Mad River - Serious Madness Black Ale

Today's Black Ale comes from Mad River Brewing Company, based out in Blue Lake, CA.  This brewery has roots with Sierra Nevada - they actually purchased Sierra Nevada's original brewing equipment when Sierra Nevada expanded and moved to a larger production brewhouse.  Mad River has two brands - Steelhead Ales and Jamaica Brand.  I've had a couple of their Steelhead brews in the past - nothing that particularly stood out for me.  Serious Madness is a Black ale that holds 8.6%ABV and 74.7 IBUs.

This Black Ale caught my attention the other day with it's lightning bolt label design.  It comes in a short 12oz bottle with a screw-cap...kind of Busch league.  This beer is black with a red hue, and light is banned entirely.  A gentle pour leaves over an inch of tan head that receeds quickly, without any lace.  Aroma is toasted sourdough bread, and I know this will sound strange...but I smell kiwi in there.  An earthy hoppiness is also present.  The drink is very dry, acidic, with herbal hops coming to mind first.  Then comes a cooked dark fruit, can't pinpoint it exactly, baked raisins, maybe?  Smokey, roasted grains make a big statement in the middle, and then the finish is a juicy plum, with a bitterness that lingers.  The mouthfeel is smooth with a little grit to keep it real. 

Overall Rating:  (4.5 out of 6.0)  This beer is certainly a unique offering from Mad River....I enjoyed it.  Turned out to be a combination of Stout and Black IPA.  The 8% alcohol was non-existent....Caution!