Mendocino Oatmeal Stout Review #78

Mendocino Oatmeal Stout
Style: Oatmeal Stout
ABV: 6%
Winter Seasonal Brew
12oz Bottle Poured Into A Samuel Smith Stout Glass


Mendocino Brewing Company
(The Hopland Brewery)
Ukiah Mendocino County, California 
Michael Laybourn and Norman Franks
1983

“Jet black in color and full·bodied with a rich, creamy, long-lasting head. Robust, with luscious chocolate and coffee flavors, it is balanced with just the right amount of UK Golding hops. Brewed with massive quantities of oats, our Oatmeal Stout is smooth in the extreme. It pairs well with a wide range of hearty, full-flavored foods and delicious desserts. Our Oatmeal Stout is 6.0% alcohol by volume and 100% marvelous!” [Between ABV change and lack of a Warrior hops mention in the new description, it looks like this should be filed as a new beer on the rating sites.

Appearance:
Pitch Jet Black Color
Thin Minute Mocha Head
Nagging Retention
Dusting Of Lace On The Glass
Slight Sparkling Carbonation
Dark Clarity


Aroma:
Usual Suspects In The Aroma
Cocoa 
Oats
Smoked Ash
Black Tea
Caramel
Burnt Molasses
Charred Oak
Pipe Tobacco
Rasinettes
Trail Mix
Licorice
Coffee

Mouth Feel:
Sweet/Bitter Balance
Flawless Balance
Velvety Texture
Medium Bodied- Not As Big As Some Stouts
Easy Drinkability- Lacks A Wow Factor But Is Decent
Sessionable- I Had No Desire To Have Another One
Gritty Palate
Refreshing Enough
The Finish Climbs Into A Modest Sense Of Cocoa And Roasted Malts With Astringency That Takes Away From The Creaminess
Oats Are Apparent In The Aftertaste But Is Not Quite Smooth Because Of The Sharp Smokiness


Tasted of dark and smoky malts, also some dark chocolate flavor in there as well. Oatmeal, cocoa mix, milk chocolate, and chocolate milk are prominent while the finish shows a bit of nearly burnt toast and smoky ash. Tasted pretty fake to me.


3 Out Of 6
Want A Sixer