Mokah - Southern Tier Brewing Company

zeledonia

Minnesota

2.85/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle from summer 2011.

Pours very dark brown, black in the glass, and rather sludgy. Minimal medium-tan head (despite a vigorous pour), gone in 60 seconds, but does leave some decent lacing. Looks flattish.

Smell is a wallop of syrupy sweet chocolate, with a bit of dry cocoa powder in there as well. Some hops lift it up late. But I get no coffee smell, and only a hint of the stout behind that big chocolate bomb.

Taste is more varied, but also a bit more offending. Starts out chocolatey, then comes on powerfully sweet, before finishing with an odd chemically combination of bitter and sweet. I've encountered this same odd character in other Southern Tier stouts, and I don't like it. Again, I get very little coffee at all. Taste drifts into a shiver-inducing bitterness as the alcohol kicks up. Overall, it's exceedingly sweet, with some strange flavors bouncing around on top of that artificial-sweetener background.

Mouthfeel: heavy body, pretty chewy, and very syrupy. Low carbonation, just enough to keep it from being flat. Works okay with the beer, but doesn't do it for me.

Dear Southern Tier: sometimes less is more. I've had a number of these big stouts, and I don't dig any of them. The ones I've had are all way overdone, with the same weird sweetness that tastes artificial. I wish they would let the characteristics of the other ingredients shine through more.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 04:16:03 | More by zeledonia

Kelly88

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had on Tap at mellow mushroom in wilder Kentucky. Served in the ever popular and Ever useful Kentucky bourbon barrel ale sniffer.

A- very dark brown on the top fading into a pitch black at te bottom of the glass. Starts out with a dense dark khaki head that slowly fades to tiny islands of dirty white islands with small amounts if lace in the side if the glass

S- wow! Rich dark chocolate hits you hard. Getting a faint rich chocolate coffee smell but mostly hard core chocolate. Tasty.

T- just about mirrors the nose and that is great. Lots if chocolate, very milky and rich. A pleasant faint hop bite rounds this beer off to keep it from being to overpoweringly sweet.

M- you think a beer if this style would be heavier especially the way it tastes but irbid only about medium bodied. I actually prefer this feel since it allows you to appreciate the flavors without being overwhelmed.

Overall one if the best stouts I have ever had. Really full flavors that jump and ask you to have another sip. For all of the big hyped one day Release stouts. This beer stands shoulder to shoulder with them.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2012 01:53:16 | More by Kelly88

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

We pour a brew the color of dark chocolate. It is thick and syrupy, and holds a brief one finger head of creamy bubbles. A swirl produces a quickly disappearing film of brown bubbles. There is little lacing to speak of, and the bubbles rise lazily to the top. No sediment is noted, but there is a salty, granular appearance to the surface of the liquid. The aroma falls somewhere between a chocolate tootsie roll and a tray of freshly baked brownies. The chocolate and caramel malts are unmistakable, and show the edges of a roast. Really, the malts are just rich and full in flavor, without so much of a smoke or char. There are thick metallic coffee beans, and a dirty, jalapeno heat. There is nuttiness and a sugary sweetness of cream and milk. Booze comes forth with warmth. These are fusel, and give a synthetic cherry aroma. As we sip, the flavoring opens up with bright sweetness of milk chocolate. This is as beautiful as it is in the pure Choklat, and only slightly more subdued. It helps highlight the sweeter malts, which also show a salty, serious side. There is a biting metallic vibe, which pulls us to the middle where there is a milky sweetness, and a soft creaminess, sifting amongst the malts. There is a deep roast to them, finally, and a serious coffee bitterness comes in, cutting the sugars quite a bit. The finish is a mix of buttery diacetyls, clean and drying nuttiness, and a biting citric hops. The booze comes towards the end, but only with warmth. The beer itself is very warming, but fresh vanilla gives a final coolness. The aftertaste is much like a tootsie roll, with candy sugars, big chocolate, coffee, and metallics. The body is full and the carbonation is average. There is wonderful slurp and smack to each sip, and the lips are left coated and sticky. The palate is left with bone dry astringency, with the mouth completely satisfied. The abv is appropriate, and this one has great drinkability, but it is more of a sipper.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was how perfectly it was a blend between Choklat and Jahva. It struck a beautiful balance, and embodied the full essence of both of those brews. The aroma was huge and inclusive, and set up nicely for the full flavoring throughout the taste. The feel was equally as powerful, making for an extremely well-rounded, and expertly crafted brew. We do, however, wish that there was a bigger head and a stronger look and slurp.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 01:20:29 | More by TheBrewo

pmarlowe

California

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Tulip glass.

A: Pours viscous black with almost a finger of light khaki head. A few streaks of lacing and pretty good retention.

S: Roastiness and sweet chocolate, cafe mocha, burnt sugar. Really chocolatey and decently sweet.

T: More espresso here, but still quite a bit of mocha/chocolate. The coffee grows in intensity throughout the taste. Finishes with some coffee bitterness and offsetting sugar.

M: Full bodied and light carbonation. Thick, but manages to feel really nice.

O: Well executed for what it is: huge chocolatey stout with some supporting coffee. Not unlike drinking a cafe mocha. Sweet but not overly sweet. Southern Tier does these types of beers well.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 05:35:28 | More by pmarlowe

FoundersFanatic

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- dark oil with a copper hint and small head

S- smells almost entirely of dark cacao chocolate, intoxicating

T- absolutely heavenly taste of dark cacao chocolate, some milk chocolate, and hint of coffee flavor, exactly like the label says. It's far and away one of the most amazing beers I've ever had. Clean, smooth, divine taste, flavors are so simple and make this one of the best! NO alcohol taste, but you will notice soon at 11.2%. It's perfect

O- one of the better beers I've ever had. It is extremely similar to the Chokolat from ST, but a bit more coffee and dark bitter chocolate flavor, and not SO sweet. It's just perfect, thats all I can say. Every sip makes me want more and more and more. An absolute steal for $8.50 650ml. A stout/chocolate fans dream!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 09:03:47 | More by FoundersFanatic

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.35/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured unto a snifter.

Appearance: Superior black, I put it up against the light and just completely opaque. Head is tan which comes off at least two lingers length off the body when originally poured.

Smell: I just poured this with reading the label, or the reviews and right away smell pure dark chocolate. It is almost perfect, just that not sticky smell like some other beers I have had.

Taste: The taste magnified, chocolate, coffee bean, little sweet but not chick sweet I am talking about for a dark beer it is sweet. Feel of caramel which it is just jumped into one of my favorite stouts.

Mouth: Just right, all I have to say (and you need to know).

Overall: Incredibly well put together beer, this is the not the way stout should be but the way "Mokah" is. Flavor just screams drink me and you will not be disappointed by picking this up. Hope you all enjoy...Salud!

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 06:52:27 | More by BlurryVisi0n

texantiff

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

S: wow. What can smell better than a Hershey bar? That's exactly what this beer smells like. All chocolate.
M: even carbonation, not syrupy, very smooth.
T: the aroma of chocolate is heavier than the taste. Lots of mocha flavor, a sweetness that fades to a milky aftertaste.
A: very dark brown, little head of ivory color, red undertones
D: superb. Especially good on its own or with light foods so you can appreciate the chocolate!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 23:36:59 | More by texantiff

flagmantho

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22oz bomber into a tulip.

Appearance: completely black, even when held up to the light. Head pours two fingers of creamy tan foam. Head retention is good with quite a nice lace as well. Shazam!

Smell: rich chocolatey aroma, very much like the Choklat. A light hint of vegetal hops appears at the end. Overall, quite nice for a big ol' chocolate stout.

Taste: big flavor with chocolate at the beginning, followed by a big roastiness and more of those vegetal hops. The hops and roasted malts combine to create a kind of unappealing je ne sais quoi ... overall, not bad, but I'm not a huge fan.

Mouthfeel: big body with a good carbonation and an amazing silky creaminess. These Black Water series beers do have their textures nailed down, yes they do.

Overall: the flavor sort of gets me here. I love the chocolate, and the roastiness is nice, but the interplay with the vegetal hops doesn't work great. The coffee advertised in the bottle doesn't make much of an impression at all.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 04:28:22 | More by flagmantho

StoryOfTheGhost

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Dark brown, black, with a decent copper head

S- Smells very sweet, and pretty one dimensional. Lots of chocolate and coffee. Surprisingly low alcohol smell for the high ABV

T- Pretty much what you would expect from the smell. Sweet. Lots of syrupy chocolate- not bitter chocolate like most RIS, but sweet chocolate, like Hershey's syrup. Great coffee taste goes right with the coffee. As sweet as it is, you can still taste the roasted malts. Leaves a boozy taste to it, to be expected from 11%

M- Kind of makes you pucker a bit from the sweetness combined with the high alcohol content. Dries the mouth significantly. Good body, and pretty carbonated for such a high ABV beer

O- I enjoyed it and was glad to drink it. I always take value into account when giving an O, and how good it was for how easy to get. Well, it is everywhere around me, so easy to get, but for 10 bucks, I would not buy this one again. So, I give it a 4, because it is enjoyable, and I think that what they were trying to do works, I just dont feel it is a repeat buy for 10 bucks

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 20:08:28 | More by StoryOfTheGhost

mkotsayfan

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a snifter. Pours a deep dark black with a one-finger mocha colored head, with nice lacing and tight bubbles. The aroma, as expected, has a lot of sweet chocolate and coffee notes, with maybe a hint of vanilla. The taste has those same chocolate notes, with some coffee bean and a slight bit of roasted malts. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a decent amount of carbonation, along with being smooth and silky. The alcohol content is admirably hidden as well. However, it comes off a bit lighter and thinner than I would've liked.

Overall, a nice stout from ST, I look forward to trying their other sweet stouts as well.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 07:21:39 | More by mkotsayfan

rapidsequence

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle from Ned's.

Appearance: Black, but not completely opaque around the edges. Lots of reddish highlights. Little more than a film of head. Five or six spots of lacing.

Smell: It does smell quite a bit like an iced mocha, but more like chocolate syrup than coffee. Lots of sweetness in the smell. Very sweet and chocolatey, not much complexity.

Taste: Tastes better than it smells. Rich and chocolatey, very sweet. Nice bitter coffee flavor from the middle through the end. The end also brings a little citrusy hops flavor and some bitterness. The coffee and hops balance out the super sweet chocolate syrup taste and rounds it out well.

Mouthfeel: It has an appealing softness, but its not as full as I'd like it to be. It leaves a sweet stickiness in the finish.

Overall: This is another one of those beers I wish I'd split with someone. Its really tasty, but very sweet, and one sided with limited complexity. I enjoyed it, but its not a world class imperial stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 02:01:47 | More by rapidsequence

bearsxco

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Founders Snifter glass

a- poured dark as night with a slight caramel colored head. slight carbonation is visible.

s- sweet chocolate smell, slight alcohol background. for whatever reason, it smells so sweet I can swear I smell orange. I know it sounds crazy, especially because this is not my first one.

t- total sweet chocolate taste, a little alcohol burn. warms you up nice. not as much as when I first tried this beer. It has settled down a hair and I can only image the taste after aging longer. Don't get much coffee taste at all.

m- a little heavy but not to thick. nice carbonation.

o- another home run for Southern Tier. One of my favorites. It's a step below a KBS ( but isn't everything else).

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 00:28:41 | More by bearsxco

CHILLINDYLAN

Washington

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark coffee black. Tan bubbly head leaves nice laces.

Rich sweet chocolate and roasty espresso. Vanilla and caramel.

Bitter dark espresso roast. Rich sweet chocolate. Vanilla and caramel and a splash of booze. Touch of cherry? Bitter coffee and resins linger on the palette.

Rich smooth and creamy. some chewiness. Low carbonation, appropriate.

Overall, fairly sweet but smooth and tasty. A desert in a glass for sure. You'll want to split a bomber between at least 2, perhaps preferably 3-4.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 01:54:46 | More by CHILLINDYLAN

stercomm

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a Fuller's pint glass

A - Very dark brown, minimal tan head, very slight lacing, head recedes to just a rim around the glass on the surface of the beer.

S - Predominate smell is of sweet chocolate, with maybe a hint of coffee, that is all I get.

T - Once again lots of chocolate, and some coffee, a slight medicinal finish, can certainly sense the alcohol.

M - Medium bodied, mild carbonation, slight sweetness

O - For me a nice brew, very heavy

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 23:09:06 | More by stercomm

FanofHefe

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bottle poured into a Duvel tulip; no dating on the bottle or label. Black body with a tint of red when held up to the light. Just a slim amount of tan head that dissipates almost immediately.

Very strong aroma of chocolate throughout the session of this beer. A small amount of coffee aroma come through as well. Not a complex aroma as these two notes dominate, but it does smell good.

The flavor is a little more dense than the aroma, but is still predominantly the chocolate and coffee, as expected. Added in the flavor is the roasted malt and touch of toffee/caramel. A hint of bitterness that aligns with the coffee keeps this one from being overly sweet.

Thick and smooth texture in the mouthfeel. Overall, this brew comes across with a very good blend of the coffee and chocolate. I normally rate most ST beers low due to the excessive sweetness, but this is one of the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 21:04:27 | More by FanofHefe

BuzzLitebier

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this from a bomber into a pint glass. It was black with very little head and lots of lacing. It had a very strong cocoa smell, which was very sweet and largely masked the roasted malts and coffee. This thick beer had a taste to match; think of Swiss Miss cocoa delivered via a stout vehicle. It was too much for me at the time I had it, but admittedly it was at the end of a 4 hr session, and I likely hit a wall. I generally love everything from Southern Tier, so I need to give this another shot on its own.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 23:06:39 | More by BuzzLitebier

BeerLover99

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: black body, trace head, solid lacing

S: big dark chocolate, hint of coffee, malt
mild nuts

T: dark chocolate, big malt, mild roasted
coffee, vanilla, hint of licorice

M: med/heavy body, smooth/mild chewy mouth

O: Another very tasty Southern Tier bomber.
If I was to introduce this brewery, I would
start with their delicious bombers. Would get
this again and recommend.

DELICIOUS, TRY IT!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 18:19:33 | More by BeerLover99

ahq514

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22 oz bottle into Duvel tulip.

Pours a very dark brown, almost black color. Good, thick, finger sized, light brown colored head. Appears to have light carbonation. Not much lacing.

Aroma is full of chocolate and coffee. Coffee is a little more dominant, giving a sweetness and roastiness. Not much in the way of hops. Some caramel detected too. Reminds me of what a chocolate milkshake smells like with some a nice dose of coffee and a light addition of caramel.

Taste is very similar to aroma. Very smooth, the flavors blend together really well. Right up front is a heavy dose of coffee and some roastiness. This then transitions into a lightly sweet chocolateyness. On the finish is a light, dry bite of bitterness with a nice bit of warming alcohol.

Slightly creamy. Full body and light carbonation. A drinkable beer for over 11%, although I will savor this beer for awhile.

Definitely a dessert beer. Really should have shared this with someone else. Not overly sweet like Creme Brulee, but reminds me of coffee, chocolate, caramel ice cream. Would enjoy again if I get in on draft or can split a bomber with someone.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 03:36:50 | More by ahq514

DrewShal9

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: pitch black with a 1finger light tan head
S: a strong nose of chocolate, light coffee, vanilla, dark fruits vaguely emanating from my snifter and booze
T: mainly chocolate and some coffee with a hint of dark fruit. Booze finishes the end but its a welcomed booziness as there isn't a heat and it's smooth.
M: silky and almost like milk chocolate. Very fitting. Not a lot of carbonation.
O: think I may have gotten an older bottle but its still enjoyable. Gonna look for a fresh bottle soon. Or try and recreate this blend with the jahva and chocolate stouts from southern tier.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2011 00:02:17 | More by DrewShal9

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark brownish black, half finger frothy khaki head, little lacing.

S - Smells amazing! Milk chocolate, black coffee.

T - Milk chocolate, coffee bean, light piney hops, little alcohol, very sweet.

M - Syrupy, alcohol burn.

O - Taste like the chocolate snowballs I grew up eating, with alcohol! It could use a good dose of flaked oats though!

* Thanks to brystmar for this one!

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 00:41:30 | More by Rickythejeweler

ElGrecoVerde

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nearly black/dark brown with a tiny tan head. Sweet cocoa aromas blended with espresso, toffee and hints of floral hops.

Flavor? Think dark chocolate espresso beans. Coffee bitterness balanced with sweet caramel ad toffee. Hoppy undertones and some light grains round it out nicely.

The alcohol becomes strong as the beer warms, but the thick, creamy feel caries it well. Southern Tier sure knows their desert stouts!

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 03:04:04 | More by ElGrecoVerde

jeonseh

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a bomber, poured into a sifter

A - looks like coffee, dark brown with a small dirty, white head

S - smells of coffee, milk chocolate, with hints of honey and cream. Overall, the coffee predominates. However, as time passes, the chocolate begins to become more prominent.

T - First there is a milky chocolate sweetness, then there's coffee and chicory. On the end, there is hint of bitter hops that lingers on the tongue. Well balanced between the coffee and chocolate flavors so they meld together and neither predominates

MF - medium body with a slight creaminess to it, slight carbonation comes through on the end.the creaminess does well to help make the chocolate come through.

O - Overall a solid, well balanced beer that melds the flavors of Javah and Choklat. It does well to blend the coffee and chocolate flavors so that both have a chance to shine but neither overpower.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 00:04:14 | More by jeonseh

matttttYCE

Arizona

3.95/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter. This beer has a pretty massive head actually. It's about 2 and 1/2 fingers high, light tan, creamy, and slowly receding. The lace is moderate. Color of the beer is about the darkest brown can get before turning black.

The aroma, in a a few words, is decadent and delicious! I was impressed with Creme Brulee and I am with Mokah as well. Loads of sweetness, lots of milk chocolate, some bittersweet chocolate as well, smells like chocolate milk, chocolate syrup (go figure with a name like Mokah), a mixture of coffee and sweet vanilla coffee creamer, also some roasty malts in the background but they're way overpowered by the chocolate and coffee.

The taste is dominated by loads and loads of chocolate and sweetness, coffee, and vanilla coffee creamer, with bitterness from the coffee notes and slightly from a twinge of hops, roasted malts in the middle, and light nuances of caramel and brown sugar on the back end.

For such a decadent beer the consistency is on the lighter side, smooth I'd say, carbonation is quite light, body is medium, and the finish is light and lingers a little while. Actually I think for the ABV and the style, this mouth is TOO light. I could drink this and be half way through a 2nd bomber before I even knew it (once the alcohol hit me). I need to at least have a medium-high body to an imperial stout so my mind knows to sip it slowly.

Aside from the mouthfeel being too light in my opinion, this is a pretty damn good beer. I know ST gets the rap of having the diabetes in a bottle stouts, but they are proving to be pretty damn good. I've been pleasantly surprised by both Creme Brulee and now Mokah. So I'm quietly looking forward to having the other two.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 08:34:12 | More by matttttYCE

robboyd

Indiana

4.47/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, this beer is good. I had mediocre expectations and the beer blew everything I thought a mocha inspired beer could be. I've never tasted so much chocolate in a beer. It was delightful.

It pours a deep dark brown almost black with minimal head but good lacing when filling my gold rimmed tulip glass.

It smells delicious. Lots of chocolate, a touch of coffee, some caramelized sugar, a bit of vanilla. Simply magnificent smelling.

It tastes the same as it smells, a feat in itself. As I mentioned before, it's so strong with the chocolate and that makes it amazing in my eyes. I get coffee and vanilla, caramelized sugar. This actually reminds me more of creme brulee than their beer of the same name.

The mouthfeel was great as well. Medium in body but the wash reminded me of drinking chocolate milk made from the powder, which in this case was a good thing.

Overall, I think this beer is fantastic. I wish I grabbed more bottles because I could drink one anytime the temp drops below freezing.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 00:45:33 | More by robboyd

Strix

Wisconsin

4.47/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep reddish brown, decent initial head, minimal subsequent head.

Chocolate dominates the nose, with a little booze.

More like something that should go over ice cream. Semisweet chocolate, hershey's syrup, coffee, sugar, and wood. Surprisingly not cloying.

Super smooth mouthfeel.

Delicious dessert beer and a really nice sipper. I am a sucker for chocolate and coffee stouts and I enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2011 03:19:32 | More by Strix