Back in the fall of 2002 — in the days when Tröegs founding brothers, Chris and John, were busy brewing, bartending, giving tours, and making sales calls up and down central Pennsylvania – they hatched a plan to have a little holiday fun.

They decided to brew a big, bold Belgian-style ale made with cherries and honey. Loads of cherries and loads of honey. They were all-in on this beer, but one question came up: Just where do you get 300 lbs. of honey?

As luck would have it, they found a guy just 30 miles from the brewery, who calls himself The Happy Beekeeper. The Happy Beekeeper not only keeps bees himself, but he sources from other small Pennsylvania beekeepers. He got the 300 lbs. for the very first batch of Mad Elf. and Chris and John got an education in honey.

While visiting beekeepers in central Pennsylvania, the brothers realized how much time and effort went into every pound. They also got to taste different honeys: clover, wildflower, locust. They discovered that the sweet, floral wildflower honey helped brighten the sweet and sour cherries and the Belgian strong ale base.

Their priority is buying the best ingredients in the world. To them, that often means Germany or England or the Pacific Northwest. But sometimes they can find the very best ingredients right in central Pennsylvania. Today, they still buy all of their honey for Mad Elf from The Happy Beekeeper, and that 300-pound order has increased to 25,000 pounds a year.

Check-in to one (1) Mad Elf beer between November 26th - December 26th to unlock The Bee's Knees Badge.