Tröegs Mad Elf Returns For 2026 Holiday Season

Tröegs Mad Elf Returns for the 2026 Holiday Season

It’s back. And for a lot of Pennsylvania beer drinkers, the holidays don’t really get started until Tröegs Mad Elf returns to store shelves. Tröegs Independent Brewing is bringing its famous seasonal holiday ale back for 2026, giving fans another chance to grab the ruby-red Pennsylvania craft beer that has been part of the brewery’s identity since its first release in 2002. Mad Elf has been around long enough to become a holiday tradition of its own, and this is one seasonal beer that doesn’t need much introduction around Hershey.

The recipe is a big part of what makes Tröegs Mad Elf stand out from the usual winter beer lineup, with five varieties of tree-ripened cherries bringing a mix of juicy sweetness and tart fruit character, while Pennsylvania wildflower honey adds another layer to the beer’s distinctive profile. Tröegs sources about 25,000 pounds of local honey each year from The Happy Beekeeper in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, which gives the seasonal ale a real connection to the region. Rich fruit character, honey and that deep ruby-red color. Not exactly subtle, and that’s part of the appeal.

Mad Elf has also grown beyond the usual craft beer crowd, becoming a familiar name for people who look forward to seasonal releases, holiday gatherings and the annual return of favorite Pennsylvania beers. Tröegs says the beer has become closely tied to holiday traditions, and the brewery is bringing back Mad Elf Grand Cru alongside the original for 2026. Grand Cru takes a different route, using tart Balaton cherries and a cork-and-cage bottle presentation, with Belgian yeast and a malt bill built around chocolate, Munich and pilsner malts.

The return of Tröegs Mad Elf means the holiday beer season is getting underway in earnest, with bottles and cans available at the Hershey brewery and throughout the brewery’s distribution footprint, while draft availability is expected to follow in the coming weeks. Mad Elf Grand Cru is also returning in limited quantities, giving fans another version of one of Pennsylvania’s best-known seasonal craft beers to look for. Here’s the full announcement from Tröegs Independent Brewing on the return of Mad Elf and Mad Elf Grand Cru for the 2026 holiday season.

Below is the full press release:

HERSHEY, PA – Tröegs Independent Brewing announces the release of its beloved holiday ale, Mad Elf.

First released in 2002, this iconic beer was instrumental in putting the independent, family-owned brewery on the craft beer map.

“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 festive ale 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 cherries also provide another hallmark of the beer – its lovely ruby red glow.

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 Carlisle, PA.

Whether it’s the beer’s festive nature, nostalgia, decadence, flavors or whimsy, many fans feel Mad Elf captures the essence of the holiday season in a glass.

“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 12oz. bottles and cans at the brewery and across its entire distribution footprint with draft to follow in the coming weeks.

To learn more about Mad Elf, including its origins and brewing process, please visit the Tröegs blog.

Joining the celebration again this year is Mad Elf Grand Cru, a beer Tröegs describes as the “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 Pennsylvania wildflower honey. It’s also fermented with the same spicy Belgian yeast strain as Mad Elf, which lends flavors of cinnamon, clove, and allspice.

Related news from mybeerbuzz.com:
For more Tröegs Independent Brewing news, Pennsylvania craft beer releases and seasonal beer coverage, check out these related MyBeerBuzz articles: Tröegs Mad Elf Returning for 2025–2026 , covering last year’s holiday release; Tröegs Mad Elf Grand Cru Returning in Limited Cork & Cage Bottles , featuring the special Balaton cherry version; Tröegs Releases 2026 Nimble Giant, a Beautifully Balanced Double IPA , highlighting another major annual release; and Tröegs House Spirits and Handmade Cocktails Revealed , covering the brewery’s expansion into spirits. These stories offer additional background on Tröegs seasonal beers, limited releases and ongoing brewing projects.

About Tröegs Independent Brewing: Pennsylvania craft beer, Mad Elf and year-round favorites

Tröegs Independent Brewing is a family-owned craft brewery based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, known for its distinctive beers, experimental brewing program and strong connection to the state’s craft beer community. Founded by brothers John and Chris Trogner in 1996, Tröegs has grown from a small independent brewing operation into a widely recognized Pennsylvania brewery with a broad lineup of year-round beers, seasonal releases and limited-edition creations. The company continues to operate with an emphasis on independence, family ownership, ingredient quality and experimentation.

One of Tröegs’ best-known beers is Mad Elf, the ruby-red holiday ale first released in 2002. Brewed with five varieties of tree-ripened cherries and Pennsylvania wildflower honey, Mad Elf has become an annual favorite among craft beer fans who look forward to seasonal beer releases. The combination of sweet and tart cherry character, honey and warming spice gives the beer a distinctive profile that separates it from more conventional winter ales. Its recognizable appearance and annual return have helped make Mad Elf one of the brewery’s signature seasonal offerings.

Local ingredients play an important role in the Tröegs brewing approach. For Mad Elf, the brewery sources approximately 25,000 pounds of Pennsylvania wildflower honey annually from The Happy Beekeeper in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. This relationship connects the brewery’s holiday beer with regional agriculture while contributing a recognizable ingredient to the finished product. Tröegs also uses its brewing program to explore different malts, hops, yeast strains, fruit additions and other ingredients across its larger portfolio.

Mad Elf Grand Cru offers another expression of the brewery’s seasonal brewing style. Described by Tröegs as the director’s cut of Mad Elf, Grand Cru uses tart Balaton cherries rather than the five-cherry blend featured in the original. Its recipe includes chocolate, Munich and pilsner malts, Pennsylvania wildflower honey and the spicy Belgian yeast strain associated with Mad Elf. Notes of cinnamon, clove and allspice contribute to its warming character, while the limited release is packaged in 375-mL cork-and-cage bottles sold in four-packs. The result is a special seasonal offering aimed at drinkers looking for a different take on the familiar Mad Elf profile.

Beyond holiday beers, Tröegs produces several established beers that have helped define its year-round lineup. Perpetual IPA is a prominent hop-forward offering, while Troegenator delivers a richer, malt-driven double bock profile. Nugget Nectar, another popular seasonal release, is known for its combination of hop character and substantial malt backbone. These beers demonstrate the range of styles in the Tröegs portfolio, from approachable everyday options to more assertive releases with distinct seasonal followings.

Experimentation is another defining part of the brewery’s identity. Tröegs’ Scratch Series allows its brewing team to test new ingredients, techniques and flavor combinations in smaller batches. The program provides room to explore ideas that may eventually influence future releases, while giving beer fans access to creative and often unusual interpretations of established beer styles. The brewery’s rotating releases and seasonal offerings help maintain interest among consumers who follow its newest announcements.

Tröegs has also become known for its brewery experience in Hershey, where visitors can explore the company’s beers, learn about the brewing process and discover seasonal releases. Brewery tours, tasting opportunities and food-related experiences give visitors a closer look at how the company approaches ingredients and production. Its location in Hershey also places Tröegs within one of Pennsylvania’s best-known visitor destinations, making the brewery a popular stop for craft beer fans traveling through the region.

The return of Mad Elf for the 2026 holiday season reinforces Tröegs’ connection to Pennsylvania beer traditions and annual seasonal releases. With the original cherry-and-honey ale and the limited Mad Elf Grand Cru both returning, the brewery is offering two versions of a beer that has developed a following over more than two decades. For fans of Tröegs Independent Brewing, Pennsylvania craft beer and holiday ales, Mad Elf remains one of the brewery’s most recognizable seasonal traditions.

For current beer releases, brewery information and availability, visit the official Tröegs Independent Brewing website 

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