Mateveza Yerba Mate IPA - Cervecería de MateVeza

MadeInOregon

California

4.1/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I tried Mateveza Brewing Company's pale ale a couple years back, now time to review their IPA...

THE APPEARANCE of the Yerba Mate IPA is decent with a golden/amber body and a nice dense, bubbly near-white head. This beer is extremely filtered for an West Coast IPA given that I saw no yeast or sediment--or yerba mate for that matter--suspended in the body. The body is just a little cloudy but not enough for this style. It does have good lacing though. Overall, it just looks like a light, Belgian ale.

THE SMELL is very enjoyable with strong hop aromas of strawberry and a little grapefruit. However, I could not detect any yerba mate, which seems odd for a beer made with the stuff. That would be a minus in my book. Nonetheless, it smells very nice.

THE TASTE is intensely IPA until a brief spark of nutty yerba mate appears about halfway through each tasting. The yerba mate is mostly present in the aftertaste with its distinct cocoa, nuttiness, but I think you would probably miss it if weren't familiar with how it tastes. The requisite hops are there and provide a solid IPA-backbone for this beer. The bittering seems to be accomplished via both the hops and yerba mate, but I could be imagining that. The low point for the taste is actually the tea, but not that it's too strong. On the contrary, I think it should be much stronger. It blends in so well that the uninitiated probably cannot detect it and probably think there's something wrong with this IPA--read the other reviews and you'll see what I mean. All that aside, this is great tasting IPA, whether on its own or with a hearty meal.

THE FEEL is on the thin side for an IPA. It's very smooth and light. I would like to see this one less filtered.

CONCLUSION: A very good IPA in my book. Exquisite balance of two very similarly bitter ingredients: hops and yerba mate. Execution is excellent on this one, as far as I'm concerned. I would suggest upping the yerba mate for an even more boldly mate quality. I find amusing the negative reviews that rip this beer for tasting like tea or being too herbal since that is EXACTLY what a beer with yerba mate should taste like. That's like knocking an IPA for being bitter. If you're thinking about trying this and have never had yerba mate, I would recommend drinking some yerba mate on its own first. If you don't like the tea, you may not like the beer. However, those of us familiar with the tea will find it to be quite mild in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 04:03:14 | More by MadeInOregon

elNopalero

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

This pours an orange tinged yellow. The aroma is reminiscent of oranges, candied orange specifically. The flavor comes across with more candied orange and a light maltiness. It’s dry with a chalky finish. The hops are muddled together with a malty roundness and some medicinal notes which emerge, with an offputting finish. I found the beer to be somewhere between “bad” and “good,” but not one I’m likely to revisit.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2013 06:13:32 | More by elNopalero

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.54/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle (though it is hilariously mislabelled as a 12 ounces).

A: Translucent, barely hazy clear. Noticeable effervescence.

S: Smells like piney hops and yerba mate. I like it.

T: A mediocre pale ale with a really great flair. The mate adds an herbal quality to the beer that is not the obvious hops with which such beers are usually laden. The endtaste is complex and bitter, but not drying. Splashes of citrus also appeal, and earthy herbs remind me of chewing on tea or tobacco.

M: Solid but unexceptional.

O: Decent beer, but not great. I'd drink again, but probably not reccomend.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 07:48:17 | More by AgentMunky

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +30.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a very hazy golden-orange with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of grapefruit, citrus, orange, and pine hops with some light spicy hops, sweet caramel and biscuit malts, and some yerba.

T - Starts off with a mix of grapefruit, tropical, orange, and citrus hops with some bitterness and some sweet caramel malts and lemon zest. Through the middle, the pine and lightly spicy hops come through with some more bitterness alongside some biscuit malts and some yerba. The finish is a mix of grapefruit, orange, and pine hops, some lightly resiny bitterness, and some biscuit and caramel malts.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry and bitter finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really nice hoppy IPA with a good hop profile and bitterness throughout and good balance.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 06:05:16 | More by ngeunit1

terence

California

1.75/5  rDev -47.1%

09-01-2012 12:26:23 | More by terence

Drinkerofales

California

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A darker coppery orange color, which is very cloudy. A huge light tan foam which dissipated rather quickly, with no memorable lacing.

Smells floral, lavender, jasmine, with some earthy elements. Though floral, it's not a hop floral, but the tea.

Taste is bright, yet restrained. A bit of flowery hops opens the taste and is quickly gone to an even quicker finish, with a light bitter lingering aftertaste.

Texture is lighter, not thing, but smooth. All that being said, not so drinkable.

An experiment for sure. I like to see the innovation, but the results are kind of meh.

DOA

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 10:54:09 | More by Drinkerofales

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I'm typically weary when someone starts adding things to "classic" styles. I mean, how much better can we make an ipa? Hops don't need help. But this one isn't too bad really. There is a smoky and earthy kind of accent to it that keeps it interesting. I suppose the yerba mate steers it in a different direction than a standard IPA, but it is fairly decent. Overall: it could have been a lot worse. And ends up being not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 05:51:57 | More by RblWthACoz

snaotheus

Washington

3.3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle poured into a large mug

Pours slightly cloudy orangey golden with a big fluffy light tan head that fades about halfway fairly quickly, and then holds. Lots of active carbonation. Smell is fruity and citrus. Smells sweet.

Taste is...odd. Herbal, grassy, mild. Mildly hoppy. Something soapy about it.

Mouthfeel is light, dry. Overall, it's not bad.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 03:34:22 | More by snaotheus

JimmyTango

California

2.75/5  rDev -16.9%

06-18-2012 20:13:44 | More by JimmyTango

shelby415

Oregon

3/5  rDev -9.4%

02-27-2012 06:51:13 | More by shelby415

MsRif

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +5.7%

12-24-2011 05:46:48 | More by MsRif

2neardead

California

3/5  rDev -9.4%

12-11-2011 21:59:01 | More by 2neardead

jenray

Texas

3/5  rDev -9.4%

11-28-2011 03:49:01 | More by jenray

Adamostella

Washington

4/5  rDev +20.8%

11-14-2011 23:43:13 | More by Adamostella

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.4/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pleasant, burnished and slightly hazy deep golden colour, with a filmy and solid head of fine off-white. Lacing is a bit erratic, but pleasantly intricate where it forms. Body has some heft to it, and the carbonation is fine. Overall, it's a good-looking beer.

Aromas of soft fruit come through on the nose, with a touch more of earthiness and a twinge of tart dark berries. It gives it the slightly herbal qualities of an English hop aroma. That could be the Yerba Maté, but who knows. It's certainly not unpleasant, and it has a crispness that's really nice.

Taste is certainly a let-down, however. Absolutely minimal bitterness, and just a slide of almost jammy apricot flavour gives any indication of hops, or any other sort of addition. The body, as well, is thin and rather unappealing, giving a wet grain and slight organic note until it stops dead. Feel is light, but pricked with fine carbonation.

Not a bad drop, all up, but really nothing to get excited about. It's smooth and drinkable enough, but it leaves you wondering what the point is.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 01:14:27 | More by lacqueredmouse

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

i think all the negative reviews of this beer come from people that are not tea drinkers, or certainly not familiar with the culture and tradition of drinking yerba mate. this is indeed a novel, if not gimmicky brewing quest, no doubt, but it is also executed splendidly. it pours a copper red color with a half inch white bubbly head. smell is strong citrus hops for sure, but also that earthy, almost composted smell of fine yerba mate. first sip is dry and quick, a result of the mate, which is surprisingly well balanced yet featured in this brew. there is a pleasant hop flavor as well, not in your face, but proportionally perfect. overall this is a bold attempt at a new and complex style of beer. im curious to try their other offerings, especially the black ale. i should mention that there is a serious caffeine hit from a bomber of this stuff. holy cow what a pick me up!

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 21:00:01 | More by StonedTrippin

UpToMeBeer

Colorado

2.3/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A - Pours gold/orange with about 1-finger head. Moderate retention. Very little lacing.

S-- Citrusy hops; indicates IPA but with something else lurking...

T-- Here's where the tea character takes over. Very disconcerting at first. It grew on me a bit, but it was just too odd for me, one who's used to a more traditional IPA.

M - Thin bodied, with light carbonation. Pleasant enough.

O-- Just not my cup of tea, as the saying goes. Maybe this will become a new trend. It is, after all, drinkable, and actually warms kind of nicely. But the tea flavor feels out of place.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 01:22:04 | More by UpToMeBeer

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids & Solids, Longmont, CO

Poured a peach-amber color--surprisingly, as I expected something darker from the name--with a foamy white head that retained well and left a little lacing. Leafy aroma, tea-like...I'll steal the word "vegetal" to describe it, because that's what it was. The yerba mate is apparent in the taste right up front, dry and tea-ish, strong and overpowering, very woody; you still get some sweet malts, slight citrus twinges, and some leafy, earthy hops. Medium-bodied, and quite distinctive, about mid-range on the drinkability meter.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 15:26:40 | More by Rifugium

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Orange amber color; evenly hazy. Poured a 2 finger off-white head that dissipated to a thin, even skim. Decanted lazily. Laced in wide rings with legs running down the glass.

S: Sweet orange, tropical fruits and herbal tea. Crackery malt and a hint of pine.

T: Very consistent with the nose. Slightly resinous. Sharply bitter and dry in the finish. The finish is quite strong relative to a bit of an unmemorable opening.

M: Medium body. Moderate carbonation. Smooth opening to sticky middle. Sharply bitter and dry in the finish.

O: Interesting hop character along with the herbal tea.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 19:53:33 | More by Haybeerman

dannydetox

California

3.08/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

third time tasting this beer. staggeringly average IPA overall. i can't complain, but there is little there to keep me interested.

pours a hazy light amber color with a small head. some lacing remained on the glass by the time it was finished. noticeable herbal qualities dominated the nose, but not exactly a mate smell. i'm not a regular yerba mate drinker, but this beer did not really taste like that hot brewed beverage. sure, there was a slight tannic-like bitterness but not in the way i get from yerba mate. minimal citrus hops in the beer, but i suppose that makes sense as they are going for an herbal thing here. pretty easy to drink, but also easy to forget.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 03:40:43 | More by dannydetox

tdm168

North Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

22oz poured into a pint glass

A little hesitant to try this. Tea and beer probably shouldn't mix, but the guy on the bottle has a gleam in his eye so...

Pours a hazy, murky brown with decent head. Smells of tea leaves mild citrus. Taste is mainly tea citrus tries to shine through but the bitterness from the tea leaves dominate. I expect a hop bitterness in an IPA, but I don't get any bitterness from the hops...just friggin tea. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and lightly carbonated; the tea really dries your mouth out.

As expected, no tea in my beer from now on.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 20:04:35 | More by tdm168

BilbosNuts

California

3.7/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a very cloudy, golden color that is close to a very light brown. There are tints of orange as well. It has a medium sized, thick, white head that retains a small ring and leaves some scattered lacing. There is some light carbonation noticeable.

S: The smell is quite amazing and complex in my opinion. There are some light hops initially noticed. Next, a tea-like scent comes through along with some piney aromas. There is also a sweet, orange fruitiness that comes through. Overall, it is very pleasant.

T: After the very satisfying smell, the taste was sort of a let down. It tastes mostly of tea and hops. Not much else. I would've liked to see more of what was coming through in the smell in its taste as well.

M: It has a medium body that is smooth to drink. I has a little bite at the end from the hops and leaves a dry finish. The carbonation comes through here, but not overly so.

O: This has been a nice break from the usual rip your tongue off American IPA. If the taste was amped up a bit, it would be really great.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 04:26:36 | More by BilbosNuts

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Ok, tea in an IPA. It seems this is neither a black tea nor a green tea, but I suspect it's more akin to green tea, with which I"m more familiar....anywho....

Pours a golden amber, clear and clean. Clinging head, white with some rockiness.

yeah, the tea is apparent, but not overly strong. Earthy and green, like greens; collard greens. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Pine and some citrus give it the IPA-ness. Malt is hard to detect through the tea stuff

Flavors give in to a pale malt, soft biscuit. The hops take over and give a dance of pine, earth and mostly citrus...some tropical. The bite of the hops and the tannins of the tea give a strange finish. The flavors the tea offers are apparent, but not dominant.

A nice IPA, I think I'd like it if I were on a beach somewhere. Not sure why...maybe it's the pirate-looking guy on the label

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 21:11:18 | More by Mebuzzard

kiisaka

California

4.25/5  rDev +28.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An unconventional brew, with mate as the predominant flavour. As strange as it seems, the balance is excellent. The noise is very much of the mate, and its tea-like aroma goes well with the vigour of the brew. The hop makes its presense known, but not at all a hop-bomb like some contemporary American IPA. Well balanced, and goes well with boldly flavoured food like grilled meat.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 05:09:20 | More by kiisaka

brentk56

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a fairly clear amber color with a rocky head; a few squiggles are left behind

Smell: The yerba mate dominates the aroma, with its vegetal, green tea character

Taste: A bit of piney hops and caramel malt up front, but the yerba mate quickly moves to the forefront, bringing its green tea, vegetal flavors; while the hops struggle to maintain balance, the caramel malt and the yerba mate are dominant in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with brisk carbonation

Overall: Well...glad I tried it but I just cannot get too excited about yerba mate in my beer

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2011 03:35:33 | More by brentk56