Kurt Ober reviews Mad River Brewing, Humboldt.
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Mad River
Brewing review
Submitted
by Kurt
Ober
Hello,
fellow beer guzzlers of the world. I come to you
with some info on the great Humboldt
nation in California.
But first, let me ask a question. What makes a good, nay, great beer? Well, ingredients of course play a huge role, but what else, I'll tell you what else: Happy people.
You see, beer making is an art that an old grump could not handle. It takes patience, understanding, and a smile that could blind you.
I found these people and the place where they work their asses off to bring us some of the best beer in Humboldt county and beyond. This place is Mad River Brewing Co.
Mad River Brewing, CA
My girlfriend and I had the ultimate pleasure of getting a full tour of the brewing facility. There we met some very happy people who just love to bring us the nectar of the gods from the tiny little town of Blue Lake, California.
There we also learned many facts about the company which most people do not know.
We learned that Mad River Brewing was started with the same exact equipment that started the Sierra Nevada Brewery. This equipment was purchased from the Sierra brewery and might even be wanted back for a museum or something. I will find more about this when I take the tour of Sierra Nevada.
Also, there is a Jamaica Beer line at Mad River Brewing that was actually started as a promotional beer for the internationally-known Reggae on the River festival that happens here in Piercy, California.
After the fascinating tour, we had the pleasure of ending with a tasting of every beer they had, which was of course the highlight of the evening. Then I bought a logo hoodie and we made our way home talking about how great that tour really was.
Now onto the beers.
Steelhead
Extra Pale Ale
(5.6% abv)
This golden-colored beer has
a fantastic mix of hops that smell like a garden in the sunlight. The
bitterness is very slight. This
beer
is at the moment the most popular beer they have, but is about to get
trumped by Steelhead Double IPA. Body: Mimi Mandora.
Steelhead
Double IPA (8.6% abv)
More hops and more malt = more six
packs in my fridge. This IPA is much stronger than most IPAs
and is
uniquely dry hopped with Amarillo hops, which gives it that fresh
citrus
aroma and taste. This beer does not go well with driving or
operating heavy machinery. Body: Marilyn Monroe.
Steelhead
Extra Stout (6.0% abv)
Mild hops, which goes well with
stouts, and a roasted malt character give this beer an A+ on the Ober
scale. I love the creaminess of the stout and this one I can
feel all the
way down. Try this with ice cream for a vanilla stout float
that will
blow your mind. Body: Angelina Jolie.
Steelhead
Scotch Porter (6.0% abv)
I have never really been a
fan of the Scotch porters I have had in my time, but this one I can
almost
stand. The malts and hops are balanced well, but I think it is the
smoky
flavor that makes it palatable. So for those of you who do like Scotch
porters, give it a try, because if I can take it, then you will love
it.
Body: Scarlet Johanssen.
Jamaica Sunset IPA (7.0% abv)
Also dry hopped, this copper-colored IPA goes down
smooth. It's strong enough for a man or woman! This beer goes great
with
some 'big sammiches and foosball'. Body: Tyra Banks.
Jamaica
Red Ale (6.8% abv)
This red is uniquely bitter, with
a mahogany color and a caramel richness. This is one of those beers
that
should be served ice cold in a chilled mug, to give you a brain freeze
from heaven and a buzz that will cure a hangover
immedietley. Body: Jenny
McCarthy.
John Barleycorn Barleywine (9.5% abv) this is a seasonal beer/barleywine goodness that will curl your toes like a virgin on prom night. So many flavors make up this nectar, from plum to nutty caramel, blackcurrant and maple. Body: Jenna Jameson.
So if you are ever in the neighborhood and would like a great tour and a great tasting session, stop by Mad River Brewing and get yer swerve on! This is Officer Ober, signing out for now.
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