Blue Heron Pale Ale
Mendocino Brewing Company

Blue Heron Pale AleBlue Heron Pale Ale
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From:
Mendocino Brewing Company
 
United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
6.1%
Score:
77
Avg:
3.39 | pDev: 13.86%
Reviews:
296
Ratings:
522
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 22, 2021
Added:
Oct 22, 2000
Wants:
  11
Gots:
  35
No description / notes.
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Ratings by melagnus:
Photo of melagnus
Reviewed by melagnus from California

2.76/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
A - Deep Gold (SRM 6) hue with two-finger thick white frothy head that seems to fizzle out somewhat quickly. With that said, the medium carbonation seems to help maintain more than a mere film on top of the clear liquid. Swirling quickly rouses the beer and provides ample aroma in the air nearby, though no real lacing forms on the side of the snifter.

S - Biscuity malts comes through the palate with a sweet caramel to lighten the earthiness. Floral hops add a citrusy note, but despite most west coast breweries choosing to utilize west coast hop strains in their recipes, the spicy phenols strike me more as of that from the Noble hop variety than that from the UK or US. The beer also gives off a slight "skunkiness" (Methyl or Isopentyl Mercaptan) aroma, which is undesirable and makes me think that this beer might have been exposed to too much blue light.

T/M/D/C - Bittering hops comes across the palate mildly and are balanced by a slight level of malts. The beer tastes slightly of grapefruit, almost stinging the palate. Malts comes across as that of bread, but don't seem to balance well with the beer. Despite this fact, this is to-style, just that the quality of the quaff doesn't excite me. The beer tastes kind of drab to be honest and doesn't really tempt me to have more. If the caramel is in this brew, it's very restrained and possibly overwhelmed by the hops. Medium-light body finishes crisp and dry.

Lastly, the website states that this brew was meant to emphasize more balance than the extreme, but I don't believe they accomplished their goal. This brew is below-average and wouldn't recommend it when there's so many other wonderful beers out there.

Prost!

P.S.: Todd mentions an aftertaste that might not be welcomed by all and I can attest to being one of those that can't appreciate it at this point.
Sep 05, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.69 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 22, 2021
Photo of gatornation
Reviewed by gatornation from Arizona

3.75/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear copper color with an eggshell white head. Like a PA is malty,with caramel and malts taste gas citrus and pine with lingering bitterness , a medium mouthfeel with a bitter finish.
Jun 28, 2020
 
Rated: 3.66 by zotzot from Vermont

Nov 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.79 by frasergrove from California

Oct 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.45 by Gerred from Missouri

Sep 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by mthomp081 from Delaware

Aug 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by ADTaber from South Carolina

Jul 14, 2017
 
Rated: 3.42 by BuxMontBeerLover from Pennsylvania

Jun 29, 2017
 
Rated: 3.06 by cmbeddoe7997 from Texas

May 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by ShepardCommander from Virginia

May 10, 2017
 
Rated: 2.75 by JeffKowalek from Tennessee

Apr 01, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by DJTOBY from California

Mar 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.85 by mds1101 from Illinois

Mar 17, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania

Mar 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by ffshore545 from Illinois

Mar 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Dface from Texas

Mar 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by trdtercel92 from Ohio

Feb 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by rdub from Pennsylvania

Feb 26, 2017
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

4.07/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The broth is a light amber with a bit of a haze. The head, while small, sticks around, providing a cross between blanketing and webby lace.

This smells more like an English Pale Ale (Bitter) than an American one. I get a stronger malt aroma of recently kneaded bread dough, similar to a malty Amber. The hop smell is faint.

I like the flavor more than the smell as this is more balanced. The malt base is similar to light toast with a touch of berry sweetness, while the hop is peppery, creating a long lasting aftertaste. The body is full and the carbonation just a bit muted.

Overall, I'm rather surprised at how this beer seems to be maligned by other BA reviewers. The flavor is full and a good example of the British style.
Feb 24, 2017
Blue Heron Pale Ale from Mendocino Brewing Company
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 522 ratings