Mendocino Talon Barley Wine

Brewed by Mendocino Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Hopland, California USA

I wasn’t sure what kind of quality I was going to get here but for the price it was a no brainer. Reddish-brown color with a nice initial tan head and some spotty lacing. The aroma is the best part of this beer: pine, citrus, caramel, and a bit candy-like. The flavors I got were a bit different than that, lots of sweet caramel, some plums and figs with some spicy light dry hopping in the finish. The alcohol isn’t crazy hot but it’s certainly there and makes the beer too sticky and sweet especially when the beer is a bit underhopped. For the most part I enjoyed this, however a bomber of this isn’t the easiest to finish. About halfway through I was tired of it and it was rough going from there. Great price though, I just recommend sharing the bomber with someone else.

22oz bomber from Bevmo for $5 or so. Another >10% rating. Yep. Pours amber with small head of small bubbles. Great aroma of sweet malty long boil caramelization and melanoidins. Possibly a little bit of autolysis. Why is a little autolysis good? I just read the commercial description: aged over one year! I thought so. It was surprizingly smooth, not as sharp as most barleywines I try. The label around the neck says aged for months. I guess it is a little safer for marketing to say that. Some people are afraid of beer aged for a year. The label also says limited edition. Probably limited to 1 bazillion bottles if it’s at Bevmo. Taste is sweet malty and excellent. This is really surprizing me. I like it. 4-4.1.

’04 Bomber via trade with TheBeercellar this puppy has been staring at me for a bit now. Pours a deeper amber with ruby tones. A bit murky at first but that was due to my carelessness in pouring. A tan head with a greenish tinge dissipates quickly but is revived easily with a gentle swirl in the goblet. Candi sugar and biting hops in the nose. Central cone of gentle carbonation. Nose is MUCH sweeter than body, body is barely medium and short in duration. Alcohol is very subtle and is hidden by remnats of dried fruit. It hits you with a reeling punch...as expected and openly welcomed. Malts are thinner but still enjoyable. A bit tinny on the edges but still very drinkable.

(22oz. Bottle courtesy of Headbanger).Aroma is a sweet rich malt. Color is a hazy amber brown with very light carbonation and a thin tight head. Taste is rich and sweet. Starting with a full body it goes down with a rich feel. Finish comes in sweet with some dried fruit and a faint bitterness. Alcohol shows in the after taste with a little more sweet lingering on. Very nice Barley Wine.

Pours dark amber with light tan head. Aromas of caramel, toffee, bread dough. Flavors of roasted matls, caramel and hops in the finish. The alcohol is slightly noticable, but it is still smooth going down. Full body with average carbonation and a syrupy mouthfeel.

Foggy brown/amber with a thin off white head. Aroma is heavy yeast, caramel, toffee, alcohol sweetness. Taste is alcohol sweetness, light toffee, caramel, yeast.

Aroma is fairly strong and fruity, rather like a cider, with some yeasty hints. Color is a rich, transparent deep brown with a creamy tan head. Flavor is well-rounded and fruity with a touch of sweetness and a hoppy undertone, as well as hints of caramel and smoke. The alcohol bite is strong, as with all barleywines, but not vicious. Texture has a good edge to it, and this barleywine goes down the hatch with fire and sass.

Purchased 7/30/04, opened 7/9/08. Pours a crystal clear dark amber color with a thin tan head, that had almost no retention, with very long legs. Aroma is caramel and raisins. Taste is not as sweet as most reviewers, but this has aged awhile now, still sweet though but not inappropriate for a English Style barlewine. Thin body but with a nice mouthfeel, odd in that respect. Noble hops seem to subdue the sweetness and alcohol nicely. I’m impressed that this is 10.5 ABV because it is covered well. Aftertaste is a bit vinous with some grapefruit, but does not last long. Overall a very nice beer, would buy and sit on for 4 years again, LOL!!