Mad River Brewing is a piece of Humboldt that your favorite Beer of the Month Club is proud to share. Tucked away behind the majestic California Redwoods, MRB gives you the Northern California experience every time you raise your glass. The brews from the Mad River Brewery family take nothing for granted. With a modest attitude they brew every batch with your enjoyment and your taste buds in mind.
In the late seventies Brew Master Bob Smith dreamed of opening a small brewery specializing in craft beers. Excursions to buy brewing supplies led Bob to Ken Grossman’s Homebrew Shop in Chico, CA. After Ken shared his plans to build Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, Bob became determined to build a craft brewery in Humboldt County!
Construction began in 1989, with the brewery nestled adjacent to the Mad River in Blue Lake, CA. During the start-up year, the locals enjoyed a good number of amazing brews as Bob and his crew experimented to create the awesome beers we drink today. Production and sales skyrocketed in the first year, and early in 1990 Mad River purchased Sierra Nevada’s bottling line they had
outgrown. Steelhead Extra Pale Ale was bottled and distributed, demand surged and Brew Master Bob handed over the brewery’s management responsibilities to devote more time to his true love — creating high quality craft brew recipes.
Today their award-winning ales are renowned for unique flavor profiles and consistent quality, several are medalists at the Great American Beer Festivals. Entering into their next decade, they continue to evolve.
Their legendary ale, mahogany-hued Jamaica Red Ale has an intense spectrum of spicy aromatic hop character balanced by a full-bodied caramel richmess. (Won Silver in 2011 at the GABF!)
Light and easy, River Days Session IPA packs copious flavors and Cascade hop aromas. Bright and crisp, this refreshing session ale is brewed for full malt flavor and mouthfeel, balanced by big hop character.
Featured Beer from Mad River Brewery: Jamaica Red Ale & River Days Session IPA RED ALE — Mad River’s Jamaica Red Ale — Usually subtle in flavor, Red Ales are made with lots of lager-style hops. The red color comes from Crystal malt, crystallized and caramelized before being added to the brew. This one’s made with Colombus bittering hops; Amarillo, Cascade and Willamette finishing hops; and Chinook, Cascade and Willamette flavor hops. Enjoy with corned beef & cabbage, brats, burgers, and sandwiches.
SESSION IPA — Mad River’s River Days Session IPA —A light-hued beer, it’s light and easy drinking, perfect for lazy afternoons spent with friends. Serve this top fermented beer with seafood, pizza or Mexican cuisine, and your favorite sharp salad dressing.
