Mendocino Black Hawk Stout

Brewed by Mendocino Brewing Company
Style: Dry Stout
Hopland, California USA

Date: 05/16/1998
Mode: Bottle
Source: Chevy Chase, DC

black, thin tan head, rich roasted malt aroma, medium body, rich roasted flavor, hint of chocolate, touch of malt bitterness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.2/5.0
Score: **+/4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

An aroma of light chocolate malt. A pitch black pour with a light tan head. A flavor of chocolate but an off flavor that I really can’t identify I would describe it as a bit of a twang. Carbonation is a bit fizzy but not really thin. A good stout but definetly a dry stout.

The Black Hawk stout is a fairly conservative stout; it’s got all the standard aromas of roast, malt, coffee, chocolate, nuts, a little dark fruit, and even less of a woody aroma. However, it doesn’t have a whole lot of any, which makes for a well-balanced but kind of boring stout. Although it’s a little thin, the taste is initially bitter and coffee-like, but adds a little chocolatey sweetness at intermittent moments. The palate is suitable for a stout, but not quite as thick as I’d like it. The finish is clean with only a little bitterness remaining.

Wasn’t expecting much from this considering the $1 price tag on the 12oz. bottle, but even at that price it was a disappointment. Quite weak for a stout..even for a porter. Aroma and flavor are lacking, with the exception of the finish which is a not-so-tasty burnt flavor. I could deal with the finish better if there was more up front to balance it out. Relatively thin and watery mouthfeel and body for a stout. If I wasn’t such a cheap bastard I’d pour it down the drain and drink one of the better stouts in the fridge. I’ll fight my way through it, but will never purchase again....no matter the price.

Pours a still black color with a small white head. Can pick out chocolate malt, graham crackers, and a hint of wet dog. A little roasted malt, followed by a dry, bitter finish. Not a large stout by any means. Basic, but servicable.

A decent tasting beer with a little more porter characteristics then stout. Pours a nice dark brown with a decent tan head. A little bit of malt and a little bit of chocolate but could be more. Slightly too much hops presence. A bit too much carbonation. A decent beer but there are much better available

conducted a blind taste test of two types of Guinness and Murphy’s stout. It was the battle of the Irish... but my wife threw in a bottle of this Black Hawk just to make it interesting and yup, you guessed it... the Black Hawk kicked the imports butts!!!

This was a very average stout. Poured from a bottle a dark brown, which was very close to black with a brown head. Mostly smelled of roasted malts. Nothing really stands out in the taste. Weak roasted malt taste and also light hints of coffee and chocolate.