Highland Black Mocha Stout - Highland Brewing

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

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

kangarooAdam59

Connecticut

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

StJamesGate

New York

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Jet black with pomegranate highlights and creamy beige head that instantly sheets, rings and laces.
Ash, oily espresso and burnt sugar on the nose.
Sultana, char, dark caramel, some roasty sweetness and moderate branch hop bitterness.
Cocoa bean finish and dry linger.
Smooth, medium, chewy.

Big and round, roast forward, but smooth and even. A very clean but solid stout that's neither an RIS nor Irish nor hoppy - unusual these days.

Happy first taste of Asheville.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 00:58:07 | More by StJamesGate

fountainofyouth

District of Columbia

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a Guinness-style tulip 20 oz. glass.

Appearance: Pours a very big head that retains well, off-white in color. The body is an imposing near-black and impenetrable to light. Lacing intact.

Smell: The smell is becomingly complex, with some sweet malt and light coffee mixing with a hint of booze. There might be a tiny bit of citrus hops, but I'm not sure. Most of what dominates is sweet brown malt.

Taste: Overall very good, although I wish it had a teensie bit more punch to it. Roasted barley is there and some coffee grounds, although there is a little bit of malt sweetness too that keeps it from getting too ashy. Hop presence is minimal.

Mouthfeel: The coffee grounds (or something) add a grainy, dry feel to the beer -- and I don't dislike it. The carbonation is restrained and doesn't interfere with the flavor.

Overall: I could be temped to buy it again. Definitely a worthy contender for the sty.e. People used to drinking slightly sweeter dark ales might find it too imposing.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 03:35:04 | More by fountainofyouth

TheSSG

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dense, tan head with nice lacing. Deep, rich toasted malt in the nose; big notes of coffee. Black. Acidic and bright, with toasted malt throughout. Builds into a medium floral hop bitterness. Finish is toasted malt throughout.

Overall, I like this. No coffee in it, but it tastes VERY much like it does have it. I wish it was a touch less acidic, and a touch MORE toasted malt.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 04:55:53 | More by TheSSG

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

a dark brown/black pour with a finger of head which actually gave off some nie lacing. nice head retention as well. smells of coffee beans rise immediately, followed by chocolate and a very nice roasted nut smell. the flavor is a very mellow and smooth blend of coffee, chocolate, vanilla, roasted grains, and macadamia nuts. medium in body with pretty low amount of carbonation.. feels a bit on the lighter side (watery).

overall, this is a solid beer. not sure if it's a seasonal or a year-round, but it's pretty damn good nonetheless. very subtle, but dead on as far as stouts.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 08:49:08 | More by facundoCNB

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.09/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Received an extra in a trade. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Poured a nice dark brown hue with a good one finger dark mocha head that slumped down to a light quarter blanket.

S - Aromas of good roasted malts, chocolate, and nice roasty black coffee. Very, very pleasant.

T - Taste is nice. Similar to the nose. Good bitter coffee notes, roasted malts, creamy chocolate notes. This is quite tasty.

M - Mouthfeel is creamy, lowly carbonated, but a bit thin. Not bad though

O - Overall A solid beer. Wish it was a bit thicker. Still, not bad though.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:24:12 | More by rudzud

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.83/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- pours a pitch black color with a small fizzy dark-tan head that reduces quickly and nearly dissapears, leaving no lace.

S- dark chocolaty roasted malt, chocolate syrup, also some dried dark fruit, raisins, cherries, pure vanilla extract at the end. This one smells like an inviting chocolate bomb.

T- the dark fruit notes continue to the palate, the chocolate tastes like a dark cocoa with a hint of vanilla. The finish is smoky with some charcoal, finishes dry with just a bit of hop.

M- light-medium body, low carbonation creamy mouthfeel with a velvety finish. The body seems just a bit thin for the style.

O- this aroma of this one was pure chocolate, but the taste seemed to fall a bit short of the expectations from the aroma. It was still very enjoyable, and would be a good choice for those looking for chocolate flavored stouts.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 04:05:58 | More by Treyliff

tectactoe

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a deep color, basically black all around, only some slight dark brown around the very edges; tan head, thick on the pour leaving medium lacing. Deep mocha on the nose; creamy, sweet coffee, roasted barley, and bittersweet chocolate and cocoa beans. The flavor follows right along - the coffee profile was actually a bit stronger than expected (not a bad thing) and combats the mocha for the number one spot. The mocha has a bitter underlaying with sweetness and creaminess coming in to round it out. Hops show up in the taste that were not really present in the aroma; kind of dry, leafy, herbal, ashy. The bitter character balances well, hits a little on the back of the tongue. Some char flavors, not necessarily smokey, but charcoal and deep, burnt, roasted barley and malt. Reasonably creamy body, medium-thick but not syrupy, middle of the road on the carbonation scale.

Very good mocha stout, nice creamy body and lots of flavor for being only 5.6% ABV. You could certainly put a few of these down in a single sitting and be okay, as well as satisfied.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 12:45:12 | More by tectactoe

Maltmaiden

Alabama

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Black/dark brown. Carbonation bubbles are visible. Small but persistent head

S: Cocoa and very toasted malts. some hops. Molasses. Not as much coffee as I was expecting...more chocolaty. Vanilla. Metal?

T: Toasted malts and bitter cocoa powder upfront. Coffee beans. Earthy hops. Touch of vanilla. Root beer. And that weird metal again?

M: Maybe too much carbonation. Goes down easy though.

O: good but too much bitterness and carbonation than I like in my stouts. Won't go out of my way to get this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 20:38:53 | More by Maltmaiden

brewdude1982

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This was a pint I had in tap at Wakefield tavern in Raleigh.

This is a dark beer much like one would expect from a stout. Good lacing and a thick head with lots of tiny bubbles. It has relatively no smell but then again I am stuffed up. The taste is very much coffee and roasted dark malts. It is a pleasant change from some of the other stouts that I have had recently. This brewery is making beers that range from mediocre to great in my book.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2012 19:50:48 | More by brewdude1982

JDVance742

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle into a DFHead tulip glass.

Appearance is a beautiful, deep, ebony, like a low carbonated cola.

Head is super thick and medium length of staying around, pretty good lacing. Can see every sip going down, however not completely defined.

Smells like an extra chocolate mocha. Heavy roasting(coffee provoking, chocolate evoking), light hints of vanilla, wood fire burning in the other room scent on the background.

Taste parallels the scent, with the roasted malt jumping to the foreground and the chocolate slipping to the light end. Parallel to the lessening of chocolate flavor is the more pronounced vanilla and cream flavors.

Mouthfeel is a bit lacking in comparison to the overall experience, carbonation comes through a bit tingly, and lacks in full body to accompany the bounty of other experiences, but too much good going on to really go too low on this score either.

Overall I'd give it more of a 4.3. A pleasant beer, even after sitting to warm for twenty to thirty+ minutes.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 02:37:33 | More by JDVance742

BeerDawgs

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - A pitch black as night color, no clarity, and 1 tall finger of head. Nice tan lacing left on the glass. Impressive!

S - Roasted malts and chocolate are very prevalent. A touch of hop bitterness

T - Tasty! As expected by the appearance and nose. Chocolate, coffee beans, slight sweetness, which I like in my stouts. Well balanced.

M - Smooth. Medium carbonation. Creamy.

O - Best Highland brew I have had, by far. Excellent stout! Love it. WIll seek it out again

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 00:03:23 | More by BeerDawgs

Axnjxn

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a Big Boss pint glass.

Pours a pitch black color with a 2 inch thick head. Smell is...not much. I detect a faint coffee aroma but not much else. The taste is not much better. A mild coffee flavor with a slight bitter finish. It's okay. Light body and medium carbonation. Wish this were heavier, feel leaves something to be desired.

Overall this is a drinkable beer but you can do better. I wouldnt turn it down but this is not Highland's best offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 18:47:56 | More by Axnjxn

libbey

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22oz poured into a Town Hall tulip.

A: The beer pours a pitch black with a large khaki head that held great retention leaving a nice trail of sticky lacing.

S: Hints of roast and milk chocolate. A touch sweetness. Not picking up a lot of coffee notes.

T: Actually getting a good deal of dark fruit mixed with notes of bakers chocolate. Still not picking up much in the way of coffee.

M: The overall mouthfeel is a thin and there is not a lot there.

O: Overall this was a tasty stout. Fairly sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 07:20:52 | More by libbey

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Living in Charlotte, I really enjoy a lot of the Highlands stuff. This was my first taste of BMS.

Appearance: Nice, deep dark color. One finger head that stuck around for 30 secs or so

Smell: Nice chocolatey tones. Good nose overall.

Taste: Nice sturdy stout. Stuck to the front of my tongue

Mouthfeel: Too carbonated for me in regards to a stout. My tongue was much more tingly than other stouts I'm used to

Overall its a good stout that I would drink again, but it would be better if it wasn't so carbonated

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 22:25:48 | More by dvmin98

jlindros

Massachusetts

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

Interesting concept, a Scottish style brewery in the middle of Asheville, NC. Thanks to JonnyGalt for this interesting beer.

A creamy looking mocha colored smaller head that sits there for a bit, and leaves a high water mark of lacing notched as I sip, over a dark almost black beer, with slight hints of molasses colored light sneaking through when held directly to the light.

Nose is pure black malts, like nightmarish black malt aroma, dark as hell. Some coffee in there, a bit of fresh roasted coffee beans and a bit of roast, a bit of mocha with that as a hint of cocoa starts to sneak in. A light caramel aroma, hint of fluffy nougat and maybe a bit vanilla.

Taste starts rich and creamy, almost milky or lots of oats, then roasted malt, a hint of acrid almost burnt roast, and burnt roast. Some coffee, little roasted coffee bean and hint of burnt coffee, and light charcoal like. Some baker's chocolate comes in lightly in the background and brings the mocha quality out more. A little caramel and fluffy nougat again. Some bitterness but mostly from the roast, maybe a hint of earthy hops. Finish is a bit sticky and syrupy quite rich and mouth coating, a bigger bitterness fairly earthy bitterness and lingering roasted malt, light coffee and chocolate lingering.

Mouth is thick and rich, quite creamy, decent carb.

Overall pretty good, lots of coffee, mocha, roast, and very rich and creamy thick for being just 5.6%, although it does bring a bit of acrid burnt flavors from the roast, but not too strong. Overall a nice tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 16:04:43 | More by jlindros

FosterJM

California

3.38/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1563rd Review on BA
Bottle to Great Lakes Snifter
12oz

I didnt find a bottle date
Thanks to BlackBelt5112203 for this one

App- It was a nice base stout. A bit of a black color with some browns all around. A good deep center. The head was a good tan 1 finger loose bubbling and nice clinging beer. Looked good in the glass.

Smell- The roasted malts are overpowering on this one and do little to smooth this out. The hop addition adds another layer but competes too much vs. layering the beer. I dont find the mocha or chocolate aromas at all.

Taste- I thought it was pretty good. A bit too ashy and thin on the mocha. A bit of the hops couldve been dropped down a bit to make this a more smooth drinker vs. being prickly and stinging. The flavors are a bit lined up and come at you 1 at a time vs. being integrated and layered. As this warmed it was a bit of a dark cherry flavor with a little bit of a bakers chocolate flavor as well.

Mouth- A light body stout. I know its an american stout, but this was a bit too thin and watery for me with a bit of a high carbonation. Residual flavors on this were some ash, roast, smoke and bitter. I get no mocha still even as warm.

Drink- It was okay. Wasnt a mind blowing hidden gem. Solid offering that I feel would be served to dial down the roast and up the smooth factor. I think this wouldve been better with a food pairing.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 14:46:52 | More by FosterJM

Moss

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Pours an expected dark black with a light brown 2 finger head. Leaves good lacing.

S - Smells like coffee and mocha from the roasted malts. Smells sweet.

T - Tastes as it smells with the coffee and chocolate taste. Much like what I expected from this beer. Sweet but has a good finish from the hops with the bitterness to even it out.

M - Medium bodied and creamy with light carbonation.

Overall - Good beer, would have again.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 23:10:52 | More by Moss

marlinsfan4

Maryland

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

Pours a jet black color with off-white head. Smell is of roasted coffee.. delicious. Taste is medium to heavy bodied, very sweet with some great roasted notes. Smooth and clean with great texture and finish to it. Tasty stout and definitely above average for the style, a great addition to the mixed 12 pack.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 23:16:05 | More by marlinsfan4

Josiah2729

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into pint glass.

Appearance: Dark black with a half finger of tan head. Not much head retention, but decent lacing.

Smell: Dark roast coffee all the way, slight dark chocolate scent.

Taste: Dark roast coffee, followed by dark chocolate flavors, hint of bitter hops toward the end with a little malt sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium thickness, very slight carbonation, creamy texture at the end.

Overall: Nice stout, will try again.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 06:50:57 | More by Josiah2729

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, poured into my Firestone Walker tulip.

Highland's Black Mocha Stout pours a solid black, with about a finger and a half of tan foam capping the beer. Head retention is pretty good, and there's some spotty lacing left around the glass. The nose has a nice, fairly potent coffee aroma. Dark chocolate provides a solid background note. The flavor profile follows that outline exactly. Lots of coffee up front, an impressive amount for a beer of this size, and then dark chocolate creeps in and adds a little depth so that the beer doesn't just taste like cold chocolate. The mouthfeel is just a little disappointing, in that it's a bit watery. I know the beer's not even six percent as far as ABV, but I'd still like the body to be a little bit more sturdy for a stout. The carbonation is nice and understated though. Minor mouthfeel issue aside, Highland's Black Mocha Stout is a really nice beer, I'll be checking out more offerings from the brewery next time I'm down in North Carolina

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 02:37:42 | More by axeman9182

Pencible

Virginia

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: This poured an opaque black with a little tan head.
S: It smelled like sweet chocolate with roasted coffee and brown sugar and cream.
T: It tasted like dry roasted coffee and bitter dark chocolate, with some pumpernickel and cream. It had a clean and bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was somewhat thick with some carbonation. Decent body.
D: This had a nice scent and taste with solid body. The finish was pretty smooth, so it was easy to drink. Nothing special, but an enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 20:04:42 | More by Pencible

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a nonic.
No date or info. (5.6% ABV)

Thanks to Onenote81 for another North Carolina Beer!

A - Deep, dark brown in color, this beer looks just about as close to black as it gets. A tall pour creates a dense cocoa head with great retention and thick gobs of lace clinging to the glass.

S - Highland's Black Mocha Stout is abruptly roasted upon first whiff, suggesting cold black coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and of course, mocha. Maduro cigar wrapper and faintly musty walk-in humidor give it a nice touch while this assertively earthy aroma swirls around.

T - Massively roasted, this rich beer is a dark beer lover's dream; cold coffee and chunky bittersweet chocolate with a hefty helping of dry mocha flourish among the earthy, dry hops.

M - Thick and rich, Highland's Black Mocha Stout is one of the most full-bodied beers I've had in recent memory. Smooth on the palate, a dry, earthy finish keeps the acrid bitterness of the roasted malt from becoming too much.

O - Share not with light beer friends, Highland's Black Mocha Stout is as robust as they come, especially at a lower alcohol level. Acrid bitter roast takes hold of the tongue while the smooth body helps even out. This would be a terrific cool fall day beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 15:48:26 | More by BeerFMAndy