Steelhead Double Indian Pale Ale - Mad River Brewing Company

http://www.madriverbrewing.com/mad_river_brewing_the_remix_004.htm

 Double IPA's should be called dangerous IPA's instead of the double nickname.  Mad River Brewing Company craft a slick beer with a strong 8.6% alcohol to it.  This ale has more to it that just a higher alcohol content though.  A high amount of hops adds an extreme bitterness to it.  This beer is not for weak of heart.  But can these details overcome the alcohol content?

Sight - Much more thick and hearty looking than a standard IPA (Indian Pale Ale),  this beer just looks like a one and done beer.  It has an extreme bitterness to it, as you can tell by the actually hop pulp that is in the beer.  The head of the beer is also extreme in its size.  One of the biggest heads I have ever seen!

Smell - With a beer that looks so fierce, the smell is nothing close.  It is weak and hard to pick up.  It smells like like an IPA, but with double the bitterness hops, you would expect more from the smell.  There just no character to this beer, other than being an IPA.

Taste - You would think with a great alcohol content in this beer you would taste it, but very surprisingly, you do not.  Bitterness is the key taste here, and nothing really else shows itself.  That is not a bad thing, because that is how the double IPA is designed.  There is not an after taste, just bitter than beer.  Nothing too fancy, just a basic double IPA.

Overall -  If you are looking for a good double IPA at a good price look no further.  Do not be put off by the ten dollar price tag, there is more quality and alcohol in this six pack than a case of some cheap mass produced beer.  There are higher quality double IPA's out there, but at a higher price.  The only problems I have with this beer is the lack of smell.  It needs more power to it to make it a truly great beer.

3 out of 5 cheers!