Mocha Machine
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing


Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Beachwood BBQ & Brewing
- California, United States
- Style:
- Porter - Imperial
Ranked #23 - ABV:
- 9.2%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #1,096 - Avg:
- 4.33 | pDev: 7.16%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Saturday at 09:30 PM
- Added:
- Mar 20, 2013
- Wants:
- 72
- Gots:
- 47
SCORE
96
World-Class
96
World-Class


Notes:
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.22/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by Viaduck from California
Dark, dark brown with a fairly thick tan head. Aroma is mostly coffee & milk chocolate with some toffee sweetness. Mildly sweet with flavors of coffee, milk chocolate, lactose & a hint of spicy hops. Creamy & silky smooth with adequate carbonation. No hint of alcohol. Excellent.
Saturday at 09:30 PM
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by Viaduck from California
Dark, dark brown with a fairly thick tan head. Aroma is mostly coffee & milk chocolate with some toffee sweetness. Mildly sweet with flavors of coffee, milk chocolate, lactose & a hint of spicy hops. Creamy & silky smooth with adequate carbonation. No hint of alcohol. Excellent.
Saturday at 09:30 PM
3.58 by TMoney2591 from Illinois on Feb 21, 2022
4.49 by socon67 from New York on Nov 11, 2021
3.5 by BigIronH from Michigan on Oct 21, 2021
3.63 by Resistance88 from California on Oct 14, 2021
3.98/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by LampertLand from Canada (BC)
Beechwood Brewing 'Mocha Machine' @ 9.2% , served from a 12 fl oz can
A-pour is cola brown from the can to black in the glass with a small tan head , leaving a fine spotty lace along the tulip
S-hints of coffee
T-more chocolate at the start , slight bitter coffee finish
MF-mild carbonation , feels full bodied
Ov-good Imperial coffee/chocolate porter
prost LampertLand
Aug 01, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by LampertLand from Canada (BC)
Beechwood Brewing 'Mocha Machine' @ 9.2% , served from a 12 fl oz can
A-pour is cola brown from the can to black in the glass with a small tan head , leaving a fine spotty lace along the tulip
S-hints of coffee
T-more chocolate at the start , slight bitter coffee finish
MF-mild carbonation , feels full bodied
Ov-good Imperial coffee/chocolate porter
prost LampertLand
Aug 01, 2021
3.87/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Roguer from Connecticut
Interestingly, this beer is clearly a dark, nutty brown, close to black but not quite there. Decent head production, good retention, and nice lacing.
Tons of coffee on the nose, really overwhelming the roasted malt base and any of the cacao. It smells quite nice, and if you're looking for a coffee-forward coffee stout, this hits the mark!
Thankfully, the coffee doesn't quite dominate the palate in the way it does the nose - although it's still strong, especially by mid sip. Cola, prune, toast, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, a bit of brown sugar.
Drinks a touch thin for the ABV.
Apr 04, 2021
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Roguer from Connecticut
Interestingly, this beer is clearly a dark, nutty brown, close to black but not quite there. Decent head production, good retention, and nice lacing.
Tons of coffee on the nose, really overwhelming the roasted malt base and any of the cacao. It smells quite nice, and if you're looking for a coffee-forward coffee stout, this hits the mark!
Thankfully, the coffee doesn't quite dominate the palate in the way it does the nose - although it's still strong, especially by mid sip. Cola, prune, toast, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, a bit of brown sugar.
Drinks a touch thin for the ABV.
Apr 04, 2021
4.25 by Stengelfoot from California on Sep 15, 2020
4.3/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
by RyanK252 from California
Can poured into a Founders Brewing Co snifter
A: Pours nearly black with a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and laces nicely.
S: Roasty, bold coffee, dark chocolate, char, and a hint of smoke, earthy, spicy herbal notes, faint pine, caramel toffee sweetness, and just a touch of alcohol can poke through as it warms.
T: Roasty goodness, milk and dark chocolate followed by a nice hit of coffee, earthy, a touch of char, spicy, piney, and herbal undertones, caramel, toffee, and almost lactose like sweetness.
M: Full body, mild carbonation, creamy smooth. Damn near perfect.
O: We've seen more Beachwood stuff roll into my area in the last couple years, all delicious, so I've become a big fan of theirs. Been wanting to try this one, hoping it would show up, so when I saw a can in the beer cave at my local shop I snapped it up. Definitely lives up to expectations. There's a little more sweetness in the taste than the nose would let on, but overall it's a really nice chocolate coffee imperial porter.
Jul 22, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
by RyanK252 from California
Can poured into a Founders Brewing Co snifter
A: Pours nearly black with a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and laces nicely.
S: Roasty, bold coffee, dark chocolate, char, and a hint of smoke, earthy, spicy herbal notes, faint pine, caramel toffee sweetness, and just a touch of alcohol can poke through as it warms.
T: Roasty goodness, milk and dark chocolate followed by a nice hit of coffee, earthy, a touch of char, spicy, piney, and herbal undertones, caramel, toffee, and almost lactose like sweetness.
M: Full body, mild carbonation, creamy smooth. Damn near perfect.
O: We've seen more Beachwood stuff roll into my area in the last couple years, all delicious, so I've become a big fan of theirs. Been wanting to try this one, hoping it would show up, so when I saw a can in the beer cave at my local shop I snapped it up. Definitely lives up to expectations. There's a little more sweetness in the taste than the nose would let on, but overall it's a really nice chocolate coffee imperial porter.
Jul 22, 2020
4 by TallGuyCM from California on Jun 11, 2020
4.35 by RMW66 from Australia on Apr 18, 2020
4.34/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by BucannonXC5 from California
Type: 12-oz. can
Reviewed as: Imperial Porter
Glass: Ball 16-oz. mason jar
Price: $12.39 for a 4-pack
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Jan. 31, 2020
Consumed: Jan. 31, 2020
Misc.: Canned on Jan. 8, 2020
I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve seen this in a can (or a bottle), but went to Windmill Farms looking for a stout or porter and this fit the bill. Had this three times before, giving it a 4.25 on Untappd on Aug. 3, 2016 (“Had high hopes and this delivered. Imperial Chocolate Coffee Porter, but you can take away chocolate and porter. Delicious.”), Oct. 17, 2017 (“Jesus. Solid Air Force. Almost a 4.50.”), and March 8, 2019 (“Always so good. So close to a 4.5. Setting up a court date now.”) Here’s the court date. Beer Advocate description read, “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.”
Poured a pitch black color with one finger of khaki tan frothy-to-fizzy head. Could see some bubble streams creeping up along the sides of the glass. Outstanding spotty lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 4.00)
Smelled mocha, roasted dark coffee malts, cacao, bitter dark chocolate, ashtray, semi-char wood, anise, molasses and cocoa. (Smell - 4.25)
Tasted better than the nose. First thing I thought was that it was so much smoother than the nose. In order got mocha, roasted coffee malts, cacao, ashtray, charwood, anise, molasses, bitter dark chocolate, cocoa powder, baker’s chocolate and roasted barley. Excellent taste and that 9.2 pct. is well hidden. (Taste - 4.50)
Full body. Sticky-to-slick texture. Average carbonation. Long, roasty finish. (Feel - 4.25)
Excellent. Glad I got to have this in cans and got the chance to review it. (Overall - 4.25)
4.34 | 96 | A
Apr 12, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by BucannonXC5 from California
Type: 12-oz. can
Reviewed as: Imperial Porter
Glass: Ball 16-oz. mason jar
Price: $12.39 for a 4-pack
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Jan. 31, 2020
Consumed: Jan. 31, 2020
Misc.: Canned on Jan. 8, 2020
I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve seen this in a can (or a bottle), but went to Windmill Farms looking for a stout or porter and this fit the bill. Had this three times before, giving it a 4.25 on Untappd on Aug. 3, 2016 (“Had high hopes and this delivered. Imperial Chocolate Coffee Porter, but you can take away chocolate and porter. Delicious.”), Oct. 17, 2017 (“Jesus. Solid Air Force. Almost a 4.50.”), and March 8, 2019 (“Always so good. So close to a 4.5. Setting up a court date now.”) Here’s the court date. Beer Advocate description read, “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.”
Poured a pitch black color with one finger of khaki tan frothy-to-fizzy head. Could see some bubble streams creeping up along the sides of the glass. Outstanding spotty lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 4.00)
Smelled mocha, roasted dark coffee malts, cacao, bitter dark chocolate, ashtray, semi-char wood, anise, molasses and cocoa. (Smell - 4.25)
Tasted better than the nose. First thing I thought was that it was so much smoother than the nose. In order got mocha, roasted coffee malts, cacao, ashtray, charwood, anise, molasses, bitter dark chocolate, cocoa powder, baker’s chocolate and roasted barley. Excellent taste and that 9.2 pct. is well hidden. (Taste - 4.50)
Full body. Sticky-to-slick texture. Average carbonation. Long, roasty finish. (Feel - 4.25)
Excellent. Glad I got to have this in cans and got the chance to review it. (Overall - 4.25)
4.34 | 96 | A
Apr 12, 2020
4.22 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado on Jan 25, 2020
4.21/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by zonker17 from Texas
Bought bottle 2017. Near black with beige head, light retention, no lacing. Big chocolate, smooth. Roast malt compliments or adds to chocolate character. Body above average, could be a bit bigger. Overall tasty ale.
Jan 25, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by zonker17 from Texas
Bought bottle 2017. Near black with beige head, light retention, no lacing. Big chocolate, smooth. Roast malt compliments or adds to chocolate character. Body above average, could be a bit bigger. Overall tasty ale.
Jan 25, 2020
3.77/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by johnnyboy76 from Oregon
Smelled great. Taste was true to the title, but way too thin. This needs some body. Especially for an imperial. More like the body of a standard porter but more abv. Not impressed
Dec 19, 2019
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by johnnyboy76 from Oregon
Smelled great. Taste was true to the title, but way too thin. This needs some body. Especially for an imperial. More like the body of a standard porter but more abv. Not impressed
Dec 19, 2019
4.38 by shelby415 from Oregon on Nov 24, 2019
4.21 by Sparky44 from Illinois on Nov 09, 2019
4.25/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois
Holy coffee batman!
Nov 07, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois
Holy coffee batman!
Nov 07, 2019
4.31/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by oldmankoch from Tennessee
Crazy amounts of coffee/chocolate....perhaps just a touch too thin.
Oct 15, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by oldmankoch from Tennessee
Crazy amounts of coffee/chocolate....perhaps just a touch too thin.
Oct 15, 2019
4.76 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona on Sep 27, 2019
4.1 by dsshuck from Delaware on Sep 24, 2019
4.48 by DEMRY10 from California on Sep 23, 2019
4.46 by KingforaDay from New Jersey on Aug 04, 2019
4.38 by SANDSTORM from California on Feb 22, 2019
4.42/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by augustgarage from California
Packaged on January 7th, enjoyed on February 2nd - poured from a 12oz can into my Bruery tulip.
Seal brown liquid, nearly opaque, but clear with a faint auburn highlights and a lasting finger of almond stiff peaks, dusted with small pools of deeper tan foam. Rich sudsy lacing, sticky panes of tears, good retention.
Coffee and complex roasted malt appear in equal measure in the nose with a low cocoa note around the edges. A touch of citrus (orange) and strawberry perhaps from the hops emerges as well.
Rich, luxurious palate entry, bittersweet but refined, the chocolate and coffee both very smooth, the latter occasionally bright with a hint of citrus. Deeply malty, slightly grainy, yet clean if not fully attenuated. Lacks the roasted barley or char of many stouts, so this is clearly a big porter. Medium finish, a little sweet but not cloying. Big pleasant flavors abound - although with mild bitterness and barely discernible hop presence.
Chewy, medium-full bodied with a touch of alcohol warmth.
One of the best "breakfast" beers I've had - an excellent value, well worth tracking down.
Feb 02, 2019
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by augustgarage from California
Packaged on January 7th, enjoyed on February 2nd - poured from a 12oz can into my Bruery tulip.
Seal brown liquid, nearly opaque, but clear with a faint auburn highlights and a lasting finger of almond stiff peaks, dusted with small pools of deeper tan foam. Rich sudsy lacing, sticky panes of tears, good retention.
Coffee and complex roasted malt appear in equal measure in the nose with a low cocoa note around the edges. A touch of citrus (orange) and strawberry perhaps from the hops emerges as well.
Rich, luxurious palate entry, bittersweet but refined, the chocolate and coffee both very smooth, the latter occasionally bright with a hint of citrus. Deeply malty, slightly grainy, yet clean if not fully attenuated. Lacks the roasted barley or char of many stouts, so this is clearly a big porter. Medium finish, a little sweet but not cloying. Big pleasant flavors abound - although with mild bitterness and barely discernible hop presence.
Chewy, medium-full bodied with a touch of alcohol warmth.
One of the best "breakfast" beers I've had - an excellent value, well worth tracking down.
Feb 02, 2019
3.58 by edsanchezz28 from California on Jan 20, 2019
4.2 by michiganmatt from California on Jan 17, 2019
4.43 by Curt3 from New Jersey on Oct 26, 2018
4.49 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin on Oct 14, 2018
4 by wati47 from Nevada on Jul 30, 2018
4 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands on Jun 16, 2018
4.02 by cd34 from Illinois on May 26, 2018
4.23 by Vicirus from Massachusetts on May 06, 2018
3.7 by AuntBea from Illinois on Apr 24, 2018
4.58 by maltznhopz from Nevada on Apr 05, 2018
4.25 by cbcrunch from Wyoming on Mar 28, 2018
4.48/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by RaulMondesi from California
Darker than a Joseph Conrad novel, I’m into this. On the nose is luscious coffee and chocolate like Willy Wonka vacationing in Costa Rica. Then what greets my tongue should almost be illegal; those chocolate and coffee flavors are more robust than A Stormy Daniels interview - it almost makes Raul feel kind of kinky.
Just get this, my children. If you can, get this.
Mar 26, 2018
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by RaulMondesi from California
Darker than a Joseph Conrad novel, I’m into this. On the nose is luscious coffee and chocolate like Willy Wonka vacationing in Costa Rica. Then what greets my tongue should almost be illegal; those chocolate and coffee flavors are more robust than A Stormy Daniels interview - it almost makes Raul feel kind of kinky.
Just get this, my children. If you can, get this.
Mar 26, 2018
4.41/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by SoCal_Matt from California
12 oz can poured into a snifter. Pours a beautiful, deep dark brown with two fingers of khaki head. Aroma is dominated by chocolate and coffee that has a hint of spice to it. The taste follows the nose as chocolate and roasted coffee continue to be the main characteristics of the beer. It strikes a good balance of being a little sweet but also bitter at the same time. As with the aroma, the coffee flavor has a bit of spice to it which is something that makes a great coffee stout in my opinion. The feel is average to slightly thin for the style but the carbonation is absolutely perfect. Overall, this is an excellent coffee stout that fans of the style will most certainly enjoy. Beachwood moving this beer from bombers to cans means that I will definitely purchase it more often.
Mar 23, 2018
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by SoCal_Matt from California
12 oz can poured into a snifter. Pours a beautiful, deep dark brown with two fingers of khaki head. Aroma is dominated by chocolate and coffee that has a hint of spice to it. The taste follows the nose as chocolate and roasted coffee continue to be the main characteristics of the beer. It strikes a good balance of being a little sweet but also bitter at the same time. As with the aroma, the coffee flavor has a bit of spice to it which is something that makes a great coffee stout in my opinion. The feel is average to slightly thin for the style but the carbonation is absolutely perfect. Overall, this is an excellent coffee stout that fans of the style will most certainly enjoy. Beachwood moving this beer from bombers to cans means that I will definitely purchase it more often.
Mar 23, 2018
4.33 by NolaHopHead from Louisiana on Mar 14, 2018
4.29 by MDDMD from Pennsylvania on Feb 16, 2018
Mocha Machine from Beachwood BBQ & Brewing
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
280 ratings