Mad River Steelhead Double IPA

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

Draft. Slight cloudiness, brown color. Small head. Maltier flavor and aroma than most IIPAs with a peppery spice and a crisp finish. Very drinkable.

Poured a cloudy amber at refrigerated temp. For a ’snifter’ style, I had a hard time smelling this one until I let it warm up a bit, which is unusual for an IPA. Had a floral nose, once it got there. The head wasn’t bad. It didn’t vanish but was about a quarter inch thick once it stabilized. The malt was very... fruity with quite a bit of alcohol in the aftertaste. Less bitters than I would have expected with an IPA or double-IPA, and they’re kind of needed here to offset the sweetness of the malt. A good double-IPA, just a wee bit off balance. Will definitely be buying some more.

Cloudy amber color. Weak aroma. Good bitter taste lingers. Solid medium body.

12 ounce bottle. The pour presented the thinnest of white heads. It was so thin that it almost wasn’t a head, yet it was. Ah, the embodied "head" koan... The body was hazy pumpkin orange with miniscule white flecks floating about. The aroma was more apple and/or pear than it was orange and/or citrus, although it was also the latter. There was also a yeasty scent, especially as it warmed. The flavor was bitter and orange—"heavy" orange, although not as bitter as I expected. That was the primary flavor. As it warmed the flavor began to "separate," bringing forth hints of alcohol, yeast, and very light caramel. Steelhead was not as complex and flavorful as I had hoped, but it was still a satisfying drink. I would drink it again.

12oz bottle-pours a retaining off white head and hazy amber color with particles. Aroma is citrus hops-sweet, secondary medium malt-molasses. Taste is citrus hops-sweet, secondary medium malt-molasses. Somewhat syrupy mouth feel, alcohol. Mild carbonation. Thanks to decaturstevo for sharing.

Bottle purchased from 99 Bottles in Santa Cruz. Poured into a pint glass. On the pale end of the DIPA color spectrum, with a gorgeous fluffy white head. Modest lacing but excellent retention. Aroma is grapefruit-dominated and somewhat sweet. Flavor has a mild crystal malt basis that gets trampled by citrus hops. Pleasant even bitterness through the finish. Lacking in flavorful maltiness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated. Pretty drinkable.

Ridiculously hoppy but pleasantly flowery. Numbers among the most boldly flavored double IPAs I’ve ever had. Remarkably smooth mouthfeel for a brew this bitter.

Bottle. Cloudy copper pour with a white head. Aroma is mild caramel with a floral hop scent, not very strong. Flavor has a nice floral bitterness, leaves a nice dry hop taste in the mouth. Pretty good overall.