Peak Organic Oak Aged Mocha Stout - Peak Organic Brewing Company

berliner07

New Hampshire

4.75/5  rDev +27%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Yeah, this beer is damn good. Aroma is a BLAST of oak, coffee and a touch of dark chocolate. A bit more carbonation than anticipated tickles the lips up front. Then, a rush of chocolate/coffee mix hits the palate. Really tasty. The oak hits again on the end and lingers. This beer is fun to drink and i'll certainly be having another.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2012 22:58:45 | More by berliner07

angelmonster

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a black body, head is well over 1 inch and dark brown. Head retention was very good and lacing was good.

Smell is of freshly ground coffee mixed with warm brownies. Sweet chocolate syrup and burnt malts are also in there. Faint hops are present and the aroma of alcohol is light though it smells more of port wine.

Taste is a mix of bitter chocolate, biscuity roasted malts, and cold strong coffee. Sweet Hershey's syrup comes in next, this tastes very similar to an actual mocha. Slight hops are present but I think a majority of the beers bitterness comes from the coffee. At 8% abv, the flavor of alcohol was hidden mostly.

Mouthfeel is somewhat light for an imperial stout, and well carbonated. Normally this would be bad but the head added a nice richness to the body and rounded it out nicely.

Overall this beer was pretty damn good. Chocolate, coffee, malts and alcohol all balanced well. I finished the bomber pretty easily which isnt very common for such a rich beer. While this beer lacks the complexity of my all time favorites, it's definitely one that I'll have to revisit soon.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 05:56:28 | More by angelmonster

Arborescence

Finland

4.43/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Thick and black, modest head with a brown tint.

Aroma: Roasted coffee with a hint of caramel, promising!

Taste: Dominated by oak flavours from the aging -- seems to me that it was a whisky barrel -- but with an aftertaste of espresso and a dynamic mixture of malty flavours supported by a robust body.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, creamy.

Overall: Excellent brew, a lot of depth and character with a number of interesting flavours in the mix, from coffee, whisky, and malt. Strong ABV is appropriate and none of the elements dominate too much as each is very robust.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2012 18:56:01 | More by Arborescence

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

WTF! Screw top with glued on foil on top? What kinda hornswagler crap is that? Not sure what they were going for, but lets see how the beer is. Also despite that I don't see a date, I'm pretty sure this is fairly fresh. Reading most of the other bad reviews in retrospect, I think most of the bad reviews were because they had an older bottle. I know Peak Organic bottles tend to sit on the shelves for a while in most places, so maybe that is just all the more reason they should invest in dating.

Pours a darker colored half fizzy half fluffy but a bit creamy head of about 1 finger that fades at a med pace with pot marks, and plenty of marks of lacing. The beer is pretty much pitch black, no light getting through.

The nose is interesting, it wafts out tons of chocolate, dark chocolate and some cocoa nib like aromas, a thick chewy luscious chocolate aroma. Then coffee, a light espresso like coffee but not a ton, no burnt or overpowering coffee, just enough to bring a nice mocha java like kick. As I swirl it a bit and get past the layers of chocolate and coffee, out pops a bit of oak, a light woody toasted oak, followed closely by vanilla touches, and even a bit of caramel. Surprisingly well done so far for completely organic... then again how do they know the oak tree that was used for the barrel was raised organic? I think I got 'em on that one...

Taste starts a bit creamy, almost oatmeal like but not quite, and quickly turns to chocolate. More like Hersheys melted chocolate that you just pulled out of your pocket and forgot was there. It then brings a nice cocoa flavor, almost cocoa nib like, with some baker's chocolate, fairly luscious. The heavy chocolate bends more for a bit of oak this time next in line. The oak brings a light woody taste but more of the toasted oak and vanilla, this oak doesn't seem like it was aged with whisky or spirit before, more like fresh oak chips. Coffee comes in in the background at first, but starts to get a bit nagging with an acidic slightly acrid burnt flavor, but very little, but it keeps nagging at the back of my mind as I keep trying to swish the beer around my mouth. I think there is a bit of roasted malt in there as well, or over roasted I should say, that accentuates that slight acrid flavor. It also brings a light fluffy nougat like taste, and some caramel as well, with a nice caramelization actually. A bit of earthy spicy grassy hops come through, adding a bit more bitterness to what came from the roasted malts, but a nice balance of hops to the malts letting you know it's there, and adding a nice bitterness, but letting the malts be the main stay of the show. The later the taste goes, the more it warms, and the more I swish it around my mouth, I get a touch of fresh coffee grinds, and even a bit of licorice. It finishes slightly drier but sticky and a bit syrupy, with lots more lingering dark malt flavors, syrupy caramel and sweeteners, a bit of coffee, and just a little chocolate. I get that feel like I just sucked on some dark chocolate with coffee bits and it has completely dissolved and all that's left is the remnants of my taste bud memories of it.

Mouth is fairly rich, luscious, a bit creamy, with decent carb, and the slightest hint of warming booze only in the throat as it goes down (none in the mouth surprisingly).

Overall pretty well done I think, great flavors of chocolate, coffee, malts, just the right sweetness and smoothness, drinks well for 8.4%, and a long finish. The aroma is right on, the taste gets slightly acrid and acidic from the coffee and roast but not enough to really hurt the beer, and the oak seems done in just the right proportions. If only it was bourbon soaked oak chips I think this would be in a whole new level.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 01:23:26 | More by jlindros

CaptDavyJones

New York

4.2/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a Duvel snifter.
Dark brown to pitch black in color with just a hint of light passing through the sides. One finger dark tan color head that dissipates fairly quickly.
This is one of the best aromas from an oak-aged imperial stout I have had to date. Exactly what the label says, coffee, chocolate and oak notes that are balanced to perfection. All are present, but not overwhelming.
The aroma translates almost perfectly into the taste. Roasted coffee upfront, followed by bitter dark chocolates and a woody finish with slight astringency that cleanses the palate nicely.
A very well-balanced, tasty, easy to drink medium-bodied stout.
Pleasantly surprised by this one. Definitely worth a try and comes recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 04:43:21 | More by CaptDavyJones

openmind

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A lovely dark brown/Black.

Smell: The first time i tried it the rich chocolate can to the fore. The Second time the coffee was stronger. I can't wait to see /taste what the bottle 3 brings!

Taste: I find this beer in perfect balance between the stout flavor, java, choco and oak. I was thinking it would pair well with dessert, but i had it with my flank steak and it was a great playmate too.

Mouth feel: The mouth feel is a medium for a stout but still luscious.

Overall: A wonderful beer that's different flavors pop in and out as the tasting goes on. I look forward to trying this on tap. One of my top 3 stouts.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 21:31:47 | More by openmind

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a three finger light tan head that fades slowly to a thin layer leaving a good lace. Dark brown almost black color, no highlights. Medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Sweet chocolate nose. Flavor is sweet chocolate with a lingering burnt chocolate aftertaste. $5.99 for a 22oz bottle from Market Basket Concord, NH.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 22:48:53 | More by jdhilt

CloudStrife

New York

4.13/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a snifter. Bottle finishes with a thick sediment at the bottom.

A: Pours a thick solid black with a 1-2 finger khaki-tan head. Really cant see any light through. A fair amount of lacing on the glass for being oak aged. Swirling the glass easily brings 1/4" of foam to the top.

S: First I get coffee with an overtone of chocolate. Oak is certainly in there as well as dark fruits and roasted malts. Sweet almost milk stout aromas.

T: Similar to the smell it starts out with that bold coffee, dark chocolate and an oak finish. Vanilla and bourbon flavors add to the mix.

M: Full bodied and creamy, has a bit of a bite at the end. Standard carbonation for a stout.

Overall another enjoyable oaked mocha stout but with an organic twist. Has some serious flavor, was real good on tap. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys oaked stouts.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 01:34:46 | More by CloudStrife

silentjay

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

deep black with a huge mocha head (fitting) that sticks around a while and laces well.

huge coffee/mocha aroma. a bit of vanilla and wood on the back end and plenty of bittersweet chocolate. very aromatic and enticing.

not quite as strong-flavored as the aroma would suggest. mocha coffee with a very strong lean towards the bittersweet chocolate and even some bitter cacao. some woody hops even make their way in, but the oak aging only provides a slight vanilla essence.

a touch lighter bodied than most barrel aged stouts of this strength, but a nice, velvety carbonation that lends to a heavy cream feel.

Pretty impressed. It's not going to knock off the best stouts/imperial stouts/oak aged stouts, but its very tasty. however, it is very chocolate/coffee/mocha heavy. Similar to Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, but with an added oak aging that, though slight, is pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 06:51:46 | More by silentjay

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Half finger of medium brown head, smooth. Dark brown.

Nose is sweet, full of oak, vanilla, maybe meringue.

Taste is dripping with vanilla, kinda charred oak. There's some significant grape or fruit character here, mysterious.

Mouthfeel is standard to thinnish.

Totally different from any other coffee beer I've ever had-- with the vanilla and strange light fruit character.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 03:24:01 | More by zaphodchak

AgentMunky

California

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into snifter.

A: Dark chocolate coloured with no head. Opaque cola.

S: Excellent! Mostly strong milk chocolate, but also cold coffee, and even some hops.

T: This is actually really good. Slightly tart, sort of fruity (cherry?), with bitter/roasted chocolate malt and sweet wood.

M: Smooth and nice, but ever-so-slightly thin.

O: I really, really liked this beer. Would have again. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 08:21:43 | More by AgentMunky

Alkali

Connecticut

4.06/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Black as night, with a small head. Some lacing on the glass.

S - Oak and wood. Not much cocoa in the nose, but definitely a sweet quality from the ABV.

T - Lots of oak and cocoa. The cocoa lingers towards the end. A slight sting and lingering dryness from the mixture of cocoa and oats. Not overly sweet.

M - Medium body, but creates a lingering dryness.

O - Definitely a nice beer for a cool night. The oak and cocoa are well presented, but there is not a lot of depth otherwise. Don't get me wrong; I definitely recommend this beer. It is unique and delicious. Just be prepared for a nice melding of mocha and oak.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 23:04:06 | More by Alkali

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a glass goblet as I watched 'From Hell'.

This one is dark on the pour with a 1-finger sandy tan head that builds and settles without much fanfare. Poured and let come up to temperature as it was cold- 20 minutes later and there's still a nice head on this.

The aroma is straight cocoa coffee. Really draws you in. I could sniff this all night. But I want to taste it!

Heavy coffee flavors accented by sweet creamy chocolate. The oak is a bit harder to find. The coffee is tempered- it's not overly roasty, acrid, or bitter. Perhaps the oak mellowed everything out a bit.

This beer is full and has moderately high carbonation for the style, making it easy to drink. No complaints here.

I really enjoyed this one over the course of an hour or so. Much more enjoyable closer to room temp. @$6 a bottle I might grab a few more before the winter subsides. A delightful surprise of a beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 14:34:03 | More by ShogoKawada

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap 4/14/2012 at Doherty’s East Ave Irish Pub, in Pawtucket, RI served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a large light brown head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains a lot of coffee and chocolate along with roasted malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out with a big burst of coffee and chocolate sweetness. There’s a hearty roasted malt character as you would expect and a mild hops presence creating a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium-to-heavy body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down very easily, slightly filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is a very solid stout to drink for a while.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2012 03:22:33 | More by TheManiacalOne

One2Remeber

Florida

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

In a pint glass.

A: Darkest brown body you can find. Rich, dark tan colored head, mild retention after minutes.

S: Sweet chocolate syrup calms down a hefty oak presence. Dark chocolate candy undertones.

T/M: Tastes like breakfast, banana and syrup on the back end for a smooth finish. Lingers with coco powder with a hint of earthly milk. Silky smooth up front to a chappy dry finish. A slight burn from the oak pokes it head out for a quick second. Hints of fruity hops.

O: Mocha - Check. Oak - Check. Full-bodied Stout - Check. Well put together for style. Above average flavors with a remarkable light body. Can not think of a better desert after a hearty meal.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2012 02:51:12 | More by One2Remeber

Pencible

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: This poured an opaque black with thick tan head.
S: It smelled like rich and sweet dark chocolate, with delicious espresso and creamy milk chocolate, and a bit of oak and vanilla and brown sugar.
T: It tasted like sweet milk chocolate and bitter dark chocolate, with roasted coffee and a little copper and oak. It had a clean and bitter aftertaste.
M: It was watery with moderate carbonation. Decent body.
D: This had beautiful looks and scent, but the taste wasn't as amazing and the body was a bit weak. The alcohol was well hidden, so it was easy to drink. Probably best fresh. Recommended, if only to smell.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 20:58:11 | More by Pencible

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle and served in a tumbler pint, the beer is jet black with no head. Aromas are rich, with a dark cocoa nib bittersweet blending with a strong espresso and mocha overtone. Smells delicious. Flavors are smooth and creamy, with a sharp, bittersweet chocolate and cocoa blending, some oak/woody highlights, vanilla essence, and a slight smokey presence. The aftertaste is creamy and coffee, and the beer's body is light on the finish, with a slight cloy and bitterness left behind. Very smooth and creamy throughout, making this easy to drink. Good, solid stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 01:42:45 | More by GarthDanielson

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma has note of cocoa powder, molasses and roast coffee with a hint of oak. It pours an opaque warm sable with a fairly thick, rather persistent, fluffy tan head. Flavor has roast coffee, licorice, woody and semi-sweet chocolate notes plus a whisper of caramel. Smooth texture has some good fizz and body, and leaves a woody, smoky, slightly mocha finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 02:13:12 | More by Cyberkedi

cbutova

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Black bodied ale poured into a pint glass with a light mocha colored head. Head is a few fingers in size and has good retention. Some nice webs of lace.

S- Pretty much mocha but not all that rich or strong. Has nice hints of coffee, cocoa, oak and roast malt. Some caramel rounding it out. An unexpected tart berry note.

T- Seems like it might be infected, a lactic tartness going on but it actually enhances the beer for me. Rich dark cocoa powder bitter notes, coffee roast and general dark malts. The tart fruit berries adds a nice element. The oak is woody and adds a slight vanilla feel. The oak eventually feels like a bourbon toffee note, its nice.

MF- Creamy and foamy feel with moderate carbonation. Slight tart feel (probably not meant to be here) and bitter dark cocoa.

Good flavor with an unexpected twist. Good balance of oak and darker beer elements.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 04:01:05 | More by cbutova

BelgiumBill

Virginia

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I poured part of the 22oz bottle into a Guinness stout glass. it was a deep dark brown but not quite black crowned by a dense 1.5 inch brown head that stuck on the glass as it receded.

Fantastic aromas of cocoa powder, chocolate truffle, coffee.

Nice chocolate flavors and cappuccino. The oak is readily evident and imparts vanilla highlights.

Mouthfeel was nice. I can't believe it is 8.4%ABV - drinks very smooth. Only complaint would be that carbonation was lacking. Might also suggest a little more hops. For an Imperial it is on the lighter side.

Very good overall and I will have no trouble finishing this.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 21:46:36 | More by BelgiumBill

shand

Florida

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a snifter.

This beer pours out a deep brown with a very minimal head. The aroma is dominated by the sweet vanilla oak, with some coffee and roasted/caramel malt. The aroma is very strong and very enticing. The taste is VERY oaky. The oak and vanilla are really the stars of the show here for sure. The chocolate and coffee noted on the label really only come in on the laste finish if you're paying attention. It's an oak bomb for sure, how you'll feel about this will directly correspond to how much you like the flavor or oak aging. I love it, so I enjoy this beer. The mouthfeel is actually fairly light bodied and highly carbonated, I'd like a touch more body. The drinkability is good. Overall, this is very much an OAK AGED stout. The oak really takes over, to the point where you'll only enjoy this if you like oak. I like oak, so it's a good beer. I wouldn't mind more of the coffee or chocolate though.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 02:45:23 | More by shand

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.99/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle. I feel dirty buying this where I did - seems like I should be procuring it from the local organic product hippie joint.

This beer pours a very thorough black, with the slightest of basal mahogany highlights, and two fingers of puffy, silken beige head, which leaves a few low rise bluffs of lace around the glass as it speedily recedes.

It smells of medium dark chocolate, dry-roasted coffee beans - bittersweet alike, a more subtle caramel/toffee malt, some mild boozy vanilla, and a soft wooden plank astringency. The taste is more pulled back on the sweetness, but there's the chalky cocoa, there's the Americano coffee bitterness, and there's the meek barrel-borne vanilla, all trampling over the caramel malt backbone, and well-reserved wooden cask toothpicks. The near 17-proof ABV is rather well integrated.

The carbonation is a wee bit fizzy, but generally ok and very stout-friendly in its obsequiousness, the body medium-heavy in weight (a tad surprisingly), and more or less smooth, with a faint stab at creaminess. It finishes kind of on the sweet side, the chocolate, almost sour coffee, salted toffee malt, and disparate oak barrel notes happy to stay for after-dinner drinks.

A decent enough stout, what with the multitude of tweaks and twiddles they've applied here. Nothing really dominates, and all work well together in pushing the central agenda of a hefty, warming, new-age coffee shop tipple. Worthy of a try, and sneaky in its ability to get away from you.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 01:33:26 | More by biboergosum

KickbacksSteve

Florida

3.96/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a snifter. Head is a light tudor brown with moderate to low retention on a black body. Slick, soapy and clear lacing sticks to the glass. Aroma includes coffee, vanilla, chocolate and maybe the slightest trace of diacetyl. Taste is a nice mix of vanilla/chocolate sweetness with a nice coffee roast. Alcohol is well hidden and any signs of diacetyl aren't noted in tasting. Nice, creamy mouthfeel, appropriate thickness. Excellent beer with maybe a very slight flaw.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2013 06:24:01 | More by KickbacksSteve

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

$6.50 for a kiddie cup at Greenland Cafe, Somerville MA

Opaque black with a georgia clay colored head. No lace and a few swirls of retention shift on the top of my beer like an oil slick.

Smells like dark, dark char, black coffee and beautiful warm wood. Tastes like as dark and chary-y as the nose indicates but finishes with a sugary butter finish akin to maple sugar candy.

Odd that a wood aged mocha beer has more maple character than most maple beers.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2012 11:36:07 | More by donkeyrunner

busterthecat

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2011 release. 22 oz bottle served into Duvel Tulip at cellar temp (53 degrees). Picked up for $7.

A- Pours a dark brown hue from bottle. Sits similar shade in glass, just more opaque. A nice 3/4" khaki head forms. Light lacing.

S- Interesting blend of aromas in initial whiff. Espresso, oak, chocolate. There seems to be a light sweet bourbon like note. Smell is rather nice and decently complex. Med-bold strength aroma.

T- Follows nose very closely. Fresh coffee grounds, mocha, mellow oak, some earthy tone. The more bitter and oaky notes linger long on palate. Flavors are bold on this brew.

M- Med-size, Full on palate. Perhaps a tad thin and watery after the initial taste. Ok.

O- A good coffee stout. A quite different take on the style, with some interesting aspects. The coffee aspect could be smoother and more balanced, which would help to round out the entire flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 02:50:28 | More by busterthecat