A taste of… Eye of the Hawk Select Ale

Mendocino Brewing Company
1601 Airport Road
Ukiah, California, 95482
United States
(707) 463-2627

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Eye of the Hawk Select Ale was purchased for $2.50(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was no “Best by” date on the bottle neck.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: Here is a crystal clear copper, with an almost red hue, brew with noticeable but not obvious carbonation that forms a rather limited head of tiny bubbles that leave a trace of Belgian Lace.

Aroma: The first sensation reveals a caramel undertone that a second visit confirms while a not-quiet burnt sugar sensation stays in the background. Finally there is a slight sensation of smoke that is almost impossible to find again. The moment between lip and sip has a teasing caramel scent.

Mouth feel: There is a real big body here. But my word ain’t she foxy!

Flavor: First impression is of almost maple syrup that is plowed over by an alcoholic warmth and sherry like base flavor. The second visit brings out even more burnt sugar, caramel, crème caramel, singed marshmallow flavor glimpses. The hop bitter flavors are more off-stage managers of this flavor presentation.

Finish: There is a bit of malingering but the end result is almost (notice I said almost) dry.

Comments: A rich, almost vinous brew that carries a note of 8.0% alcohol by volume.

Food & Beer: A joint (not that kind…) of mutton (try and find that!) with a chestnut puree and roasted yams and sautéed collard greens would make a fine meal mate for this Hawk.

The Brewery: http://www.mendobrew.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/200/641

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mendocino-eye-of-the-hawk-select-ale/357/

A taste of… Blue Heron Pale Ale

Mendocino Brewing Company
1601 Airport Road
Ukiah, California, 95482
United States
(707) 463-2627

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Blue Heron Pale Ale was purchased for $2.50(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was no “Best by” date on the bottle neck.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: There was a slight chill-haze to this antique gold colored brew. The carbonation is quite lively and forms a relatively dense slightly orange head of tiny and small bubbles. The Belgian lace is more knitted than tatted.

Aroma: The first impression is that of a light floral perfume. This is followed by a toasted grain aside that leaves the third visit to only confirm the first two impressions. The moment between lip and sip reveals little more.

Mouth feel: There is a full, creamy body to this brew that sharp sweet and bitter spikes immediately elevate into flavor sensations.

Flavor: The first impression is of a continuation of the flavors that came charging along with that full mouth feel. The second visit finds more of a grain flavor, more dry than sweet. The third sip has the taste receptors looking for specific flavors and left to chase after combinations of sweet and sharp-bitter that are hard to pin down. This is a game I would be pleased to play for at least an hour or so.

Finish: The finish is more dry than sweet and rather long lasting.

Comments: This is a large brew that enjoys a full body and such a close relationship between the flavors that it ends up being more fun to drink than study.

Food & Beer: There is enough flavor spikes of bitter and tangy hops to refresh the pallet after a rich braised dish of either flesh or foul. A relish of caramelized onions and a cranberry chutney would do no harm.

The Brewery: http://www.mendobrew.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/200/630

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mendocino-blue-heron-pale-ale/354/

A taste of… Red Tail Ale

Mendocino Brewing Company
1601 Airport Road
Ukiah, California, 95482
United States
(707) 463-2627

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Red Tail Ale was purchased for $2.50(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was no “Best by” date on the bottle neck or label.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?
The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A slight haze, perhaps due to a chilly serving temperature, is no slight to this dark amber brew, topped by a quarter inch or so of a fairly dense light tan head of small bubbles.

Aroma: The first impression is burnt sugar candy bordering on butterscotch. The second impression brings out a depth of roasted grain. The third visit reveals a slight tang of either burnt candy or caramel.

Mouth feel: There is a middle-weight feel to this contender.

Flavor: First impression is spent sorting out which is the spike of hop tang and the tang of crystallized scorched sugar. The second visit lets the flavor receptors get familiar with the less noisy flavors and hear the mellow undertones of sweet grains and more floral and less citric hop accents. A third sip recognizes more balance and less contrast of flavors.

Finish: The final flavors do not linger long. The dry finish is both pallet cleansing and the base for anticipation of flavors to come. (Served before dinner and your guests will be more than ready for their meal.)

Comments: The basic ale is essential and yet has a flavor range to interest both the person beginning to experience “specialty” brews and the beer-geek.

Food & Beer: This is a fine table beer for most one course family meals made up of a grilled, roasted or braised protein, simple starch and bitter greens.

The Brewery: http://www.mendobrew.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/200/631

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mendocino-red-tail-ale/353/

A taste of… White Hawk I.P.A.

Mendocino Brewing Company
1601 Airport Road
Ukiah, California, 95482
United States
(707) 463-2627

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of White Hawk I.P.A. was purchased for $2.50(USD) at Peas & Pickles Grocery in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There was no “Best by” date on the bottle neck.
The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of a creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: The orange-copper, nicely carbonated brew is topped with a fine head of tiny bubbles that form a dense but rocky light orange-copper colored crown. The lace is very noticeable.

Aroma: The first impression is of caramel sugar candy, followed by a toasted grain sensation that culminates in a rich caramel grain impression.

Mouth feel: A full bodied brew but now way near obese.

Flavor: The first impression is roasted grain that is muscled out of the way by a bitter tang that is not unwelcome. The second sip reveals a burnt sugar under current that gets along quite nicely with the hop tang. Finally, there is a run for the finish that is won handily by the not quite metallic spike of the hop flavors.

Finish: That rush to the finish ends in a fairly long, but not obnoxious victory lap by those hops flavors.

Comments: The “I.P.A.” style seems almost as broad as the “Pale Ale” style, of which it is a significant sub-style. That said, I can find little unique about this I.P.A. but since it doesn’t make that almost mandatory dive into the hop sock a deep one I find it refreshing in flavor and body.

Food & Beer: The flavor spikes in this ale would be enjoyed even more when poured as an accompaniment to a grilled beef steak dinner.

The Brewery: http://www.mendobrew.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/200/4970

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mendocino-white-hawk-original-ipa/14940/