At Mendocino Brewing Company we brew substantial beers and take the attitude, like many advanced European cultures, that beers are food. They offer all the goodness of whole grains, are totally devoid of preservatives, provide the cardiovascular benefits previously associated only with red wines and taste great. We often recommend that beer be served as an accompaniment to food. The more complex the flavor profile of the beer, the more interesting the possible match-ups.

Eye of the Hawk Select Ale is a very complex beer.

The Eye of the Hawk Select Ale was first released in 1984 - a direct response to customer demand for a wider variety of our traditionally brewed ales. Eye of the Hawk Select Ale is produced year round. Generous amounts of Pale and Caramel malt and our special proprietary yeast strain produce an extremely well balanced strong ale with an alcohol 8% ABV (alcohol by volume). Eye of the Hawk Select Ale is coppery amber in color and characterized by a luxurious caramel malt flavor, a substantial mouth-feel and a slightly warming yet dry finish. Like all of the ales brewed by MBC, Eye of the Hawk Select Ale is bottle conditioned. Bottle Conditioning is a traditional Old World technique whereby actively fermenting yeast is introduced into the mature beer right before bottling, resulting in the development of natural carbonation and rich flavors in the bottle.

The Eye, as this excellent ale is known to its countless devotees, has won three medals at the Great American Beer Festival. A Gold in 1991. A Silver in 1990 and a Bronze 1992. All in the Strong Ale category. In 1997, the label for Eye of the Hawk Select Ale was awarded First Place in the 2nd International Label Competition conducted by the respected firm of Brigi & Bergmeister of Vienna, Austria. The competition featured over 800 labels from 115 companies from 17 countries worldwide.

Because of its rich body and deep flavor, The Eye is a welcome complement of meals. However, for all its heartiness, The Eye is also complex and subtle, making it a worthy complement to salmon, or pasta with cream sauces. As an adjunct to fine food, The Eye is a beer to be experimented with.

"Smooth. Robust. Crisp. Complex finish. Substantial body and character. The Harley-Davidson of American beers." This was the description for The Eye in Bieres Sans Frontieres, the official program of the 1996 Great British Beer Festival.

Eye of the Hawk Select Ale. Truly a world-class beer.

Red Tail Ale • Red Tail Lager • Eye of the Hawk Select Ale
Blue Heron Pale Ale • Black Hawk Stout • White Hawk Select IPA