Tonight, I’m drinking my last bottle of Mendocino Oatmeal Stout. What a shame that is, really, because I do love the style so, and Mendocino does such a great job with it. Hey, you say, Bruguru if you like it so much, why don’t you run out and get some more? Alas, dear reader, if only I could. You see, Mendocino Oatmeal Stout is a seasonal beer, released only in late fall. It was first released in 2010, making the 2011 edition only the second time it has hit store shelves.

Mendocino Brewing has been around for a long time, 29 years to be exact. I remember their beers being much sought after back in the nineties, especially their dry, flavorful Red Tail Ale. That beer, however, is not what it once was, though a quick perusal of my tasting notes tells me I need to revisit it again. The company is based in California where it started in Hopland as a brewpub. Today is has a brewery in Ukiah, California as well as Saratoga Springs, New York.

Here’s what Mendocino says about their oatmeal stout:

Seasonal - Oatmeal Stout is 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!

Mendocino Oatmeal Stout pours to a jet back color with a thick fluffy head formation and a rich and roasty licorice and raisin nose. Taking a sip, I get a bit of crude-oil like viscosity (well, I think of it like crude oil, I’ll admit I’ve never sipped crude oil) in the thick and rich texture of the beer. The flavor is delightful, a bit of chocolate at first, dark bittersweet chocolate followed by a large dose of licorice. The silky smoothness that oats impart are present in the thick texture and make this a sinfully indulgent treat. A formidable roasted bitterness balances and dries in the finish.

What a wonderful beer. It’s not an imperial or double beer, just a flavorful and delicious brew of moderate strength. One could sip it all evening, and at just $6.99 a six-pack one can afford to as well. I enjoyed a bottle with a slice of creamy cheese cake, and the two made for a simply marvelous pairing. Should that surprise? Hardly. A roasty cup of coffee is often paired with such a dessert, why not an equally roasty glass of beer?

Easily a four star effort, but given the very reasonable price, I’ll round up to four and a half for this true beer bargain.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

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