the nose. Slight sweet malt gets pushed back by initial citrusy hops followed by powerful Italian Amaro, gentian and hop bitterness. Finishing with a pleasant duality of dry roasted malts and hop bitterness.

STYLE

Rocky Mountain Black Ale

COLOR

Black

BODY

Medium

IBU'S

64

PLATO

15°

MALTS

2-row, Munich, Dark Chocolate, Crystal and Carafa

HOPS

Columbus and Centennial

My Thoughts:

Pours black with a tan head 

Smells like sweet oak and coffee 

Tastes like espresso 

Medium mouthfeel. The hop bitterness is not particularly overwhelming and there is a 

distinctive malt characteristic.

It is lightly carbonated. I would have to say that it is a good espresso beer but not my 

favorite black ale. 

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Weyerbacher - Winter Ale - 5.6%

Description provided by Weyerbacher.com:

At Weyerbacher we’ve created a Winter Ale that is a must for any malty beer lover. Winner of a Silver Medal in the 1998 World Beer Championships, Weyerbacher Winter Ale is brewed with deep-roasted chocolate malt. The taste predominates with a warm, roasty flavor, balanced out with a slightly dry finish. It’s smooth but not cloying, with a warming belt of alcohol (5.6% ABV).

Although winter ales predate history, they are believed to have their origin in the pagan celebrations of winter solstice. Later, when monasteries produced the local brew, winter ales were made each year to commemorate the birth of Christ. Back then, winter ales were brewed full-bodied as a source of nutrition for the upcoming winter months. Today, winter ales are typified by their seasonality, their rich, malty flavors and by their deep, dark coloration.

Generally available November through February, Weyerbacher Winter Ale is the perfect libation for a winter meal, with good friends, or beside a warm fire fending off a cold winter night.

My Thoughts:

Pours a deep dark cooper brown almost black color. It has a short bright white cap. 

Smells like oak and caramel. It's sweet and earthy.

Tastes like apples and brown sugar. It has slightly metallic undertones. 

It's highly carbonated with a medium body.
Overall I'd have to say that it is a good balanced and smooth beer. It is very mellow and drinkable.

2 New Belgium Beers

Snow Day: 6.2% Winter Ale (Pictured above)

Pour: Dark black with a thick head 

Smell: Very citrusy with slight floral notes that come from the cascade hops. The smell is very hop dense. 

Taste: It is more smooth and mellow then predicted based upon the smell. It has notes of chocolate, coffee, and caramel. 

Mouthfeel: Thick and balanced. It has a pleasant richness with a slight after bite. It warms the throat... and the tummy. 

Fat Tire Amber Ale - 5.2% (Instagram Photo)

Pour: Copper and almost translucent. It has short white head that beautifully laces the glass. 

Smell: It smells like a combination of Werther's Original Butterscotch and Mrs. Butterworth's Maple Syrup.  =)

Taste: Nice balance of hop and malt. You can taste hints of the caramel and biscuit malts used. 

Mouthfeel: Extremely rich for an ale but smooth. It is very drinkable and nicely carbonated.

Goose Island, Sam Adams, and My Brews

First, I would like to say that I have successfully brewed my second batch of beer!!! YAY!

My Pumpkin Milk Stout is currently hanging out in my fridge just waiting to be enjoyed.

I would like to let you all know what ingredients I used in my Pumpkin Stout:

Malt & Specialty Grains
Light DME
Black Patent Malt
Caramel 40L
Flaked Oats

Hops
Northern Brewer
Kent Goldings

Yeast
Nottingham Ale Yeast

And here are the ingredients I used for my Irish Red Ale:

Malt & Specialty Grain
Gold Liquid Malt Extract
Caramel 40L
Special B
Roasted Barley Special Grain

Hops
Cascade
Fuggle

So far I have to say that I like my Ale a little more. I added spices to my stout but they are not as pronounced as I would have liked them to be. I think I will use actual pumpkin puree the next time I brew it.


Now on to my reviews.... 

Goose Island - Sophie (Belgian Ale)

Pour: Clear like apple juice. Yellow tinted with no head.
Smell: Fruity and sweet like grapes. A touch citrusy.
Taste: Sweet. Similar to a cider or a fruit beer.

Sam Adams - Harvest Pumpkin Ale

This beer was brewed with pumpkin and spices and comes in at 5.7%.

Pour: Translucent and filtered, it pours an amber/maple color with a nice, rich, foamy head.
Smell: Intense notes of pumpkin and brown sugar.
Taste: Very strong pumpkin and maple flavors with an oaky finish. This is a full flavored beer.

Sam Adams - Fat Jack (Imperial Pumpkin Ale)

This imperial ale comes in 8.5% next to its 5.7% child.

Pours: Deep brown/mahogany and slightly translucent.
Smell: Smooth notes of nutmeg and pumpkin.
Taste: Loud cinnamon characteristics. This beer is even more flavorful then the Harvest Pumpkin.


Until next time. Happy Drinking!

Harvest moon

While at the Harvest Moon Brewpub in New Brunswick, NJ I ordered a flight.

Here is what I thought of the bunch....

Oktoberfest = German malts and German noble hops. 6.4%
Pour: Light yellow, golden color with a touch of haze. Light head
Smell: Floral notes
Taste: a touch more malt then hops, oaky, fresh
Mouthfeel: Smooth

Sinterklass Belgian winter ale = Pale Munich and crystal malts. Brown sugar and spices. Belgian yeast. 7.8%
Pour: Maple and cloudy. Short head
Smell: Spicy
Taste: Malty and a touch heavier then the Oktoberfest
Mouthfeel: Smooth and soft

Chocolate oatmeal stout = specialty malts for dark coloring, flaked oats and lactose for sweetness and 30LBS of cocoa. Only a touch of hops. 4.9%
Pour: Black with a thick head
Smell: Intense dark chocolate. The smell is overwhelming
Taste: Smooth and rich. It has hints of chocolate but it's not overpowering
Mouthfeel: Extremely smooth

Full moon pale ale = Two row American and lightly kilned caramel malt. American cascade hops fragrant hop and mild bitterness. 6.4%
Pour: Amber color, small head
Smell: Fruity
Taste: Crisp and sweet with a hint of citrus
Mouthfeel: Bitter... not really my thing. I'm not a big pale ale fan so I'm not the best judge for this brew

Jimmy d's firehouse red = Irish style red ale vienna malt blend. English hops for a clean crisp finish. Rich caramel malt with a touch of special carafa malt brings the deep red hue.
Pour: Maple oak color
Taste: Balanced. Slight hoppyness.

Belgian witbier = 40% unmalted white wheat belgian yeast strain and left unfiltered for fruity notes and cloudyness. 4.9%
Pour: Orange hue. Cloudy... you can't see through it.
Smell: Citrus and fruity. Tart
Mouthfeel: Light, tart, clean, and crisp

Moonlight kolschbier = Light german beer. Malted wheat- fruity mild beer with dry finish. Noble hops.
Pour: Clear, light yellow with no real head.
Smell: Citrus
Taste/mouthfeel: I like the hopes bite at the end but it's a fairly boring beer... a "light" beer. 

Sad Cider

Hey guys,

I have some sad news... my cider is not going to work... I didn't realize it has sodium benzoate in it... a YEAST KILLER!

So just a warning out there for those trying to make cider... check the label!

This is a sad day =(

Seasonal Beer Review

We are now entering week 3 of unemployment and it is slowly starting to get to me....

Anyway, enough complaining. I am currently in my 2nd stage of fermentation for my Pumpkin Milk Stout and it's looking good. I cannot wait to bottle those bad boys. 

I also just bought a new 3 gallon glass carboy in my attempt to make a cider... I have never done this before so wish me luck. I bought farm apple cider yesterday and I am going to fix it all up on Saturday. 

Currently, I am reading "Beer for Dummies" and I have to say... it isn't too bad. I am really enjoying it.

Now... on to my new review:

Southern Tier - Special Ale Harvest Seasonal

It has 4 varieties of hops, 2 kinds of Malts and comes in at a 6.8% abv.

Pour: Caramel, golden amber color with very little foam

Smell: Very floral, fresh, and herbal... bright and a bit grassy

Taste: Warm, herbal, with a nice bite.Very drinkable for a beer with a higher alcohol content. 

Mouthfeel: makes me stick my tongue to the roof of my mouth. It is bitterer beer then the other ones I've reviewed so far but it's not over powering. It's nice... a perfect combination.