Steelhead Extra Stout | Mad River Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Mad River Brewing Company
California, United States | website
Style: American Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.60%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 09-05-2001
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 310 | Ratings: 517
3.54/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Looks like a brown stout, deep brown. Mississippi river y'all. Some chocolate malt sensation, relatively tame.
Plenty of hops and bitterness in this stout, the ibus are a poppin'. Not an overly thick beer, but it definitely falls in the chewy range. You get hints of smoke and coffee from the roasted malt.
Been reliable every time I've had it.
★ 352 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Looks like a brown stout, deep brown. Mississippi river y'all. Some chocolate malt sensation, relatively tame.
Plenty of hops and bitterness in this stout, the ibus are a poppin'. Not an overly thick beer, but it definitely falls in the chewy range. You get hints of smoke and coffee from the roasted malt.
Been reliable every time I've had it.
★ 352 characters
3.3/5 rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look: Dark black - Not much head
Smell: Roasted coffee; Slight hint of fruit
Taste: Just a smidgen of upfront fruit sweetness, but not nearly as much as
expected, given my experience with MR's porter. Dry, slightly bitter finish.
Feel: Full
Overall: Had high hopes, but alas, not enough sweetness in
this one for me. More of a tease. As noted, would rather
drink MR's porter.
★ 386 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look: Dark black - Not much head
Smell: Roasted coffee; Slight hint of fruit
Taste: Just a smidgen of upfront fruit sweetness, but not nearly as much as
expected, given my experience with MR's porter. Dry, slightly bitter finish.
Feel: Full
Overall: Had high hopes, but alas, not enough sweetness in
this one for me. More of a tease. As noted, would rather
drink MR's porter.
★ 386 characters
3.92/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Opaque in color, tan head.
Big chocolately aroma, very rich, sweet smelling.
Taste is much like aroma, but less sweet. Soft bitter finish
Medium full body, medium carbonation.
Nice stout. Not overly roasty. Some may find it too tame to be considered an American Stout.
★ 275 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Opaque in color, tan head.
Big chocolately aroma, very rich, sweet smelling.
Taste is much like aroma, but less sweet. Soft bitter finish
Medium full body, medium carbonation.
Nice stout. Not overly roasty. Some may find it too tame to be considered an American Stout.
★ 275 characters
4.5/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pitch black with 1” dark tan head that provides good lacing on the glass. S: roast malt aromas, a little chocolate and some sweetness T: very pleasant and drinkable with nice chocolate notes and some roast malt F: Medium full to full body, medium carbonation, soft in the mouth. O: a very pleasant, enjoyable American Stout
★ 328 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pitch black with 1” dark tan head that provides good lacing on the glass. S: roast malt aromas, a little chocolate and some sweetness T: very pleasant and drinkable with nice chocolate notes and some roast malt F: Medium full to full body, medium carbonation, soft in the mouth. O: a very pleasant, enjoyable American Stout
★ 328 characters
4.18/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thoroughly enjoyed from the 12 oz bottle in a pint glass. This fine stout pours a thick rich black with a small brown head of foam that dissipates to a thin ring and light spotty lacing. Nose of bakers chocolate, dark fruits, black coffee, and deeply roasted malts. Flavors follow the nose with a moderately sweet bakers chocolate note to the sides and back, deep coffee notes come through with warmth on the back as does a light smoky charcoal note. Raisins and dark plums on the back blend well with the beefy chocolate and coffee flavors culminating into a cascade of very nicely roasted malts on the aftertaste. Finish is coating and a touch dry with light carbonation. A stout lovers holiday. Always a welcome brew.
Cheers!
★ 737 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thoroughly enjoyed from the 12 oz bottle in a pint glass. This fine stout pours a thick rich black with a small brown head of foam that dissipates to a thin ring and light spotty lacing. Nose of bakers chocolate, dark fruits, black coffee, and deeply roasted malts. Flavors follow the nose with a moderately sweet bakers chocolate note to the sides and back, deep coffee notes come through with warmth on the back as does a light smoky charcoal note. Raisins and dark plums on the back blend well with the beefy chocolate and coffee flavors culminating into a cascade of very nicely roasted malts on the aftertaste. Finish is coating and a touch dry with light carbonation. A stout lovers holiday. Always a welcome brew.
Cheers!
★ 737 characters
3.74/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle, no date
black, little head. aroma is sharp and a bit acidic. taste starts a little sweet and chocolately, but finishes a bit more dry and roasty. thicker body, medium carbonation.
★ 200 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle, no date
black, little head. aroma is sharp and a bit acidic. taste starts a little sweet and chocolately, but finishes a bit more dry and roasty. thicker body, medium carbonation.
★ 200 characters
3.97/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown in color with copper edges. Decent roast in the nose. The roasted malt certainly shows-up in the flavor profile.
This is not quite a top-shelf stout but it is very good and reasonably sessionable.
Bonus: It is union made by the men and women of the IAM.
★ 268 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown in color with copper edges. Decent roast in the nose. The roasted malt certainly shows-up in the flavor profile.
This is not quite a top-shelf stout but it is very good and reasonably sessionable.
Bonus: It is union made by the men and women of the IAM.
★ 268 characters
3.88/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Tasted in 10 beer flight at Mad River on tap.
A: Pours pitch black with a creamy tan head that leaves plenty of lace.
S: Best part, it's fruity, with prune, with charcoal and coffee back bone
T: Follows smell - fruity, then roasty with coffee and dark chocolate, along with some bitter hops.
F: Medium body with moderate carbonation; but thinner than I would like.
Mid pack Stout. Solid.
★ 395 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Tasted in 10 beer flight at Mad River on tap.
A: Pours pitch black with a creamy tan head that leaves plenty of lace.
S: Best part, it's fruity, with prune, with charcoal and coffee back bone
T: Follows smell - fruity, then roasty with coffee and dark chocolate, along with some bitter hops.
F: Medium body with moderate carbonation; but thinner than I would like.
Mid pack Stout. Solid.
★ 395 characters
3.94/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a beer glass.
A: Dark and viscous with light, short-lived head.
S: Dark chocolate, toffee, brown sugar, whiffs of booze.
T/M: Richly textured, velvety smooth, and pleasantly treacly. More sweet than roasted, with a sort of caramelly-bitter character. It's nice, but not exceptional.
O: A richly-flavoured, very well-made stout. Sturdy enough to suggest sippability, but silky enough to support sessionability. Versatile and recommended.
★ 475 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a beer glass.
A: Dark and viscous with light, short-lived head.
S: Dark chocolate, toffee, brown sugar, whiffs of booze.
T/M: Richly textured, velvety smooth, and pleasantly treacly. More sweet than roasted, with a sort of caramelly-bitter character. It's nice, but not exceptional.
O: A richly-flavoured, very well-made stout. Sturdy enough to suggest sippability, but silky enough to support sessionability. Versatile and recommended.
★ 475 characters
4.1/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I saw this a while back but skipped it over for bigger beers and I finally got this one after sampling larger beers.
A - Black color but still slightly clear. Khaki head with coarse bubbles and nice lacing.
S - Great stout aroma with roasted, caramel, chocolate, and malt smells rising to the top. All of the flavors swirl together seeming to create an invitation for you to smell it some more. Smells exactly as an export stout should.
T - Very similar to the smell this beer is full of malty goodness that coats the palate with the chocolate and roasted characters that I was expecting. The flavor is relatively strong with sweetness but is balanced with the coffee/roasted/burnt character that is in the middle of the palate. Light bitterness is there but there is a nice cocoa sweetness for balance.
.
M - Moderate to light mouth-feel, really firmly wedged between a dry stout and an Imperial stout. Light carbonation perfect for the style.
Overall, this is a very delicious American Stout. I could understand the niche that this beer serves with enough flavor and ABV to be tasty but lighter body and less palate killing makes this a great dinner beer with roasted dishes. If you like dark beers without many bells or whistles then this is an excellent representation of the American Stout style.
Glass- Snifter
★ 1,325 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I saw this a while back but skipped it over for bigger beers and I finally got this one after sampling larger beers.
A - Black color but still slightly clear. Khaki head with coarse bubbles and nice lacing.
S - Great stout aroma with roasted, caramel, chocolate, and malt smells rising to the top. All of the flavors swirl together seeming to create an invitation for you to smell it some more. Smells exactly as an export stout should.
T - Very similar to the smell this beer is full of malty goodness that coats the palate with the chocolate and roasted characters that I was expecting. The flavor is relatively strong with sweetness but is balanced with the coffee/roasted/burnt character that is in the middle of the palate. Light bitterness is there but there is a nice cocoa sweetness for balance.
.
M - Moderate to light mouth-feel, really firmly wedged between a dry stout and an Imperial stout. Light carbonation perfect for the style.
Overall, this is a very delicious American Stout. I could understand the niche that this beer serves with enough flavor and ABV to be tasty but lighter body and less palate killing makes this a great dinner beer with roasted dishes. If you like dark beers without many bells or whistles then this is an excellent representation of the American Stout style.
Glass- Snifter
★ 1,325 characters
3.61/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Bottle purchased at AJ's Beer Warehouse in Henrietta, NY.
I find this to not really be a American Stout at all, more like a Foreign Extra Stout or an English Stout, but whatever, it's a stout anyway.
Pours a dark brown, almost black, with a very small quarter inch head, and not a whole lot of lacing.
Smells like bitter chocolate, roasted malt, and dry smoke.
This is a very dry stout, not sweet at all. It's got roasted malt, roasted coffee beans, chocolate, and light dry smoke, with some dry leafy hop flavor at all. It starts flavorful but then kind of has a bland, almost watery aftertaste- like there's something missing on the back end. This does keep it very drinkable, but it really detracts from the complexity of this one unfortunately.
I wish this was thicker or more full-bodied than it actually is. It's got a dry but creamy mouthfeel, with a lower amount of carbonation.
This disappointed me a little bit. It started well, but the end of each sip is just disappointing and bland. I wish it had a little more oomph.
★ 1,036 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Bottle purchased at AJ's Beer Warehouse in Henrietta, NY.
I find this to not really be a American Stout at all, more like a Foreign Extra Stout or an English Stout, but whatever, it's a stout anyway.
Pours a dark brown, almost black, with a very small quarter inch head, and not a whole lot of lacing.
Smells like bitter chocolate, roasted malt, and dry smoke.
This is a very dry stout, not sweet at all. It's got roasted malt, roasted coffee beans, chocolate, and light dry smoke, with some dry leafy hop flavor at all. It starts flavorful but then kind of has a bland, almost watery aftertaste- like there's something missing on the back end. This does keep it very drinkable, but it really detracts from the complexity of this one unfortunately.
I wish this was thicker or more full-bodied than it actually is. It's got a dry but creamy mouthfeel, with a lower amount of carbonation.
This disappointed me a little bit. It started well, but the end of each sip is just disappointing and bland. I wish it had a little more oomph.
★ 1,036 characters
4.5/5 rDev +11.7%
Appearance- pitch black with a nice tan head, that lives foam on the glass the whole way down.
Smell- roasted coffee with a hint of chocolate.
Mouthfeel- smooth and creamy
Taste- roasted coffee flavor with a little chocolate.
★ 229 characters
Appearance- pitch black with a nice tan head, that lives foam on the glass the whole way down.
Smell- roasted coffee with a hint of chocolate.
Mouthfeel- smooth and creamy
Taste- roasted coffee flavor with a little chocolate.
★ 229 characters
3.75/5 rDev -6.9%
12oz bottle into pint glass.
As black as black can get with a decent size oatmeal head. was concerned as there was an audible carbonation sound upon pouring, but the head maintained well into the drink.
A faint mustiness on the nose, with toasted malt and a touch of coffee
Mouth is thinner than I thought it would be, slightly oily as well. Could this be a really old bottle? No dating, so, don't know.
Taste is quite strong, so I don't think it's old. roasted malt, still slightly sweet. Couldn't get and chocolate, and only faint coffee notes.
★ 552 characters
12oz bottle into pint glass.
As black as black can get with a decent size oatmeal head. was concerned as there was an audible carbonation sound upon pouring, but the head maintained well into the drink.
A faint mustiness on the nose, with toasted malt and a touch of coffee
Mouth is thinner than I thought it would be, slightly oily as well. Could this be a really old bottle? No dating, so, don't know.
Taste is quite strong, so I don't think it's old. roasted malt, still slightly sweet. Couldn't get and chocolate, and only faint coffee notes.
★ 552 characters
3.97/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pitch black with a thick dark caramel color with decent retention and leaving some laces.
Nice and intense aroma with notes of cocoa, coffee, dark fruits and milk in powder.
Original taste, bold and quite mutating. Notes of coffee, some tangy citrusy, spices, earthy and herbal hops, chocolates, tobacco, anise, dark fruits, charcoal and roasted malts. Dry aftertaste with lingering roasted notes.
Light to medium body with appropriate carbonation. Alcohol of 6.5% abv is absent.
What a positive surprise. Very good stout. Intense and complex but not tiresome given its relatively light body, not being overly sweet and actually somewhat refreshing balancing its roasted and burnt notes. This is almos a RIS. Recommendable.
★ 723 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pitch black with a thick dark caramel color with decent retention and leaving some laces.
Nice and intense aroma with notes of cocoa, coffee, dark fruits and milk in powder.
Original taste, bold and quite mutating. Notes of coffee, some tangy citrusy, spices, earthy and herbal hops, chocolates, tobacco, anise, dark fruits, charcoal and roasted malts. Dry aftertaste with lingering roasted notes.
Light to medium body with appropriate carbonation. Alcohol of 6.5% abv is absent.
What a positive surprise. Very good stout. Intense and complex but not tiresome given its relatively light body, not being overly sweet and actually somewhat refreshing balancing its roasted and burnt notes. This is almos a RIS. Recommendable.
★ 723 characters
3.94/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a deep inky black, with no light getting through. There is a smidge of dark tan head and no lacing. The aroma is strong alcohol esters with just a little bit of roasted malt. The taste flips this around with much more emphasis on the roasted malts. It has a slicker mouthfeel and a nice smooth finish. A very good stout.
★ 326 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a deep inky black, with no light getting through. There is a smidge of dark tan head and no lacing. The aroma is strong alcohol esters with just a little bit of roasted malt. The taste flips this around with much more emphasis on the roasted malts. It has a slicker mouthfeel and a nice smooth finish. A very good stout.
★ 326 characters
4.23/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
black pour, dual-toned colors on the head. nice and creamy, but dissipates quickly.
sweet malts and coffee in the nose.
taste is slightly bitter with some espresso notes, stout-like qualities, but thinner than most others.
overall, it's very decent. but many low-abv stouts are. it is the higher-abv stout with exceptional quality which gains the notoriety, but this one will do. very nice!
★ 391 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
black pour, dual-toned colors on the head. nice and creamy, but dissipates quickly.
sweet malts and coffee in the nose.
taste is slightly bitter with some espresso notes, stout-like qualities, but thinner than most others.
overall, it's very decent. but many low-abv stouts are. it is the higher-abv stout with exceptional quality which gains the notoriety, but this one will do. very nice!
★ 391 characters
4.21/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: very dark, almost black body; big frothy tan/brown head after aggressive pour; good lacing
Smell: malty, roasted grain; coffee; dried figs
Taste: creamy malt with roasted grain bite up front; notes of coffee and light hops in the mid; finishes semi sweet with a low hop bite overall; excellent flavor
Mouthfeel: creamy and almost chewy; medium carbonation
★ 370 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: very dark, almost black body; big frothy tan/brown head after aggressive pour; good lacing
Smell: malty, roasted grain; coffee; dried figs
Taste: creamy malt with roasted grain bite up front; notes of coffee and light hops in the mid; finishes semi sweet with a low hop bite overall; excellent flavor
Mouthfeel: creamy and almost chewy; medium carbonation
★ 370 characters
3.94/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
A- Black, it's a commercial stout...
S- Roast, coffee, and chocolate.
T- Quite incredible. I took one sip and thought it was over roasted. 5 minutes later the flavors were layered with the coffee, roast, and chocolate, were at the beginning, middle,and finish, respectively.
M- Well, it isn't thick, but it's a bit chewy.The bitterness lingers.
O- Overall it's a nice American stout, fit to the style. I may be biased in my judging because I prefer the RIS. This may compete in that style as well.
★ 498 characters
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
A- Black, it's a commercial stout...
S- Roast, coffee, and chocolate.
T- Quite incredible. I took one sip and thought it was over roasted. 5 minutes later the flavors were layered with the coffee, roast, and chocolate, were at the beginning, middle,and finish, respectively.
M- Well, it isn't thick, but it's a bit chewy.The bitterness lingers.
O- Overall it's a nice American stout, fit to the style. I may be biased in my judging because I prefer the RIS. This may compete in that style as well.
★ 498 characters
4.24/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle was poured into nonic pint glass.
Appearance: This beer poured a one finger that reduced to a thin layer. It is a pitch black color with no clarity or vision of bubbles coming up through the glass.
Smell: Roasted coffee, chocolate, smoke, tobacco, and some dark fruits. Almost smell like a RIS. Awesome stuff.
Taste: Roasted, chocolate, ash, smoke, tobacco, and some bready malts.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, chewy, full bodied, medium carbonation, and delicious.
Overall: Pretty solid extra stout that has RIS and porter features. Pretty solid.
★ 554 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz bottle was poured into nonic pint glass.
Appearance: This beer poured a one finger that reduced to a thin layer. It is a pitch black color with no clarity or vision of bubbles coming up through the glass.
Smell: Roasted coffee, chocolate, smoke, tobacco, and some dark fruits. Almost smell like a RIS. Awesome stuff.
Taste: Roasted, chocolate, ash, smoke, tobacco, and some bready malts.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, chewy, full bodied, medium carbonation, and delicious.
Overall: Pretty solid extra stout that has RIS and porter features. Pretty solid.
★ 554 characters
4.21/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Steelhead extra stout is borderline imperial. The only difference is the ABV's, an IRS would have pumped up ABV's.
Pours dark as hell with a tall robust head that fades way to fast. The head leaves wispy lacing.
The aroma is big and bold. Lots of roasted malts, chocolate and coffee. No hops are detected so it doesn't appear to be an imperial.
The taste is like the nose. Big and bold. Lots of roasted and almost burnt malts. Hints of coffee and dark chocolates are in the taste. Plus a light charcoal grit.
On the palate it doesn't really taste full bodied. There is a feeling of chalkiness and grit, but one would expect this judging by the amount of roast in the taste.
A very good beer. Russian imperial stout for the little guy. I can't handle those 12 ABV brews.
★ 769 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Steelhead extra stout is borderline imperial. The only difference is the ABV's, an IRS would have pumped up ABV's.
Pours dark as hell with a tall robust head that fades way to fast. The head leaves wispy lacing.
The aroma is big and bold. Lots of roasted malts, chocolate and coffee. No hops are detected so it doesn't appear to be an imperial.
The taste is like the nose. Big and bold. Lots of roasted and almost burnt malts. Hints of coffee and dark chocolates are in the taste. Plus a light charcoal grit.
On the palate it doesn't really taste full bodied. There is a feeling of chalkiness and grit, but one would expect this judging by the amount of roast in the taste.
A very good beer. Russian imperial stout for the little guy. I can't handle those 12 ABV brews.
★ 769 characters
4.13/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I love how dark this one is, almost inky looking. Can be compared to certain Imperial Russian stouts depending on the brewery. Hints of coffee, very smooth and slithers down your throat. Smells very robust like a porter and I sense a smoky smell as well. Just going by taste, it would be good with ice cream or some chocolate dessert. The mouth feel is good although at clocking in at 6.5% abv, it could use a little more alcohol to enhance the taste and even out the robust creamy coffee flavor. Great for the average stout hound.
★ 531 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I love how dark this one is, almost inky looking. Can be compared to certain Imperial Russian stouts depending on the brewery. Hints of coffee, very smooth and slithers down your throat. Smells very robust like a porter and I sense a smoky smell as well. Just going by taste, it would be good with ice cream or some chocolate dessert. The mouth feel is good although at clocking in at 6.5% abv, it could use a little more alcohol to enhance the taste and even out the robust creamy coffee flavor. Great for the average stout hound.
★ 531 characters
3.6/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a pitch black with a tiny brown head. Smells of coffee and slight chocolate. Tastes of chocolate and coffee, with slight vanilla taste intermixed. Beer is carbonated correctly and goes down smooth with its medium body. Overall, a slightly above average beer.
★ 318 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a pitch black with a tiny brown head. Smells of coffee and slight chocolate. Tastes of chocolate and coffee, with slight vanilla taste intermixed. Beer is carbonated correctly and goes down smooth with its medium body. Overall, a slightly above average beer.
★ 318 characters
1/5 rDev -75.2%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I just wanted to throw up a mention on this beer that I got it from a HyVee in Iowa and the first one I opened (and all the others) have the inside covered with yeast (I'm assuming). It coats the entire upper portion of the bottle and is thick, dark, and gunky. I threw out immediately to avoid any kind of bacteria escaping. I know this isn't a proper review and obviously this happens from time to time, but I think it's worth noting that their quality team must be fairly poor. Even in the dark glass I could see it coating the entire upper portion of the bottle. I won't be buying their products again- this was both a (relatively, considering size) expensive beer and a well reviewed one and it was absolutely undrinkable.
Edit: I do realize that some beers (especially stouts) may have some yeast in them, but this was solid, thick, and absolutely coating the bottle. VERY unappealing.
★ 892 characters
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I just wanted to throw up a mention on this beer that I got it from a HyVee in Iowa and the first one I opened (and all the others) have the inside covered with yeast (I'm assuming). It coats the entire upper portion of the bottle and is thick, dark, and gunky. I threw out immediately to avoid any kind of bacteria escaping. I know this isn't a proper review and obviously this happens from time to time, but I think it's worth noting that their quality team must be fairly poor. Even in the dark glass I could see it coating the entire upper portion of the bottle. I won't be buying their products again- this was both a (relatively, considering size) expensive beer and a well reviewed one and it was absolutely undrinkable.
Edit: I do realize that some beers (especially stouts) may have some yeast in them, but this was solid, thick, and absolutely coating the bottle. VERY unappealing.
★ 892 characters
4.14/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
BLACK, that's the coloring of this beauty. Thick viscous appearance accent a thin fleeting brown head.
The scent has nice balance with char, campfire ember, Graham cracker, chocolate malt and coffee aromas. Just a bit undertoned it is still diverse and aromatic.
The taste just flat great...dry chocolate notes, malt and smoky coffee flavors fill the mouth. Crackery crust and dry grain ease to the back of a flavorful stout. For as thick and viscous as it pours the feel is rather thin but it doesn't draw away from a simply well done beer.
★ 544 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
BLACK, that's the coloring of this beauty. Thick viscous appearance accent a thin fleeting brown head.
The scent has nice balance with char, campfire ember, Graham cracker, chocolate malt and coffee aromas. Just a bit undertoned it is still diverse and aromatic.
The taste just flat great...dry chocolate notes, malt and smoky coffee flavors fill the mouth. Crackery crust and dry grain ease to the back of a flavorful stout. For as thick and viscous as it pours the feel is rather thin but it doesn't draw away from a simply well done beer.
★ 544 characters
Steelhead Extra Stout from Mad River Brewing Company
4.03
out of 5
based on 517 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Black with fairly small tan head. Smells of chocolate malt. The taste is excellent with smooth cholocate, figs, and natural black licorice. There's a bit of a roasted coffee bean aftertaste. The beer is very smooth with lower than average carbonation for a stout.
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