Mean Old Tom
Maine Beer Company


Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Maine Beer Company
- Maine, United States
- Style:
- American Stout
Ranked #101 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #11,347 - Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 8.77%
- Reviews:
- 521
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jul 09, 2022
- Added:
- Mar 03, 2010
- Wants:
- 148
- Gots:
- 523
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good


Notes:
Our American-style stout aged on natural vanilla beans. Intense notes of coffee and dark chocolate lead way to subtle notes of natural vanilla. Flaked oats generate a silky mouthfeel.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by StephenisDunks
3.94/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
3.94/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
The bear has good head retention and looks good but not super interesting due to its plain brown color.
The smell has a bit of bitter
chocolate and good notes of coffee. There is also an undertone of vanilla in the scent.
The taste has the bitter quality of bakers chocolate but also includes a nice vanilla in the mix which is more prominent in the after taste. The vanilla bean flavor will pleasantly stay in your mouth for quite a while. The bitter chocolate lingers as well to a lesser degree.
You could also say that it has a heavily roasted coffee flavor but to me it came off more chocolaty.
There is a tiny bit of sweetness that enters the mix but the overall profile of this beer is more bitter.
The fizz level is on the low end and haziness is practically none existant.
Hops are not overpowering either which is a plus in my book. When the hop flavor does come through it tends to taste like a strong seltzer water.
The mouth feel is kind of velvety with a bit of fizz.
Definitely worth trying if you like bakers chocolate/roasted coffee and vanilla.
May 07, 2022The smell has a bit of bitter
chocolate and good notes of coffee. There is also an undertone of vanilla in the scent.
The taste has the bitter quality of bakers chocolate but also includes a nice vanilla in the mix which is more prominent in the after taste. The vanilla bean flavor will pleasantly stay in your mouth for quite a while. The bitter chocolate lingers as well to a lesser degree.
You could also say that it has a heavily roasted coffee flavor but to me it came off more chocolaty.
There is a tiny bit of sweetness that enters the mix but the overall profile of this beer is more bitter.
The fizz level is on the low end and haziness is practically none existant.
Hops are not overpowering either which is a plus in my book. When the hop flavor does come through it tends to taste like a strong seltzer water.
The mouth feel is kind of velvety with a bit of fizz.
Definitely worth trying if you like bakers chocolate/roasted coffee and vanilla.
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
4.09/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
(500 ml bottle, 22MAR22; purchased single off shelf at Super Buy Rite... poured into my Belhaven pub pint)
L: dark chocolate-brown liquid; tall build of dense, coffee w/ cream-colored, crystalline foam... the head slowly recedes, lacing little
S: old school ripping roast-forward dark ale, perhaps dipping into Black IPA territory with its floral-perfumy, detergent overtones... the vanilla is there, but in the background, gradually opening up and creeping forward
T: rather brightly bitter and robustly roasty up front, charred chocolate malt humming in the aftertaste... its initial brightness carries a mild prune or vinous fruitiness... burlapy, wool sock note gradually emerges, lingering... the vanilla is there, but just as a background shading; nutty cocoa later surfacing... overall, dry roasty malt foundation, accentuated by floral, fruity highlighting
F: subtly-oily viscosity, delicate foamy wash in the finish... shapeless, medium body... mellow residual syrupy film... flat(-planed) enough to allow for big sips, though the roast embers and stealth booze keep the pace slow and steady
O: reminds me of SN Stout with a little something extra... was saving the bottle for sharing, but I'm glad I broke it open; it's good, but not gotta have (1877)
Apr 25, 2022L: dark chocolate-brown liquid; tall build of dense, coffee w/ cream-colored, crystalline foam... the head slowly recedes, lacing little
S: old school ripping roast-forward dark ale, perhaps dipping into Black IPA territory with its floral-perfumy, detergent overtones... the vanilla is there, but in the background, gradually opening up and creeping forward
T: rather brightly bitter and robustly roasty up front, charred chocolate malt humming in the aftertaste... its initial brightness carries a mild prune or vinous fruitiness... burlapy, wool sock note gradually emerges, lingering... the vanilla is there, but just as a background shading; nutty cocoa later surfacing... overall, dry roasty malt foundation, accentuated by floral, fruity highlighting
F: subtly-oily viscosity, delicate foamy wash in the finish... shapeless, medium body... mellow residual syrupy film... flat(-planed) enough to allow for big sips, though the roast embers and stealth booze keep the pace slow and steady
O: reminds me of SN Stout with a little something extra... was saving the bottle for sharing, but I'm glad I broke it open; it's good, but not gotta have (1877)
Reviewed by Greywulfken from New York
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Stout aged on natural vanilla beans (as opposed to the unnatural ones? lol)... 3/22/22 bottling, 6.5% abv... Dry and bitter, roasty with vanilla edges; softly carbonated and smooth - almost creamy - definitely delivers on that vanilla flavor - fans of bitter-and-not-too-sweet (vanilla) stouts will dig this...
Apr 03, 2022Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia
4.31/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L - Dark brown/near black with mahogany highlights with a large tan head that sticks around and leaves some lacing behind
S - Tons of roasted coffee, bitter dark chocolate, roasted/toasted oats and barely with a hint of vanilla
T - Follows the nose: roasted bitter coffee and dark chocolate intermixed with roasted/toasted oats with a slight hint of vanilla - very, very slight hints of hops on the back end
F - Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth.
O - A very simple, yet well done, easy to drink beer by Maine Beer - basically how I would describe all of their beers
Mar 12, 2022S - Tons of roasted coffee, bitter dark chocolate, roasted/toasted oats and barely with a hint of vanilla
T - Follows the nose: roasted bitter coffee and dark chocolate intermixed with roasted/toasted oats with a slight hint of vanilla - very, very slight hints of hops on the back end
F - Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth.
O - A very simple, yet well done, easy to drink beer by Maine Beer - basically how I would describe all of their beers
Reviewed by lancemj from Maryland
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Quite frankly, it reminded me of a Tootsie Roll. I enjoyed it! But sipping this one left me with a bit of nostalgia. Not easy to pull off. Well done Maine Brewing Co.
Jan 21, 2022Reviewed by gatornation from Minnesota
3.98/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
500ML bottle.. Pours a mahogany color with a large khaki head. Smell is roasted chocolate malts ,vanilla and cocoa. Taste has vanilla than chocolate and coffee. Mouth feel is medium bodied smooth and flavorful.
Jan 13, 2022Reviewed by Thomas_Wikman from Texas
4.08/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: black with a fluffy off-white head
Aroma: roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla
Flavor: The flavor is some roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla.
Body/Overall: Pretty smooth and thirst quenching.
Jan 10, 2022Aroma: roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla
Flavor: The flavor is some roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and vanilla.
Body/Overall: Pretty smooth and thirst quenching.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
4.16/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16.9oz bottle. Label is stamped with bottling date of '09Nov21'.
Dark brown colored body, with back lit mahogany highlights. Multi finger tan head which dissipates over several minutes. Lacing is minimal.
Aroma is charred, robust coffee and dark chocolate. A deep breath in finds the vanilla. Smooth on the nose.
Taste follows the nose, with dark coffee roast and the dark chocolate really intensifying in the latter part of the flavor profile. The first part is smooth, influenced by the vanilla. There is a delicious sweetness that develops in the aftertaste, supported by the chocolate coffee.
A little thinner than medium mouth feel, but extremely smooth in texture. No real bite or bitterness, even though the coffee is really dark roasted.
A real tasty stout with real depths of flavor and texture.
Dec 23, 2021Dark brown colored body, with back lit mahogany highlights. Multi finger tan head which dissipates over several minutes. Lacing is minimal.
Aroma is charred, robust coffee and dark chocolate. A deep breath in finds the vanilla. Smooth on the nose.
Taste follows the nose, with dark coffee roast and the dark chocolate really intensifying in the latter part of the flavor profile. The first part is smooth, influenced by the vanilla. There is a delicious sweetness that develops in the aftertaste, supported by the chocolate coffee.
A little thinner than medium mouth feel, but extremely smooth in texture. No real bite or bitterness, even though the coffee is really dark roasted.
A real tasty stout with real depths of flavor and texture.
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours dark brown. The head is tan and 3 finger, and the retention is decent. No real lacing on the glass.
The nose has hints of vanilla and a bit of a malty biscuit aroma.
Taste - up front I get the vanilla. I get notes of chocolate, coffee, and biscuit. The beer finishes off with a pleasing bitterness.
Body is good for a lower ABV stout.
Quite a pleasing beer.
Dec 19, 2021The nose has hints of vanilla and a bit of a malty biscuit aroma.
Taste - up front I get the vanilla. I get notes of chocolate, coffee, and biscuit. The beer finishes off with a pleasing bitterness.
Body is good for a lower ABV stout.
Quite a pleasing beer.
Reviewed by arizcards from North Carolina
4.01/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Picked up a 500 ml bottle from the Blue Door Bottleshop in Hendersonville on 5.14.2021 for $8.50. Bottled on 22Dec20; consumed 5.16.2020.
Beer poured black with a very nice tan head with the original pour.
Nose is roasted malts forward with a hint of vanilla.
Taste is a heavy roasted malt base infused with a subtle touch of vanilla balancing the malt base.
Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and very smooth and satisfying.
Overall a really nice export strength stout that I am glad I got to try!
May 16, 2021Beer poured black with a very nice tan head with the original pour.
Nose is roasted malts forward with a hint of vanilla.
Taste is a heavy roasted malt base infused with a subtle touch of vanilla balancing the malt base.
Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and very smooth and satisfying.
Overall a really nice export strength stout that I am glad I got to try!
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas
4.29/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
16.9oz bottled 16Feb21. Opened 4-17-21.
3 finger sand colored head that has excellent retention...no give at all, impressive.
Black with some dark brown at the edges. Full, thick lacing.
Roasted malts, bakers cocoa powder, coffee, subtle vanilla. Maybe even a grassy hop undertone? Real nice overall.
Dark roasted flavors, bittersweet coffee, licorice, and vanilla.
Medium body, somewhat silky mouthfeel. Roasty and dry finish with some length. Tasty and smooth.
Solidly somewhere between Very Good and Outstanding.
Apr 18, 20213 finger sand colored head that has excellent retention...no give at all, impressive.
Black with some dark brown at the edges. Full, thick lacing.
Roasted malts, bakers cocoa powder, coffee, subtle vanilla. Maybe even a grassy hop undertone? Real nice overall.
Dark roasted flavors, bittersweet coffee, licorice, and vanilla.
Medium body, somewhat silky mouthfeel. Roasty and dry finish with some length. Tasty and smooth.
Solidly somewhere between Very Good and Outstanding.
Reviewed by lastmango from Pennsylvania
4.13/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured opaque black with a one finger tan head that dissipated to a lasting film. Medium lacing. Light nose of coffee and dark chocolate. Taste is more pronounced than the nose . . . coffee, dark chocolate and vanilla, the latter of which is noticeable after toward the finish and then some coffee bitterness kicks in. Moderate-full body and the finish is a bit dry. This is a very good stout and I would buy it again.
Mar 25, 2021Reviewed by Peach63 from New York
4.28/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours black with a 2 inch tan head, which lasts. Heavy lacing to the end.
Aroma of coffee, wood, toffee.
Taste is coffee, roast malt, vanilla, cocoa, tobacco.
Full bodied, light carbonation. Dry, astringent finish.
Another great stout from Maine Beer Co.
Mar 25, 2021Aroma of coffee, wood, toffee.
Taste is coffee, roast malt, vanilla, cocoa, tobacco.
Full bodied, light carbonation. Dry, astringent finish.
Another great stout from Maine Beer Co.
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a tall bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Nearly black pour with massive foamy mocha colored head. Big time retention and lacing.
S: Coffee, vanilla, roast, and more coffee.
T.F: Semi-sweet roast... burned sugars, espresso, dark cocoa, and vanilla. Rich and smooth... creamy mouthfeel. Well carbonated. More roasted coffee and malts to finish.
O: An outstanding stout. Great flavors... and super drinkable with the low-ish ABV. Worthy.
Mar 12, 2021L: Nearly black pour with massive foamy mocha colored head. Big time retention and lacing.
S: Coffee, vanilla, roast, and more coffee.
T.F: Semi-sweet roast... burned sugars, espresso, dark cocoa, and vanilla. Rich and smooth... creamy mouthfeel. Well carbonated. More roasted coffee and malts to finish.
O: An outstanding stout. Great flavors... and super drinkable with the low-ish ABV. Worthy.
Mean Old Tom from Maine Beer Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
2589 ratings
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