Mendocino Brewing Company - Peregrine Pilsner

Like many Czech-style pilsners, Peregrine’s got just a bit of a richer hue than the more common German-style versions, presenting an attractive copper-amber color topped with a large cap of foam. There’s a generous usage of Munich malt in this brew, which is evident in the toasty, caramelized malt aroma. We very much enjoyed the subtle hop aroma as well, which offers a little bit of everything starting with an earthy note clad in a somewhat fruity and floral character, with hints of herbal spice and citrus. On the palate, that toasty Munich malt forms a nice, bready core. At 48 IBUs, bitterness is quite firm, especially for the style – Mendocino wasn’t shy about adding that American touch to this pils – but it works well here to add plenty of counterbalance to the light malt sweetness. Try pairing this rich pils with a spicy pepperoni or Italian sausage (or both) pizza. Cheers!

Mendocino Brewing Company’s story begins 31 years ago when the Hopland Brewery opened in the small town of Hopland, CA, along the west bank of the Russian River (the region was an important hop farming area from the mid 19th to the mid 20th centuries). Truly one of the pioneering microbreweries that proved so key to the microbrewed beer renaissance, the opening of this brewpub on August 14, 1983 was a red letter date in U.S. brewing history. It was the first brewpub in California since Prohibition, and only the second in the entire U.S. In those days, people made the pilgrimage from all around the country to visit the little brewpub in northern California that brewed some of the country's best beers. By 1997, there were 780 brewpubs in the United States; these guys laid the foundation for many of those, and the craft brewing revolution that continues to this day.

The brewing operation grew very quickly in the early years. Demand for their flagship beer, Red Tail Ale, and other raptor-themed brews continued to swell to the point where their original brewpub, though expanded in brewing capacity multiple times through the years, could no longer keep up with demand. In 1997, the company underwent major investment and expansion, leading to the building of their Ukiah, CA brewery and bringing the historic Olde Saratoga Brewing Company in New York into the fold to give them access to select markets on the East Coast.

If you’re ever in the area of Ukiah, located about 115 miles north of San Francisco near Redwood country, we highly recommend making a pit stop at the Mendocino Ale House where you can enjoy the brewery’s beers on tap, just a half mile down the road from where they’re brewed. For hours, call (707) 467-2337. For more info on the brewery, visit them at www.mendobrew.com.