Mateveza Yerba Mate IPA

Brewed by Mendocino Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Hopland, California USA

Amber with a thin white head. Aroma is a mix of earthy, and piney hops, light caramel, mild alcohol, dried fruit. Taste is a mild hoppiness, the yerba mate shows fairly strong in the background which causes the beer to have an interesting tea aspect to it, light caramel. If you like Yerba Mate tea, you’ll probably like this also.

Bomber from the Coop in Davis, CA. Slightly hazy amber color with a large off-white head. Nice aromas of citrus and floral hop. Medium body with near creamy carbonation. The fruity/floral hop is great, and the caramel is almost overcome by what seems to be a tea/herb flavor. Rather lush at first, finishing towards astringent. Hop is great, might like the "tea" dialed down a bit. Still bitter is good.

Tap sampled at SF International Beer Fest. Golden-amber color with a white head. Aroma of sweet malt, light fruits, tea, and piney hops. Flavor is more of the same with caramel malt and the tea asserting itself well. Average palate for the style. Solid overall, interesting.

22oz bottle from BevMo Mission Valley. Pours a lightly hazed deep golden color with a fluffy off white head that left light lacing. Nose of citrus and herbal hops with a weird kind off tree root quality. Flavor was much like the aroma of this beer. Decent overall.

What struck me first was the aroma - of course, the first thing I did was stick my nose in it. It actually reminded me of some energy drinks! But overall there is a distinct spice aroma with strong notes of pine and fruit. The flavor was interesting too. A bittersweet tea is what it tasted like. It felt overall dry, but strangely satisfying as I felt as if I was drinking a carbonated tea energy drink; and as it warms, to me, it’s as if it is medicinal - in a welcoming manner, fortunately.

12oz bottle. Dark, dirty honey body topped with an off-white head that lasts but doesn’t lace. Aroma is floral hops dominated by agave or some sort of cactus (prickly pear? yerba mate?...whatever that is), funky-musky-herby sweetness, floral tea. Mouth is medium with light carbonation and a watery finish with some distinct, astringent qualities (like a not-quite-ripe persimmon). Flavor is mildly hoppy, woody, touch of honey, after-taste of apple cider vinegar and the astringent substance mentioned in palate (tea-like), and pine hops. Quince comes to mind, probably for the astringency and strange sweetness. Interesting for sure. Definitely an herb-vegetable.

22 oz. bottle from BevMo (SD) - Pours a clear copper color with a one finger thick off white head. Light lacing. Aroma is herbal hops and spice. Flavor is much of the same. Palate has some lingering bitterness. Medium body. Worth a try.

Bottle thanks to travita. Amber with a white head. Nose is spicy with hops fighting to be noticed. Not bad on the palate with a decent hop flavor that finishes spicy.