Beer of the Weekend #408: Mendocino Oatmeal Stout
Last night at John’s I bought what I assumed would be the beer of the weekend. However, I sampled it last year and I will now be saving the bottle for a Christmas party. I thought about breaking into my Anchor Christmas Ale 2012 sixer but instead grabbed a pack of Mendocino Oatmeal Stout, brewed by the Mendocino Brewing Company of Ukiah, California.
Notice the different label design? I certainly did. (As mentioned before, I really do not like Mendocino’s label art.) However, I believe it is only for Mendocino’s seasonal releases.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. No freshness date.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is opaque black, though a hint of light passes through when held to a lamp. Two fingers of thick, tan head left a buttery ring around the edge and a thin, spotted lacing.
Smell: It is a run of the mill oatmeal stout: roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and that oatmeal creaminess. It has been quite a while since I drank a stout so I am very eager to take a sip.
Taste: Oooh — nice. The roasted malt and coffee bitterness are balanced by oatmeal, burnt caramel, and chocolate. However, the roasted bitterness does linger after each sip. After it has warmed considerably, it begins leaning toward medicinal rubber. Thankfully, though, it never passes the point of no return and remains enjoyable.
Drinkability: Solid stuff. It is not extraordinary, but it is pretty tasty.
Fun facts about MOS:
-Style: Oatmeal stout.
-Price: $8.99/sixer at the “Drug Town” on First Avenue in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: BA recommends 50-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: According to the Mendocino website, Oatmeal Stout is “6.0% alcohol by volume and 100% marvelous!”
-Food pairings: Mendocino suggestions “a wide range of hearty, full-flavored foods and delicious desserts.”
-Oatmeal Stout is a seasonal release only available during the winter.
-On the beer’s webpage, it’s “Type” is listed as “Handcrafted.” All of Mendocino’s other beers — including the “Kingfisher collection,” oddly enough — are categorized the same way. This is interesting because BA’s famous Alström brothers have predicted that “handcrafted” will become the buzzword and label of choice for small brewers in 2013. (I had no clue Mendocino contract brewed Kingfisher in the US.)
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
Notice the different label design? I certainly did. (As mentioned before, I really do not like Mendocino’s label art.) However, I believe it is only for Mendocino’s seasonal releases.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. No freshness date.
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is opaque black, though a hint of light passes through when held to a lamp. Two fingers of thick, tan head left a buttery ring around the edge and a thin, spotted lacing.
Smell: It is a run of the mill oatmeal stout: roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and that oatmeal creaminess. It has been quite a while since I drank a stout so I am very eager to take a sip.
Taste: Oooh — nice. The roasted malt and coffee bitterness are balanced by oatmeal, burnt caramel, and chocolate. However, the roasted bitterness does linger after each sip. After it has warmed considerably, it begins leaning toward medicinal rubber. Thankfully, though, it never passes the point of no return and remains enjoyable.
Drinkability: Solid stuff. It is not extraordinary, but it is pretty tasty.
Fun facts about MOS:
-Style: Oatmeal stout.
-Price: $8.99/sixer at the “Drug Town” on First Avenue in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: BA recommends 50-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: According to the Mendocino website, Oatmeal Stout is “6.0% alcohol by volume and 100% marvelous!”
-Food pairings: Mendocino suggestions “a wide range of hearty, full-flavored foods and delicious desserts.”
-Oatmeal Stout is a seasonal release only available during the winter.
-On the beer’s webpage, it’s “Type” is listed as “Handcrafted.” All of Mendocino’s other beers — including the “Kingfisher collection,” oddly enough — are categorized the same way. This is interesting because BA’s famous Alström brothers have predicted that “handcrafted” will become the buzzword and label of choice for small brewers in 2013. (I had no clue Mendocino contract brewed Kingfisher in the US.)
The Quiet Man’s grade: B.
