Mendocino Black Hawk Stout

Brewed by Mendocino Brewing Company
Style: Dry Stout
Hopland, California USA

decent, very dry stout. Deep flavors up front leave a slightly burnt, roasty, lingering finish. A little thin.

Aroma: Moderate aroma of roasted malts, having a roasted coffee or dark chocolate quality. very low hop aroma, up to medium intensity. Light alcohol-derived aromatics Appearance: jet black color, although Large, persistent head of light tan opaque. Flavor: Moderate to very high roasted malt flavors, often tasting of coffee, roasted coffee beans, dark or bittersweet chocolate. medium malt sweetness, with rich chocolate or caramel flavors. Medium bitterness. Hop flavor can be low to high, and generally reflects citrusy or resiny American varieties. Medium to dry finish, Alcohol flavors can be present up to medium levels, but smooth. No diacetyl. Mouthfeel: full body. high carbonation. Light to moderately strong alcohol warmth, but smooth and not excessively hot. Overall Impression: A hoppy, bitter, strongly roasted Stout

This is the first mendo I’ve sampled and the first dry stout I’ve sampled. $3 for 12 oz bottle @ 3 Sons in Wexford. Pours nice and dark in my steeler stein, appearing opaque. Very few bubbles and has the typical aroma of stout, perhaps a little alcoholy. Initial hit of flavor is not quite as strong as an imperial stout. Some burned or charred wood in the background. Slightly below average carbonation. Finish has a lasting bitterness but it is not as lasting or as bitter as imperial or foreign stouts. Will not buy again.

Pours out black with a small tan head. Aroma is that of roasted malts and semi sweet choco. Flavor was similar. The finish was very dry. over all this brew was a bit to thin and not really that great.

Very dark pour. Couldn’t see thru it when held up to a light. Decent 2 finger beigey head. Aroma was so subtle I had to stick my nose in the glass to get much of anything.Which is why I gave aroma a 4. The usual light coffee,roasty with hints of chocolate. Pretty smooth and easy to drink but had an off earthiness in the very finish that took away from it.

When the brewer tells you it’s a dry stout, then they should get ripped for not being such a thing. More like a porter, thin stout than anything Irish. The aroma was roasted coffee and chocolate malts, some hops going on. The flavor had strong hopping for a "dry" stout, lots of resinous/pine-like flavors. Underneath, the usual choco-coffee notes, a little bit watery. Mouthfeel was thin, nothing "creamy" about it. Just another run of the mill stout.

Bottle. Coffee, dark chocolate, malt and hops aroma. Opaque dark brown with small head. Smoky creamy mocha malt flavor with a moderate hops finish. Easy drinking stout on the hoppy side.

The bottle poured impenetrable coffee color, with an inch of chocolate milk froth on top. A heavily roasted, bittersweet aroma. The flavor is a bit thin, but true stout flavors, chocolate, dry finish. The palate is a little over carbonated, detracts from the tongue. It’s tastey and smooth.