Mocha Machine | Beachwood BBQ & Brewing
Brewed by:
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing
California, United States | website
Style: American Porter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.20%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Mocha machine is a well-engineered endeavor in massive aromatics and rich flavors. Brewed with an array of British and German malts, this burly brew is infused with masterfully roasted coffee from Portola Coffee lab in Costa Mesa, CA. It is then aged on cacao nibs from Ecuador, adding an awesomely deep dimension of fudge.
Added by SubpoenaDeuces on 03-20-2013
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 21 | Ratings: 177
3.2/5 rDev -27.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Bomber dated 11/30/15 into a Perfect Pint glass at fridge temp, allowed to warm.
Look: velvety brown, but with not much in the way of a head.
Smell: coffee, vanilla, chocolate. Really big aroma, even for an imperial porter.
Taste: pretty much what I get when I stupidly try combining brewed coffee with a dark beer—both elements end up worse. Harsh alcohol and subpar coffee.
Feel: undercarbonated, with a kind of slimy mouthfeel. Is this a milk stout? Somehow simultaneously too thin and too thick.
Overall: well, this peaked when I was just smelling it. Despite loving coffee, I frequently dislike coffee beers; this is no exception, but I dislike it even more than most.
★ 680 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Bomber dated 11/30/15 into a Perfect Pint glass at fridge temp, allowed to warm.
Look: velvety brown, but with not much in the way of a head.
Smell: coffee, vanilla, chocolate. Really big aroma, even for an imperial porter.
Taste: pretty much what I get when I stupidly try combining brewed coffee with a dark beer—both elements end up worse. Harsh alcohol and subpar coffee.
Feel: undercarbonated, with a kind of slimy mouthfeel. Is this a milk stout? Somehow simultaneously too thin and too thick.
Overall: well, this peaked when I was just smelling it. Despite loving coffee, I frequently dislike coffee beers; this is no exception, but I dislike it even more than most.
★ 680 characters
4.42/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Look: Dark brown body. This one has a fluffy mocha head that leaves behind sticky sheets of slowly melting lacing.
Smell: Big coffee and light char straight up. In the background are sweetness and lactose, with behind the scenes vanilla. The aromas are rich and pleasant.
Taste: What a surprise. The taste is described in the nose, just toss in some cocoa. Everything described above is blended and balanced in the taste. Nobody is stabbing the other in the back (like at work). Everything is working together harmoniously.
Feel: Not bad at all. Light and fluffy. This could use more body and a greater amount of later in the mouth.
Overall - Solid. Not too strong, everything is nicely balanced, and because of that, this would be a regular menu item.
★ 772 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Look: Dark brown body. This one has a fluffy mocha head that leaves behind sticky sheets of slowly melting lacing.
Smell: Big coffee and light char straight up. In the background are sweetness and lactose, with behind the scenes vanilla. The aromas are rich and pleasant.
Taste: What a surprise. The taste is described in the nose, just toss in some cocoa. Everything described above is blended and balanced in the taste. Nobody is stabbing the other in the back (like at work). Everything is working together harmoniously.
Feel: Not bad at all. Light and fluffy. This could use more body and a greater amount of later in the mouth.
Overall - Solid. Not too strong, everything is nicely balanced, and because of that, this would be a regular menu item.
★ 772 characters
4.48/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
My all time favorite porter is Smogcity Coffee Porter and this one comes in a close second place. The coffee notes are outstanding and chocolate brings it all home. Amazing!
★ 173 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
My all time favorite porter is Smogcity Coffee Porter and this one comes in a close second place. The coffee notes are outstanding and chocolate brings it all home. Amazing!
★ 173 characters
4.46/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: Coffee aroma; lots of deep malt roast with a touch of sweetness.
A: Jet-black with a light ring of off-white head.
F: Big coffee flavor, followed by ample roasty malts, touch of sweetness with a semi-bitter chocolate finish.
M: Light-bodied, light carbonation, but still has a full-mouth feel.
O: Pretty awesome, the depth of malt flavors is really enhanced with the coffee and chocolate.
★ 395 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: Coffee aroma; lots of deep malt roast with a touch of sweetness.
A: Jet-black with a light ring of off-white head.
F: Big coffee flavor, followed by ample roasty malts, touch of sweetness with a semi-bitter chocolate finish.
M: Light-bodied, light carbonation, but still has a full-mouth feel.
O: Pretty awesome, the depth of malt flavors is really enhanced with the coffee and chocolate.
★ 395 characters
4.83/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Poured into teku glass:
Look: Very dark. Not pitch black like a stout. Brown head.
Smell: Amazing aroma. Tons of coffee with underlying chocolate flavors.
Taste: Very much like the smell. However, my words cannot do it justice. So much coffee and chocolate. Mocha Machine is the perfect name...I feel like I am almost drinking a coffee cold brew...alcohol very well masked. Also get some vanilla flavors.
Feel: Creamy mouthfeel with slight prickle from carbonation.
Overall: An amazing coffee porter. Probably one of the best I have ever had. I can say I even prefer this to Victory at Sea. I really cannot wait until the next bottle release. I am blown away.
★ 661 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Poured into teku glass:
Look: Very dark. Not pitch black like a stout. Brown head.
Smell: Amazing aroma. Tons of coffee with underlying chocolate flavors.
Taste: Very much like the smell. However, my words cannot do it justice. So much coffee and chocolate. Mocha Machine is the perfect name...I feel like I am almost drinking a coffee cold brew...alcohol very well masked. Also get some vanilla flavors.
Feel: Creamy mouthfeel with slight prickle from carbonation.
Overall: An amazing coffee porter. Probably one of the best I have ever had. I can say I even prefer this to Victory at Sea. I really cannot wait until the next bottle release. I am blown away.
★ 661 characters
4.5/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a dark caramel brown with hints of amber and toffee at the edges. A vigorous pour results in two fingers of khaki/light brown head that fades quickly into a thin cap with some trace lacing on the glass.
S: Milk chocolate / toasted malt and some residual sweetness dominate the aroma, it certainly smells like a milk porter. I know that there is no lactose so the milk sugar aroma must be coming from the cocoa nibs...
T: Chocolate up front, split between dark and milky, sweet body, roasted barley, then the coffee hits. Cold-brew flavor, minimal acidity or bitterness. Zero booze noticeable.
M: A tad thin for the ABV and adjuncts included by certainly to style. Carbonation is light but not low, just right to really move the flavors across the palate.
O: Well balanced and flavorful, certainly one of the better coffee porters I have encountered.
★ 858 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a dark caramel brown with hints of amber and toffee at the edges. A vigorous pour results in two fingers of khaki/light brown head that fades quickly into a thin cap with some trace lacing on the glass.
S: Milk chocolate / toasted malt and some residual sweetness dominate the aroma, it certainly smells like a milk porter. I know that there is no lactose so the milk sugar aroma must be coming from the cocoa nibs...
T: Chocolate up front, split between dark and milky, sweet body, roasted barley, then the coffee hits. Cold-brew flavor, minimal acidity or bitterness. Zero booze noticeable.
M: A tad thin for the ABV and adjuncts included by certainly to style. Carbonation is light but not low, just right to really move the flavors across the palate.
O: Well balanced and flavorful, certainly one of the better coffee porters I have encountered.
★ 858 characters
5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Deep color. Smells of chocolate and coffee. The taste..the best Porter I've ever had. Tastes like coffee infused fudge. Velvety mouthfeel. Overall I can't say enough about this beer.
★ 184 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Deep color. Smells of chocolate and coffee. The taste..the best Porter I've ever had. Tastes like coffee infused fudge. Velvety mouthfeel. Overall I can't say enough about this beer.
★ 184 characters
4.91/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Appearance - Black-Brown body. Very coffee like. Very small Brown/white head with thin lacing collar.
Smell - Coffee, Coffee and Coffee. Like did I mention the great coffee smell? Oh, also with a tinge of dark chocolate.
Taste - Coffee, Coffee and Coffee. I see the theme here. Dark chocolate, coffee and mat, just simply the nectar of the gods.
Mouth-feel - Medium or medium-heavy.
Overall - If you like coffee and like beer, and maybe want some chocolate in your coffee/beer. Then BAM, Mocha machine is the illustrious coffee beer of your dreams. the same dreams that have unicorns and aliens. Those dreams you wish could be true, finally can be. At least in the beer form. Mocha Machine delivers.
★ 704 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Appearance - Black-Brown body. Very coffee like. Very small Brown/white head with thin lacing collar.
Smell - Coffee, Coffee and Coffee. Like did I mention the great coffee smell? Oh, also with a tinge of dark chocolate.
Taste - Coffee, Coffee and Coffee. I see the theme here. Dark chocolate, coffee and mat, just simply the nectar of the gods.
Mouth-feel - Medium or medium-heavy.
Overall - If you like coffee and like beer, and maybe want some chocolate in your coffee/beer. Then BAM, Mocha machine is the illustrious coffee beer of your dreams. the same dreams that have unicorns and aliens. Those dreams you wish could be true, finally can be. At least in the beer form. Mocha Machine delivers.
★ 704 characters
4.06/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Picked up a 22oz bomber from a good friend of mine that picked it up at the brewery. Poured into a stemmed tulip glass.
Pours an effervescent dark brown (almost black) hue with a fat brownish/tan head that dissipates quicker than expected without leaving much lacing. Aroma is like a mocha cappuccino with a shot of vanilla (hence the name i suppose) with some notes of burnt toast. Flavor follows aroma with some toasty sweetness from the malt and bitterness from the coffee - more balanced than the nose insinuated. Mouthfeel is lively effervescent and thinner than I had hoped - odd for an Imperial Porter. I enjoyed this beer quite a lot, but felt it fell a bit short for the style.
★ 687 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Picked up a 22oz bomber from a good friend of mine that picked it up at the brewery. Poured into a stemmed tulip glass.
Pours an effervescent dark brown (almost black) hue with a fat brownish/tan head that dissipates quicker than expected without leaving much lacing. Aroma is like a mocha cappuccino with a shot of vanilla (hence the name i suppose) with some notes of burnt toast. Flavor follows aroma with some toasty sweetness from the malt and bitterness from the coffee - more balanced than the nose insinuated. Mouthfeel is lively effervescent and thinner than I had hoped - odd for an Imperial Porter. I enjoyed this beer quite a lot, but felt it fell a bit short for the style.
★ 687 characters
4.18/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
650 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Almost black body. Small off-white head. Thin collar.
Smell - Lots of coffee. The same coffee aroma as Founders Breakfast Stout, but it's stronger. That dark rich coffee aroma. Almost earthy. Some dark chocolate.
Taste - Dominated by coffee. Very rich. Dark chocolate. Bitter coffee and bitter malt. Delicious.
Mouthfeel - Medium heavy. Medium carbonation.
Overall - Very nice coffee flavor. Impressive. Might need to pour some bourbon into this later.
★ 520 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
650 mL bottle poured into a snifter.
Appearance - Almost black body. Small off-white head. Thin collar.
Smell - Lots of coffee. The same coffee aroma as Founders Breakfast Stout, but it's stronger. That dark rich coffee aroma. Almost earthy. Some dark chocolate.
Taste - Dominated by coffee. Very rich. Dark chocolate. Bitter coffee and bitter malt. Delicious.
Mouthfeel - Medium heavy. Medium carbonation.
Overall - Very nice coffee flavor. Impressive. Might need to pour some bourbon into this later.
★ 520 characters
4.5/5 rDev +2.3%
Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass, sure why not!
A little bit wet coming out of the bottle, but with a light chestnut, and almost red color. Fills the glass with very little head production, maybe about a finger of light tan before settling to a bubbly collar. Body color is filled with almost cola sized stuck bubbles, a nice reddish brown body and fine cola carbonation, with a soda like appearance.
The nose is fantastic. Great ripping coffee roast and dark thick chocolate like fudge character. Really does feel like mocha, chocolate mousse, thick heavy cream to match. A big amount of spicy quality, and hints of dark drying nibs. A real coffee beer winner aroma going on.
Palate surprise in more ways than expected. An almost silky body, a big surprise since out of the bottle the pour looks and hints at a flat wet beer to come. Coffee flavors burst everywhere. There is soft coffee acid in the mid palate, piping heat in the middle, and a great dry roast, mixing with a hint of dark chocolate cocoa like powder. Surprisingly it stays close to light roast and porter simplicity. The body calms down to settle into much lighter and thinner territory, but not getting wet. Dry chocolate comes creeping out, like a candy bar, with barista like warmth and freshness, even a good deal of roasted barley makes itself present.
Overall though, just a great solid coffee brew, really refreshing, and one that doesn't go out of kilter and manages to stay true to its beer drinking roots. Excellent stuff.
★ 1,530 characters
Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass, sure why not!
A little bit wet coming out of the bottle, but with a light chestnut, and almost red color. Fills the glass with very little head production, maybe about a finger of light tan before settling to a bubbly collar. Body color is filled with almost cola sized stuck bubbles, a nice reddish brown body and fine cola carbonation, with a soda like appearance.
The nose is fantastic. Great ripping coffee roast and dark thick chocolate like fudge character. Really does feel like mocha, chocolate mousse, thick heavy cream to match. A big amount of spicy quality, and hints of dark drying nibs. A real coffee beer winner aroma going on.
Palate surprise in more ways than expected. An almost silky body, a big surprise since out of the bottle the pour looks and hints at a flat wet beer to come. Coffee flavors burst everywhere. There is soft coffee acid in the mid palate, piping heat in the middle, and a great dry roast, mixing with a hint of dark chocolate cocoa like powder. Surprisingly it stays close to light roast and porter simplicity. The body calms down to settle into much lighter and thinner territory, but not getting wet. Dry chocolate comes creeping out, like a candy bar, with barista like warmth and freshness, even a good deal of roasted barley makes itself present.
Overall though, just a great solid coffee brew, really refreshing, and one that doesn't go out of kilter and manages to stay true to its beer drinking roots. Excellent stuff.
★ 1,530 characters
4.46/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I received this bottle from Julian himself the other day after it was bottled a day previously.
A - Dark dark porter for sure. slightly darker than tan head, which fell quickly (I think it was my glass)
S- I would say I thought this was a cold brew coffee with chocolate. The aroma profile is outstanding.
T- Prior to drinking Mocha Machine, my favorite coffee beer was Alesmith Speedway Stout, but damn Beachwood is crushing it. 9.2% alcohol is masked very well, and the coffee and chocolate find a beautiful balance.
M- Texturally pleasing, this brew doesnt try to be a big ol fat viscous one. it falls in perfectly textured for an imperial porter and destroys.
Way to go Beachwood, Keep it rockin!
★ 707 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I received this bottle from Julian himself the other day after it was bottled a day previously.
A - Dark dark porter for sure. slightly darker than tan head, which fell quickly (I think it was my glass)
S- I would say I thought this was a cold brew coffee with chocolate. The aroma profile is outstanding.
T- Prior to drinking Mocha Machine, my favorite coffee beer was Alesmith Speedway Stout, but damn Beachwood is crushing it. 9.2% alcohol is masked very well, and the coffee and chocolate find a beautiful balance.
M- Texturally pleasing, this brew doesnt try to be a big ol fat viscous one. it falls in perfectly textured for an imperial porter and destroys.
Way to go Beachwood, Keep it rockin!
★ 707 characters
4.84/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I have a confession to make... I honestly used to treat Beachwood as a great guest tap house, and thought of their house beers as cute...
But after trying this, I'm not laughing anymore. I used to not care for porters... Until I had this.
A: Pours a beautiful chocolate brown, with about half an inch of head. Beautiful!
S: Better than any mocha I've ever had! Amazing!
T: Coffee, Chocolate, Roasty, with a hint of Boozy... Again, better than anything Starbucks could even dream of... And I LOVE mochas.
M: Smooth, medium carbonation. Like a chocolately roasty mocha... But better!
O: This beer made me take Beachwood seriously... And I'm damn glad I did! Nobody's laughing now! They can give the best a run for their money! Look out Pliny, Beachwood is on the prowl!
★ 773 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I have a confession to make... I honestly used to treat Beachwood as a great guest tap house, and thought of their house beers as cute...
But after trying this, I'm not laughing anymore. I used to not care for porters... Until I had this.
A: Pours a beautiful chocolate brown, with about half an inch of head. Beautiful!
S: Better than any mocha I've ever had! Amazing!
T: Coffee, Chocolate, Roasty, with a hint of Boozy... Again, better than anything Starbucks could even dream of... And I LOVE mochas.
M: Smooth, medium carbonation. Like a chocolately roasty mocha... But better!
O: This beer made me take Beachwood seriously... And I'm damn glad I did! Nobody's laughing now! They can give the best a run for their money! Look out Pliny, Beachwood is on the prowl!
★ 773 characters
4.24/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap for Beachwood L.B.'s 3rd Anniversary event.
A: Pours black with a half-inch thick dark tan head with fades slowly and yields some oily spots of lace.
N: Nutty, earthy, roasty, dark chocolate, coffee.
T: Roasted coffee, earthy softness, dark chocolate kisses.
M: Full body and medium carbonation. Rich, roasted coffee and bitter chocolate finish.
O: Wonderful. Looking forward to getting bottles.
★ 407 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap for Beachwood L.B.'s 3rd Anniversary event.
A: Pours black with a half-inch thick dark tan head with fades slowly and yields some oily spots of lace.
N: Nutty, earthy, roasty, dark chocolate, coffee.
T: Roasted coffee, earthy softness, dark chocolate kisses.
M: Full body and medium carbonation. Rich, roasted coffee and bitter chocolate finish.
O: Wonderful. Looking forward to getting bottles.
★ 407 characters
4.3/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I really enjoyed this one (but to be fair I've been on a real coffee stout kick lately). It pours a deep brown/black with a tan/brown head. The nose is just fantastic; I had to just sit and smell it for a few minutes before I even tasted it. Just has that great roasted bean scent and the mocha is certainly present (as the name suggests). It drinks a bit bitter like black coffee but it actually finishes rather smooth. There is some booziness present on the finish but generally the high alc content is masked very well. Definitely worth a try for any fans of porters or coffee-based drinks.
★ 593 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I really enjoyed this one (but to be fair I've been on a real coffee stout kick lately). It pours a deep brown/black with a tan/brown head. The nose is just fantastic; I had to just sit and smell it for a few minutes before I even tasted it. Just has that great roasted bean scent and the mocha is certainly present (as the name suggests). It drinks a bit bitter like black coffee but it actually finishes rather smooth. There is some booziness present on the finish but generally the high alc content is masked very well. Definitely worth a try for any fans of porters or coffee-based drinks.
★ 593 characters
4.63/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at Beachwood Brewing, on to the beer:
Black colored, topped with an inch of beige head, and lingering with a lot of good lace. The aroma could be described in one word, though I like to describe a few things about it. The aroma is super! There's an insane amount of coffee and mocha. It smells like a fresh cup of coffee. Not surprisingly, it tastes accordingly like the aroma. Indeed, it is a mocha machine. The coffee also brings a pleasant smokiness which adds another layer of goodness to this beer. The alcohol, at 9.2%, is hidden very well, and is a full bodied beer which feels like crude going down.
Masterpiece! Encore! Encore!
★ 646 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at Beachwood Brewing, on to the beer:
Black colored, topped with an inch of beige head, and lingering with a lot of good lace. The aroma could be described in one word, though I like to describe a few things about it. The aroma is super! There's an insane amount of coffee and mocha. It smells like a fresh cup of coffee. Not surprisingly, it tastes accordingly like the aroma. Indeed, it is a mocha machine. The coffee also brings a pleasant smokiness which adds another layer of goodness to this beer. The alcohol, at 9.2%, is hidden very well, and is a full bodied beer which feels like crude going down.
Masterpiece! Encore! Encore!
★ 646 characters
4.34/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Started Dark Lord Day off right thanks to subpoenadeuces. Numerous pours into an Alvinne mini-snifter.
A - Unsurprising mocha foam settles to a thick collar and wisps, leaving behind specks of lacing. Black body.
S - A massive amount of coffee and espresso, with baker's chocolate and roasted malts filling things out in the periphery. Not particularly subtle, but intense, delicious, and lacking any hint of alcohol.
T - The taste is a tad more balanced, with mild notes of cocoa nib and caramel malts amid the aforementioned, coffee, roast, and chocolate. A bit of roast bitterness and acidity in the finish.
M - A tad thin for the ABV, but less offensive than if it were called a stout. Pleasant growler-level carbonation, with some dry roast and tannic grit to it. No perceptible alcohol heat.
D - We killed the growler no problem. An very good Imperial Coffee Porter that might have been appreciated even more If Pizza Port Dusk Till Dawn hadn't been a guest tap at DLD. A nice pick-me-up to start the day and to which I returned many times.
★ 1,051 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Started Dark Lord Day off right thanks to subpoenadeuces. Numerous pours into an Alvinne mini-snifter.
A - Unsurprising mocha foam settles to a thick collar and wisps, leaving behind specks of lacing. Black body.
S - A massive amount of coffee and espresso, with baker's chocolate and roasted malts filling things out in the periphery. Not particularly subtle, but intense, delicious, and lacking any hint of alcohol.
T - The taste is a tad more balanced, with mild notes of cocoa nib and caramel malts amid the aforementioned, coffee, roast, and chocolate. A bit of roast bitterness and acidity in the finish.
M - A tad thin for the ABV, but less offensive than if it were called a stout. Pleasant growler-level carbonation, with some dry roast and tannic grit to it. No perceptible alcohol heat.
D - We killed the growler no problem. An very good Imperial Coffee Porter that might have been appreciated even more If Pizza Port Dusk Till Dawn hadn't been a guest tap at DLD. A nice pick-me-up to start the day and to which I returned many times.
★ 1,051 characters
4.26/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at Beachwood II,
A: Pours black with a moderate tan head, some spotty lace.
S: Heavy coffee notes with dark chocolate, really lovely.
T: Creamed coffee with some roasted malt along with a lovely undercurrent of that dark chocolate. A dessert in itself.
M: Full-bodied, smooth, creamy of course, a soft beer for a dessert.
O: Good stuff here, fans of coffee beer will love this. Beachwood knows how to make a big porter or stout.
★ 440 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at Beachwood II,
A: Pours black with a moderate tan head, some spotty lace.
S: Heavy coffee notes with dark chocolate, really lovely.
T: Creamed coffee with some roasted malt along with a lovely undercurrent of that dark chocolate. A dessert in itself.
M: Full-bodied, smooth, creamy of course, a soft beer for a dessert.
O: Good stuff here, fans of coffee beer will love this. Beachwood knows how to make a big porter or stout.
★ 440 characters
4.29/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and lots of coffee or espresso bean aromas. Taste is much the same with a nice mocha flavor on the finish. There is a medium amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some great aromas and flavors that make this one easy to drink.
★ 627 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and lots of coffee or espresso bean aromas. Taste is much the same with a nice mocha flavor on the finish. There is a medium amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some great aromas and flavors that make this one easy to drink.
★ 627 characters
4.54/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: pours a slick black with mocha foam and intense carbonation that sheets like cray
A: portola acidity roast mocha frap meets bakers chocolate.
T: dry coffee with a milk chocolate char to it.
M: light and classic porter wash to it with that deep coffee dryness
D: exceptionally drinkable and the abv is masked very well. Reminds me of the love child of bbxxiii and bcbcs
★ 384 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A: pours a slick black with mocha foam and intense carbonation that sheets like cray
A: portola acidity roast mocha frap meets bakers chocolate.
T: dry coffee with a milk chocolate char to it.
M: light and classic porter wash to it with that deep coffee dryness
D: exceptionally drinkable and the abv is masked very well. Reminds me of the love child of bbxxiii and bcbcs
★ 384 characters
Mocha Machine from Beachwood BBQ & Brewing
4.4
out of 5
based on 177 ratings.
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I don't see how one could make a better imperial coffee beer. Everything you could ask for; great coffee nose and notes with a chocolaty base malt that balances it out perfectly. It packs a punch at 9.2%, but the alcohol is coveted up well. A must try
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