Bethlehem Brew Works Rude Elfs Reserve

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

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.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

This intensely spice beer pours a hazy mahogany. The aroma is a huge buttload of nutmeg. Very spicy. Spices hide every other quality of the beer except a very tiny bit of the warm, chewy malt.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Not what i expected, this should be a spiced beer. Poured a amber color with not much head or lacing. Aroma was of cinnamon and nutmeg. Flavor was where this one was off, not that it was bad but to much spices. If it were a spiced beer maybe higher rates.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Ah, too much spice going on in this "Belgian," too much cinnamon and nutmeg anyway. These spice beers (ginger, cinnamon) are starting to annoy me, big time, especially in beers like this that pretend to be "Belgian." Poured a clear amber beer with a small head and weak weak lacing. Aroma was of cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry, and some sort of juniper / medicinal or something of light floral aspects. Turns out they have some sort of sweet gale in here, which is something medicinal / shrubbery related - maybe that was it. Flavor was all spiced up everywhere, weak for the style, killed anything Belgian about this. Finished with some soapiness. The mouthfeel was thin for a Belgian. I'm gonna rate this before I finish, cuz as it warms this spice junk is killing me.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Bethlehem Brew Works Rude Elf's Reserve poured a deep copper colored body with a decent off white head. The aroma was cloves, coriander, and other spices. The taste was spicy with sweet caramel notes mixed with cinnamon. Excellent holiday ale!

Aroma: 0 | Appearance: 0 | Mouthfeel: 0 | Flavor: 0 | Overall: 0

I had this one fresh from the brewery. This is probably their best one that they brew. Poured in a brandy snifter it comes alive with cinnamon and nutmeg flavors. Definitely try it if it is available.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Poured a copper color with a small off white head and nice lacing. Aroma of clove, banana, coriander, some hops and spice. Spicy taste of caramel, cinnamon and cherry. Great dessert!