Subsidiaries
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
This filled the glass with a nice brew that had a good brown color, decent head with a characteristic hop and malt aroma and flavor. Good, slightly above average American Barleywine. I’m glad we’ve been cellaring this awhile though, I think it might have been a bit harsh in it’s younger days.
Tried
from Can
on 23 Feb 2005
at 09:13
5.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
One good thing about Mendocino is their bombers are significantly cheaper than other brands. One not-so-good thing I can say is you can tell why. This brew pours a light golden orange color with a medium thick eggshell white head that lasted pretty well. Thin lacing. The aroma is musty and mildly hopped, with a faint hint of citrus. Possibly the thinnest body on an IPA in recent memory, with a very one-dimensional flavor. Straight hops without a whole lot of taste, and a bit of grapefruit is about it. The finish is somewhat bitter but again not too flavorful. I was frankly bored with this about halfway through which is pretty rare for me when it comes to IPAs. Worth trying, but I won’t revisit this.
Tried
from Bottle
on 31 Jan 2005
at 10:12
7.9/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Clear deep red body, medium off-white head. Deep caramels, dark fruit, toast, and piney hops aroma. Classic barleywine flavor of dark fruits, caramel, toast, and plenty of piney, citrusy hops. Nice balance between sweet malts and piney hops, with a bit of an alcohol kick. Very typical of West Coast barleywines, and that’s a good thing.
Tried
on 24 Jan 2005
at 23:16
6.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6
Can a blend be more than the sum of its parts? In this case, yes - black hawk stout by itself is overdry and way too carbonated, with not enough sweetness to balance out the dryness and hops - eye of the hawk has a sweetness to it that just can’t find balance - combining the two seems to effectively eliminate the bad aspects of both beers - sweetness and dryness find harmony, and the chocolate malt in the finish from the stout combines well with the hoppy finish of the hawk to give it a roasty, cocoa-like all-around finish - still, this can’t make up for the fact that you’ve started with two pretty unremarkable ales, although they seem to find balance, the overall experience doesn’t set this ale apart from any other middle-of-the-road ales - nothing about it would allow me to pick it out in a blind tasting - a decent drink, worth it for the price, but nothing to stock up on.
Tried
from Can
on 10 Jan 2005
at 21:05
6.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Black with a tan head. Powerful hop aroma. Flavor is sour coffee and bitter chocolate. The chocolate is there for sure, but the caramel is hardly noticeable. Some sweetness in the finish.
Tried
on 07 Jan 2005
at 18:00
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
Dark brown coloured body, about 90% opaque with a smallish off-white head. Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, caramel, coffee with some prominant high a.a. hops. Medium to Full-bodied; Strong roasty flavours run well, with some bitter nuttiness and even the hops come out as well. Aftertaste shows complexity and the roastiness lasts long while the sugars come out as well. Overall, much better than I had expected from a sub-par brewery. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle, purchased from Norm’s in Vienna, Virginia on 28-December-2004.
Tried
from Bottle
on 28 Dec 2004
at 23:39
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Thanks to Suttree for this one! Deep and dark with a tall mocha colored head. Roast malt aroma with lots of coffee. Full body with a flavor that starts with some roast malt bitterness and finishes with a nicely sweet, but subtle finish. One of Mendocino’s better efforts.
Tried
on 23 Dec 2004
at 18:15
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Opaque with dark tan head and sticky lacing - aroma of coffee, caramel, some spice and a hint of smoke - spicy to start, with medium mouthfeel and a hint of oiliness - cocoa is present throughout, as a growing hop presence, some woody and smoky flavors develop - finish is dry, leaving hops and cocoa mixing surprisingly well - a bit of caramel and toffee flavor springs up on the back of the tongue long after the swallow - a nice take on a porter indeed, and another beer that is generating respect within me for a brewery I once thought was really lame.
Tried
on 11 Dec 2004
at 19:12
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
A much more subtle and refined barleywine than I expected from this brewery, especially since it’s relatively fresh - aging would make this really good - anyway - nice ruby color and substantial, clinging lace - aroma of candy sugar, lighter fruit (strawberry), caramel and a hint of alcohol - a little thin, but not too much so - strawberry and caramel flavors mix surprisingly well - not overly sweet - slightly vinous - floral hops in the finish, with just a touch of warming alcohol, just the right amount poking through - for the price, this is exceptional - I will def. be buying a few bottles for aging.
Tried
from Can
on 05 Dec 2004
at 20:22
5.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 5
Bottle Pours a solid black with a large fluffy light brown/tan head. Aromas are mostly roasted/burnt malts and a slightly sour woddy note. Flavor is a bitter/sour smokey taste that just doesn’t quite do it. Feel is a bit thin, more like a porter maybe. Carbonation is soft and the trailer is a sour astringent taste. Dissapointing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Nov 2004
at 01:05