Talon Double IPA - Mendocino Brewing Company

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.81/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Served in a snifter.

Appearance: A little different than what I am used as far as looks are concerned, most DIPAs have a slight haze to it this one is straight clear amber nothing too impressive here. Light bubbles on the body creating an over-sized off-white head in the beginning settling to just below a finger's length.

Smell: Strong hops, and very floral scent. Smells pretty good but the feel comes and goes.

Taste: Heavy hops, and pine. This brew is pretty bitter and evidently strong. It's easy to like but then again easy to hate. It leaves me in slight limbo because I like it but lacks some qualities which I think DIPAs should have. Lacks complexity, it's a very one dimensional beer.

Mouth: Very sticking, putting this glass down and pairing it with sharp cheddar the after floral feel just doesn't go away. Medium with a slight dry finish.

Overall: if you want to try to just to try it it won't hurt. Keep in mind it goes for roughly ten bucks a bottle and there's a lot better out there in that price range. Definitely could use some tweaking but still not a loss. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:37:20 | More by BlurryVisi0n

scottfrie

California

3.65/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle into tulip.

A: Pours a clear caramel color with three fingers of dense and heavy off-white head that slowly faded into a thick film leaving a network of sticky clinging lace.
S: Huge fresh notes of citrus rind and pineapple hops with undertones of sugary malt. Leafy, citrusy and fresh.
T: Follows the nose with tons of citrus, a splash of pine, and a good dose of sugary caramel and candied fruit. Finish is sweet and almost syrupy, and the aftertaste is bitter and slightly warming.
M: Medium-full body, heavy, viscous mouthfeel, slick and warming with boozy alcohol.
O: A heavy hitter of a dipa. Unfortunately the double digit alcohol shows its presence and this beer is a bit rough as it warms. Good but too many better on the market.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 02:08:29 | More by scottfrie

metter98

New York

3.73/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is relatively clear amber in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger and a half high light beige head that has very good retention properties and took a long time to settle down, leaving a thick layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: Light to moderate aromas of pine resin hops are present in the nose along with some hints of citrusy and floral hops.
T: This beer definitely tastes strong and you get heavy doses of caramel malts and bitterness from the hops, the latter of which also contributes notes of pine resin, orange citrus, and floral hops in the flavors. There are also some hints of alcohol.
M: It feels a little more than medium-bodied, slightly crisp, and a little sticky on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. Some warming from the alcohol is present.
O: This beer is definitely a slow sipper given its strength and the presence of alcohol in the taste and mouthfeel. It delivers a substantial amount of bitterness, but the flavors from the hops aren't quite as interesting as some of the other beers in this style.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 03:25:54 | More by metter98

JamesShoemaker

New York

3.34/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bottle poured into my snifter. I've never had anything by (or heard of) this brewery, so I'm pretty excited to try it. Recommended by the staff at my favorite local bottle shop.

A - big head on the forced pour, thick, but recedes quickly. Really good looking beer though, dark oranges and reds. Looks more like a barleywine than a DIPA.

S - there's a pleasant profile hidden here, but the first thing I smell is dirty tap water. There's a lot of alcohol too -- I can tell it's going to be syrupy.

T - meh, too bitter, too thick, too alcoholic. I just don't like it.

M - viscous consistency, clings to the mouth, booze, booze, booze. It drinks hot.

O - not too much to say that hasn't already been said. I won't be getting this again, certainly not worth $7 a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 00:49:26 | More by JamesShoemaker

zeff80

Missouri

3.4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A - Poured a hazy, orange color with amber highlights. It had a two-finger, khaki colored head of foam that left sticky rings of lace on the glass.

S - Smelled of caramel, toffee, pine and floral notes.

T - Good roasted malt flavor and piney bitterness, but to much sweetness and booziness.

M - Crisp but also a little sticky sweetness. A medium to full bodied mess.

O - A little too hot for my taste. Seems a little unbalanced.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 02:08:05 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.14/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours amber with 3+ fingers of cream colored head. Copious amounts of lacing, good head retention

S: Bready, pears, pineapple shows once warm

T: Follows the nose, some pine & pineapple there as well up front. Pineapple & lemons as this warms along with resiny pine notes, some caramel & a touch of boozeyness on the back of the throat. Finishes piney, with a little bready & caramel sweetness, some grapefruit & a bit of boozey tangerine

MF: Medium bodied with some stickyness, soft carbonation & nicely balanced

A good stab at the style & more than I expected from these guys as of late. Drinks fairly easy. Glad I took a chance on this one!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 05:01:34 | More by russpowell

jimmah120

Minnesota

3.29/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

bomber into duvel glass. no date printed on the bottle.

darkish mahogany amber look, thin wispy head. smells of dark fruit, oak, soap, spicy herbal hops. on second wiff, a lot of latex and grain alcohol. almost like rubbing alcohol. taste is somewhat an improvement, still a prevalent rubbing alcohol taste. the hops are satisfyingly bitter, but with a numbing cocoa leaf flavor that isn't very appealing. husky grain, oak, and some sweet barleywine-like malt comes through.

I was disappointed in how seemingly one dimensional the hop flavor was in this one. if it were a barleywine I might rate it higher, but even then it doesn't excel. still, I don't feel ripped off in the slightest. it puckered my lips but not in the way I was hoping.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 09:10:48 | More by jimmah120

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Translucent dark golden color with some visible effervescence. A healthy two finger head in an off-white shade. Looks great, the clarity really does it for me.

Aroma: Sugar coated barley, toasted and caramel malts. Not very hop forward in the nose but I can tell they are there, hidden beneath the surface. Sort of piney and just a little earthy with some citrus poking through as well.

Taste: There is a lot going on in this one. The first half is more malt dominated with a mix of crystal, caramel, pepper, and toasted flavors. They sort of meld together into a nice toffee flavor but without the sweetness and then the pepper flavor comes at the end with the hops. When the hops take over they give a mixed bag of flavors; earth, pine, orange rind, and a hint (and I mean a hint) of pineapple. Just looked up the recipe and they add five types of grain and six types of hops, so definitely as complex as it seems but also easily enjoyable. Hats off to the brewer(s) who keeps the 10% ABV completely hidden. The 100 IBUs also seems a little hidden which is unfortunate but really not too much of a stretch. The finish is dry but not overly so. A balanced IPA is something no hop head really wants but when a balanced Double IPA comes around it is exactly what a hop head like myself is looking for. Talon Extra Select is very well balanced, letting each ingredient come out on its own while maintaining a somewhat easygoing flavor overall.

Mouthfeel: Like velvet which is surprising for the style. I was expecting a palate thrashing but it is quite pleasant. Between medium and full in body. Decently drinkable but a tad cloying because of the dry finish.

Final Thoughts: Perhaps I'm just in a good mood but I find myself thoroughly pleased with this one. I could compare it to many great DIPAs and American Strong Ales that have come before it, but that wouldn't make it any less unique. A job well done by Mendocino Brewing Company. I will seek out more of their offerings if they are on par with Talon Extra Select. Would I drink it again? Considering the modest price point ($5.99, not bad for a bomber these days…) I'm thinking yes.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 06:22:10 | More by JamesMN

Brewmaster_Rick

California

4.58/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz., $6.99. Pours a beautiful, clear, rich copper with medium co2 presence. Aroma is grapefruit, pine, mango, caramel malt, and with a hint of booze. Mouthfeel is chewy (in a good way). Taste is slightly boozy, caramel malt, some toffee, a very light (and pleasant) presence of diacetyl; pine, grapefruit, bubblegum, tropical fruit, and spice contributed by the large array of hops. Huge winner in my book, will definitely purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 03:39:51 | More by Brewmaster_Rick

merc7186

New York

3.35/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bomber into tulip glass.

A: Amber Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head, Minimal Lacing

S: English Malts, Orange Rind

T: English Malts, Mild Grapefruit Rind

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter

Overall, English Malts don't make great IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 02:30:09 | More by merc7186