Mad River Brewing

Microbrewery in Blue Lake, California, United States πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ

Established in 1989

Contact
101 Taylor Way, Blue Lake, CA, 95525, United States
Description
Since 1989 Mad River Brewing company has been crafting award winning ales made in Humboldt County. Our most prestigious awards include four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival. Two Bronze awards from the World Beer Cup and 2010 Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year award from the Great American Beer Festival.

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5.8/10 β€” Appearance 10 Aroma 6 Flavor 3 Texture 6 Overall 6
Short stubby 12 oz bottle. Beautiful black pour into my glass. It comes out really viscous. Thick and slow. Attractive brown beer aroma like those wax lips and luscious old campfire coals. I even smell some chocolate milk in there! Coats the inside of your mouth like used shovelhead oil. Carbonation is low medium but that does not curtail any creamy tingliness. The creamy carbonation is one of the better features. Taste impact is like a yeungling black and tan filtered thru old cooled campfire coals that have been put out with creek water. Bitterness on the back of the throat that reminds me of meat that has been charred heavily on the grill. This is quite impressive and offensive to an extent. Finish is annoying burned dark chocolate again like dark chocolate brownies that have been baked way too long on too high a temperature. Now, think about dipping those brownies in cold black coffee before you eat them. Comes on almost like an imp stout.
Tried from Bottle on 08 Aug 2007 at 17:06

8.1/10 β€” Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
Bottle. Steelhead 2IPA pours a light brown color which supports a small head that dies down quickly and leaves a thin film of bubbles on the surface. Aromas are indicative of the best that an double IPA can offer: a mix of pineapple and grapefruit, sticky and sweet malt, and more pineapple. Mouthfeel is thick and it’s the first characteristic I note, even before taste starts to blossom. There is just a touch of that sweet caramel malt that develops before the hops gives way to pineapple sweetness and then a bitter grapefruit and pine finish. The beer is excedingly well balanced and very enjoyable... even in August. I’m surprised this is not rated much higher.
Tried from Bottle on 07 Aug 2007 at 22:53

5.4/10 β€” Appearance 4 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5.5
A very drinkable session pale ale. Moderate hops, some grass. Flavor has very light malt and light hop bitterness with an herbal quality.
Tried on 06 Aug 2007 at 12:35

6/10 β€” Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 5 Texture 4 Overall 6
Bottle pours a deep viscous inky black with a very thick fluffy dark tan head. Still pretty cold but aroma of sweet dark roasted malts and grape sodapop. Flavor is mostly straight forward black and roasted malt. Not much of the coffe or chocolate notes that often accompany. A bit thin and oily palate and faintly carbonated. Late slightly sour bitternes that is earthen and leathery. Some soy and old rubber. Promising at first but falters.
Tried from Bottle on 05 Aug 2007 at 23:04

6.9/10 β€” Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Bottle: Poured a deep brown color ale with a nice foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of sweet malt with some dry and bitter hops also noticeable. Taste is a balance mix between some sweet malt and some bitter and citrusy hops. I personally like more malt heavy barley wine then hoppy barley wine so this was not necessarily for me. Body is about average with some good carbonation and no sign of alcohol.
Tried from Bottle on 27 Jul 2007 at 14:15

7.1/10 β€” Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
A simple but pleasant stout with all of the usual characteristics. The Aroma has chocolate and malt, and the flavor has these as well as coffee. A fairly thick and heavy beer with a better than average palate, and it is very smooth.
Tried on 23 Jul 2007 at 13:46

7.6/10 β€” Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
An interesting idea. The aroma does have smoke and coffee. Very dark brown with considerable carbonation. Flavor has chocolate, more coffee, roasted malt and light fruit. A surprisingly complex beer.
Tried on 23 Jul 2007 at 13:43

6.9/10 β€” Appearance 4 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Cloudy gold color. The aroma has abundant hops. Flavor is almost all hops as well, with some citrus and herbal, hop bitterness. Very drinkable.
Tried on 23 Jul 2007 at 13:34

6.9/10 β€” Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Bottle @ Oliver Twist, Stockholm. Pours a hazy orange color with a white head. Fruity hoppy citrus aroma. Malty fruity hoppy citrus flavor. Has a malty and fruity hoppy finish with a bitter aftertaste.
Tried from Bottle on 10 Jul 2007 at 16:31

7.2/10 β€” Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Cloudy amber,nice beige head.Combination citrus/sweet malt nose.Nice full malty start,citrus mid, long bitter end. Good lace
Tried on 08 Jul 2007 at 23:25