Special Edition - Imperial IPA
Mendocino Brewing Company

Special Edition - Imperial IPASpecial Edition - Imperial IPA
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From:
Mendocino Brewing Company
 
United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 10.28%
Reviews:
248
Ratings:
262
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 01, 2016
Added:
Nov 30, 2005
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by merlin48:
Photo of merlin48
Reviewed by merlin48 from Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a hazy amber body with a medium sized offwhite head. Good retention and lots of sticky lacing is left on the glass.

Aroma is dominated by pungent grapefruit hops, with hints of pine needles and toasted caramel.

Medium body and carbonation.

Taste is dominated by a grapefruity hop bitterness that is edged by some grassy and pine presence. Toasted caramel provides a solid malt backing, but the bitter citrusy hop dryness comes on strong again at the finish.

A decent imperial IPA here, but not a world beater.
Jul 22, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.43/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Looks like an impressive orange hued ipa, 3/4" white head on it. The aroma is pretty hoppy, malty too, honey and caramel.

Taste is strong, the alcohol isn't quite pronounced, but its existence is never in doubt. Caramel weighted down the mouthfeel a little. Old school C hops. A lot of tea malt notes too. Some English aspects of this one. Its kind of like a light barleywine it has so much going on in both malt and hops. Sourdough bready kick on this one.
Jul 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by zotzot from Vermont

Sep 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by wrightst from Maryland

Sep 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Aug 13, 2014
Photo of barczar
Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky

3.86/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This beer is 4 years old.

Pours a murky deep brown with a modest cream head that dissipates fairly quickly.

Aroma is dominated by caramel malt, toffee, and floral hops. Notes of citrus and dark fruit are evident.

Flavor reveals more sweet toffee and caramel malt, with herbal tea hops and light citrus notes adding contrast. The malt is initially cloying, but the lightly bitter finish cleans things up a bit.

Body is fairly thick, with modest carbonation and noted alcohol warmth.

This beer has aged nicely. I know ipas are intended to be had fresh, but it got lost in the cellar. Still a nice beer.
Jun 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by williamjbauer from Colorado

Jan 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 29, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by RBorsato from Virginia

Oct 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois

Aug 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by RBassSFHOPit2ME from California

Jun 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by cliff1066 from Virginia

Dec 26, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by DrFunkenstein from Pennsylvania

Apr 15, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Tyrawlings from Ohio

Feb 16, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by FreshmanPour77 from Minnesota

Nov 28, 2011
 
Rated: 3.5 by barnzy78 from Illinois

Nov 28, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Another6Pack from Michigan

Nov 26, 2011
Photo of bobhits
Reviewed by bobhits from Kentucky

2.73/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours a cloudy orange and yellow colored as most IPAs do. A perfect opaque haze here give the beer the look of density and unfiltered goodness.

Candy sweetness with a touch of grassy and citrus hops at the end. There's a lot of subtle tropical fruits and aromas going on here, but it comes up underwhelming.

There are amazing hop flavors going on here. The problem is this complex blend of amazing American hops is being over powered by a heavy and fruity malt that doesn't really mesh well. Yes, this is still an IPA and not barely wine, but the blending of flavors is off. There's is an almost copper metallic flavor that is coming in here to and messing with the balance.

Not much to say on the mouthfeel. Carbonation is a bit lacking, but it is fine on mouthfeel.

Don't take my words too harshly, but there isn't much left to say on most IPAs. This is tasty stuff, but it is really far from the better double IPAs. it is also less than 10 for a sixer which might make it one of the better values I've seen though. This comes up well short of anything outstanding in flavor and it isn't going to make the group of flawless even if perhaps not perfect. Still worth a try if you see it.
Aug 21, 2011
Photo of dedrinker
Reviewed by dedrinker from Kansas

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
light amber color, thin white head.

A really nice floral and bubblegum aroma layered on some cookie dough malt.

Flavor was the same - this is the first time I was pleased by a double IPA for it's all around enjoyable flavor rather than the sole impact of the hops.

Medium-full body, going soft over the tongue to a soft mild yet persistent hop and malt finish.
Apr 19, 2011
Photo of MrMcGibblets
Reviewed by MrMcGibblets from Illinois

3.47/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
perfectly clear copper color, minimal creamy head. caramel and toffee notes dominate the aroma with a bit of resiny pine and grapefruit in the background. enters with moderately sweet malts balanced out by moderate hop bitterness. smooth on the palate with a spicy, bitter finish. a good value at $7 per six-pack but not sure this should be labeled as an imperial.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 01-05-2009 03:09:12
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Mar 03, 2011
Special Edition - Imperial IPA from Mendocino Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 262 ratings