Whispering Stars
Highlander Beer

really really good beer, expertly crafted and refined, a bit odd to have a baltic porter drink like a dessert beer, this is packed with coffee and cocoa and vanilla, and is richer and sweeter than the style often is, less evident that its a lager with all the extras in here, but this is excellent beer anyway, the best ive had from highlander, truly remarkable in terms of execution, lovely on draft. obsidian shine to this, looks black in the low light at bittercreek, an airy tan head rises up at least an inch high, and this fills a teku brilliantly. really polished. the aroma is seriously like brownie batter, nice roasted barley base but a lot of coffee and chocolate, rich and luxurious with some molasses too, also bitter though which is cool, a kiss of smoke, and there is balance despite the decadence, the coffee seems very high quality and i do think there is a cold fermented aspect to it, obscured yeah, but its there, and this has some cool complexity beyond the added ingredients for sure. its sweet and warming, deeply flavored, uniquely balanced, and coffee forward, fudge, nibs, beautiful, and the flavor follows, chocolate covered espresso beans right away, palate coating and a certain weight to this without its viscosity really being out of control, more evidence of lagering i suppose, but this is hearty without being filling, warming without really being boozy, and certainly sweet without being diabetic. its really chocolate and coffee the whole way, but like really adult and elegant versions of both despite the intensity, and this is so cohesive and distinct, never encountered a beer quite like it. nuances of good tobacco, craft cola actually made from kola nuts, and the vanilla bean element at the end. majorly dynamic, smooth as satin, and pretty epic for holiday time. a new high water mark for these guys, even borderline a dark beer of the year candidate for me, wowza!

Draft at Dusty Rose. Dark brown pour, ring of cream colored head. Aroma is sweet, malty, notes of chocolate. Those three elements come together in the taste, silky feel, light smoky accents. Smooth and masks it's ABV well