Black Mountain Bitter
Highland Brewing

Black Mountain BitterBlack Mountain Bitter
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From:
Highland Brewing
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
English Bitter
ABV:
4%
Score:
80
Avg:
3.45 | pDev: 13.33%
Reviews:
41
Ratings:
47
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 22, 2013
Added:
Dec 18, 2008
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by corby112:
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

2.71/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
From notes:

Pours a hazy golden amber/orange color with a thin foamy white head that quickly settles into a thin lasting ring. Minimal spots of lacing left behind.

The aroma is kind of bland with a balance of earthy pine hops and pale, biscuit malt.

Medium bodied with a nice balance of earthy, bitter hops and pale malt notes. Hints of pine and subtle citrus as well as slight earthy, grass notes. Crisp, clean and easy drinking with a slightly dry finish.
Jan 26, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by RBorsato from Virginia

Oct 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by GeoCait from Tennessee

Nov 21, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by ecmoon3 from South Carolina

Feb 02, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by wrwhite174 from Florida

Jan 20, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by Lantern

Dec 27, 2011
 
Rated: 2.5 by whitekiboko from South Carolina

Dec 27, 2011
Photo of Jazzcrop
Reviewed by Jazzcrop from California

2.91/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Tastes are, as you may've expected, British hops, pines, tree bark, little malt presence and lost hair strands. Smells like a beer that needs a lot more done to it before it can make it to the Top 100, lol. Has a nice body and an amazing foamy head.
Jun 10, 2011
Photo of TheKingofWichita
Reviewed by TheKingofWichita from North Carolina

3.77/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a pretty golden color with a thick white head and a good amount of lacing. Smells of grassy hops and other bittering agents. It actually smells bitter. Tastes of grassy hops and bitter hops and plenty of bready notes. Really bitter from start to finish! Awesome. Drinkability is nice.
Dec 08, 2010
Photo of PDXHops
Reviewed by PDXHops from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a shaker pint. Muted golden body with a foamy white head that lingers and laces pretty nicely.

The nose is full of wet hay, cereal grains and light citrusy notes hops. Smells very 'clean' and fresh, and tastes so, too. Nice little nip of grassy bitterness that's well showcased by the crisp and dry finish. A touch of nuttiness, a touch of sweetness. Subtle yet focused. A well-constructed, balanced and enjoyable beer. Recommended.
Nov 28, 2010
Photo of beer2day
Reviewed by beer2day from North Carolina

3.97/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours pale yellow gold with 2 fingers of fluffy light cream head. Decent retention. Sparse lace.

Nose is very earthy and with a little hot toddy twinge. Very malty with a hint of herbal hops.

Very smooth hit. Creamy texture gives way to some fairly intense, tart bitters in the finish. Surprised at how bitter it gets. Lots of malt body for a beer this light. Definite English feel to it, compared to some of the Sammy Smiths.

Very easy to drink and at 4% why not throw down a few?
Jun 24, 2010
Photo of thegodfather2701
Reviewed by thegodfather2701 from North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A-Translucent gold with a white bubbly head that dissipates quickly.

S-Not much on the nose, but there is a detectable balance between hops and malts.

T-A nice balance between the hops and malt like in the nose. It has a grainy/grassy note, but a nice refreshing bitterness. Nothing overpowering at all.

M-Thin and watery.

D-Its low abv., light flavor, and watery mouthfeel make this a very sessionable beer.

I have had much better from Highland, but if you want a decent craft beer to session this could be an option.
Apr 30, 2010
Photo of CBlack85
Reviewed by CBlack85 from South Carolina

3/5  rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass

Pours a clear golden color with about two fingers worth of foamy white head that drops into spotty lacing.

Smells of noble hops and bready malts.

Taste follows the nose quite closely, a fair amount of hops, followed by light bready, grainy malts. Dry with a bitter finish. Light bodied and moderatley carbinated. Not bad, but overall not impressive.

While I am usually quite impressed with Highlands offerings, this one leaves me wanting. Not bad, by any stretch of the imagination, just a bit boring.
Apr 26, 2010
Photo of jammapamma
Reviewed by jammapamma from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I will compare this to other english bitters like Tetley's. My impression of the style is that it should be smooth, creamy and not much else. It think it's important to explain expectations, because I saw people ding it for "low carbonation", it's a british stlye, it's supposed to be low in carbonation, that's what makes it smooth and creamy.

Highland took a different approach. Their version has more hops, still English hops, but hoppier than any other English Bitter that I've had. My personal preference is that this flys in the face of the style, but whatever.

Aroma- EKG hops, not much else.
Taste-light malt character that is subtly biscuity with pleasant grainy notes, which is quickly taken over by a light, clean hop character. Both are mild, but the hops definitely win in the fight. I hate to compare this to SN summerfest, but that is a very similar hop character. I know that SN summerfest is a lager, but the hop character similarities are stunning. I don't consider that an insult.

I like this, I do. I could drink this all night long and probably will several times this year. I was foolishly hoping for an authentic tasting English bitter and this is not it. Highland chose to go with a less creamy mouthfeel, with more hops to make this more "refreshing." It is more refreshing, but I can't help but to slightly bitch about the beer being out of style. It's not a true English bitter, but it is a very good, light, crisp summer beer.
Apr 16, 2010
Photo of mwa423
Reviewed by mwa423 from Ohio

3.65/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
A - Pours a clear gold with almost no head, some head would have made this an easy 4.0

S - Mostly malty backbone with a bit of steely hop bitterness.

T - It's a good example of the style, bready english malts chased by hops down the throat, a more traditional english hop.

M/D - Mouthfeel is very creamy, I would think this was out of a nitro-bottle if I didn't know better. However, the thickness and breadiness of this really make me glad I have one to try and that's all.
Apr 04, 2010
Photo of kels
Reviewed by kels from Virginia

3.81/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Beer pours from the bottle into my pint a hazy golden shade. The occasional bubble rises up through the beer to skim of white foam that remains from the initial, quick-faded 1/2 finger head. Lots of slippery white lace dots the walls of the glass.

Aroma is dominated by distinctly toasted grains. A very light citrus hop is just barely detectable.

Very bright and refreshing beer. Extremely carbonated and very clean feeling. Taste is a nice balance of toasted grains and lemony citrus. Bitterness has a nice bite, but not aggressively. Taste is a little on the watery side. Very simple, straightforward and pleasant. Light, crisp and highly drinkable. Surprised this is a winter seasonal. This would be perfect on a hot summer day.
Apr 03, 2010
Photo of ThaBobfather
Reviewed by ThaBobfather from Ohio

3.22/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a fairly pedestrian straw golden color with a thin whisp of whiteish head.
Smell is solid some light malts and a nose full of flowers.
Taste is textbook here-there is a solid bitter malt flavor and some hop profile.
Finish is very dry with some bitter after-bite.
Drinks well- highly sessionable.
Feb 17, 2010
Photo of wcudwight
Reviewed by wcudwight from North Carolina

3.62/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clear gold and pale yellow in color. Thin head that disappears quickly. Lace sticks nicely to the sides of the glass.
Typical English bitter aromas of pale malts and a grassy herbal scent.
Grassy herbal hops in the flavor. Plenty of malts to balance it out. This beer won't "wow" you with flavor but I don't think it's really supposed to. It's meant to be a nice light easy drinking sessionable beer and it hits that profile spot on.
Feb 12, 2010
Photo of danielharper
Reviewed by danielharper from Michigan

3.04/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: Very clear, slightly yellow body. No effervescence. Soapscum on top is the whole of the head. Disappointing.

Smell: Bitter, dry, slightly hoppy, with a malt backbone. Very much like a standard English bitter.

Taste: Very clean, almost tasteless. Notes of malt, strong aftertaste of corn.

Mouthfeel: Thin, low carbonation, no particular hop presence. Bog-standard for a bitter.

Drinkability: Lacks character. It's drinkable, but it's just not all that great.
Aug 30, 2009
Photo of Bung
Reviewed by Bung from Michigan

3.12/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
12 oz. Fairly bright golden pour, minimal white head. Some malt and citrus pine in the aromas, hints of grass, all pretty subdued though. Taste is similar, some malt and bitters. A bit musty, enough carbonation, light bodied. Certainly a session beer. Not a whole lot different than some macro lagers, Yuengling and such. Not bad, just not great. They have definetely done better.
Jul 01, 2009
Black Mountain Bitter from Highland Brewing
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 47 ratings