Highland Black Mocha Stout - Highland Brewing

sulldaddy

Connecticut

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

Im sampling this as part of my Turkey day minibrewfest with family. Pouring this one from a 22 oz bottle at cellar temp into a wine glass as that was what was available for the night.
The beer pours a rich deep motor oil brown to black hue with frothy tan head foaming up 2 cm. The aroma is roasted malt and some dark cacao notes like a rich choclate bar. maybe some brown sugar mixed in and a bit of coffee ground hits. Overall the nose is appealing, while not punch you in the face robust definitely complex and rich scents.
First sip reveals a silky smooth textured beer with an average body and gentle spacious carbonation, almost like a cask.
Flavor is what the nose advertised with roasted malt and coffee grounds and a bit of molasses mixed in for good measure. I dont get any hop presence nor ABV. The beer is amazingly easy to drink and I finish the glass much faster than anticipated. Quite an enjoyable beer that I would definitely buy again if it floated around on shelves here. Pick up a bottle in the south and enjoy a well-crafted American stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 03:24:33 | More by sulldaddy

scott9890

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Received as a gift, what a great gift someone must like me, The Allens.

A-Pours like I like my women...thick and black! Two-finger head.

S-Smells great roasted chocolatety malted goodness.

T-Like lucky charms wonderfully delicious. Roasted, malted and chcolatey.

M-Like my women should be thick, black, slightly bitter, but oh so yummy!!!

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING MISSY AND JOE!!!

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 14:10:31 | More by scott9890

rangerred

Tennessee

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

Pours jet black with a nice 1.5 finger dark tan head.

Smells of dark roasted malt with some coffee and dark chocolate.

The taste is of heavily roasted malt with a slight burnt taste. There is a little bit of coffee present as well. This beer has a nice bitterness on the back end and finishes quite dry.

Overall I think this is a decent middle of the road stout. Nothing outstanding but a solid go-to beer when I am in the mood for an easy drinking stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 03:54:25 | More by rangerred

kbuzz

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into my trusty snifter. No date to be found.

A: Fairly dark, not completely opaque, but only some light brown around the edges. Half finger khaki/tan head faded to a thin ring around the glass. Quite a few bubbles bubbling. Pretty average appearance, but not bad.

S: Nice dry Irish Stout aromas. Nothing overpowering, but very pleasant on the nostrils. Roasted malts dominate along with some slight bittersweet chocolate. Just a touch of coffee, but I really had to search for it. Also a mild spicy/earthy hop presence.

T: Hmmm. Kind of an ashy, burnt tobacco taste up front. A little odd. And definitely a hop presence to note here. Mid palate, you get the typical roasted, chocolate malt characteristics along with like a leather and tobacco quality...but then it ends again with that straight ashy, burnt log taste.

M: Nice for the ABV...maybe a medium thin beer, but it's carbonated well. Leaves a nice film on the mouth.

O: It's definitely a little different than other lower ABV stouts I've had. They go really far with that roasty/char/ash characteristic. As I warmed up to it, it wasn't so bad, but it certainly wasn't desirable. I actually think a bit more sweetness could have balanced this out better. This is all bitter and roast...with barely a touch of chocolate. An average beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 02:07:36 | More by kbuzz

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I tried the Highland Moca Stout at Shakers in Roanoke, VA. the beer can in a classic beer mug and was dark opaque in color. The head was tan and not much in lacing. The smell included roast, espresso, and semi-sweet chocolate. The taste was very similar to the smell. The mouthfeel was medium body which I think is important for a stout. Overall I thought this was a good stout.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 04:09:29 | More by WoodBrew

Vierenner

Ohio

2.78/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Burnt malt in smell and taste ... they should have stopped the roast before the burn and smoke. It dominates the flavor and hides whatever else might be hiding underneath. I don't even taste the mocha (or coffee or chocolate). I feel like I was tricked into purchasing.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 01:44:17 | More by Vierenner

gatorbreath

Fiji

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle to a Guinness Pint Glass

Aggressively poured this pitch black offering conjuring only a slight, minimal head of mocha color

Smell is of malts, mocha, taste is strongly of malt with a little bit of acidity, the mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and is very enjoyable going down

Overally, could enjoy a few of these and likely will. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 00:57:58 | More by gatorbreath

secondtooth

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep black, totally opaque and impenetrable. Substantial head of tan carbonation, and a beautiful double-finger of lace. High marks on presentation.

The nose is definitely strong and enticing, even alluring. I get a creamy chocolate and coffee mocha -- no question. It's not roasty, though. Very impressive!

Taste is full and rich, with coffee and mocha figuring prominently. Drinks smooth and creamy, like a milk stout with oatmeal. Very easy to drink, and a superlative brew. If I lived closer to North Carolina, I'd pick up a 6-pack pronto!

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 23:01:22 | More by secondtooth

homebrew311

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Rhode17 for sending this one my way.

A: pours dark brown, some brown around the edges, not opaque, minimal brown head

S: medium roast coffee comes through big time on the nose, paired nicely with notes of cocoa, not picking up much malt character in the background

T: coffee is present and bitter, somewhat thin in flavor, no depth...very one note. The nose suggests much more significant flavor.

MF: thin body, high carbonation

O: Well the aroma leads on to a delicious beer, the taste however is a tad lackluster. This beer lacks a backbone.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 05:16:30 | More by homebrew311

fsvan

Tennessee

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into pint glass.

A- Dark black, with some dark copper hues around the edges. A finger or so quickly dissipating, clingy head.

S- Dark roasted malt. Dark chocolate. Really nice smell here.

T- Dark roasted malts again. Chocolate flavor is more sweet than the nose would suggest. A nice bitter finish.

M- Fairly heavy, leaving a nice coating on the mouth.

O- This is a pretty damn good stout. I've had Highland Oatmeal porter many times and it is my favorite of the Highland lineup to date, but Black Mocha Stout may take the crown. Definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 23:14:39 | More by fsvan

tdm168

North Carolina

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

On Tap at the Village Draft House

Arrived a deep, dark brown with a reddish hue and a thin lacing of brown head. The nose has a heavy note of coffee and a faint note of chocolate. The taste is much the same as the nose; coffee is the dominant flavor with hints of chocolate and light, noticeable hops for battle in the finish. The mouthfeel is full bodied, rich, and smooth.

It's a little one dimensional, but a solid beer all around. In this area it's a staple in most beer stores, and pretty cheap too. It's a go-to beer on a cold day.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2011 11:19:15 | More by tdm168

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tall 2 finger light tan head with tons of sticky lacing. opaque auburn body.

Smells like more malt than mocha or chocolate, but that fits the description. Kinda biscuity.

Unexpectedly smokey, like piney-grill smokey. On further reflection, the tang I associated with pine is really more like black coffee. There's still some citrusy hop character here, kinda lime-ey. Walnut in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is nice and creamy, just south of nitro-creamy. Finish is watery though.

It's decent, and for the price, I wasn't expecting to be blown away.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 02:41:29 | More by zaphodchak

olimpia84

Florida

3.45/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Dunedin House of Beer. Served on a Pint glass.

A: black body with a one finger coffee colored head and good lacing that is coffee colored as well.

S: a bit on the mute side but notes of coffee are present along with roasted malts and milk.

T: dark coffee, roasted malts with a bitter aftertaste. A bit on the bland side.

M: smooth feel with a medium to full body leaning more towards medium. Good carbonation.

O: a decent stout that failed to deliver in some areas. Nevertheless I was happy to try it since it's not widely available in my area.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2011 00:40:39 | More by olimpia84

smittybrew83

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pop the cap and poured a good looking dark reddish brown brew into a pint glass. there is a one finger sized head that is a darker tan color, which quickly dissipates to lit film over the beer. In the glass the beer is a nice black with no light shinning through but with a bit of a thin appearance.
The nose which there isn't much of is of roasted malts and faint chocolate.
The taste is of bitter coffee and chocolate but only slightly. overall not a ton going on with the flavor. but it does have some good flavor hidden at the end.
The mouth feel is very light with quite a bit of carbonation. with this style i would like just a bit less carbonation and a bit more body.
Overall not a great beer but still drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 21:22:25 | More by smittybrew83

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Sixth and final beer in the one stop Southern tour.

Solid black body with nary a highlight, topped by a surprisingly light beige three-finger level head of various size bubbles and cream.

Inviting roasty coffee and chocolate aroma, with earthy hop notes.

Taste follows nose - deep roast coffee mixed with chocolate. Mild hop nip at the swallow. Rather clean finish.

Mouthfeel is a bit weak, with a slight watery aspect. Would have liked it a bit chewier.

Overall an enjoyable stout, worth trying, but not a classic.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 20:20:55 | More by RonfromJersey

robwestcott

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

poured cold from the bottle a deep black to founder's brewing goblet with a 1/2 finger, short lasting, foamy mocha head leaving a sheet of receding spotty lace after each sip.

great big sweet milk chocolate aroma, perhaps a little espresso, but it's about the chocolate this one.

smoky, surprisingly so, not getting the chocolate that was so prevalent in the nose. a bit of coffee, and roasted malts, but mostly a big ol bunch of smoke.

light bodied for the style, bigger carbonation than expected, smooth, subtle bitter.

overall - not a bad beer, but not really in my wheelhouse. the smoke is a bit distracting.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 20:04:12 | More by robwestcott

Bonis

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from notes: 07/30/2011

A- Black in color with a cream colored 1/2 inch head, settling to a nice frothy layer of bubbles. Good, but pretty standard here.

S- Very roasty, some hints of nutty earthiness, bitter chocolate and faint coffee mix in. Nothing really out of the ordinary.

T - A bit nicer than the smell. Bittersweet chocolate mixes with some subtle bitter hops and earthy roasted malt characteristics. Not overly complex, but definitely better than most stouts I've tasted in this abv range. A touch of coffee bitterness comes in after the swallow. Alcohol is hidden nicely. A well balanced, delicious beer overall.

M - Very smooth, low bodied, easy drink. Bitter chocolate rests in the mouth. Low carbonation, appealing to me.

O - A nice stout that isn't available where I live. Glad I got to try it, and I'd probably pick up a sixer if I were to see it.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 03:21:32 | More by Bonis

eggodoom

Tennessee

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

This beer was poured for tasting into a pint glass. The beer poured a rich brown with light visible in the middle. The head was a nice rich brown. That dissapated quickly smells a chocolatey caramel like i got from a the milk stout although it doesnt smell as sweet. I definatley get chocolate nibs though not sweet chocolate. The presence of coffee is noticable to but faint. Beer left nice lace as I drank it. I like this beer but not as good as left hand milk stout IMHO.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 05:26:36 | More by eggodoom

kylehay2004

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Two finger light chocolate flavored head with lots of lacing. Black with no light getting through.

S: Minimal roast, nutty and mild coffee.

T: Smooth up front with the roasted taste and finishes with just the right amount of coffee strength and bitterness. Captures the mocha quality very well.

M: Smooth but bitterness in the finish takes that away from this just a touch. Thick bodied, moderate carbonation.

Overall: Absolutely solid mocha stout. My only knock is the aroma as for my nose, it seemed too light.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 23:46:36 | More by kylehay2004

movingtrain

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The marketing for this beer is interesting. It is called "Highland," it features a bagpiper on the label, and it's brewed in Asheville, NC. Brewery was founded in 1994.

Pours jet black with reddish hues around the edges. Decent head on top.

The first aroma in the nose is dark roasted coffee grounds. This gives way to hints of dark chocolate, molasses, some vanilla, and dark fruit. The overwhelming aroma here is the coffee...like coffee grounds after they have been brewed. Rich, earthy, and decadent.

The flavor follows suit, tasting a bit like brewed coffee, and more like soaked coffee grounds. The flavor is a bit medicinal, as well as bittersweet. There are serious coffee notes (as noted), along with semi-sweet chocolate, tangy dark fruit, toasted malts, vanilla bean, slight hoppy bitterness, and, well, more coffee (like cowboy coffee, where the grounds are thrown into the pot with the boiling water--no filter).

Overall, this is a nice, dry stout. There are some excellent flavor notes here, and some interesting aromas. I am glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 00:50:26 | More by movingtrain

brandoncox

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Opaque black and brown pour capping off with a nice fluffy khaki head.

Dark roasted coffee and sweet nutty chocolate on the nose.

An intriguing roasted robust coffee flavor with hints of cauppocino and an almost hidden vanilla appearance. Great balanced malty body.

Carbonation is spot on. You won't find the creaminess here but it makes up for it on the finish. Finishes dark and just a little bitter, but more of a roasted bitterness that doesn't fatigue your palate.

I could start every morning with a bottle of this. An awakening coffee brew on the senses.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 17:41:48 | More by brandoncox

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter. I love this beer's big brother. Hopefully this will be close.

3.5 A: Despite the name, this is more of really dark brown, than straight up black. Just one fingers of creamy light brown head that falls quickly and leaves a ring of lacing.

4.0 S: This smells a good bit like the big brother. Sharp, almost sourish cocoa. Moderate roast. Coffee to a much lesser extent. Sweet molasses and dark caramel.

3.5 T: Good, but missing the richness of the imperial. Again, sharp cocoa powder, light coffee, moderate roast, and just a touch of caramel sweetness. Mild bitterness that is moderate for the style.

3.0 M: Lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Lighter than I'd prefer and missing the creaminess I love in the imperial. Smooth though.

3.5 D: Decent beer, but failed to capture what I love about the imperial version.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 19:10:11 | More by DavoleBomb

waltonc

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours black with tan head. Smell is an unassuming blend of dark roasted malts, coffee and chocolate. Flavor too. Fairly dry and slightly bitter. For the low ABV, this is pretty tasty. Body is medium with medium carbonation. Overall, a decent stout, but not something I'd rush to get again. Not sure why this is in a bomber instead of a 12 ounce bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 12:48:55 | More by waltonc

airheadmtrcycle

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Black Mocha Stout is black and completely opaque with a khaki/crema-looking head.

The aroma is of deeply roasted malt and strong coffee with perhaps a little unsweetened chocolate. The flavor is rich with a coffee bitterness that I really like. The bitterness is almost balanced with a malty sweetness, but stays more bitter than sweet. To me Black Mocha Stout tastes very porter-like. Again, Highland has demonstrated they really know how to choose just the right hops and they use them in just the right proportion. I like all the Highland beers I've tried so far. I'm becoming a real fan. I am going to make a road trip up to the brewery one day.

The mouth feel is not as creamy as some may prefer in their stouts, but it compensates with a medium to medium/plus textured ale that I could enjoy 12 months out of the year. It's not thin or watery by any means, but substantial and satiating, a real belly warmer.

Overall, I really like the qualities of Black Mocha Stout. Again, it has many characteristics I normally find and like in a great porter and yet it is a stout. I would have to rate it up there with the very best stouts I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 23:20:10 | More by airheadmtrcycle

myspoonistoobig

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle won in a bet with av waitress in Asheville for eating the three meat combo at her bbq bar. Little did she know i'd hiked nearly twelve miles that day.

Appearance: dark caramel brown, almost molasses. Think looking, light head.

Smell: roasty malts, a hint of coffee. I got loads of barnyard on the nose. Really quite pleasant.

Taste: pretty one dimensional with the roasted malt, not much in the way of coffee or chocolate, which I was expecting.

Mouthfeel: pretty thin, fair amount of carbonation, not too full (but at 5.6% would you expect much body?)

Overall: a nice beer. Seemed more like a porter to me than a stout, but still very nice. I'll look for it some more next time in in the asheville area.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 01:06:01 | More by myspoonistoobig