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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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.

Thanks Hayduke! This beer pours tan with some orange color. Good retention and a thick sticky lacing. Head is also orange tinted and quite large. An aroma of yeast and sweet citrus fruit. A bit floral, too. Flavor is grass, toffee, citrus, and bread. Hops are pleasantly complex as are the malts. Flavors, and styles even, come and go here with amazing frequency. Very interesting to drink.

Bottle. Poured honey gold with thick white head. Full malty aroma with a certain funkiness I found appealing. Malty flavour, with bread and white pepperiness. Lingering lekker finish. Wll worth the price.

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.

12 oz. Clear burnt orange with an inch of lasting creamy foam. Aroma is spicy pear, mango and toasted grain. Flavor is the same mix, plus toasted nutshell, bread, resin and peppery citrus zest. Medium body is smoothly carbonated and finishes dry with resiny wood.

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.

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.

Tap @ Johnny Brown’s. Pours a deep hazy golden orange with a two finger thick off white ring that left some spotty lacing. Nose is quite fruity with a burst of Belgian yeast. Flavor is also yeast dominante with a nice fruity balance.

Aromas of honey, bread, grain, earth, and a subtle yeast character. Pours golden amber with some haze, not much in the way of head. Bread, honey, light fruity notes, and some yeasty esters are followed by a soft earthy bitterness in the finish. Easy to drink, subtle and not over done in the sweetness department.

Bottle 12fl.oz. @ home.

Clear medium to dark orange colour with a average to large, frothy, good lacing, fully lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, caramel, moderate to heavy yeasty, fruity, riped fruit, yeast. Flavour is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a average to long duration, candy - fruity sweet, yeasty, riped fruit, apricot fruity. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20110624]