Mendocino Black Eye Ale

Brewed by Mendocino Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Hopland, California USA

I liked this one better than anmy other mendocino I’ve had though I have not tried the stout on its own. The lack of head really hurts the appearance and belies the heartiness of the beer. I know these guys do pretty high gravity and you can tell in the taste but they mask the alcohol with a fruity smokiness very well. I’ve had much worse of this style and higher prices. A great beer if you want something with great mouthfeel and taste at a budget price.

Almost opaque, dark brown with medium-large tan head that tries to last. Aroma is sweet corn, nuts, raisins, malt and slight hint of pepper. Taste is kind of mild, pretty well balanced with some dark fruit and tingly hop. Aftertaste shows more appearance of the dry stout-coffee flavors. Not great, but this beer is better than it sounds, and is a pretty good buy at $2.99 per 22 oz. bottle. Also gotta appreciate the attempt to do the porter in the historical style of the "two threads".

(bottle) OK, this isn’t a porter - it’s basically a black-and-tan (non-layered version). Dark black with moderate tan head that fades fairly quickly. Aroma of roast malts with a hint of burnt coffee. Flavor is roast malt, dark fruits, with a suggestion of hops in the finish. Not bad

Pours dark tawny brown with a thick tannish head. The aroma is lightly smoky with some richness and creamy roasty malt. Medium body with far too much sharp carbonation. The flavor starts a bit boozy for something this light in alcohol and some roasted and smokiness that is fairly astringent and tinny. The finish is sharp and not very pleasant - more sour and metallic. I will pass on this one in the future.

22oz bottle, probably from total wine. pours an almost-opaque black with just tinges of brown on the edges. aroma is mild roasted malts. fairly full bodied. flavor is decent: caramel and roast balanced with not quite enough hops. it makes me a little sad inside, because the idea has potential. however, two "popular brands" mixed together doesn’t automatically make a good beer.

appearance is dark brown with minimal light tan head. aroma has some espresso, chocolate, chocolate malt, and carmel. flavor is much the same but heavier on the carmel than i thought and lots of roasted malt. decent flavor, weak mouthfeel.

Pours fairly black, somewhat opaque though. Aroma strong of chocolates, coffee, hops and malts. Formed medium beige head, dissipates to a frothy sheen. Surprisingly, flavor of malts, hops with a caramel character. I was somewhat pessimistic of this beer "an ultimate blend" I was unsure. Now, I can judge this to be an interesting porter beer. I like Mendocino beers, and this one is pretty good, however its not what I consider "in the hype". In the end, still good beer to drink with friends and family.

bomber. Pours almost black. Creamy head that slowly dissipates with big lacing. Not too impressed with the aroma, very light roasted malt, almost metallic. Flavor is much better, chocolate and roasted malts, with a sublte smokey taste. I was expecting a more full bodied beer, but it works.