Mad River John Barleycorn 2009 Barleywine Style Reserve Ale

After a weekend of big beers in Portland, I've steeled myself for a couple of big beer nights, starting with Mad River Brewing and their annual special release, Mad River John Barleycorn Barleywine Style Ale.

Mad River John Barleycorn poured a cloudy mahogany color in the glass with a lacy, thick tan head and no observable carbonation.  The nose was strong and highly fragrant with baked figs and some ester lurking in the background.

Mad River John Barleycorn had a crisp front with no detectable hop flavors.  As the ale warmed in my mouth, it came across as thick, creamy, and smooth with leading notes of vanilla, caramel, and maple.  None of the bitterness or burntness expected in a barelywine were present.

Although I didn't do a side-by-side with a newer vintage, my memories of past experiences with Mad River's John Barleycorn lead me to believe this is one of the better candidates for aging I have tried.  Fresh off the dock's, John Barleycorn is a delicious but aggressive drink akin to most barleywine style ales I've tried, but two years of aging transformed it into a smooth, almost dessert-like sipping drink.  Buyer beware... the aging also hid the 11% a bit too well.

Mad River The Mad Belgian style Golden Ale

Mad River The Mad Belgian Golden Ale, a seasonal offering from Mad River Brewing, poured a cloudy chestnut color, with a small, off-white head.  Belgian yeast dominated the nose, with fruity esters leading over toffee and a slightly herbal undertone.

Mad River Mad Belgian Ale opened sweet and soft, with a slight bitterness and the herbal note in the nose skating underneath the banana sweetness.  A peppery spice quickly dried out the ale and brought out white pepper, clove, and a bit of alcohol.  As the ale dried out the pallet, the sweetness took on pear and finally peach characterizes.  The ale faded earthy and even a bit minty.

Mad River Mad Belgian Golden Ale brings all the classic Belgian yeast characteristics to the table, and handles the balance of spice and fruit pretty well.  There is a bit more alcohol and thickness to the ale than seemed necessary, and it seemed to have more in common with Belgian-styled pale ales than a classic golden ale, but if you can get past the heat and the sharp spice, there’s a lot to enjoy.

Mad River Steelhead Double India Pale Ale

Mad River Steelhead Double IPA, one of the bigger ABV offerings from Mad River Brewing, poured a cloudy, honey-hued color into the glass, with lots of suspended particles agitated by mild carbonation that fed to almost no head.  The nose carried through pine, grapefruit, and a soft pear sweetness.

Mad River Steelhead opened with sweet orange and some spice on the first taste, with some vanilla and more tropical notes coming through in the middle as the ale mellowed.  The ale ended with loads of tropical flavors, slight grapefruit rind bitterness, and just a touch of heat.

Mad River Steelhead Double IPA falls cleanly into the category of fruity and tropical IPAs, alongside classics like Russian River’s Pliny the Elder.  Refined, highly drinkable, and a well-hidden ABV made this a beer I have always enjoyed drinking, but the $10+ a six-pack price used to dissuade me.  After watching my beer spend this year though, I didn’t feel too bad picking up a second pack!

Mad River Brewing Jamaica Sunset IPA

It's always a great day when I find a promising looking new beer from a brewery I'm already a fan of.  In this particular instance it was a six-pack of an IPA from Mad River Brewing Company I eagerly picked up.  Being familiar with their Jamaica Brand Red Ale, I was surprised to see this new beer, Jamaica Sunset IPA using the same "Jamaica Brand" brand.  A little bit of research revealed the Jamaica Brand originated from Mad River's involvement with the Reggae on the River festival; Jamaica Brand beers being those originally brewed for the event. 

Poured into the glass, I have to say Jamaica Brand Sunset IPA was gorgeous... red-clover honey in color with a hazy body that emitted a warm glow from within as it reflected the ambient light and subtly moved as the light carbonation trails bubbles to the top.  The head was a bright white and tight without being sticky.  I'm not sure if it was the "Sunset" in the name affecting my subconscious perception, but Sunset IPA might be the best and most unique looking beer I have seen in a glass.  The nose was very similar to some of my favorite IPAs... light grapefruit notes without the bitterness. 

The first taste of Jamaica Brand Sunset IPA was a firm, but not overwhelming, candied grapefruit with enough carbonation to open my taste buds.  As the carbonation faded and the ale settled on my palette, the sweet grapefruit flavor gained a toasty characteristic, but none of the typical bread notes that come with it.  Sunset IPA ended on a grapefruit rind linger that was less bitter than most.

I loved this beer, and plan on adding this to my regular rotation for session beers.  It's closer in taste to Russian River's Pliny the Elder than the big, piny IPAs of the Northwest, but slightly lighter, easier to take on, and (being pragmatic) a much more affordable habit.