Beerly Departed - Search The Crypt's Records

Monday, May 16, 2011

Mendocino - Black Hawk Stout

Dead Soldier
Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Black Hawk Stout
Mendocino Brewing Company
1601 Airport Road
Ukiah, CA USA
(Saratoga Springs, NY)
Est. 1983

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.2 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0

Postmortem Brew Review
Near black color.
Chocolate malt and roasted malt aromas up front.
One finger of tan head that leaves minimal lacing and dissipates fairly rapidly.
Moderately carbonated.
Tastes similar to the aroma but with more emphasis on the roasted malts. Bittering hops finish it off.
Medium to light in body. Finishes nicely on the dry side. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy 
Got this beer on a trip out west, but by the time I got back home the Medocino line was appearing in our big box wine/liquor/beer stores. Good news is, I will get to try it again in the future.  There's a bit of a conflict for me, but not with the ale. It has more to do with the origination. The company is out of Ukiah, California, but the label states that it is bottled in Saratoga Springs, NY. That's not the first time I've seen a west coast beer company utilize an east coast brewery. (Think Shmaltz.)

Though it is a bit unusual of a stout in charachteristics, it was good - very enjoyable. I have several of their other style beers for review, so it will be interesting to see what those are like. I believe I met a rep from this brewery in Boulder last November though his name escapes me. I also follow one of their brewers on Twitter. If you are either one of these fellows and happen to read this, please post a reply. I'd like to know the east coast - west coast connection.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Rick, That was me in Boulder last year. I seem to remember we had a pretty good time on the bus. Well at least after we FINALLY got it out of the hotel parking lot! Cheers, carlos

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  2. Thanks Carlos. It's all coming back to me now. We did have quite a bit of time to chat on the non-moving bus that night. All good fun!

    Thank you so much for reading & posting. I have several of your other brews coming up for review. We finally get them in Florida. Hurrah!

    Cheers!

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