Mad River Steelhead Extra Stout

Pours black with short head that turns into a ring of tan bubbles. Coffee, semi-sweet chocolate and roasted malt in the nose. Same is mirrored in the taste, but with more toffee, molasses, and sweet cream. An excellent subdued stout.

Bottle. The aroma(s) is(are) chocolate, dark roasted malt, and coffee. The color is (even under halogen) opaque brown/black. Hardly any hilites. The tan head left quickly, but tilting the snifter reveals pinpoint lacing. Full bodied, moderate carbonation, and it turns creamy as the carbonation leaves. The flavor is dark, near tarry, roasted malt, and suggestive of espresso that’s a bit too long in the cup. That’s not a bad thing, just really strong flavor. The finish is bitter chocolate, burnt malt, and something that stings the tongue. It does mellow into something resembling the original Guinness. Quite the experience. If there is an imperial stout category based on flavor, rather than alcohol, this has to be in it. Breakfast? What a great idea.

Pours a dark brown color with a tan head. Aroma is of roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, molasses, and some sweet malts. Thick on the palate with strong coffee tones up front. Flavors of chocolate, roasted malts, and molasses underneath. A pretty decent stout but could use a little more alcohol.

The aroma has chocolate, roasted malt, brown sugar, and a little coffee. The appearance is very dark brown with a thin tan head. The flavor is like the aroma. The palate is thin. Overall it’s too watery and the finish is acidic.

Bottle. Pours near black with a small head. Aroma of roasted malt and coffee. Mostly dry taste, with a semi-bitter finish. By the book stout.

Wow! This brew is nice. Pours almost black w/ minimal froth. Hangtime is minimal aswell. Aroma is like chocolate milk. Full nectar w/ mellow residual effers creates a very creamy, milky texture. Big milk chocolate flavors bound together by a mild roast component. Theres a mild sweetness about it. The finish is bittered ever so slightly leaving a gentl tingle on the palate.

Black beer with a very small head. Aroma of sweet chocolate. Flavor is excellent with strong notes of chocolate, dark roasted malts, coffee, and a bit of smoke. A good bitterness at the finish. Very good stout. $8.99 for a six at Total Wine.

Bottle from Total Wine. Pours a jet black with virtually no head. Nice roasted aroma with a touch of chocolate. Smooth drinking and nice to the taste. Rather impressive for a stout. Three for three from Mad River.