We’d have to go back and look at all our past polls to officially confirm this (no), but this feeeels like the most votes any Humboldt Approved winner has ever received. Since LoCO is all about the gut, this is now fact.

And so, it is your Lost Coast Outpost‘s great honor to declare Mad River Brewery’s fleet of brews the most formidable behind the redwood curtain. While all of HumCo’s breweries are worthy of respect, is this really a huge surprise? “Steelhead” (referring, of course, to Steelhead Extra Pale Ale) is arguably the standard beer at any local tap at this point.  

Most importantly, MRB wins online popularity contests. So, drink up!

PREVIOUSLY: All Past Humboldt Approved Winners

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Original Post: To everyone who voted in last week‘s record setting Humboldt Approved poll, your Lost Coast Outpost extends a hearty gracias.

You know what we just realized? We totally blew it by not having a beer-themed poll going all this week during Humboldt Beer Week. Us = dumb. But since there’s a sliver of sunshine left we’re going cash in on current local beer madness and incite a comment section brew-ha-ha by attempting to once again blur the lines between “best” and “most popular.”

So how ‘bout it, HumCo? Which of Humboldt’s award-winning breweries treats your t-buds politest? To be clear, we’re not asking for a specific beer — that’s been done — we’re asking you to consider the entire roster of brews each local beer maker births and then make your pick. Since there’s a fairly clear, finite number of potential winners here, we’re gonna break tradition and finish the nominating process ourselves. As always, here’s your reminder of how to make your vote count:

To vote, look through the comments of this Humboldt Approved poll. If someone has already nominated the answer you would give for that week’s category, click the upvote arrow. If you don’t see your desired Humboldt Approved answer nominate it in a comment for others to upvote. (Please be careful to not duplicate answers; redundant answers will be deleted and potential associated upvotes will be lost.) Feel free to make your case by replying to/cheering on the answer you love most, but again the number by the arrows on the initial nomination is what counts.

You can vote for as many nominees as you deem worthy but, of course, the more you do that the more watered down your initial vote becomes. That’s math.

We reserve the right to delete superfluous comments that make the voting/comment section hard to sift through. Please try not to get offended when your comment battle reply is deleted. We’re trying to do something here. While most weeks we look for two winners — one winner from the metropolises of Eureka and Arcata, and one from Humboldt’s smaller communities — this time we’re gonna limit it to one. Voting closes next Friday at noon and soon after a winner will be declared.

Uh, did we forget anything? Nope? Then go forth and crown Humboldt’s internet beer king of kings. (Note: If you take your vote super seriously and need to sample the contenders first, we might mention that Hoptoberfest is Saturday. Throwin’ it out there.)

(Pictured above: Obama probably not drinking Humboldt beer. Stupid Obamacare.)