PENNSYLVANIA, USA — A revered holiday tradition for Pennsylvania craft beer fans is about to return.
Earlier this week, Tröegs Independent Brewing announced the annual re-release of its beloved holiday ale, Mad Elf. First released in 2002, this iconic beer was instrumental in putting the independent, Hershey-based brewery on the craft beer map, Tröegs said in a press release.
“Mad Elf captures so many things about the holidays for so many people,” says co-founding brother Chris Trogner. “And not just beer lovers. A lot of people who typically don’t drink beer have a special connection with Mad Elf.”
The essence of this once-a-year holiday ale, along with its ruby red glow, is born from five varieties of tree-ripened cherries -- Bing, Lambert, Van, and Royal Ann contribute a bright and juicy sweetness, while Montmorency adds a touch of tartness, the brewery said.
The other key ingredient of Mad Elf is Pennsylvania honey. Each year, Tröegs sources 25,000 pounds of local wildflower honey from The Happy Beekeeper in nearby Carlisle.
Whether it’s the beer’s festive nature, nostalgia, decadence, flavors or whimsy, many fans feel Mad Elf captures the holiday season in a glass, Tröegs said.
“It’s really found a place in people’s holiday traditions and has become a beer that’s synonymous with the season,” adds Trogner. “We like to say that it’s not the holidays until you’ve had your first Mad Elf.”
Mad Elf is available in 12-oz. bottles and cans at the brewery and across its entire distribution footprint with draft to follow in the coming weeks leading up to November.
To learn more about Mad Elf, including its origins and brewing process, visit the Tröegs blog.
Also released this week is Mad Elf Grand Cru, a “director’s cut” of Mad Elf. Brewed exclusively with tart Balaton cherries, this limited beer is available in 4-packs of 375mL cork & cage bottles.
Like its counterpart, Mad Elf Grand Cru starts with chocolate, Munich, and pilsner malts and features a large addition of local Pennsylvania wildflower honey. It is also fermented with the same spicy Belgian yeast strain as Mad Elf, which lends flavors of cinnamon, clove, and allspice.