Mean Old Tom - Maine Beer Company

C20Percent

Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark brown with a nice tan colored bubbly head on top. Can actually see some pretty decent bubble action in the body. Head seems to be holding rather nicely. Nothing super here, but nice nonetheless.

S: First thing coming through is a nice roastiness. Some definite coffee notes mixed with vanilla bean. For me though -- main thing coming through are the roasted malts. Swirling the brew seems to bring out the vanilla.

T: Vanilla bean and roasted malts mostly coming through in the flavor. There is a strange finish -- something that taste flat. I don't think that's the intent, but... There's a lot of complexity in the taste. All the flavors are there though. Solid.

M: The body is much lighter than your typical stout, which is a bit unfortunate. Carbonation is flat -- light. Not much chewiness. Not really feeling the body. The worst of the features. It is smooth -- not really creamy. Oily feel.

O: The label says you can age this. This particular brew is 7 months old. When you start drinking you can tell that something is off. It comes through in the finish. Then it really comes through when you begin to analyze the feel. This is an above average brew, but just barely. For $7.70, which was what I paid for this you can find much better stouts.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 20:17:11 | More by C20Percent

brother_kenneth

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter glass.

A - Very dark, but not quite black. Nice amount of light brown/tan head, decent lacing.

S - The most noticeable thing is the vanilla. There are also hints of coffee and some smokiness.

T - Mouth is rather thin, but the taste is pretty good! Lots of vanilla up front, along with a nice smoked, roasted malt flavor. There is some dark coffee here as well, but it is not very strong.

O - This is a pretty good stout and the vanilla beans certainly add a nice touch. It is a fairly straightforward brew that is easy to gulp down. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 18:31:01 | More by brother_kenneth

argock

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 16.9 oz grey-brown bottle into a clear glass snifter. Bottled on 111912 on side of label. Purchased at WIne Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $6.99.

A: Nearly black with ruby/chestnut edges and 1-2 fingers of light beige head with good retention but minimal dots of lacing.

S: Strong aromas of maple-vanilla, like those Brachs candies you stole so many times from the grocery store bin when you were a kid shopping with your Mom. The roast also comes thorugh pretty strong but not much on the dark fruit or malt side of the ledger.

T: The flavor is also mostly vanilla with a hefty roast component that fades with warming. There is a fair amount of sweetness to balance with the roast. Unfortunately there is not a lot of soul to this beer, as it tastes as undermalted as the 6.5% belies. The flavor is very thin and artificial tasting without the sufficient malt backbone.

M: Reasonably creamy and smooth but the body feels thin for the style.

O: Maine Beer should turn this into an imperial stout -- even as a porter this would seem thin and short on character. More base malt to carry the roast and vanilla more as accents would be step in the right direction. Pretty disappointing for the price and especially compared to MO and Zoe (and even Peeper Ale).

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 03:39:36 | More by argock

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottle dated 082612 08. So, August 26, 2012. Poured in to tulip.

A -Black with half a finger of medium brown head.

S - Big sweet vanilla aroma up front with roast and hints of coffee in the background.

T - Vanilla up front that immediately gives way to a huge roast profile and some bitter coffee flavours. Fairly sweet overall with some balancing bitterness.

M - Medium body, Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 22:12:41 | More by TheSevenDuffs

sarajayne

3.63/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Look- Black in color, no transparency

Smell- This beer is aged on natural vanilla beans, but I can't really pick up on much vanilla in the scent. I smell a really great smokey scent, roasted malt, and maybe even a little hint of coffee!

Taste- This was so much better than the first time I tried this on tap. Perhaps it is best served from the bottle. I really love the smokey flavor and the way the roasted malt and vanilla comes together. The vanilla is very subtle but in the perfect way-just enough to compliment the other flavors! It is somewhat hard for me to distinguish was else I'm tasting; maybe some maple, coffee, and cocoa? It is just so good and that is not just Mean Old Tom talking!

mouth feel: lighter than a typical stout, but regardless it still has a ton of flavor!

Overall: I'd recommend this for sure. Maine Beer Co. is a solid brewery and always puts out a great beer. I'm really happy I gave this another try.

Collage girls GOOD drink beer:
www.brewreviewboston.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 22:49:55 | More by sarajayne

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Coffee black with a pretty tall head. Due to my particular glass the head was slow to form looking quite similar to a stout on nitro. An excting event as it flowed down my glass. As i drink the foaminess lingers withs lots of lacing.
The aroma boasts a good amount of roasted malts and barley but the vanilla is quite restrained and weak.
Taste is awsome as one might expect from these brewers with lots of roasted goodness some coffee and vanilla. the vanilla is not as strong as i would have expected. It does serve to boost up the other flavors.
Drinks smooth with an ashen or charcoal feel but with the amount of roast I detect in this brew it's perfectly accetable for me.
This is another quaility brew from the boys up there in Maine. As this beer warms the flavors and feel become more pronouned. Definitly worthy.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 15:07:07 | More by micromaniac129

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

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my first review here, so I'll do my best.

Bottled in August 2012. Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into a Guinness 250th anniversary imperial Pint glass.

Appearance- Beautiful pitch black with a light caramel head of about two fingers. Head took about thirty seconds to dissipate leaving a nice ring around the top of the beer.

Smell- Not over powerful, but I do get aromas of coffee, baking chocolate, licorice, and very faint vanilla bean.

Taste- Coffee. Bitterness, probably from that bakers chocolate. I tinge of alcohol at the back of the tongue. Vanilla at the very end. Coffee at aftertaste lingers around for quite some time.

Mouthfeel- Perfect amount of carbonation. Its is certainly not light in body, but it also does not coat my mouth. The alcohol content is not very strong. I'm drinking this at noon and it's a perfect beer with lunch.

Overall- So far from Maine Beer Company I've only had this and the Peeper ale and both have been very good for such a small batch brewery. I will certainly buy this again and I look forward to other beers they make. Im glad I tried this stout and I'm glad I reviewed it.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 16:58:15 | More by Seanniek91

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Looks like it was bottled August 20, 2012.

Beer is jet black with a moderately-sized tan head. Good retention.

Nose contains vanilla and chocolate predominantly. Some roast malt as well.

Taste is quite similar to the nose. Vanilla, cocoa and some roast malt. Vanilla is quite strong.

Medium bodied, a little thinner than expected, moderate carbonation level, quite smooth.

Overall, quite tasty. Nothing spectacular but certainly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 00:52:16 | More by jrenihan

Dools9

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 10/7/12, poured into a Founders snifter.

A: Pours a dark brownish black, nice creamy brown finger of head. Nice spotty lace.

S: Roasty sweetness, cocoa and some vanilla. A little bit of tobacco, some figs and mild coffee. Vanilla is there but not overbearing, very subtle but nice.

T: Very roasty, cocoa powder, good amount of burnt notes. Some tobacco and earthy, woodsy flavors. Not a whole lot of vanilla, but its there and works off the roastiness. Theres a nice lingering bitterness and finishes on the drier side.

M: Medium bodied, very soft, creamy.

O: Another tasty brew from MBC. Not overly complex but very easy to drink and very pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 21:24:48 | More by Dools9

Boto

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle: This one pours an opaque, inky dark brown. There was a small tan head on it that doesn’t leave much lacing. Nice nose. Chocolate, some roastiness, vanilla, coffee. Nice taste. Medium bodied, but still has a lighter feel even though there is a lot of flavor. Milk chocolate, hint of coffee, faint vanilla. Balanced well to have almost no sweetness and a hint of bitterness in the finish. Nice!

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 21:15:30 | More by Boto

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Appearance: pours a black color with a dark tan colored 2" head that hangs around a while.

Smell: chocolate, vanilla, and roasted malts are most detectable.

Taste: roasted malts, dark chocolate, mild vanilla flavors, and some prune sweetness. Bitterness is nicely balancing here as some hints of citrus tones show up late.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp to start, smoother at the finish. Aftertaste is long lasting here.

Overall: this was a tasty beer that was nicely refreshing for the style. Easy to drink, and the vanilla is mild enough here. Defintely worthy of a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 18:06:43 | More by Gavage

Etan

Illinois

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

500ml bottle from Valdieu2. Thanks! Into an MBC wine glass. Bottled 8/10/12.

A: Pours a nice brownish black with a good light tan head. Nice lacing as well.

S: Sweet coffee and cocoa, some vanilla as well.

T: Surprisingly hoppy, yet pretty balanced. Mild roast, some pine and citrus with a good amount of bitterness, dark chocolate, light vanilla.

M: Medium-bodied, creamy.

O: This is a nice stout with a good mouthfeel. Perhaps less hoppy bitterness would help it along but other than that I really enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 04:10:38 | More by Etan

kevanb

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500 ml bottle, 8/20/2012 on the label, poured into a snifter.

The beer pours a nice deep brown color, almost black but not quite. A half finger of mocha head appears but is gone instantly leaving behind a thin layer of film and no lacing. The aroma is of roast and almost peated malt, mild vanilla sweetness and a touch of chocolate. The flavors are just as simple, light vanilla, milk chocolate and lots of roasted malt. The body is pretty thin, overly carbonated as well, it doesn't detract from the beer too much, but it's not really helping any.

Verdict: A much simpler beer than I was hoping for, I thought the vanilla might take this to another level, but instead, it came off artificial and lacking complexity. It's not a bad beer by any stretch and was enjoyable to drink, but it's nothing too special.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 02:22:43 | More by kevanb

tewaris

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Jason!

Dark brown, medium head, medium retention. Smells burnt and acrid at times; the roast is powerful in the taste as well. So charrred with only hints of vanilla. Tastes too tart because of the acidity... I think the roast is up there for a beer not so big and could have been dialed down. The beer is lost in it. Mouthfeel is right on though.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 08:32:18 | More by tewaris

BobZ

Massachusetts

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

16.9oz bottle poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Black with a small 1/4” head that quickly recedes to thin cap. Very nice lacing.

Smell: Some sweetness appears over a lighter-than-usual aroma of roasted malt.

Taste: Sweeter and more chocolate forward that the usual stout. The lack of astringent bitterness allows for more flavors to emerge, the subtle vanilla and the expected coffee among them. I must say after drinking many stouts recently it was nice to find one a little less bitter and able to stand out.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy throughout and clean on the finish.

Overall: Really enjoyed this stout as Maine Beer Company really seems to be doing all the right things.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 02:19:04 | More by BobZ

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very dark, almost black color, its like very dark brown and black together. Nice tan creamy head on the top, almost 1" in size. Aroma, the vanilla was a little understated I thought, but still enjoyable, chocolate malt, cocao like dryness.

Kind of the quintessential usual old school stout, drinkable by yourself, not massive. Nice roast, solid chocolate presence, mild vanilla presence. A little hoppier than you might be used to for a straight up normal stout. Not thin, but not imperialized motor oil version of a double stout. Its what most people have come to know as a porter these days. This is a beer better of as part of a 4 or 6 pack, moreso than being in a 1/2 liter bottle. You can drink lots of it, and you'd want to, as its enjoyable for sure. Never had anything bad from Maine beer company. Still hunting for Zoe though. . .

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 23:23:30 | More by Beerandraiderfan

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle into HF tulip

A - Nice dark brown color with a thin quarter-finger head, tan in color. Head lingers a bit before becoming a thin layer.

S - Definitely smell the vanilla beans, chocolate, roasted malts. Really digging the deeply roasted malt aromas. A bit nutty

T - Taste of subtle vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, deeply roasted malts, and watery black coffee.

M - Feel is a bit thin, but bold enough. Not amazing, but it suits the subtleties of the beer. A bit chalky in the finish.

O - An easy to drink, flavorful, and nuanced beer. Can't ask for too much more.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 22:56:51 | More by greenmonstah

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another lovely beer from a brewery that seems to always make a quality, tasty, refined, and highly drinkable product. Pours black with a two finger cap of foamy off-white head. Good retention and lacing. Aroma is a mix of chocolate and vanilla notes; light roasty/charred malt, and caramel. Quite nice!

The vanilla in the flavor isn't quite as prominent as it is in the aroma, although it does emerge somewhat as the beer warms a bit. The chocolate and caramel sweetness recedes a bit into more of a bittersweet chocolate flavor and the malt has a more assertively roasted, slightly charred aspect than detected in the nose. Suggestions of burnt sugar/creme brulee linger as I work my way through the glass. Has some nice flavor combinations but not necessarily a ton of depth.

Medium body and carbonation; not big and thick at all, but this isn't an imperial.

Overall quite a good American stout; should appease vanilla fans and has a natural vanilla flavor rather than an artificial extract taste.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 22:45:54 | More by tobelerone

suspect

New York

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a Central Waters snifter.

A: Deep deep deep dark brown. Not quite black but close. Aggressive pour leads to a slow creeping head that gets bigger to about 2 fingers, then slowly fades to a thin ring.

S: Big notes of toasted malts, chocolate malts, burnt coffee. Slightly lighter aromas of vanilla, smoke and dried wood.

T: Coffee notes first but it tastes like the coffee has had some milk and sugar added to it. Malts from the nose are present and accounted for but they are much less smokey and a lot smoother.

M: Big creamy mouthfeel. Ample carbonation. No alcohol notes to speak of.

O: An easy drinking stout that's full of flavor and complexity. Lots of things going on and none of them are offensive or overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 00:40:24 | More by suspect

Tschnab

New York

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The pour is a beautiful looking stout, a dark body with a nice two inch milk chocolate head, rocky thick lace on the glass.

The smell is a nice coffee aroma with some chocolate and tons of vanilla. All three of these flavors reach perfect harmony on the taste, where the once subtle chocolate and coffee come through big, and the sweet vanilla smoothes out the bitter on the finish.

Really good stout, really hits on the flavors I look for, with the vanilla being a nice twist.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 18:48:08 | More by Tschnab

harrymel

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled: 26AUG12

Pours a dark brown with light tan foam of soapy consistency. Smells of vanilla, licorice, cola, some cocoa, and a bit of coffee. Pleasant nose. Robust beer, nice bitter coffee character, toasted malts, hints of leather and vanilla. Nice and big without being a monster boozer. Full, velvety body with modest carbonation and a bilevel finish for me - slick up front, dry on the pharynx.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 05:13:34 | More by harrymel

stonermouse

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an oversized wine glass.

Spectacular pour. Gorgeous dark chocolate body, with a perfect marshmallowy milk chocolate head that sticks around.

Mellow aroma, but what's there is nice. Nice coffee house aroma, with a bit of sweetness.

Taste is quite pleasant, and I immediately note the similarity to Victory at Sea. Awesome vanilla notes dominate, over a mild milk chocolate base. It's a lighter version of Victory at Sea, however, and packs a slightly weaker coffee and booze punch. I prefer the stronger VAS, but this beer is no slouch, and is "sessionable" on a cool fall night. Good stuff.

Mouthfeel is just a bit thin. And add a bit of a boozy punch, and this brew would be a home run.

I'd buy again. It's not the best that Maine Beer Co has to offer, but this is a very nice brew that in fairness should be rated more highly.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 01:26:13 | More by stonermouse

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Quality brew. Nice dark pour with a solid head and good retention after pour - cream colored. Aroma is heavy malt with a large presence of chocolate and coffee. Quality mouthfeel - nice and creamy. Taste is chocolate malt heavy with some mild spicing including presence of vanilla on the back end - the vanilla helps bring the chocolate forward.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 23:46:11 | More by Oakenator

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.79/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Modest head, but it lasts. Dark, dark brown where no light shines through, even on the sides. Plenty of blanketing lace.

Chalky aroma of a typical mild dry stout. Some alcohol nose.

Dark roasted malts that are borderline burnt. Interestingly, little coffee flavor, but there's a bitter chocolate taste. Smooth mouthfeel with a decent carbonation level. The finish is mostly burnt malt flavors with a touch of hop. No errors here.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 22:57:11 | More by smcolw