Fegleys Brew Works Rude Elfs Reserve

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

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

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Pours ruby red with a thin white foam. The armoa is spicy clove , ginger, and nutmeg. Full bodied with a touch of alcohol.

UPDATED: JAN 2, 2013 Really flavorful beer. The high alcohol isn’t overpowering and a good balance is created. Better at room temperature.

Pine taste and a strong beer. Caramel and ginger come to mind. Christmas comes to mind.

Poured from a 12oz bottle given to me by Chad of Chad’z Beer Reviews (thanks, buddy!).

A nice pour, ruby in color with a thin white head that laces fairly well. Slightly cloudy. The nose is spice heavy with lots of candi sugar, gingerbread, nutmeg, some dark fruits (fig, plum), and a touch of Belgian yeast (primarily clove). This is most definitely a spice bomb, and while I’m not usually a fan of Christmas spice beers, the Rude Elf’s Reserve seems to pull it off. The Belgian yeast definitely asserts itself, and that strikes an interesting balance with the spiciness of the rest of the flavor. It feels a bit thick in the mouth, with a bit of warmth (no doubt a product of the fact that this is a big beer), but not overwhelmingly so. A *definite* sipper, Rude Elf’s Reserve isn’t a beer I’d actively seek out again, but I have to give it credit for being a Christmas spice beer that I actually enjoyed.

I don’t know what Fegley’s Brew Works was going for with Rude Elf’s Reserve, but they definitely nailed it. A lot of people might scoff at this as being a hot mess, but I think that’s what makes it so good: a robust, complex palate that tastes delicious despite the low drinkability.

I received a 12oz bottle as a gift from friends (thanks Alex & Marissa!). I poured it into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Gorgeous shade of clear burgundy/orange. Forms a fairly small, off-white, soapy head that almost completely dissipates but not before leaving some lacing on the glass.

Smell: Strong banana, clove, and cinnamon notes as soon as the cap is popped.

Taste: Sometimes I don’t even understand my own palate. Normally I dislike "spice rack bombs" that are so many Christmas beers, but for whatever reason, Rude Elf’s Reserve is a shining exception. It does have the usual flavors of ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove, but they’re in the "proper" ratio here (whatever that may be). The beer is also brewed using three Belgian yeast strains which definitely imparts a classic banana and dark fruit flavor as well. It’s Chimay White meets Scaldis Noel.

Right away there’s a strong warmth of ginger and cinnamon as soon as it hits the tongue. Followed by spicy clove, nutmeg, hot apple cider, and a banana sweetness towards the end. Because it’s such a big beer the alcohol is a major flavor component, but it works wonderfully with the palate. Slightly spiced rum with a hint of vanilla complements the natural Belgian character well. It finishes with a cinnamon bread or gingersnap cookie malty aftertaste, though it’s not cloying. This is a spicy palate I can really get behind.

Drinkability: The only thing holding Rude Elf’s Reserve back is the fact it’s a sipper. The tastes are very strong and the alcohol is prominent as well, so it’s not a beer for newbies. There’s distinct warmth in the mouth and in the throat, but it’s tolerable. The mouthfeel is not spastic, though, in fact it’s on the tepid side which is interesting considering its use of Belgian yeast. At 10.5% ABV it’s best enjoyed as a nightcap or on a special occasion. A vintage bottle with some age could only make it better.

Bottle at lucky lab. Pours hazy copper with minimal head, and minor carbonation. The aroma Is sour cherry, nutmeg, cinnamon. The taste is sweet cinnamon, cherry, and a little booze.

Bottle via UDBeernut. A few years ago, Art gave me this bottle during one of his visits. It has been hiding amongst the salad dressing and ketchup for so long it was nearly forgotten. Lofty sugary nose of cotton candy and candi sugar. A wavy si9ngle strand of oily lacing remains as head settles upon the murky brown volume. Rich and rolling super sweet body does allow some whispy spice thru. Malt hopelessly surrounded by sugars, much like the Russians at Stalingrad. Malts must surrender.

Location: 12 oz bottle from Oak Tree, 12/2/12

Aroma: The nose has a ton of winter-style spices, with some sweet malts, and fruity notes
Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy reddish-amber color with a small off-white head and spotty lace
Flavor: It tastes fairly sweet and fairly spicy, with minimal bitterness, and a bit of booze on the finish
Palate: The body is medium-plus, it feels somewhat tingly, fairly sticky, and with a light heat to the finish
Overall Impression: This one was a bit strange, but not in a bad way. The spice dominates the nose, but somehow it becomes much sweeter in the flavor, with the spice showing up mid-palate, and some booze coming through at the very end. The sweetness is so pronounced that the flavor didn’t totally work, but it is still a decent beer, and an interesting offering.

sweetness and spice blended well with mellow candied fruit appropriate for the season. nice kick to it but not overbearing with alcohol. not really slick in the body and low head. body still moderate enough and flavors waft in and out well.

Bottle. Amber brown pour with beige head. Spice, fruit, and belgian sugar like aromas. Spice, yeast, fruit and sweet flavors. Nice seasonal brew.