Mendocino Winter Ale (04/05 - Porter)

Bottle, courtesy someone...I forget who. If it’s you, message me! Black pour, with brown highlights. Small head and plenty of lacing. Caramel nose, coffee, raisin, prune, cotton candy, and slight roasted notes. Caramel and raisin pound the tongue first. Big roasted malts. Coffee, pecan, chocolate. Smooth and velvety, easy to drink. It’s aged pretty well.

Name: Winter Ale
Brewery: Mendocino Brewing Co
Date: 05/03/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 2004

Appearance: opaque dark brown, wispy tan head,
Aroma: rich dark chocolate aroma with only a hint of caramel sweetness,
Flavor: rich dark chocolate flavor, very dry with almost a powdery chocolate character, additional earthyness keeps it dry, lasting bitter finish from the earthyness and a touch of roasted,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **/4

Appearance: Pours a flat, dark brown body with no real head, but it’s been three long years, so I can’t hold that against it. Smell: Dark malts with a soothing, earthy scent of dusty baker’s chocolate and minor notes of caramel and roast. Taste: Dark maltiness, a taste of unsweetened chocolate and then caramel. Dash of good, wholesome spring water. Some roastiness and hints of coffee develop near the end. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: It’s good! An aged goodness, though, but that’s better than no goodness at all, right?

At Atlanta beer tasting. Dark brown to black brew with minor head. Moderate to strong alcohol aroma, slightly sweet, with undertones of cleaning fluid. Smoky flavor,moderate body and otherwise unremarkable. Pretty good, very drinkable brew.

Pours a beautiful black/brown color with a very small thin white/tan head, and below average lacing. Below average carbonation with a smell of sweet roasted malts. Tastes of smoked, roasted malts, with chocolate/coffee overtones. Very balanced and Very Tasty This is one good beer. Drink and Enjoy!