Mendocino Summer Ale

Brewed by Mendocino Brewing Company
Style: Belgian White (Witbier)
Hopland, California USA

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, pale yellow body with a small, bubbly, white head. A few stray hunks of yeast in there, but I was too greedy and poured too deep. Smell: Soft wheat aroma with a lightly tart-smelling fruit juice component to it and note of spice. Taste: Tangy wheat flavor with a blend of citrus a tart pear juices. Pinch of orange peel. Teaspoon of kosher salt. Addition of spices, maybe coriander and allspice. Light, spicy hops and bitterness. Finishes dry and fruity. Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation, slightly prickly. Drinkability: Not a bad lil’ summertime white. Not me, the beer!

Somewhat clip art label, very cloudy. My initial impression of the aroma was positive - fruit, spices, yeast - but then the underlying musk reminded me of narcissus and it started smelling cadaverous. Generally sour, citrusy, musky. Medium, wet paper body. Fair.

Pours a cloudy yellow color with almost no head. Wondering if I have an old one? Slightly spicey aroma. The flavor is refreshing and fruity. Peach is a great comparison. Some citrus, lemon, and spice as well. Little bit of clove. The finish is pretty quick but leaves a spicey aftertaste. Only knock in the flavor is a bit of pungent sourness. Not bad for a lower alcohol summer brew.

On tap at Mammoth Bluesapalooza 2008. Pours a bright golden hue with an extremely giant white head. Nose was faint lemony, spice and grain. Flavor was full with fruit esters and was balanced nicely with light wheat. It’s not a real Belgian style wit, but it’s a very nice American version and quite worth drinking! Had a very refreshing finish and could be an excellent session brew!

Milky, light but bright yellow, canary yellow. Head is white, dissipates fast. Aromatic yeast, slightly lactic, unripe banana, ripe peach, nice mellow but bright nose. Smooth mouthfeel, not too much carbonation. Slight tartness in finish. Balanced. Lemony and yogurty. Some orange peel, but somehow flavors do not coalesce. Thin, soft effervescence. It’s alright.

Very hazy pale straw color with a initially large white head. A pepper based spice aroma with some banana esters. Mouthfeel is light and carbonated. Taste is watery, some spices, and a little to sweet to be thirst quenching. Very good at beginning of glass and quickly goes down hill.

This one is light and refreshing. No bitterness. Orange and lemon spices make this a good intro beer to the world of American wheat/white ale.

I don’t know, I just keeping drinking this this summer and I am always surprised by the low ratings. So finally I will add my 2 cents. Pours as it should, pale yellow but the hazy enough that one cannot see through it. A very radiating yellow color is accompanied by a small but resilient head. Aroma is very coriander and light lemon. I could see that the coriander may be a bit strong. Taste is faint banana esters, light lemon and a bit of sweetness and a lot of coriander again. Basically exactly what I want from a standard Wit. Very thirst quenching without being thin or light. A small strong carbonation fades rather quickly. Long zingy coriander aftertaste. I like this stuff a lot, I need another six pack.