Autumn Lager - Mendocino Brewing Company

UCLABrewN84

California

3.28/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a dark amber color with a 1/2 inch head that fades to absolutely nothing. No lacing.

S - Smells of sweet malts and metal.

T - Sweet malt up front with a slightly bitter/metallic finish.

M - Flat and coats the mouth with a metallic taste.

D - I got this in a Fall sampler pack that was on clearance. Good to try but I probably wouldn't go after this again if I saw it by itself.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2010 04:10:09 | More by UCLABrewN84

jharkins07

Ohio

3/5  rDev -12%

02-09-2012 19:11:11 | More by jharkins07

zeff80

Missouri

3.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

A - Poured out a clear, golden amber color with a one-finger, khaki colored head of foam. Okay retention and some sudsy residue left on the glass.

S - It smelled of bready malt with some mild floral notes.

T - Good caramel flavor with toffee and sweet breads. It had a subtle piney bitterness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied lager with a clean, dry finish.

O - This is a nice marzen. Pretty standard for Mendocino - a nice sessionable brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 16:38:51 | More by zeff80

barnzy78

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%

11-28-2011 04:42:01 | More by barnzy78

oline73

Maryland

3/5  rDev -12%

11-16-2011 03:52:59 | More by oline73

chumba526

Oregon

2.53/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appears an amber/ orange color with a small white head.

It smells slightly caramel like, slightly sour and a little citrusy.

It tastes quite sweet: there is a strong caramel taste, a slightly bready taste, a little bit of an orange taste. It seems pretty stereotypical and average for the style.

The carbonation is moderate.

The drinkability is ok. The sweetness and the fact that the beer is a bit boring makes me only want to drink one bottle.

Overall not horrible: it's a slightly below average uninspired take on the marzen. Wouldn't be bad to try especially if you can buy just one bottle but there are many better marzens out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2010 00:10:26 | More by chumba526

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

2.05/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Clear light copper body. One finger of fuzzy white foam.

Aroma of toasty grain, followed by alcohol sweetness which runs over anything else lurking about.

In the taste there is caramel and toast, but also a big smack of alcohol which seems to have wandered in from a bock. Harsh hop bite in the swallow.

Mouthfeel is too full for the style, should be lighter across the tongue.

Too rich, too sweer, too alcoholic for a proper marzen, kills the drinkability.

Not something I want in a huge mug. Seems to be an imperial O'fest based on cranking up the alcohol, though its listed as only 6.1%. I'll pass on this one next year.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2010 09:23:24 | More by RonfromJersey

wangbruins

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Poured a nice caramel orange with a thick head that lasted until I was ready

S- Oranges, nutmeg, and some cloves with a slight hint of lemon

T- Orange and caramel are strong and cloves cover the slight aftertaste

M- Very light without too much bite and smooth at the end

D- This is an easy beer to drink. Tasty and light...I could finish a bunch at once.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 00:54:59 | More by wangbruins

brownbeer

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice orange color, the head drops quickly.

Not the cleanest nose; has a tea-ish aroma with floral hops and sweet malt in the background.

Well balanced flavor, with caramel malt and a rather indistinct hoppiness. Then again, this isn't the freshest bottle. The body is smooth and substantial.

Overall, better than it is bad but not a standout.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2010 03:07:25 | More by brownbeer

Offa

California

3.7/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a good marzen type but not outstanding.

Copper, it has a medium-big, off-white head slowly shrinking to a foamy ring and leaving a tiny bit of weak lace.

Aroma is caramelly, toasty barley, dry breadcrust, light leafy, herbal and grassy hops with light nuttiness and hint of vanilla.

Taste is good but less complex. It has fruity character with mineral, toasty bread, spicey-grassy hops, lightly sweet caramelly aftertaste with light whole wheat bread crust. It has a faint winey quality like a white zinfandel. The feel and character are a bit light and thin overall, but it is not watery.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2009 07:19:17 | More by Offa

matjack85

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I found this 12oz brown bottle at Binny's in Plainfield, IL for $1.49. There is no freshness date, but since this is a seasonal release that is only produced in the fall and this is still November, I assume it is pretty fresh.

The beer poured a nice clear copper color and made a 1 finger off-white head that lasted about a minute and a half and left spotty lacing on the glass.

Big Vienna malt smell with a touch of fruitiness in the background.

Nice malty flavor, but also a surprising amount of hop flavors that I didn't pick out in the nose. TheTettnang and Hallertau hops add a slight spiciness to the beer and help balance out the malty sweetness.

This is a medium bodied smooth beer with only moderate carbonation, which I think adds to the smoothness.

The 6.1% abv is barely noticeable making this an easy drinker. It's a decent Oktoberfest offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2009 02:02:59 | More by matjack85

necrat

Rhode Island

3.13/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a cloudy copper color that cleared in time. A decent but not overly thick head too.

The smell was of hops, malts and a slight hint of wheat.

Tasted like an average Oktoberfest, meaning somewhat malty, but not too malty, some hops but not overly hoppy, spicy but not overly spicy. It was a run of the mill Oktoberfest.

Mouthfeel had average carbonation to it, not overly carboneted.

Overall I think there are better Oktoberfests (Otter Creek, Sam Adams) but it was all right to me.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 05:16:02 | More by necrat

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours caramel with 2 fingers of tan head. Average lacing & head retention

S: Fruitty & slightly bready

T: Grainy with slight metallic hops taste, plus some fruittyness up front. Herbal hops & fruittyness are prevalent as this warms, along with some grainyness & a touch astringency, plus a hint of booze. Finishes semi-dry with nice plummy fruittyness

MF: Medium bodied, with low carbonation, fairly well balanced

Easy drinking, not a stellar representation of the style, but not bad..

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2009 01:48:46 | More by russpowell

biggred1

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear amber with a foamy ivory colored hesd that leaves some decent fine lace on the glass. Nutty and toasted grain with toffee, caramel and lemony hop notes. Rich and malty with pumpernickel bready sweetness and just enough hop bitterness to balance. Medium bodied with bright carbonation. A good O-fest.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 03:31:46 | More by biggred1

Lexluthor33

New York

3.9/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Copper color with a decent head and lace.

The aroma of malts,caramel and some spice.

The taste starts off with a malt base followed by a touch of spice and grains.

The feel is medium body,medium carbonation and a buttery finish.

Notes: Not bad at all,worth the buy and a sixer.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 23:40:33 | More by Lexluthor33

Jmoore50

Nevada

3.43/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The appearance of this one was beautiful. I really admire clear brew, it takes such skill to filter and produce a beer that has such clarity. It is a golden-amber color with a two finger tan head. The color is beautiful.

The smell is of German lager yeasts, nutty malts.

The taste is Nutty German Malts, lots of mild roasted barley. The Lager yeast it presenting some light bread and citrus flavors. Lemon grass comes to mind.

The mouthfeel is carbonated well, mixes the tastes around. This is a sessionable brew that can be consumed during the crisp afternoons of fall. Just getting into this type of style and this did not turn me away in the slightest.

The drinkability is good because I drank the bottle in about ten minutes trying to pull the flavors out as best as possible. Nothing is overwhelming and the brews flavors blend well. This should be served in large pint glasses with a large busted beermaid. That is my dream.

J

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 06:58:29 | More by Jmoore50

Blakaeris

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear red-copper with a modest white head that quickly dissipates to a thin ring.

Aroma is caramel malt with mild fruit notes. Grainy, and a touch of hop spice.

Taste is grainy toasted malt. A bit of apricot and orange. Warm and nutty, with earthy hop undertones. Finish is spicy with a metallic edge.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied.

This is a decent offering. A good session brew. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 19:21:13 | More by Blakaeris

colts9016

Idaho

3.95/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured this beer into a pint glass at 41 degrees.

Appearance: A nice light tan one in half finger head with some good retention. The body of the beer is a medium copper color with an orange tint. There is some effervescence from the bottom of the beer. The clarity of the beer is fairly clear.

Nose: There is a nice rich malty aroma. There is no hop aromas in the beer from what I can tell.

Taste: A good malty flavor with some sweetness and there is some dryness at the end of the beer.

Overall: The mouth feel of the beer is rich, carbonated, and velvety. The body of the beer is medium and the finish is lite to medium. This is a descent beer I enjoyed drinking it.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 02:00:32 | More by colts9016