Mean Old Tom - Maine Beer Company

apintofknowledge

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle dated 10/07/12 - simple, clean label design - minimalist look stands out!

Pours a deep walnut hue with a nice creamy, frothy mocha colored head.

Aroma is faint, mild roasted smell with hints of bourbon (likely from the vanilla beans).

Once you get past the nice creamy head, the mouthfeel is somewhat thin... a little more body would go a long way.

The taste is initially roasty (think coffee beans and toasted walnuts) with a touch of the crisp, slightly burnt caramelized layer atop a creme brulee. Gets somewhat bitter after this, with notes of charcoal, over-roasted coffee beans (a.k.a. Starbucks) and a chalky mineral-like finish. I find the vanilla very subtle, but a good contrast to the burnt notes (helps smooth out the harsher flavors). The vanilla and slightly buttery notes come through more as the beer warms, but still subtle allowing the roasted flavors to come forward.

Let this one warm a little before drinking. I started drinking this a little too chilled, and the harsher flavors dominated. As it warmed, it became more balanced and had more depth. Not a complex beer by any means, but nice and very drinkable overall.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 23:46:01 | More by apintofknowledge

Jimbo4430

Virginia

2.75/5  rDev -30%

05-21-2013 00:57:30 | More by Jimbo4430

RBM

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-20-2013 16:44:54 | More by RBM

Brown120

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-20-2013 13:00:17 | More by Brown120

Michigan

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into a 22oz snifter. Bottle date 03-12-13 (my birthday!). Thanks dgthrasher!

A- Pours a deep brown/black. Huge 4 finger light brown frothy head. Head lingers for some time. As it falls, it leaves pillows of seafoam-like head. Moderate lacing. Nice looking stout!

S- Roasty coffee and chocolate. No sign of alcohol. Smells like Gayles chocolates in Downtown Royal Oak. They have a coffee and chocolate bar there. More vanilla comes through as it warms. Very subtle.

T- Awh man... I really had my hopes built up for this. It's good, but it could be better. Bitter in the back of the mouth and that's all there is in the extended finish. Definately roasty, but less full bodied than I was expecting. It leaves a burnt toast finish and no sign of vanilla.

M- Thin. eh... Just not what I'm looking for in a stout. It seems like that took a stout and added water. It's drinkable, but not in the way I wanted it to be.

O- I've heard great things about Maine Beer Co, and this is my first of their offerings. I may have built it up too much... I'd drink it again, but I won't actively seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:49:32 | More by Michigan

MrBoh

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-20-2013 02:47:22 | More by MrBoh

funhog

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-19-2013 23:08:31 | More by funhog

Dyelawn

Maine

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-19-2013 19:13:18 | More by Dyelawn

Myst

District of Columbia

3/5  rDev -23.7%

05-19-2013 04:26:37 | More by Myst

jakeox

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-19-2013 02:07:57 | More by jakeox

JMS1512

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-19-2013 01:42:09 | More by JMS1512

klawburke

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-18-2013 23:22:38 | More by klawburke

mcphish22

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

05-18-2013 01:29:27 | More by mcphish22

Ralphs66

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-17-2013 09:48:24 | More by Ralphs66

MaineBrewing

Maine

4.26/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - poured black, opaque with tan head 1.5 finger head. Dissipated to a creamy cap and left ample sticky lacing.

S - intense malt aroma, dark fruits, caramel, tootsie roll.

T - smooth taste, almost creamy. Malt forward with nice mellow roasted flavor, definite vanilla notes. Ample hops in the finish. The taste carries over an almost tootsie roll flavor that I picked up in the nose.

M - amazing mouthfeel, velvety and smooth. Light carbonation, very enjoyable experience.

O - overall a well Crafted stout, the mouth feel is amazing, and the taste is delicous.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:39:54 | More by MaineBrewing

HoppyKilaMonster

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-17-2013 01:37:46 | More by HoppyKilaMonster

THEOPTIMATOR88

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-16-2013 02:44:28 | More by THEOPTIMATOR88

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

4.24/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Poured very dark, nearly black w/ just a hint of mahogany at the margins. The head was an uber-thick layer of tenacious foam the color of burnt sugar. Retention was very good, lacing fair.

S: Toasted malt and dark fruit dominate, as is typical of stouts. There's some coffee as well, although in the background. It takes a little imagination to smell the vanilla.

T: Strong, deep-roasted malt up front; acrid at first, but yielding a little sweetness after a moment. Tart fruit appears in the middle, and lingers well into the finish as it melds with mildly bitter hops and subtle coffee flavors. Finally, the vanilla shows up -- not too strong, but definitely there -- and it mixes with all of the flavors listed above as they fade.

M: Very smooth. So much so that the lower carbonation and moderately dry finish are easily forgiven.

O: A solid American stout, and the vanilla, while not strong, does add a nice touch. A little pricy for frequent consumption, but worth trying on occasion.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 00:47:33 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle from Binghamton Beer Depot. Born 01.27.13. From notes.

A - Poured black with a one finger mocha/dark brown head. Good spotty lace, half finger retention.

S - Biga aroma of roast, coffee, faint vanilla, deep chocolate, and more coffee with a pronounced roast element.

T - Big roast again. Nice mild sweetness, assumingly from the vanilla. Sugariness and big roast that mellows later on. Nice and complex, as well as tasty. Vanilla is subtle. Some cola.

M - Mild carbonation, medium body, dry and sweet finish.

O/D - A nice stout. My frist from Maine Brewing and I was slightly underwhelmed based on their hype. Complex and tasty nonetheless. Quite rich, but needed some more vanilla.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 18:48:34 | More by tbeckett

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-15-2013 15:34:55 | More by twenty5

CBPAS

New York

4.75/5  rDev +20.9%

05-15-2013 02:03:07 | More by CBPAS

Kevincredible

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-15-2013 01:06:23 | More by Kevincredible

HawkIPA

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-14-2013 18:51:58 | More by HawkIPA

322wingedfoot

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

05-13-2013 22:46:39 | More by 322wingedfoot

Zimm

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -30%

05-13-2013 00:22:39 | More by Zimm