Mad River The Mad Belgian Golden Ale

Brewed by Mad River Brewery
Style: Belgian Ale
Blue Lake, California USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Translucent copper pour with a frothy off whit head and drippy lace. Sweet malty aroma with a touch of spice. Fruity flavor (tropical), candi sugar and coriander

It poured a perfect clear copper with over-sized bubbles in a tan head. The aroma has fruity notes abound with apples, pears and prunes to go along with a growing coriander like spice note and some yeastiness. The taste is sweet with lots of fruity esters and spice like coriander covered apples, apricots and prunes. It moves in the direction of being peppery but not really making it all the way there. Overall it seems a bit disjointed and may come together some with more age.

UPDATED: DEC 4, 2009 Pint glass on tap at Stone Brewery. A hazy orange pour with a medium white head that had fair retention. Aroma is mild with sweet malts, pears and Belgian style yeasts. The flavor is slightly hoppy with biter walnuts, papaya, pears, yeast and biscuit. The palate is smooth and full. The finish is medium in duration and beady. This is a fairly tasty and session-able ale, much enjoyed.

Tap at Toronado 22nd Anniversary. Dark (for a Belgian pale) copper color with a large off-white head. Aroma is sweet malt, candi sugar, light fruit, and hops. Flavor is sweet malt, candi sugar, yeast, tropical fruits, and citrusy hops. Palate medium with fairly soft carbonation and hop bitterness lingering somewhat. Good stuff.

Funny that I am the third rater as I bought the bottles in Omaha. Light copper orange colored body with a yellowish khaki head. The aroma is largely candi sugar with some notes of funk and mango goodness. I can’t tell whether the fruit smell is from the yeast or from the hops, but it is nice. The taste is very funky at first and has a strong, almost brett like finish. There is also some wood and orange peels mixed in with brown sugar. A sweet and funky brew that would be interesting to try aged. Another solid brew from Mad River, but not great.

This came from a four pack purchased at the Northcoast Coop in Eureka, CA. Poured a rich gold with a huge fluffy white head that hung on a long time and left very sticky lacing rings. Nose is of ripe fruit and citrus hops. Rich and creamy mouthfeel. Flavor is full of fruit notes, and the finish shows a light bitterness. A very drinkable brew.

Hazy honey yellow color with a fluffy white head. Sweet oat and malty aroma and taste with a grainy slightly citrus finish. Some fruit flavors show up as it warms.