Mendocino Winter Ale (04/05 - Porter)

Formerly brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: Porter
Saratoga Springs, New York USA

Pours a lasting ring of light tan head with with a dark brown body. Aromas of roasted malts, soy sauce, some iodine. Flavor is mainly soy sauce with a roasted character. Dry finish.

Medium thick black pour. Nice weight. Not too heavy but not really thin either. Notes of iced coffee, latte lolly pop, coffee ice cream. A little bittersweet fruit as well. Aromas are very light. Pretty good. Not a bad start to a session.

Sampled at the ’Butter’s Last Supper’ tasting. Pours a very dark brown with minimal traces of brown head. Nose has held up wonderfully, roast, toffee, sweet coffee. Flavor is robust, but a tad vegetal, with milk chocolate, and burnt malts. Leaves a dry chalky finish. Pretty solid porter.

2/03/2007: 2004-05 Vintage... This bottle of Mendocino Winter Ale is very dark brown on the pour and appears nearly black in the glass with some ruby brown shining through around the edges in the light. It has a small brown head that disappears quickly. There appears to be a little bit of carbonation left, but not much. That’s okay with though; I can’t stand fizzy porters and stouts! Rich chocolate dominates the aroma with a little vanilla and coffee and a very, very slight hint of smoke. Very nice! A robust flavor of chocolate, roasted malt, roasted malt, coffee, and molasses please the tastebuds. There is a just a tiny bit of oxidation starting to set in. The finish is dry and roasty with some more chocolate coming though. I would have liked a bit more heft in the the body and mouthfeel, but I guess I can settle for medium. Overall I think this beer is holding up quite nicely considering it is two years old. Actually, it really exceeded my expectations and was a nice treat on this cold Winter day...

12 fl oz bottle (7.0% ABV) sent to me by ross. Thanks Ross! Too bad you didn’t have any of the 06/07 left. Then I would have been able to be up to date on the Mendocino Winter Ales. That’s okay, I’ll only hold it against you for a few more weeks. After all, that will give you some time to find me one! Rating: 8/3/8/3/16=3.8.


UPDATE on 11/18/2008: Mendocino Winter Ale Special Edition 2004-05 has a nice semi-sweet and dark chocolate with some sweet, heavily caramelized and roasted malt mixed with char. This beer has a really deep, dark ruby brown color with a thin, frothy tan-colored head. The flavor is highly roasty with undertones of coffee grounds, cream, charcoal and a smooth dark chocolate finish with just the right amount of bitterness. I very, very slight hint of oxidation can be detected in the background. The body of this porter is medium to medium-full and has a soft mouthfeel and is smooth on the palate. I’m very impressed how good this beer still is. It hasn’t lost anything and continues to be a great porter.

Twelve fl. oz bottle. (Alcohol Content: 7.0% by Volume) from either The Party Source in Bellevue, Kentucky or Party Town in Florence, Kentucky. Rating: 8/3/8/3/16=3.8.

Bottle, courtesy someone...I forget who. If it’s you, message me! Black pour, with brown highlights. Small head and plenty of lacing. Caramel nose, coffee, raisin, prune, cotton candy, and slight roasted notes. Caramel and raisin pound the tongue first. Big roasted malts. Coffee, pecan, chocolate. Smooth and velvety, easy to drink. It’s aged pretty well.

Name: Winter Ale
Brewery: Mendocino Brewing Co
Date: 05/03/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 2004

Appearance: opaque dark brown, wispy tan head,
Aroma: rich dark chocolate aroma with only a hint of caramel sweetness,
Flavor: rich dark chocolate flavor, very dry with almost a powdery chocolate character, additional earthyness keeps it dry, lasting bitter finish from the earthyness and a touch of roasted,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Appearance: Pours a flat, dark brown body with no real head, but it’s been three long years, so I can’t hold that against it. Smell: Dark malts with a soothing, earthy scent of dusty baker’s chocolate and minor notes of caramel and roast. Taste: Dark maltiness, a taste of unsweetened chocolate and then caramel. Dash of good, wholesome spring water. Some roastiness and hints of coffee develop near the end. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: It’s good! An aged goodness, though, but that’s better than no goodness at all, right?

At Atlanta beer tasting. Dark brown to black brew with minor head. Moderate to strong alcohol aroma, slightly sweet, with undertones of cleaning fluid. Smoky flavor,moderate body and otherwise unremarkable. Pretty good, very drinkable brew.