Eye of the Hawk American Strong Ale

Tried this following my last cross-country workout at Augustana. We ran with Matt Bowman who qualified for nationals as an individual, and just to keep him company. Came back and relaxed to enjoy some Mendocino Select ale

Appearance: Heavy rustic orange/amber with no head whatsoever (perhaps served too cold). The turbidity of this beer is thick for an ale brewed primarily wile pale malt, yet somewhat transparent around the edges.  Carbonation is difficult to see

Aroma: The aromatics of this ale revolve around a boozy backbone with a butteriness interspersed with a sweet malty liqueur. Caramel takes a dominating sensation with a subtle hop profile at the end. Brown sugar and subtle phenols may be noted.

Taste: Dry and malty with an alcoholic finish. as the beer warms, more malt characteristics show themselves as well as slight fruity undertones to complement. The grassy finish remains paralleled with the hop complexities at the end. Gradually, raisins take a dominant role in the sweetness with some clove spices to back it up
Mouthfeel: Thick and tacky with a warming character. Nevertheless it maintains a smooth texture with its minimal yet present carbonation
Overall Impression: This beer is more of just a regular. There wasn't anything too notable about it except the whopping 8.0% ABV. It was balanced but it lacked some vigor. It developed some phenolic notes by the time it warmed to slightly below room temperature.


81/100

White Hawk India Pale Ale

End of the six pack that I bought last week. Tasted after practice with a complementary  bowl of mashed sweet potatoes from Jim’s Farm and some organic butter.

Appearance: Hazy amber with a strong initial foamy white head. Medium bubble. Dies down to a film by 5 minutes. Semi transparent, but still turbid, with non-visible carbonation. Lacing glazes the side of the glass all the way down to the end of the beer.

Aroma: Fruity esters of dark dried fruits and caramel sweetness. An underlying nuttiness is apparent with a booziness at the end. Floral but not grassy.

Taste: Starts dry and finishes dry, but the mid taste is where much of the flavor lies. The fruit and Amarillo-like hops have a finishing sweetness that is very appealing, nevertheless is finishes with a distinct grassy aftertaste that may not be looked upon as desirable. Mid taste is where the pale and caramel malt resides with a biscuitiness at the nose.

Mouthfeel: Thick mouthfeel, yet drinkable in that light. The body and the pour seemed more fluid. A medium tackiness to the lips. Carbonation is perfect, just enough to bring out the fruit/biscuit finish as the beer nears its termination.

Overall Impression: A descent IPA, and definitely worth the $6.99 a six pack. Doesn't finish too boozy for 7% either. A good beer to show up to a party with for hop heads.

83/100

Oatmeal Stout

Sunday night movie, Invictus, with Timothy after a long day of doing homework. (These are Tim's tasting notes)


Appearance: Jet black with a deep dirty brown/tan foamed head that slowly dissipates into a film. A sticky lacing is apparent. Head is worth about 2 fingers, texture of it is extremely creamy, similar to whipped cream.
Aroma: Smooth delicate notes of roasted nuts and caramel malt and milky sweet aroma undertones permeate as well
Taste: Taste is a sweet coffee, burnt flavor. Slight woody notes and toasted bread. I'd go as far as to call this a milk stout! It has a delectably appealing flavor character vanishing with a roasted hop/burnt bitterness. Slight mapleness to this beer but not in the slightest domintating, moreso in the far back stage left.
Mouthfeel: Mouthfeel is very thick and carbonation is strong as it is maintained from sip to swallow. Body is lighter but packed with flavor. Creaminess is delectably smooth and soft textured.
Overall Impression: Definitely a worthy stout, at $6.99 a six pack this is an anytime go-to beer. Clean and crisp with a complex yet completely balanced flavor profile. A sweet stout. Not a micro-measurment of harshness to any aspect of this beer.


92/100