Saratoga IPA - Mendocino Brewing Company

WankelEngine

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass

A: Pours a mostly clear golden amber. There is a light tan head which bubbles away to nothing over the course of a few minutes.

S: Maltier than I would expect from an IPA. Sweet toffee and caramel. Also some bitterness from the hops, grass cuttings and subdued floral notes.

T: Still malty, but not as sweet as the aroma; more of a bready flavor. Slight touch of citrus. Earthy bitterness from the hops gives grass, herbal flavors and to a lesser extent some pine. The finish is these bitter hops flavors with mild alcohol heat.

M: Medium bodied with little effervescence from the carbonation. A little bit oily.

O: A pretty decent English style IPA. The bottle advertised it as "West Coast" style so I was somewhat surprised that it was about the opposite end of the spectrum from that.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 00:30:32 | More by WankelEngine

BucannonXC5

California

3.58/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Silks Bistro (Albany Airport) in Albany, N.Y., on July 7, 2012. Draft into Pilsner glass. Two fingers of head. Caramel color. Caramel, milky foamy lacing with good retention.

Smelled citrus hops, mainly lemon and lime. Got some pine in there. Some toffee malts as well.

Tasted caramel and toffee malts, lemon and lime citrus hops and pine. Probably cascade hops more than citrus. Strong alcohol bite late. Bitter on the tongue after.

Medium body. Oily texture. Average carbonation. Long bitter finish.

Not a bad beer overall, especially for an airport. Still disappointed that Saratoga is actually Mendocino’s, but I’d have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2012 06:09:39 | More by BucannonXC5

UDbeernut

New York

3.38/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Dutch. Amber copper color capped by a light off white head with little retention. Nose is light with pine and citrus, not overly aromatic. Taste is malt centric with slight cutting bitterness from flower and citrus hop. Mouth is light to medium bodied. Ok!

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2012 17:37:04 | More by UDbeernut

Durge

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at Silks Bistro at Albany Airport this IPA is a classic amber color with a stately cream colored crown and lots of lacing. The aroma offers pleasant citrus over herbal hop tastiness. The flavor comes on with a highly favorable citrus kick which brings with it a fruit nougat sweetness and malt biscuit blend. Very impressive in a medium bodied brew with generous carbonation for a pretty luscious feel. There’s an intense graininess that mixes with the hops. A very nice surprise and a recommended IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2011 06:28:55 | More by Durge

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dense, but moderate head. Long lasting and leaves plenty of ring lace. the broth is orange-amber with a mild haze.

Wonderful balance of slightly sweet caramel malts and spicy, floral hop. Superb combination--very fresh.

Neutral starting malt flavor with a strong bitter hop kicker. The aftertaste is chewy and long-lasting. Classic English flavors--I describe this as "round." The carbonation is very high for the English version, but the moderate body gives some balance.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 22:00:25 | More by smcolw

BigPlay1824

New York

3.03/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a pint glass

A: pours a very nice deep amber color with two fingers of frothy white head that lingers beautifully, pours entirely clear and clean,
leaves a nice amount of lacing
S: clear scent of citrusy hops, the bottle indicates they are fuggles and cascade
T: taste doesnt quite meet up with the expectations i had after the first scent, initially citrus hops but then a more powerful taste sneaks its way in and tries to ruin it all, kind of funky, almost like soil or something reminiscent of decomposing trees (strange i know)
M: strong carbonation tingle, lingering funky taste
O: everything besides the funky taste its quite nice in this brew, i know it isnt just a bad batch or this particular bottle because I have had this brew before and have has similar experiences both oin tap and in the bottle

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 23:15:00 | More by BigPlay1824

nezelrac

New York

4/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into shaker pint

A - pours an inviting orange-copper with moderate fine-beaded white head that has some persistence and a little lacing

S - malty and hoppy - good balance here; nice hop aroma - Cascade-y and a little earthy; malt is substantial on the nose, showing sweet grain, hints of caramel and light bread-dough

T - well balanced through the palate; malt and hop tug-of-war with the hops winning out at the end; hops are bright, fruity, and lightly bitter, then give a green bitter edge to the finish; the malt remains like the nose - restrained sweetness and just enough presence

M - this is all about balance - mid-weight, good CO2, refreshing without being sharp or light

O - quite a good and drinkable IPA; I get the "English" descriptor, but it is definitely in the West-Coast mold; good stuff

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 18:06:33 | More by nezelrac

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this at the Mendocino tasting room in Saratoga Springs, and it was free (minus tip). All beer at the tasting room is free, unbelievable sounding but true.

This poured mostly clear, just a little haze, kind of a golden orange color, with a few fingers of head. Lots of malt balance in the aroma, and after noticing that someone entered it as an English IPA on BA I guess this makes some sense. Light hops aromatics mixed in with the caramel malts.

Cascade hops come through in flavor, also malty sweetness that isn't rich enough to be called toffee but it's heading in that direction. It almost tasted like an aged IPA, which couldn't be true as it's on tap at the source. Plus other reviews have mentioned the same taste. Not really my style I guess.

Easy enough drinking, I slammed the glass quickly. Especially as I wasn't really enjoying the taste all that much, so savoring wasn't necessary.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2011 09:35:43 | More by TurdFurgison

edbeered

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass, this ale is a hazy orange-amber color, with a small white head that dissipates quickly, leaving scant lacing on the glass. The smell is faint and has hints of caramel. The taste has a resiny funky hop note that lingers through the middle and the finish, as well as the caramel flavor noted in the smell. This is not the most intensely hoppy beer around, but it has a nice hoppy flavor balanced by the caramel malt presence. The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth and rich. I've not had a beer hopped by both Fuggles and Cascade Hops before. The label on the bottle calls this a West Coast IPA but the smoothness and subtlety of flavors is more characteristic of an English IPA. Whatever style it is, I like it!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2011 03:11:41 | More by edbeered

ngeunit1

California

3.43/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a nice cloudy amber-orange color with a bit of creamy off-white head. The head faded fairly quickly but left behind some decent lacing.

S - The aroma is very malty. But there are also some strong elements of hops Also some light citrusy notes.

T - Starts off with some nice building dry bitterness. This continues and is joined by some sweetness, even a bit like toffee. The finish is full of hops with some nice lingering bitterness.

M - Around medium bodied with enough tingly carbonation. A bit creamy, but the carbonation balances it well.

D - Overall, fairly drinkable. The flavors could use a bit more balance, but it is still an interesting taste, and enough flavor to make for an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 21:38:40 | More by ngeunit1

eporter66

New York

3.08/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass

A - hazy copper/orange with excellent head and lacing.

S - A malty caramel aroma with a hint of fruit in the background

T - A bitter afterbit hits the back of the mouth, but a buttery malt character is very present. This throws off the label stating that it is a traditional West Coast IPA - the character has too much malt upfront for that comparison

M - A slippery thin feel with decent carbonation

D - This is a drinkable beer, and living only a few miles from the tap room and local Saratoga brewery, the price is right. I just wish that the comparison were true and it had more of a West Coast character.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 21:31:52 | More by eporter66

allboutbierge

Austria

3.15/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I hate to review a beer by comparing it directly to another, but in this case it fits. Saratoga IPA reminds me very much of ST IPA. It has a thinner body, milder taste profile and has that weak grapefruit finish ST IPA is so known for. Not an expert an EIPAs, this may be a spot on example for the style, however I don't suspect it. This is probably meant as competition for the Dundee's, ST and other local upstate IPAs that are a bit thinner and less expressive that more notable American brewed IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2010 17:10:47 | More by allboutbierge

edwardvalenta

Vermont

2.45/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Appearance is light brown, slightly hazy

Smell is earthy, slightly hoppy, might be a little old, slightly oxidized

Body, medium

Taste is out of balance, wet horse blanket, too malty, lacks bitterness

Finish is mild lacks bitterness, not dry enough

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2010 21:20:57 | More by edwardvalenta

Stimack

New York

3.6/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Gave this brew a try on tap. Poured to a somewhat cloudy orange/copper color with a good sized slightly off white head. Retention and lace where pretty good. The aroma was nice, clear hops aroma sticks out. Cascade is what I think I am getting. Has a sweet malt aroma that plays as well, Caramel it seems. The flavor is more about the hop, it seems to stick out a little more here, as the malt seems to be a little difficult to find. Could be because I think this brew was served way to cold. Drinks easy and if the price is right it could be a good local brew. Will try it again when I see it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2010 15:02:34 | More by Stimack

Auspice

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Cracked open this bottle of Saratoga IPA sent from a buddy in upstate NY and poured into my Samuel Adams perfect pint glass. The artwork on the bottle displays a horse race of some kind and has other little drawings of races all around the border. The beer is a pale rust color and pours with a half finger of head into the glass. The beer seems to be very well carbonated with tiny bubbles constantly pouring up from the bottom of the laser etched glass through the crystal clear body to the top of the glass.

This beer has a very sweet grapefruit-like flowery aroma with a subtle malty sweetness behind it. The hop bitterness is not overpowering in the taste; the hops are a bit earthy and the malts have a bready/doughy sweetness to balance. The beer is medium bodied and the sharpness of the hops bites me tongue along with the crisp carbonation. Overall, a very easy drinking IPA with a surprising sweetness in the hops that is balanced by biscuity malts. Kudos to the chef!

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 19:52:36 | More by Auspice

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle with no lot code or expiration date. Sampled on October 9, 2009. The pour is a cloudy orange-amber with a very thin, albeit longer lasting beige head. For an IPA the aroma on this brew is extremely malty and sugary sweet. The sweetness is overwhelming. The mouthfeel is nice and durable. The taste is just as sweet as the aroma with elements of sweet malts and honey. The hops are definitely in the picture but they are about equal in quantity with the malts. It is not like the IPA's I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2009 02:37:09 | More by puboflyons

IPAtastesgood

New York

4.05/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Light orange amber. Good head and retention.

Smell - Caramel and bisquity malts in background. Lots of hops up in foreground - spicy, floral and citrus notes erupt.

Taste - Hops hops and maybe some hops. However balanced well by the malt backbone.

Mouthfeel - Medium body but a touch of alcohol flavor may poke you hard when you're not looking.

Drinkability - Overall excellent IPA for its price ($6.99 6pk.). Much better flavor than similarly priced IPAs (Longhammer, Saranac, White hawk). Will drink more.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 23:14:10 | More by IPAtastesgood

Rsobotka

New York

4.38/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fair brownish/red color. Good head retention.

Smell is hoppy with fresh Juniper flower like fragrance.

Bitter/hoppy taste with little malt. Dry with good second bittering taste.

Good body, bubbly and creamy feel. Tasty bitter pleasant beer. Represents a nice English IPA

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2009 18:04:30 | More by Rsobotka

williamherbert

New York

3.6/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very clear light orange. Decent head retention. Looks standard but solid.

The smell is a flowery hop with a touch of pine. Dry earthy English malts. Very dry but woody. Sharp but not too bitter.

The taste is more hops, bitter and woody, set against an English amber malt. Decent and just a little bitter.

The feel is creamy and a little bubbly. English ale feel. A solid, English IPA. Bitter and not American-ish.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2009 03:02:36 | More by williamherbert