Feb 12, 2007

Mad River Steelhead Extra Stout

I’m a sucker for a stout. I don’t know what my problem is, but I suppose there could be worse issues to have. I picked this one up a little while ago in what turned out to be a stout day. I think over a third of the single bottles select were stouts.

Beer Label: Mad River Brewing Steelhead Extra Stout

Aroma

There is plenty of chocolate malt in this one. It’s got hints of caramel and coffee to compliment the chocolate. There was also a slight nuttiness in the mix. This one smells great.

Appearance

You’ve just got to love a beer that pours out as black as the night. It looks thick and oily. There wasn’t much to the head, but what little was produced was a rich toffee brown.

Taste

For as little head as there was on the glass I was expecting less activity in the mouth, but the beer bounces the coffee and chocolate around in your mouth nicely. I got a really nice smoky cigar finish, but without that dark coffee bitterness that often comes with the territory.

Overall

The Steelhead is an excellent beer. It’s got a nice complexity to it yet retains all the key elements to a fine stout. It’s smooth enough to enjoy one Sunday instead of my morning coffee. Rating: 4/5

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