UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25           SEC File Number 1-13636
                                                       CUSIP Number: 586579 10 4

                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING

(Check  One):|_|  Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB |_| Form 11-K |_| Form 20-F |X| Form
10-Q and Form 10-QSB |_| Form N-SAR

                 For the Period Ended: September 30, 1997
                 [ ] Transition   Report   on   Form   10-K  
                 [ ] Transition   Report   on   Form   20-F  
                 [ ] Transition   Report   on   Form   11-K  
                 [ ] Transition   Report   on   Form   10-Q  
                 [ ] Transition  Report  on  Form  N-SAR  
                 For the Transition Period Ended:___________________________

Nothing  in this  form  shall be  construed  to imply  that the  Commission  has
verified any information contained herein.

If the notification  relates to a portion of the filing checked above,  identify
the Item(s) to which the notification relates: Exhibit 10.16

PART I -- REGISTRANT INFORMATION

Mendocino Brewing Company, Inc.
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Full Name of Registrant


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Former Name if Applicable


P.O. Box 400, 13351 South Highway 101
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Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)


Hopland, California 95440-0400
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City, State and Zip Code



PART II -- RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)

If the subject report could not be filed without  unreasonable effort or expense
and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should
be completed. (Check box if appropriate.)

      |    (a) The reasons  described in  reasonable  detail in Part III of this
      |  form could  not be  eliminated without  unreasonable effort or expense;
      |   
|X|   |    (b) The subject annual report,  semi-annual report, transition report
      |  on Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K or N-SAR, or portion thereof, will be filed on
      |  or before the 15th calendar day following the  prescribed  due date; or
      |  the subject  quarterly  report or  transition  report on Form 10-Q,  or
      |  portion  thereof  will be filed on or  before  the fifth  calendar  day
      |  following the prescribed due date; and
      |   
      |    (c) The  accountant's  statement  or other  exhibit  required by Rule
      |  12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.
      
      
PART III -- NARRATIVE
        
State below  in reasonable  detail the reasons why Form 10-K,  20-F, 11-K, 10-Q,
N-SAR, or the transition  report or portion  thereof,  could not be filed within
the prescribed time period.

         Exhibit 10.16 is a commercial  lease,  no  electronic  copy of which is
         available to the registrant. The document was not able to be reproduced
         in the EDGAR  format  before the filing  deadline of November 14, 1997.
         The document  will be reproduced in the EDGAR format and filed with the
         Commission by amendment to the registrant's  10-QSB as soon as possible
         but in no event later than November 19, 1997.


PART IV -- OTHER INFORMATION

(1)      Name and  telephone  number  of  person  to  contact  in regard to this
         notification.

                       Nelson D. Crandall               415-462-4700
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                             (Name)            (Area Code) (Telephone Number)

(2)      Have all other periodic  reports  required under Section 13 or 15(d) of
         the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the  Investment
         Company Act of 1940 during the  preceding 12 months or for such shorter
         period that the  registrant  was required to file such  report(s)  been
         filed? If answer is no, identify report(s). |X| Yes |_| No

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(3)      Is it anticipated  that any significant  change in results of operation
         for the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected
         by the  earnings  statements  to be included  in the subject  report or
         portion thereof? |_| Yes |X| No

         If  so:  attach  an  explanation  of  the  anticipated   change,   both
         narratively and quantitatively,  and, if appropriate, state the reasons
         why a reasonable estimate of the results cannot be made.

                         Mendocino Brewing Company, Inc.
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                  (Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

has  caused  this  notification  to be signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.


         November 17, 1997                  /s/ H. Michael Laybourn
Date:    -----------------------        By  --------------------------------
                                            H. Michael Laybourn
                                            President


Instruction: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the registrant or
by any other duly  authorized  representative.  The name and title of the person
signing  the form  shall  be typed or  printed  beneath  the  signature.  If the
statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized  representative
(other than an executive officer), evidence of the representative's authority to
sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed with the form.

                                    ATTENTION

Intentional  misstatements  or omissions  of fact  constitute  Federal  criminal
violations. (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)


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