Highland Black Mocha Stout - Highland Brewing

chinchill

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle dated 6/14/10 served in Highland Brewing pint glass.

As the name implies this is dark even for an American stout: opaque black with barely detectable brown highlights except directly under bright light; modest tan head.

A good bit of bitter chocolate flavor for a beer containing no chocolate. Hops evident to taste, especially the finish, but not obvious to nose. A slight bit smokey to the nose but no smokiness on the palate. Roasted malt is prominent in both aroma and taste. Contrary to "Mocha" in name, I can detect little if any coffee in the aroma and a minimal level in the flavor until the finish. The flavor is rich, well-balanced and refined.

M - very smooth; low carbonation; medium body

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2011 02:42:18 | More by chinchill

bcuz7

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-19-2013 21:18:30 | More by bcuz7

NastyNate11

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-17-2013 02:46:24 | More by NastyNate11

mralbertson

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-15-2013 01:51:20 | More by mralbertson

macrosmatic

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-12-2013 17:13:48 | More by macrosmatic

firstlighthiker

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-10-2013 03:18:46 | More by firstlighthiker

bhawk1

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-07-2013 12:02:20 | More by bhawk1

bmoney

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-02-2013 03:37:43 | More by bmoney

JovianPfeil

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

05-01-2013 01:05:57 | More by JovianPfeil

Bamarooster

Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-23-2013 22:16:47 | More by Bamarooster

wyatt13

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-21-2013 13:21:49 | More by wyatt13

baklo

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

04-21-2013 12:29:43 | More by baklo

Damian

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Drank from a 1 pint 6 fl. oz. bottle
Served in a pint glass
Thanks to my dad for this bomber

With an aggressive pour, a one-finger tall crop of saddle brown foam topped the shimmery, near pitch black liquid. The head faded to a thick, clingy collar. No lacing whatsoever.

The nose was incredibly unique. Not at all typical for an American stout. Super smoky. Peat smoked malts were apparent. Strong prune and raisin notes. Lots of leather and tobacco. Somewhat sherry-like with an interesting oxidized quality. As the beer warmed, chocolate fudge was noticeable. This reminded me a lot of an aged old ale.

The flavor profile was much more typical of the style. Quite roasty and dry. Roasted malts appeared on the front end. Hint of caramel-like sweetness. Raisins came through in the center. Touch of black coffee. The finish was ashy with a charred, slight bitterness. Overall, not very complex.

The liquid was thinner and lighter bodied for the style. A touch watery with a very mellow effervescence. Slightly creamy on the palate.

This is a very strange offering from the folks at Highland Brewing. The nose was amazingly complex but did not represent the style well, and the flavor profile contained hardly any mocha character. This seemed like a beer that simply went awry.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 17:59:00 | More by Damian

NorthernSoul

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-17-2013 22:40:35 | More by NorthernSoul

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-11-2013 17:23:44 | More by DaPan

marley2112

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-09-2013 02:18:51 | More by marley2112

pauldave1976

North Carolina

1.6/5  rDev -59.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Not good. Lower than average. Will not waste my money again. I would expect a lot more out of a brew from Asheville, North Carolina. Seemed really plain and pretty sad for a "craft" beer.I guess it s par for the course, as I feel the exact same way about the rest of their beers. I would like to try some of their one shots to hopefully redeem them in my mind.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 23:29:26 | More by pauldave1976

Falcon2008

Wyoming

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-05-2013 00:41:48 | More by Falcon2008

GetTheYayo

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-04-2013 23:43:25 | More by GetTheYayo

poopsmitherson

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -36.1%

04-04-2013 02:29:21 | More by poopsmitherson

gjoker321

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

04-02-2013 16:10:53 | More by gjoker321

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%

04-01-2013 13:24:52 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

MagnusThunnus

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

03-31-2013 01:13:38 | More by MagnusThunnus

KeyWestGator

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.3%

03-31-2013 00:56:12 | More by KeyWestGator

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.68/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Thanx Damian74Shensky:

Into a nonic:

A: dark black body with an off-white colored one finger head, minimal lacing

S: roasted sweet malt and light coffee

T: roasty and sweet through previously mentioned flavors, slightly woody, dry aftertaste and finish

M: medium, sessionable, adequate carbonation

O: hey not bad for the style, I would have this one again

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 02:32:23 | More by kangarooAdam59