The Spring Beer Tourney: # 7 Founder's DT vs Troeg's Nugget Nectar

      Our next match up in the first round is Founders Double Trouble and Troegs Nugget Nectar.  These are hop heavy beers from the Farm, Hops and Reds Region. And founders DT wins with a 9.4 % ABV.  Just kidding. Actually, Troegs Nugget has a 7.5 so I'll give it a chance. DT is a clear light gold with nice herb, honey and caramel on the nose.  Nugget is a very light amber with herb and strong caramel. Wow, both of these beers are nearly identical, with massive amounts of herbal hop up front, in the middle, and gobs of painfully strong herb on the finish. What do I do with this.  They are both equally worthless. I soldier on , but I still can't really get anything out of these, you can't even taste the alcohol. I fear picking one, cause I'll have to drink more of it. You know what, fuck it, screw them both. These guys are locked out, I'm gonna find some scabs to replace them. Bwa, ha, ha.

Troegs The Mad Elf Ale

      Troegs, out of Harrisburg PA, makes high alcohol beers and for that I salute them.  Mad Elf is no exeption with it's staggering 11% ABV.  This is already a winner.  Elf is in a nice jolly bottle and pours out a red-orange color.  The nose is rich with spice, citrus, cherry and yeast.  It starts of with a medium tingly hop that lasts throughout.  Then you get the sour cherry flavor and a bit much of a yeasty flavor.  Also, there's the spice flavors of clove and cardamom.  The body is thick and heavy and the alcohol is joyous.  Now, so far, it sounds like I really like this beer, but it's not as good as it should be.  The strong yeasty flavor bugs me.  However, there is so much that is positive here it goes up in the top half of the nice list.  I would gladly down a few more of these, and will revisit this next holiday as well.  Nice.