Imperial Stout - Mendocino Brewing Company

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I poured this one aggressively into a snifter. I got just a hint of head that disappeared before I could really get any read on it. It didn't even leave any real ring. No lacing tries to cling to the glass. Body is a deep dark brown.

There is a very pronounced head on this one. Dark fruit, caramel and toffee are very "loud" aromas, having been very noticeable as I poured. Roasted malt is present as well.

Dark fruit and roasted malt are up front. These transition into dark coffee, dark chocolate and hints of slightly over-roasted nuts. Booze comes in and plays around the flavors at the end. As the beer warms there is a hint of dark soda (similar to a Dr Depper or root beer) in the transition from dark fruit to dark chocolate/coffee.

This beer is heavy bodied. Carbonation is about average. The beer coats the mouth very thoroughly.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 18:36:48 | More by CFHMagnet

gritz147

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-02-2013 02:03:06 | More by gritz147

Ajlvt

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-20-2013 23:18:08 | More by Ajlvt

dheacck11

Connecticut

3.99/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour is super dark brown. Scant mocha head that fades to nothingness in seconds. no lacing to speak of.

Nose is malty and boozy, with lots of dark fruit and some coffee and caramel notes.

Flavor is really quite powerful. Lots of dark fruit with raisin, dried fig, and dried cherry leading off. Followed by rich and biting dark chocolate, with a hint of slightly stale coffee. Booze is palatable, but not overpowering.

Mouth feel is medium to full, leaves a nice thick coating afterwards.

A nice imperial stout. Definitely worth a shot if you see it around. Not as complex and balanced as some of the big hitters, but solid.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 23:53:23 | More by dheacck11

mjgrady

Virginia

3/5  rDev -23.1%

03-27-2013 01:27:58 | More by mjgrady

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-26-2013 00:32:32 | More by acurtis

pheelingIt

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

03-22-2013 02:14:15 | More by pheelingIt

blmar311

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-16-2013 05:36:36 | More by blmar311

jjchristiano

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +9%

03-04-2013 05:16:12 | More by jjchristiano

barczar

Kentucky

3.79/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

2011 vintage.

Pours an opaque black brown, with a foamy half inch milk chocolate head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving light sheets of lacing.

Dark cherries, prunes, and raisins open the aroma, with an underlying buttery toffee character and a hint of roasted malt and soy at the finish. Those esters really dominate. Chocolate surfaces as it warms.

Flavor reveals more roast malt character, with highlights of chocolate carrying into a charred malt, fairly bitter finish. Sherry notes combine with bruised cherries early, with a bit of phenol surfacing mid palate. There's some booze evident. Licorice and coffee emerge.

Body is on the light side, with low carbonation, a tad bit of astringency, and significant alcohol warmth.

The esters really dominate the initial flavor, and malt complexity is lacking. Phenols were a little offputting, and the finish was a bit bitter for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 01:01:26 | More by barczar

twelveinches

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +9%

02-02-2013 06:56:09 | More by twelveinches

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-29-2013 16:44:02 | More by DmanGTR

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%

01-27-2013 20:02:17 | More by AlexFields

YogiBeer

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%

01-25-2013 17:42:13 | More by YogiBeer

tJyM4

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

01-19-2013 01:51:34 | More by tJyM4

discdueler

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

01-17-2013 00:26:37 | More by discdueler

Lukass

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

01-03-2013 01:22:10 | More by Lukass

irongator

Kansas

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

12-30-2012 14:49:46 | More by irongator

Birdlegs

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.6%

12-26-2012 04:13:11 | More by Birdlegs

BigTrubble

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

12-22-2012 00:49:16 | More by BigTrubble

grahamboudreaux

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

12-17-2012 15:05:08 | More by grahamboudreaux

snarksdad

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +9%

11-23-2012 15:47:13 | More by snarksdad

Brant

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottom line up front: A solid imperial stout. Not as sweet as some of my other favorites, but still dang good. If you like more smoke than sweet, you'll be happy with this one.

A - Pitch black, like engine oil that's been in your car 3,000 miles too long. Head a nice caramel color.

S - Kind of a woodsy, coffee smell with sweet pumpernickel undertones. Smells like, well, a typical imperial stout for the most part.

T - Starts of with a punch of strong, slightly bitter coffee -- almost tangy or tart, but not overly -- then gets sweet for a few seconds before fading to smokey earthiness. Again, not as sweet as I like them, but that's just my personal preference. You won't have any issue with the taste if you like the smokier porters/stouts.

M - I really enjoyed the feel of the stuff. Smooth and creamy, "soft", really.

O - Easily recommendable. Looks good, smells good, feels good, tastes good. If you're like me and you like the really chewy sweet stouts, this will miss the mark -- but only slightly.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 23:02:34 | More by Brant

AbbyAlex

4/5  rDev +2.6%

10-21-2012 18:17:37 | More by AbbyAlex

Cris4545

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.6%

10-05-2012 19:16:21 | More by Cris4545