Mad River Steelhead Double IPA

Brewed by Mad River Brewery
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Blue Lake, California USA

Nice aroma of citrusy floral and piney hops. Slightly cloudy amber orange with a small white head. Big grapefruit and resiny hop flavor backed by sweet pale malts. Huge bitterness in the finish. Medium body and well carbonated. Nicely balanced IPA

On tap at Milltown, Carrboro. Very clear amber pour, almost still with little carbonation. Smell is big and floral, with some notes of pine and a touch of booze in there. More carbonation in the mouthfeel than expected (given the look), and the hops are pleasant. But the beer is a bit too thin and sticky to rank at the forefront of the style.

Bottle. Pours clear copper with a thin white head. Aroma is less hoppy than expected, with some mild malt. Flavor is sweetly malty, citrusy hoppy, and some other fruit is present as well. A fair IIPA. Mouth is sticky. Finish is bitter.

12oz bottle: Pours a clear copper with a small off white head that quickly vanishes. The aromas are very light for the style. A slight sweet malt is present on the nose. The flavor is non descript. I can’t really distinguish anything of note other than malt sweetness. This could be a bad bottle. The palate is medium to heavy. I’m surprised that I’m not rating this better since the style is my favorites. I hope to rerate with another bottle.

Not an overly hoppy aroma. This isn’t overly agressive up front, but you feel a bite and strength perpetually hiding, waiting to dominate, it just never fully does. An okay double IPA.

Hazy golden orange with a full buttery head. Aroma is a little pungent, citrusy, like sticking nose in a bottle of chewable vitamin C’s. Taste is sweet, citrusy, with chocolate of all things. Alcohol strong here. Double malt, more than the double hops. Hops are normal for an IPA. Dry hopped floral and papaya hops finish the palate. Pretty tasty! Purchased this 12 oz bottle at Whole Foods in Falls Church, VA.

Pours a slightly cloudy copper color with a small cream colored head. Aroma is citrusy hops with some sweet malt background. Taste is fairly malty and smooth with a nice hop profile as well. Good beer.

Bottle poured a clear copper with a small diminishing amber head. Aromas of grapefruit with hints of orange and apricot also light pine and carmel notes. Palate was light to medium bodied, crisp and dry. Flavors of grapefruit, pine, light earthiness and light carmel with a crisp dry lingering bitter finish.