White Hawk Original IPA - Mendocino Brewing Company

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.47/5  rDev +32.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured chilled in ale glass.

A: bushy, foamy head; clear copper color; great lacing; great carbonation action
S: large bouquet of hops in the aroma
T: aggressive, biting hops; very bitter; malt downplayed; bitterness endures in aftertaste

Overall a really solid IPA; not sure why I liked this more than other reviewers did

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 14:27:00 | More by Arithmeticus

mikechance

California

3.55/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A = Hazy straw color with slight head of foam

S = Hints of floral and citus scents

T = Bitter bite upfront with a slight alcohol burn in the aftertaste

M = Medium bodied with an average amount of carbonation

O = At $6.99 / six pack at Trader Joe's it's a very good deal. It's a good IPA, but I know of at least two dozen better ones.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 02:11:33 | More by mikechance

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer poured a clear medium to deep gold and produced a wonderful white creamy head about two and a half fingers high which has excellent retention. It also leaves great lacing.
The smell is mostly of flowery and citrusy hops.
Tasting the beer those citrusy hop flavors are up front, being very dominant. The middle balances the beer with some malt presence.
At the end the taste becomes slightly bitter, yet not unpleasant, preparing for the next.
I find this beer quite drinkable, and therefore a would love to try a tab version. I like it!

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 03:21:58 | More by Hopfenpeter

EagleTalon

Arkansas

3.53/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours to a thick white head, good lacing and amber-orange color. Hazy (ok w/me). Aroma is sweet caramel and toasted malt and spicy, piney hops. Flavor is a balanced blend of strong flavors including caramel, orange zest, grapefruit, pale malt, and pine resin. Mouthfeel is medium, kind of sticky and moderate carbonation. Overall, I'd say this is a good IPA on the low end of the American IPA scale in terms of hop bitterness, much like what brewers in my state pass off as IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 20:15:50 | More by EagleTalon

divineaudio

Michigan

3.08/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

bottle into a tulip.

a - pours a hazy amber color with a two finger off white head. retention is good and leaves a few thick swaths of lace in the glass.

s - toasted bread, grassy hops and faint citrus.

t - toasty malt with a light, piney bitterness that hangs on the tongue. becomes slightly astringent as it warms. not much going on here.

m - firmly medium with lighter carbonation.

o - just an average ipa in my book. worth a try, but don't go out of your way to find it.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 23:00:12 | More by divineaudio

tdm168

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a medium amber with 1/2" of bubbly head that quickly fades to an 1/8" lacing. Smells predominantly of bready malts. Taste is bready, biscuity malt up front followed by a piny, earthy hop bitterness. Nice balance. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, well carbonated, and very smooth.

At 7% ABV this is dangerously drinkable. Great balance, not too bitter, and doesn't tire out the palate. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 23:57:27 | More by tdm168

vfgccp

New York

2.68/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- Slightly hazy appearance, medium head and low retention. Also the minimal lace is also not great. Color is like a pale pumpkin color.

S- Herbal hops on the front end. notes of pine and then a watery finish

T- there is a dry earthy bitterness to the opening taste that is really nice, however this fades to a dry finish with an unpleasant aftertaste.

M- light and thin, but it starts with a bright acidity and a nice bubbly feel.

O- it is a nice overall taste but the aftertaste really detracts from the drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 03:47:17 | More by vfgccp

schoolboy

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I bought a Mendocino sampler yesterday and I've been making a nice dent in it. None are complete duds, butsome are better than others. This is actually my favorite, but it is a flawed IPA. It's a bit cloudy, and could be a little maltier (stronger). But the hops are strong and bitter, and the color and head are nice. The aroma is very good.

I would buy this again if it weren't for the fact that there are so many IPA's out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 16:41:40 | More by schoolboy

karait95

Mexico

3.38/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Excellent looking, medium body, good carbonation that forms a very big head with a lot of retention that dissipates really slowly and leaves a lot of traces on the glass, the color is withe a little yellow and the bubbles are mixed but mostly small. The liquid has a yellow color that is a little more orange than the average ipa but fits in the style.

S: Predominant hops, maybe some herbs are present, very little alcohol at the end can be sensed as it is a 7.0 ABV

T: The flavors are hops again, full of hops the malt is not very clear due to the intensity of the hops.

M: Bitterness is all the time present, at the very beginning is soft but then it appears in the mouth ant sticks for a long bitter ending, not to dry but very bitter.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 03:41:00 | More by karait95

TheHoppiest

Ohio

2.3/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

While I've been skeptical that any brewery named after wine country could produce a decent brew, I thought it better to try and judge, than pre-judge, so here it goes:

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a two finger creme colored head that slowly pillows down to a 1/8" foam head.

Has a malty, almost yeasty aroma, with notes of mild grapes, figs, and citrus. The varied fruit smells clash with the malty backbone.

Has a soapy feel that washes out the taste. Starts bitter, almost astringent, but with very little hop flavor. The bitterness is more reminiscent of ethanol alcohol than hops. Buttery malt hits mid-tongue, before finishing with a mild smokey, bitter finish. The tastes, frankly, are not melding well with each other.

As mentioned above, this has the feel of soapy dishwater, with an odd, biting bitter feel that is utterly without taste.

Ugh. My pre-judged opinion of this was spot on. Glad this was a singleton, and that I won't have to find uses for five other of these.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 00:31:50 | More by TheHoppiest

BeefyMee

Connecticut

3.48/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The name of this beer always confuses me and makes me think it's a white ale. Stupid consumer. Turns out it's a rather mellow and balanced 7% IPA. This particular bottle is a few months old so maybe that smoothed out any rough hop edges it may have had. I like the flavor for the most part. Chewy malts balance out a hop profile that is bright and citrusy without really being assertive. Good to have an alternative to the plentiful hop bombs out there. The only thing I take issue with is the aftertaste which is slightly acrid and bitter. The best way to cure this is to keep drinking, and it's quite drinkable so that works. Gets a pretty good overall.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 21:57:20 | More by BeefyMee

justaholic

Arizona

4/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nothing special but definately solid smell was on for a ipa of its time sortof an original ipa like sn beer its good but not spectacular the hops these days are far better than what they use but a good bitter taste piney maybe a tad citrus easy tasting bitter color was great definately not a beer i would turn down it meets all ipa standards in my book would like to try this with some realy good hops like citra or riwaka nelson suavin pacifica something to make it special but hey thats just me very good beer enjoyed all the way to the end not to carmely or sweet which i hate maybe some rye or wheat in the taste carbed well .

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 22:43:24 | More by justaholic

richkrull

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a darker copper color with a one finger beige head on it. Good lacing too.

Smell is full of good hop aroma with some citrus and pine notes as well.

Taste is a little too malty for my liking. I feel like the malts overshadow the hops a little bit when it should be the other way around. Not bad but just not hoppy enough.

Mouthfeel is light-medium. Goes down smooth and easy.

Overall a decent IPA. I would drink it again but there are a lot of others I'd prefer.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 00:45:03 | More by richkrull

spitInTheOcean

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

amber-copper color. crystal clear. poor head retention, but it seems to be lacing nicely.

smell is very botanical, but even beneath all those hops the malts still come through. citrus aroma with perhaps a little raison, and it smells just a tad sweet.

flavor is a tad thinner than the aroma had me expecting. definite sweetness at first with a mild hop flavor quickly giving way to the hop bitterness, and a crisp finish that keeps it all from lingering long. the bitterness is much more featured than the hop flavor.

thin body with a strong carbonation and a crisp finish.

i was expecting an exceptional ipa from the way it smelt, it just didn't deliver the goods.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 03:36:36 | More by spitInTheOcean

treque

Mexico

3.3/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: a gold colour i would say some orange tints, semi hazy, lots of carb, permanent and constant, nice head, creamy, white, waste left on the glass

S: a deep hop aroma, floral and some malt

T: alittle bit flat falvour, the bitterness is not so deep, the end is not so long, medium light body

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 04:37:13 | More by treque

t420o

California

1.25/5  rDev -62.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

A- This is a carbonation bomb. Loud pop when opened. Poured very gently produced a massive head that took up half of the pint glass. Beer is gold in color.

S- Alcohol, euro metallic twang, cheap adjunct filled lager-type scent, a slight bitter hop scent

T- Alcohol, some floral hops, metallic taste, adjunct taste. Poor effort

M- Way over carbonated and light. About the worst mouthfeel I've ever had in a beer.

O- Not 1 redeeming quality about this beer. I've had better offering from Mendocino brewing and enjoyed several of them. I would never bash a brewery or beer for no reason, but this was a piss poor representation of an IPA or even a beer in general. I sincerely hope that this 6 pack was an off batch or something, but I will never try another in my life to find out. If their were negative points I would give them for this overall effort and drinkability. I deserve my $$ back

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 18:07:04 | More by t420o

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A nice amber, kind of hazy with a light ring of lace that turns to a sticky lace ring.

S - Smells kind of english with the malts but the main event of this beer is the hops with smells of pine and citrus goodness.

T - Sweet malts and with a piney finish that lingers on the tongue after the finish. I like how the malts almost have a toffee like sweetness similar to a Extra Special Bitter.

M - Light to medium. A fairly good body.

Overall this is a great IPA from a brewery that is kind of under-rated. Sure it isn't citrus hops forward but I bet if I had their DIPA it would be. Can't wait to try the other offerings in this 30 dollar variety case.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 02:51:02 | More by DrDemento456

Arbitrationer

Florida

3.73/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into pint glass

A - Poured an amber/gold color and quite clear. Poor head retention and had to vigorously pour to get a head.

S - Smells of sweet, citrus, and of light pine. As it warmed up, the beer began to smell of malts.

T - Taste is not the typical IPA. Light carbonation hit’s the taste buds. As you swallow you taste immediate hops balanced by maltiness. Finishes with bitterness and a bread-like taste.

M - Feels thin and lightly carbonated.

O - Reminds me of a an ESB, but with a waaay hoppier finish. I really appreciated that the brewer pulled back on the hops and forward with the malt in this unique IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2011 22:13:32 | More by Arbitrationer

drabmuh

Maryland

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

I remembered having liked this beer in the past. Oh well.

Beer is dark amber almost brown with a big head but low carbonation and no lacing.

Aroma is malty with hints of earthy and piny hops.

Beer is medium in body, really sweet up front with minor hop presence in the midpalate and the rest of the beer. The finish is moderately bitter but overall I'm not impressed. I won't be having this IPA again.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 14:25:00 | More by drabmuh

colts9016

Idaho

2.8/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I poured the beer into a nonic at 43 degrees.

Appearance: A monster two finger head that has good retention with a nice off white color; furthermore, the head is frothy and creamy and there is some lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is a beautiful orange color with some copper hues. The clarity of the beer is hazy from yeast; however, there are some carbonation bubbles visible on the side of the glass.

Nose: A mild hop aroma that some floral, light grapefruit and a scant pine note. The malt has a subtle sweetness, with some caramel, toasty note, and biscuit. Other aromas are phenols and yeast.

Taste: A mild hop flavor with some floral, light grapefruit, and wood notes. The malt has a caramel like sweetness, toasty notes, and biscuit. Other flavor is yeast, grass, and some sulfur.

Overall: The mouth feel is slightly astringent and carbonated. The body of the beer is medium light and the finish is medium. This not an IPA, it taste more like a pale ale. The hops are muted and the malt is more prevalent. Not a good beer overall; however, the head was great.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 23:23:34 | More by colts9016

sjverla

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Nose: Citrus and sweet malts. Very sweet. Candy orange slices or some kind of weirdly bready orange soda comes to mind. Still fresh and outdoorsy, though just slightly enough to be compelling.

Appearance: A hint of head remains above a hazy honey-amber.

Taste: Sweetness builds gradually and rolls over to a strong and rich grassy bitterness. The hops taste heavy and brooding, rather than sharp and aggressive. Slightly drying (and perhaps a little old, since the bottle was undated).

Overall: Decent. I like the supreme earthiness, almost mustiness, of the hops. There is also a pleasant tea-like quality to the flavor. Still not the best on the block though.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 02:13:36 | More by sjverla

raszputini

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a medium copper in the pint glass. White foamy head that sticks around leaving decent lacing. Very mild nose with citrus notes. The taste has decent maltiness to balance the variety of hops. There are both citrus and floral notes, leaving the palate with a sharp bitterness. Not a bad thing. Pretty solid IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 03:24:49 | More by raszputini

BasementBer

Manitoba (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Yellow to orange color. Great lacing from the bone white head.

S: Sweet smell, like wort. Doesnt put the hop character like piney or grassy as i would expect from the style.

T: Again, overly sweet and worty in the nose. But Has a good bittering in the middle and rear.

M: Has a good resonance in the pockets of the mouth. But Nothing out of the ordinary besides the sweetness.

D: Too sweet for my tastes, especially for the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 20:43:33 | More by BasementBer

yemenmocha

Arizona

3.15/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours golden to light copper, slight haze, with white head. Nose is hop focused with grapefruit and lots of pine. Palate is primarily just bitterness, with a frustrating search for malt and some attractive citrus flavors. Medium to light bodied. Finishes a little boozy, even though this is rather cold out of the fridge. I dare not let it warm to see how the booziness takes over.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 01:23:46 | More by yemenmocha

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz Bottle

Appearance - Clear amber/orange colour with a large size frothy off-white coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is some average lacing. The head lasted for over 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - malts, caramel, hops, grains

Taste & Mouth - There is an above average amount of carbonation and the beer has a slightly odd taste. I can taste lots of malts and caramel.. but there are also notes of a lager.. breads/grains etc. It does have a fair amount of hop bitterness however.

Overall - I couldn't put my finger on exactly what was off with this beer. I also couldn't track down a freshness date on it. It's not undrinkable, but it's not something I'd buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 19:42:12 | More by spinrsx