Grapefruit rind bitterness, orange peel souring, and spruce hop thicket contrast cereal-grained barley-toasted caramel malting of hazy gold dry body. Earthen tannic grape pucker and floral-piney resonance subdue peach-pear-honeydew seduction, but alcohol-burned juniper berry bittering goes to infinity.
All posts by John Fortunato
MENDOCINO WHITE ALE
Easy drinkin’ beige-hazed Belgian-styled summer seasonal packs up-front white peppered coriander spicing into mildest fizzy-tongued orange peel, lemon skin, curacao orange, and sour nectarine tartness. Pronounced brimstone parch routs dry herbal repose and meandering orange-candied sweetness.
(MENDOCINO) TALON TRUE STYLE BARLEYWINE ALE
Admirable ruby-coppered barleywine (with 10% alcohol luster) enhances immediate fruity ripeness with gummy malt-yeast vigor. On first sip, orange-bruised black cherry tang come to fruition, sharpening frisky hop roast. Then, healthy prune-plum overload picks up mellow banana, genial black currant and tart grapefruit-apricot sensation. Sticky caramel-toffee thicket encases cedar-aged rum-spiced red wine finish, leaving minor vinous acidity and tannic grape dryness in its wake.
MENDOCINO SUN LAGER
Frugal dry malts and placid grain earthiness intersect daintily sour orange rind perimeter, receding to lightly-hopped watery finish. Acidic backwash defeats zesty citric punch as weak finish and fleeting aftertaste vanish with nary a trace.
MENDOCINO SUMMER ALE
Better and more resilient than most common summer brews, this unfiltered limited edition 2005 white ale brings orange peel bittering and tangy lemony fizz to wafting vegetal acridity. Peppery coriander-mint-thyme spicing adds comely seasonal depth. Though light-bodied, its busy wheat-based mix carries through to tannic yellow grape dryness illuminating sweltering banana-teased finish, retaining brimful sunlit buoyancy.
MENDOCINO SPRING SEASONAL BOCK LAGER
Perhaps closer to a toasted lager than a true bock, well-balanced golden-hued medium body substitutes chewy caramel-chocolate malting and increased roasted barley sweetness for dried fruit expectancy. Near finish, recessive white grape-date-fig nuances and earthy nuttiness rail against ashy coal harshness.
MENDOCINO RED TAIL LAGER
Fine dark amber lager conveys butterscotch hilt, cracked wheat jilt, vanilla wafer lilt, and toasted almond tilt. Minor oxidation agitates citric twinge and earthy vegetal tinge.
MENDOCINO RED TAIL ALE
Coarse nuts, cereal grains, and orange peel immerse frothy golden red ale. Pronounced hop bitterness gives way to sticky caramel sweetness by floral-tinged fruity finish. Another organically complex ale from sunny California.
MENDOCINO PEREGRINE GOLDEN ALE
Tamped down Cascade hop bitterness moderates sharp grained malting. Apricot and barren lemon-lime hints add sunshiny tang to barley-wheat crest of light-bodied summer ale illumination.
MENDOCINO IMPERIAL I.P.A.
Brisk limited edition winter seasonal counters resinous piney-hopped bitterness with capacious floral-tinged red-fruited sweetness. Bright grapefruit-peeled orange-apple-peach-berry tang gets candied caramel malting enlivened by woodsy evergreen gird and lacquered bark tinge.
MENDOCINO EYE OF THE HAWK ALE
Sweet mocha nut-scented russet-hued ale with soured orange luster and phenol alcohol pungency resembles hearty Belgian double bock. Raisin, date, and almond re-enforce high cocoa malt concentration to sticky liqueur finish.
(MENDOCINO) BLUE HERON PALE ALE
Light-bodied golden ale lacks tangible nose, but retains sweet wheat-cracked barley biscuit signature, soft water foundation, and nutty caramel malt lining. Off-dry woody hops dissapate tangy orange snippet.