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Beer Review: Admiral (J Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout) (Delta Beer Lab)

B. Kline — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 02:45:10 +0000

Beer Review: Admiral (J Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout) (by Delta Beer Lab)

In honor of Andor season 2, (and the fast approaching May the Fourth Be With You), here is a new Star Wars (themed at least) beer review for everyone. Who has gotten to watch the first three episodes of Andor released today? (I did, and in the next beer review, I’ll post our YouTube review of it – involving myself, Knights of Nostalgia, and Aglets.)

Admiral (J Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout) by Delta Beer Lab

Beer Review

Beer: Admiral (J. Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout)
Brewery: Delta Beer Lab
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Style: American Imperial Stout (Barrel-Aged)
ABV: 11.1%

First Impressions

If you’re searching for a bold, barrel-aged imperial stout that delivers on both complexity and craftsmanship, Admiral (J Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout) from Delta Beer Lab in Madison, WI, is a must-try. This limited release is making waves in the Midwest craft beer scene, earning an impressive 4.2/5 average rating on Untappd and a 4.42/5 on BeerAdvocate, signaling its strong reputation among stout enthusiasts.

Appearance

Admiral pours jet black with a dense, mocha-colored head that lingers and leaves elegant lacing down the glass. The viscosity is immediately apparent, hinting at the richness to come.

Aroma

The nose is decadent and layered. Expect waves of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and molasses, intertwined with notes of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak from the J Henry bourbon barrels. Subtle hints of dried fruit and a whisper of bourbon heat round out the aroma, inviting you in for that first sip.

Admiral by Delta Beer Lab

Flavor

On the palate, Admiral is a masterclass in balance. The bourbon barrel aging imparts smooth vanilla and caramel undertones, seamlessly blending with the stout’s core flavors of bittersweet chocolate, espresso, and dark toffee. There’s a gentle warmth from the 11.1% ABV – enough to remind you of its strength, but never overpowering. The barrel character is pronounced but not dominant, allowing the base stout’s roasty complexity to shine through. As the beer warms, notes of fig, raisin, and a touch of leather emerge, adding depth and intrigue.

Mouthfeel

Full-bodied and velvety, Admiral coats the palate with a creamy texture and moderate carbonation. The finish is long and satisfying, with lingering chocolate and a gentle bourbon warmth that invites another sip.

Overall Impressions

Admiral (J Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout) is a standout example of a barrel-aged imperial stout done right. It’s robust, complex, and dangerously drinkable for its strength. Whether you’re a barrel-aged aficionado or just dipping your toes into the world of imperial stouts, this beer is a testament to Delta Beer Lab’s skill and creativity.

Perfect For:

Sipping fireside on a chilly Wisconsin night
Pairing with rich desserts like flourless chocolate cake or blue cheese
Sharing with fellow craft beer lovers looking for something special

Why Seek Out The Admiral?

Delta Beer Lab is known for its innovative, community-focused approach to brewing, and Admiral exemplifies their commitment to quality. If you’re in Madison or exploring Wisconsin’s craft beer scene, this is a barrel-aged stout that deserves a place on your must-try list.

Pro Tip:

If you spot a bottle or tap pour of Admiral, don’t hesitate-this is one of those rare releases that lives up to the hype and will leave you wanting more. For more reviews of standout craft beers in Wisconsin and beyond, follow our blog and discover your next favorite pour.

Ratings

My Untappd Rating: ****
Global Untappd Rating: 4.21 (out of 250~ ratings) (global average as of 4.22.25)

All of Our Nerd Content

Here’s all of our nerd content, served up best in one single place. Enjoy!

I know ya’ll here for the nerd reviews. So check out our other nerd reviews below:

Star Wars:

Futurama

Lord of the Rings:

Magic the Gathering:

New Belgium Teams Up with Magic the Gathering for Vastwood Seer IPA

Heroes of Barcadia:

Rollacrit Partners with Voodoo Ranger IPA for New Kickstarter, Heroes of Barcadia: Heroes for Hire Tabletop Game

Zelda:

Rick and Morty:

Beer Review: Peace Among Worlds (Cushwa Brewing Company)

Space Balls:

Beer Review: Moon of Vega (Equilibrium Brewery)

Game of Thrones:

The Simpsons:

Back to the Future:

Beer Review: Back to Reality (Three 3s Brewing Co)

Scrooged:

Beer Review: Scrooge IPA (Iron Hill Brewing)

Groundhog Day:

A Christmas Story:

The Peanuts:

Pro Wrestling:

Soccer:

World Cup:

Phillies:

Philadelphia Eagles:

The Philadelphia Eagles Running Back – D’Andre Swift – Visits Bald Bird Brewing Company

Matrix:

Matrix Monday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:

Beer Review: Terpenes in Time (BAREBottle Brewing Co)

Mario:

Beer Review: Level Up (Idiom Brewing)

HP Lovecraft / Cthulhu:

Beer Review: Azathoth (Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company)

Seinfeld:

The Muppets:

Other:

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MAPS OF BREWERIES

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #5 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of April 2025.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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Beer Review: Tenebris (GHOST Tenebris) (Adroit Theory)

B. Kline — Sun, 21 Nov 2021 14:03:26 +0000

Tenebris – A barleywine by Adroit Theory

Adroit Theory

Adroit Theory is a craft brewery based in Purcellville, Virginia. Known for its experimental and bold approach to brewing, Adroit Theory specializes in a wide range of beer styles, particularly focusing on high-ABV (alcohol by volume) beers such as imperial stouts, IPAs, and barrel-aged brews. The brewery is also notable for its distinctive and often dark and gothic-themed artwork and packaging.

Gaming Time

I usually find myself drinking IPAs and DIPAs (or even TIPAs) while doing some gaming, but switched it up with Tenebris by Adroit Theory tonight. This was a fantastic beer to sit back and do a “gaming sesh” (as the cool kids call it). The 10.7% slowly crept up on me as I played and provided a perfect buzz for the gaming. And as Josh would say – “Its a Damn Big Beer”.

Beer Review: Tenebris by Adroit Theory

Tenebris (or GHOST Tenebris) is a Barleywine, in the American tradition. The stats for it are:

Beer: Tenebris
Brewery: Adroit Theory
Style: Barleywine – American
ABV: 10.7%
IBU: 60
Untappd Description:

We haven’t made this beer in over 6 years, but decided to re-address it in the style of an American Barleywine. Full, semi-sweet, and chewy body with a sticky texture offering malt driven notes of honey, toffee, and stone fruit with just enough bitterness for balance.⁠

Brewed with Amarillo + Centennial Hops

Appearance:

Tenebris pours a deep amber to mahogany color with a slight haze, topped with a thin, tan head that dissipates quickly but leaves a delicate lace on the glass. The viscosity is evident, hinting at the rich, high-alcohol content within. Swirling the glass reveals the beer’s thick legs, a visual testament to its bold and syrupy nature.

The clarity of the beer allows light to catch and reveal ruby highlights at the edges, adding to its visual appeal. The minimal head retention focuses attention on the beer’s rich color and inviting appearance, setting the stage for the sensory experience that follows.

Aroma:

The nose is an inviting blend of caramel, toffee, and dark fruits such as raisins and figs. Subtle notes of molasses and brown sugar are present, accompanied by a mild hop aroma that adds a layer of complexity. As the beer warms, deeper aromas of oak and vanilla become more pronounced, hinting at its barrel-aged pedigree.

Inhaling deeply reveals additional layers of aroma, including a faint earthiness and a hint of spice, likely from the interplay of malts and hops. The aromatic profile is rich and complex, drawing you in and encouraging a slow, deliberate tasting experience.

Taste:

The flavor profile is intensely rich and multi-layered. Initial sips reveal a strong malt backbone with pronounced caramel and toffee sweetness, balanced by a robust presence of dark fruit flavors—dates, raisins, and a touch of cherry. As it warms, additional nuances of vanilla, oak, and a slight nuttiness come to the fore, likely influenced by barrel aging. The finish is warm and slightly boozy, with a lingering bitterness that prevents the sweetness from becoming overwhelming.

Each sip uncovers new subtleties, from hints of chocolate and roasted nuts to a whisper of smokiness. The balance of sweetness and bitterness is masterfully executed, making each mouthful a harmonious blend of flavors that evolve on the palate. The complexity and depth of Tenebris ensure that it remains interesting from the first sip to the last.

Mouthfeel:

Full-bodied and smooth, Tenebris has a luscious mouthfeel that coats the palate. The carbonation is moderate, adding a slight effervescence that helps balance the beer’s richness and high alcohol content. The viscosity of the beer provides a satisfying, almost chewy texture that enhances the drinking experience.

Despite its high ABV, the alcohol warmth is well-integrated and adds to the overall enjoyment without overwhelming the other flavors. The mouthfeel is robust yet elegant, making it a pleasure to sip and savor. Each sip leaves a lingering, velvety finish that invites you to take another.

Overall:

Adroit Theory’s Tenebris is a standout example of a barleywine. Its depth and complexity make it an excellent choice for slow sipping and savoring over time. The well-integrated flavors and warming alcohol presence are perfect for cooler weather, making it a great companion for a cozy evening. This beer pairs wonderfully with rich foods such as roasted meats or a decadent cheese platter and can also be enjoyed on its own as a dessert beer.

For fans of the barleywine style, Tenebris is a must-try, showcasing Adroit Theory’s expertise in crafting bold, flavorful brews. Its ability to evolve and reveal new flavors as it warms makes it an engaging and memorable experience. Highly recommended for those looking for an indulgent and memorable beer experience.

My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Average Untappd Rating: 4.12 (as of 11.21.21)

Adroit Theory Beer Reviews

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MAPS OF BREWERIES

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The Beer Thrillers on LinkTree can be found here: The Beer Thrillers LinkTree.

The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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The Mad Elf Gets a Facelift : Tröegs Brewing Mad Elf Changes His Looks

BKline — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:45:00 +0000

The Tröegs Mad Elf through the years.

The Mad Elf Gets a Facelift

As the above picture shows, there’s been a change to our little festive mischievous elf friend over the years. Working from left to right, Tröegs Mad Elf first hit the scene in 2002, and has been the beverage of choice at Christmas (and Thanksgiving) ever since in the greater Central PA area. This marks the second update to the artwork for the Mad Elf, the last time being 2015.

PennLive article originally published in November 2015: Troegs Company Unveils New Label Designs.

Troegs and Art Work

Troegs has a long history of being very interested and engaged in artwork and artists. As is evidenced by the addition of the mural to the outside of their brewery this year. As well as their art gallery inside by the foeders. They’ve done a lot of work with local artists as well as pulling in artists from different neighborhoods and backgrounds over the years, including their work for the Fresh Fest and help with the Harris Brewery and their Imperial Pilsner.

Mad Elf Over the Years

If you go into their brewery (on HersheyPark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania), near where you pick up your food, you’ll see a chart giving a bit of a history of the Troegs brewery, and you will see the evolution of the brewery and their progress. On this timeline, you can see the progression and changes to the brewery, from moving to Harrisburg to Hershey, from growing in size, etc. You can see moments like when Mad Elf was mentioned by name in Playboy magazine – which at the time was a very big deal.

Likewise the Mad Elf himself has changed over the years. From a crazy skinny looking drunkard, to a weird, stout, looking drunk elf, almost with cartoon like ‘suds bubbles’ floating above him, like you’d expect to see in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, and now, back to an elf reminiscent of the old (original) elf.

For the 19 some years of its production, its interesting to see the progression and growth of the artwork and character, as well as the beer’s production, recipe, and changes. And it has certainly changed over the years. From the can and bottle labels, to the recipe, to the production, and to the size.

Mad Elf on display – October 2021

The Mad Elf Gets a Festive New Look

It was time for the Mad Elf to get a new, more festive look. …Partly due to how most people did not like the newest iteration of the elf. Many in the local beer community preferred the old Mad Elf design rather than the newest incarnation. So it seemed like it was long overdue for a new change to our beloved little drunk elf friend.

“When it came to reimagining Mad Elf, there was definitely some pressure,” says illustrator Joshua Noom, who also helped us create the new Troegenator. “But working with the Tröegs team again was great. We wanted an Elf that was friendly, fun and welcoming. I like to picture him walking around the brewery, and he knows everybody’s name. I’m really happy with how it turned out, and I hope Mad Elf fans love it, too.” Read more at blog.troegs.com. #Troegs #MadElf #PAbeer
Troegs Facebook announcement of the art change.

Mad Elf bottle with new 2021 label

From the Troeg’s blog, on the Art of Mad Elf:

Mad Elf is here, and this year he has a festive new look.
Mad Elf’s new art – created in collaboration with Florida illustrator Joshua Noom – is the fourth iteration since 2002. The art takes cues from the past while moving him mischievously into the future.
“We have a history of reimagining the Elf,” says Tröegs brother Chris Trogner. “Mad Elf is a beer that really captures the holidays for so many people. And not just beer lovers. A lot of people who don’t regularly drink beer have a special connection with Mad Elf. This new art really captures what people love about it – it’s festive, nostalgic, and a whole lot of fun.”
Troegs Beer Blog – Art of Mad Elf

Mad Elf – The Beer

Mad Elf is released today at the brewery and will be hitting distribution soon after.

If you are in the greater Central PA area, or even just in Pennsylvania, or Ohio, or New York, or New Jersey…. or anywhere in the area really…. you already know all about Mad Elf, and its release every year. Probably with the date circled already on your calendar.

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 contribute a bright and juicy sweetness, and Montmorency adds a touch of tartness.
Local wildflower honey sweetens the celebration. Every year, when it’s time to brew Mad Elf, we source 25,000 pounds of honey from a neighbor in Carlisle, PA, called The Happy Beekeeper.
“When you taste honey, you’re getting a slice of nature,” says the beekeeper’s daughter. “And it’s best to get that pure, local source.”
Troegs Beer Blog

Today marks the annual release of Mad Elf in the brewhouse at Troegs Brewery (October 18th, 2021). It will soon be finding its way to bars and other breweries in the next few days (if not today itself), and then on to distributors large and small starting the end of the week. Troegs has a brewfinder on their site to help you find where Mad Elf might be located, you can check that out here: troegs.com/brewfinder.

Beer Thrillers Troegs Links

For other Troegs related links here on our blog, you can check out the following list. After that, will be a list of various other news articles to get more information as well.

The Beer Thrillers Social Media

Please be sure to follow us on our social media accounts – Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Influence. Please be sure to also follow, like, subscribe to the blog here itself to keep updated. We love to hear from you guys, so be sure to leave a comment and let us know what you think!

(Post note: All photos presented here are courtesy of Troegs’ Social Media pages.)

Beer Art - The Beer Thrillers

Beer Review: Admiral (J Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout) (Delta Beer Lab)

Beer Review: Admiral (J Henry Barrel Aged Grand Stout) (by Delta Beer Lab)

Beer Review

First Impressions

Appearance

Aroma

Flavor

Mouthfeel

Overall Impressions

Perfect For:

Why Seek Out The Admiral?

Pro Tip:

Ratings

All of Our Nerd Content

Thank You For Reading

Beer Review: Tenebris (GHOST Tenebris) (Adroit Theory)

Adroit Theory

Gaming Time

Beer Review: Tenebris by Adroit Theory

Appearance:

Aroma:

Taste:

Mouthfeel:

Overall:

Adroit Theory Beer Reviews

Thank You For Reading

The Mad Elf Gets a Facelift : Tröegs Brewing Mad Elf Changes His Looks

The Mad Elf Gets a Facelift

Troegs and Art Work

Mad Elf Over the Years

The Mad Elf Gets a Festive New Look

Mad Elf – The Beer

Beer Thrillers Troegs Links

Other Links and More Information

The Beer Thrillers Social Media