Tröegs, The Mad Elf Holiday Ale

Tis the season for Christmas ales. : )
A friend of mine gave me a bottle, so why not review it?
I'm sure you guys are sick of east coast beer reviews, but what the hell, here's one from Pennsylvania.

Brewery: Tröegs
Beer: The Mad Elf Holiday Ale
Style: American Strong Ale
ABV: 11%
IBU: 15
Price: ?

The bottle that I received had a bad seal. It appeared to have no pressure released upon opening, and the head was pretty much non existent. I guess my picture says it all. With that in mind, flat beers tend to sway on the sweeter side. I'll keep this in mind as I drink it. Anyways, this beer pours a very reddish orange. Aroma is yeasty (specifically belgian), slightly fruity on the cherry side and alcohol. Flavor is HUGE on the cherries, slightly overripe. There is a slightly spicy side to this beer, I can't quite figure out what it is, but its very pleasant. This beer is on the sweet side. I'd contribute this to the fruit and yeast more so than the lack of carbonation on my bottle. What gets me is that the alcohol is perfectly masked in this brew. For an 11% beer it's very impressive. Mouthfeel is very heavy, almost like a light syrup. As this beer warmed into the cellar range of temperatures, the alcohol became more pronounced, but not in an intrusive manner. Overall, I was very pleased with this beer. From the first sip to the last it was very enjoyable.

Aroma: 8/10
Appearance: 4/5
Taste: 8/10
Palate: 3.5/5
Overall: 17/20

Final Score: 40.5/50