Mendocino Eye of the Hawk Select Ale

Brewed by Mendocino Brewing Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Hopland, California USA

Hard to drink a beer when a raptor is giving you the stink eye. Body is colored like a robin’s chest; a textured mix of red and beige, with a deep haziness and a head flat as an anvil. The aroma begins with a creeping corny lager smell, very sptizy and clean, with a shallow but still sweet hint of caramel. Despite this small offering, the aroma is underwhelming. The flavor is much better constructed, beginning with a moderately malty and bitter taste, then shifting into a sweeter cider and fried onion ring flavor. The palate is spritzy and bubbly, which makes for a bit of a weird drink paired with the onion ring taste. In fact, the texture just seems too criss-crossed and driven. Zealous, even. Not a memorable drink, but certainly a rare instance of the flavor being vastly superior to the aroma.

Bottle- Trader Joe’s. Ruby red / iced tea / caramel in color. Sweet fruity aroma- picking up some cherries and malts. No head. Big and malty right away, almost earthy. Some burned toffee, even slightly sour. Belgian-like- reminds me of a St. Bernardus 6 maybe? Didn’t taste the alcohol at all, although now seeing it’s 8%, very well hidden. There’s also a touch of that Bass Ale/Fullers smokiness right at the end. I liked this, very unique.

12oz bottle. Orange colored body with a weak head. The aroma has some cooked veggies, some grass, and alcohol. The flavor has some stale malts and grassy hop balance, with a dry alcoholic finish. A little sweet caramel, but way to sharp of an alcohol flavor. Medium-light body with lighter carbonation. The stale alcoholic taste is just too much. This is hardly drinkable.

Bottle from Costco in Woodland, CA. I was plesantly surprised by this beer. It had a smooth and malty taste. Flavored with a hint of carmel and other sweet malts with just the right amount of hops. This is a beer I could drink all day.

Pours a deep red with absoultely no head. The scent revealts hints of cinnamon and vanilla that blend nicely with the malts. Tastes of caramel and malts. A bit creamy in the mouth with a carbonation level that is a little too high. Great beer, I was very pleased with this one. Serving type: bottle

Pours a dark but clear copper colour. Huge flowing white head. Strong hoppy, floral woodsy aromas. Plenty of citrus fruits, soft caramel, piney with a long acidic finish.

Bottle: Pours a hazy copper with an off white head. Aroma, fruits, caramel, toffee, sugary. Flavor, caramel, toffee, some sweet sugary malts, some spices, fruity.

Nice rich amber color, brilliantly clear with no sediment. Smells yeasty and bready, some phenolic band aid, maybe some orange rind? Nice mild taste, moderately hoppy, good bitters in the finish, slight alcohol in the nostrils. Almost a biere de garde. Got this for 6.99 a sixer, a real deal considering how much good micros have gone up in price lately. In my book, meets the threshold for drinkability and enjoyment. Would make a great session beer without tiring the palate. Worth buying.