White Hawk Original IPA - Mendocino Brewing Company

Chris_Cali_2o9

4.33/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Sam Adams cup

A- Yellowish orange body with a 1"of fluffy white head

S- tropical fruits, butterscotch, metal, biscuit malts

T- Caramel, butterscotch, metal, orange, tropical fruit, with a lingering grapefruit bitterness

M- Almost creamy medium body, nice carbonation

O- Signature butterscotch and metal, found in pretty much ever brew from mendocino, which i love. There's so many things going on here, with the caramel, butterscotch and biscuit malts, to the tropical citrusy hops. They're all so nicely balanced, allowing me the opportunity to experience the creamy, decadent malts, and tropical fruit hops.

The west coast is flooded with IPAs, DIPAs, and IIPAs with no unique malt backbone. Most likely to satisfy the masses (which most likely explains this beers sub par rating) i personally, having tasted most of what the west coast has to offer in this catagory, base my ratings on uniqueness and the supporting malts. This is an excellent example of that and recommend it to all, tired of the same old, Cascade drenched, IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 21:03:14 | More by Chris_Cali_2o9

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Bright amber, really effervescent; big frothy cream head, long lasting

Aroma: Piney, biscuity; light citrus; dusty/metallic, but may be the glass

Taste: Hoppy bite right up front that continues to the end; creamy mouthfeel, but hops are too up front; not well balanced, and slightly astringent

Remarks: Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 23:16:07 | More by IchLiebeBier

naturallight1

Nevada

3/5  rDev -11%

06-15-2013 01:21:21 | More by naturallight1

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

06-13-2013 16:25:48 | More by ncstateplaya

tbeq00

California

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

06-13-2013 16:23:03 | More by tbeq00

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.01/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This one is quite nice, actually. Certainly not on par with other Cali IPA's, but not bad. Pours an almost orange with nice white foamy head. Smells of pine mostly without much else standing out. Taste and mouthfeel are pleasing and are in line with other really good IPA's. I'd have again, but there are clearly better options.

Serving type: growler

06-10-2013 19:00:41 | More by DenverHopHead

dphillips

New Hampshire

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%

06-09-2013 23:04:07 | More by dphillips

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

3/5  rDev -11%

06-08-2013 07:48:51 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

MPSTARR

Florida

3/5  rDev -11%

06-07-2013 21:36:47 | More by MPSTARR

ninaturner

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +11.3%

05-31-2013 00:49:51 | More by ninaturner

Celtics76

Rhode Island

3/5  rDev -11%

05-28-2013 21:28:28 | More by Celtics76

BRLockwood

Virginia

4/5  rDev +18.7%

05-27-2013 18:53:09 | More by BRLockwood

ridgeline23

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +11.3%

05-24-2013 02:03:24 | More by ridgeline23

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

05-23-2013 23:54:54 | More by Slatetank

Lukass

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +11.3%

05-23-2013 01:37:56 | More by Lukass

laituegonflable

Australia

3.8/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle enjoyed at the Hong Kong Brewhouse in Lan Kwai Fong. Not sure about the Hong Kong import market but I suspect this may be grey-market. My apologies to Mendocino if so.
(Note: I would have asked, but it was hard enough getting my order across to the lady at the bar)

Pours a pale golden colour, slight cloud. Head is dense, fluffy marshmallowy and retaining well: a thick crown of lovely lace. Looks fab.

Smells lovely; tangy. Lots of citrus with a hint of lychee and peach, with sherbet and some pine resin on the back. Lovely and enticing.

Taste is a bit lacking really. Plenty of malt, with caramel and some nutty notes- maybe marzipan and chestnut? Hops come through midway, largely resiny and a bit dank, some citrus in there. Bit of grapefruit bitterness and yeah, just slightly acidic and bitter on the back. Not really an unpleasant note in there, but there's nothing hugely enjoyable or refreshing either. All the nice, lively hop notes are aroma so maybe some more mid-level hopping would be in order?

Full body, quite bitty with a slight sharp IPA pull on the back. Not bad.

Good IPA, but lacks any of those popup great notes that make an IPA really stand out. Just a bit unbalanced maybe.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 06:55:05 | More by laituegonflable

OldhouseRecs

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%

05-12-2013 02:09:36 | More by OldhouseRecs

Bill235

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%

05-09-2013 14:29:08 | More by Bill235

Juno_Malone

Idaho

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

05-09-2013 02:49:25 | More by Juno_Malone

MrBuckHigh

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

05-08-2013 18:03:12 | More by MrBuckHigh

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

(Served in a Nonic)
A- This beer pours a deep caramel body with a slight density. There is a wisp of beige head that is supported by a gentle carbonation.

S- The soft caramel malt is dry with some biscuit malt hints.

T- The mineral water taste is followed by a soft malt hint and a big bitter finish with a slight woody pungent stain on the tongue.

M- The medium light mouthfeel has as gentle fizz in the finish.

O- This beer is a bit watery and light in flavor with all the hop character being bitterness with no other depth in the nose or taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 21:14:44 | More by rhoadsrage

Lisicjm

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

05-01-2013 22:31:05 | More by Lisicjm

2beerdogs

California

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

04-29-2013 05:43:04 | More by 2beerdogs

spycow

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -3.6%

04-28-2013 22:01:17 | More by spycow

chasmandocharles

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +3.9%

04-26-2013 19:19:09 | More by chasmandocharles