Mendocino Winter Ale (04/05 - Porter)

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

Bottle: Courtesy of beeryum via trade. After tearing up my hands and chipping a few teeth unable to twist the bottle cap off, I was ready to give up until I noticed "Use Opener" written on top of the cap. If only I had noticed earlier. Very nice aroma of chocolate, roasted grain, caramel, coffee, and grapefruit. Pours a dark brown with no transparency and a tan head that lasts a minute or so. Lots of chocolate and caramel up front. Finishes with some roasted grain, coffee, and some bitter burnt flavors. Nice creamy mouthfeel with light carbonation.

Pours nearly pitch black with a thin foamy tan head. Aromatic notes of chocolate, vinous malts, dark rye bread, and vanilla. Taste is extreme roasted malts, to the point of being excessive. The hoppiness was also quite pronounced in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly oily with lush carbonation. I’m going to keep my last bottle until next winter, hopefully the hops and roastiness will mellow out a bit. An enjoyable beer, just a bit rough around the edges.

Bottle. Never been a fan of Mendocino beers. I always wished their beers were up to the level of their distribution. I saw this one as a single for 1.49, and thought what the heck? Pours dark brown, almost black. Brown diminishing head with surprisingly good lacing. Aroma of roasted malt, dark chocolate, and coffee. Initial flavor of coffee, molassess, and caramel, without the sweetness. Texture in the mouth is velvety and fizzy, with a hint of water. Finish is dry, bitter, and very peppery. Not much warming or alcohol. This beer could use a little more balance, i think the roasted or burnt characteristics are a little overdone. But, this is not a bad beer. I was quite surprised. I liked this so much that I am anxious to try the 2005-6 winter ale, a IIPA. If only all their other beers could be this good.

Bottle. I was very surprised I ran across this at my local bottle shop. I kick my self for not picking up more as it’s gone now. Poured black with a tan head that left some lacing. WOW! The aroma was a great caramel, milk chocolate, and roasty mix that made me crave for the taste. The flavor was milk chocolate and caramel with a coffee aftertaste. Full body, creamy, and easy drinking. Simple wonderful! My favorite of the holiday season so far!

Killer beer, nice balance between dark and lighter malts, hops to balance. Had this last year and was suprised that the beer held itself together this long.

Really good winter beer. Strong flavors of rosted coffee and chocolate. Aroma quite the same. Not a bad finish either.

Poured black with a small fizzy light tan head. Roasted coffee and chocolate aroma. Taste is bitter with prominant notes of roasted coffee, a touch of sweetness and a hint of fruit acidity, leading to a dry roasty finish. Roasty, very roasty. Nice porter witih a straight-forward pleasant character.

Deep black color with hints of red around the edges. Medium sized light brown head. Roasty aroma of sweet caramel, molasses, mocha, and a definite citrusy hops presence. Roasty flavor is full of coffee, bittersweet chocolate, dark fruits, and fruity hops. Nice full body and smooth mouth feel. Roasted coffee bitterness in the finish.