Beer Me! — Mad River Brewing — Blue Lake, California, United States

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Mad River Brewing

Blue Lake, California, United States
Bar/Tasting Room

195 Taylor Way
PO Box 767
Blue Lake CA 95525
Telephone: +1 707-668-4151
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm, Saturday noon-4:00pm.
Brewer: Jeff Cooley, Dylan Schotz
[Contact] [Map] [Update]

Notes

Updated: November 10, 2008

Opened: 1990

Annual Production: 15,000 bbl

Thanks to Mad River's Brian Baku for sending the bottles to me in Wisconsin! It had been nearly six years since I'd had a chance to sample their wares...

Beer List

Double India Pale Ale

Imperial or Double India Pale Ale

8.60% abv.
- Date: July 14, 2007 (#6588)
  
  Package: bottled
  
  Place: Liquid Solutions
  
  Score: 16½ points
  
  Appearance (2½)
  Amber. Very hazy. Thick head.
  
  Aroma (3)
  Huge citrusy hops, big sweet malt.
  
  Mouthfeel (9)
  Big body, smooth. Lots of malt under a pile of fruity, bitter, mildly piney hops. Drying sweet hoppy finish.
  
  Overall Impression (2)

Jamaica Brand Red Ale

American-Style Pale Ale

Date: March 22, 2002 (#4279)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 15½ points

Overall Impression
Deep red, good head, some haze from the yeast at the bottom of the bottle. Caramelly-fruity aroma. Medium body, big citrus hop flavor, mild bitterness. Hop flavor lingers a long long time, along with lots of caramel in the finish. A good old-time California pale ale.
Date: April 29, 1996 (#1407)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 11 points

Overall Impression
WAY too much head. Red-opaque. Caramel and sharp hop aroma. Thick, bitter. Very low carbonation...maybe it all came out in the head. At least it's not sour like it used to be. "CA CASH RFEUND"...gesundheit!
Date: February 2, 1995 (#750)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 12 points

Overall Impression
Looks like red mud. No head. Caramel and chocolate aromas. Bitter. Herbal. OK body, but unbalanced. Fairly flat.
Date: January 15, 1995 (#714)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression
Red opaque. Red head. Hop aroma, some caramel. Thick. Chewy with fair bitterness...but not quite balanced. This is almost a Real Good Beer.
Date: April 25, 1994 (#314)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 12½ points

Overall Impression
Dark red. Opaque. Thick off-white head. Very spicy nose. Thick, malty, but flavors are understated. Spicy bitterness really comes on in finish. Somewhat cloying.

Jamaica Brand Sunset IPA

American-Style India Pale Ale

Date: March 31, 2002 (#4281)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 13½ points

Overall Impression
Golden, hazy, low carbonation, moderate head. Very citrusy, slightly yeasty aroma. Light body, lots of citrusy hop flavor, mildly bitter.

Date: March 31, 2002 (#4291)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Orange, hazy, big thick head. Toasty malt aroma with lots of caramel. Big body, hugely malty with lots of toast. Fairly big hop flavor and bitterness. Very mildly warming. Brewed from 100% organic barley.

Date: December 18, 1994 (#657)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 13½ points

Overall Impression
Nice amber. No head, as expected. Caramel nose, some alcohol late. Bitter and strong...but not very interesting.

Date: April 28, 1996 (#1402)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 12 points

Overall Impression
Golden, moderate carbonation, enormous head. Slightly fruity aroma. Good body. Tastes kinda rubbery...or something. Could be a Real Good Beer.

Date: February 18, 1995 (#781)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression
Yellow, some haze, good head. Some hop aroma, not assertive. Nice body and flavors. Balanced a little sweet. Finishes clean.

Date: June 13, 1993 (#68)

Package: draught

Place: St.Mary's College Beer Festival, Moraga CA

Score: 11 points

Overall Impression
Very cloudy yellow. Oregon dry-hopped. Flavorless, mostly. A little sweetness to start and a very quick bitter finish. "Unremarkable" describes it best.

Date: March 31, 2002 (#4290)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression
Black, moderate dense head. Very roasty, fairly sweet aroma. Medium-big body, very roasty and fairly dry. Real nice clean tasty beer.

Date: November 30, 1996 (#1894)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 14½ points

Overall Impression
Very black, short-lived brown head. Black, hoppy aroma. Black, burnt, bitter. Pretty good body. Bitter roasty finish.

Date: June 13, 1993 (#69)

Package: draught

Place: St.Mary's College Beer Festival, Moraga CA

Score: 12½ points

Overall Impression
Very black, brown head. Burnt aroma, slightly sour. Very sharp taste. Very astringent...puckers you right up. Very astringent.

Date: March 9, 2002 (#4277)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Black, moderate head. Sweet chocolate aroma, with some smoke. Medium body, high carbonation, sweet. Lots of fruity hop flavor. Mildly roasty, fairly smoky finish.