Black Mocha Stout
Highland Brewing
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Stout - American
Ranked #401 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,566 - Avg:
- 3.88 | pDev: 10.82%
- Reviews:
- 472
- Ratings:
- From:
- Highland Brewing
- North Carolina, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 56
- Gots
- 201
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
Notes:
Highland’s most robust beer, having a very malty body with a large, roasted chocolate flavor, all achieved solely through the use of special roasted barley grains. It is black in color with a very clean finish and moderate hop flavor.
While the porter style was developing, some brewers produced a stout porter and over time generated a new style known simply as stout. These beers traditionally contain a distinct roasted malt flavor and can run the gamut from a dry stout, such as Guinness to a sweet stout such as Watney’s Cream Stout. Our Black Mocha falls in the sweet stout range and derives its chocolate and coffee tones from the use of appropriate roasted malt grains and is very often used as an after dinner libation or an accompaniment to dessert.
While the porter style was developing, some brewers produced a stout porter and over time generated a new style known simply as stout. These beers traditionally contain a distinct roasted malt flavor and can run the gamut from a dry stout, such as Guinness to a sweet stout such as Watney’s Cream Stout. Our Black Mocha falls in the sweet stout range and derives its chocolate and coffee tones from the use of appropriate roasted malt grains and is very often used as an after dinner libation or an accompaniment to dessert.
Reviews: 472
| Ratings: 1,131
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Reviews by richbrew:
More User Reviews:
hoptheology from South Dakota
3.74/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a coffee brown-to-black color with a light brown frothy head.
Aromas of coffee shop; burnt malts, sweet molasses, french press coffee, hazelnut, spicy amaretto, suntan lotion, and milk chocolates.
Flavor is very much in the vein of a Russian stout, with some Old Rasputin-like burnt malts, with some molasses and licorice following. Semi-sweetness pops up here and there (in the way of molasses and anise), but make no mistake, it never crosses into the "sweet" category.
Feel is very roasty, very dry, very acidic. Like drinking a cold cup of carbonated coffee.
Overall, coffee stouts aren't my thing really but I can see the merit here. Very nicely done coffee stout that's dry and roasty, and anti-sweet.
Apr 22, 2017
3.74/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a coffee brown-to-black color with a light brown frothy head.
Aromas of coffee shop; burnt malts, sweet molasses, french press coffee, hazelnut, spicy amaretto, suntan lotion, and milk chocolates.
Flavor is very much in the vein of a Russian stout, with some Old Rasputin-like burnt malts, with some molasses and licorice following. Semi-sweetness pops up here and there (in the way of molasses and anise), but make no mistake, it never crosses into the "sweet" category.
Feel is very roasty, very dry, very acidic. Like drinking a cold cup of carbonated coffee.
Overall, coffee stouts aren't my thing really but I can see the merit here. Very nicely done coffee stout that's dry and roasty, and anti-sweet.
Apr 22, 2017
TX-Badger from Texas
4/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown color with khaki colored head. Roasted malt, chocolate, and some caramel sweetness on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with a lot of roasted malt flavors. A solid stout.
Oct 17, 2016
4/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark brown color with khaki colored head. Roasted malt, chocolate, and some caramel sweetness on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with a lot of roasted malt flavors. A solid stout.
Oct 17, 2016
88caprice from Virginia
3.71/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a mason jar. Enjoyed on the porch with a friend.
It's a good, dark, creamy-headed, lacy stout. I got the malty and coffee flavors, but the so much the chocolate some report.
May 09, 2017
3.71/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a mason jar. Enjoyed on the porch with a friend.
It's a good, dark, creamy-headed, lacy stout. I got the malty and coffee flavors, but the so much the chocolate some report.
May 09, 2017
seaoflament from California
3.75/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to ncvbc for the trade.
Pours a nice dark color with an inch of mocha colored foam.
Aromas of nuts, chocolate, caramel, cocoa, and some earthy hops. There's also a good presence of chocolate and roasted malts. I'm also picking up hints of vanilla wafers, brown sugar, and hints of roasted barley and some kahlua. Indeed it smells like a starbucks mocha frappuccino. Great chocolate profile in this stout.
The taste has more roasted barley and roasted malt flavor with a dry, semi-bitter, chocolate aftertaste. There is more roasted barley in the initial taste as well as the finish than the aroma leads to believe. Good but a bit disappointing considering how good it smells.
Feels just a tad over carbonated and finishes a little thin.
Pretty solid stout, I just thought that it would have more chocolate in the taste.
Jan 31, 2008
3.75/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to ncvbc for the trade.
Pours a nice dark color with an inch of mocha colored foam.
Aromas of nuts, chocolate, caramel, cocoa, and some earthy hops. There's also a good presence of chocolate and roasted malts. I'm also picking up hints of vanilla wafers, brown sugar, and hints of roasted barley and some kahlua. Indeed it smells like a starbucks mocha frappuccino. Great chocolate profile in this stout.
The taste has more roasted barley and roasted malt flavor with a dry, semi-bitter, chocolate aftertaste. There is more roasted barley in the initial taste as well as the finish than the aroma leads to believe. Good but a bit disappointing considering how good it smells.
Feels just a tad over carbonated and finishes a little thin.
Pretty solid stout, I just thought that it would have more chocolate in the taste.
Jan 31, 2008
cosmicevan from New York
4.15/5 rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
a-Poured a watery amberish brown into my oversized snifter with a thin off-white head that didn't hang around long, but a swirl of the glass brought back some life to the head and left subtle lacing trails along the side of the glass.
s-Very malty. Soft hints of chocolate and coffee seems more porter like to me than stout-like since the smell is so soft and almost watered down, but not in a bad way.
t-Really comes to life in my mouth. Great malty flavor. Crisp with subtle chocolate and coffee. It is different in that the flavors are nicely balanced and not in your face like a lot of what's out there.
m-Subtle tingle and pretty light. Watery without being watered down. Cooling and refreshing...surprising for a stout.
d-I really thoroughly enjoyed this brew. I question calling this a stout...seems way more porter like to me, but none-the-less I could easily throw back several of these in an evening. It is light and soft.
Dec 28, 2010
4.15/5 rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
a-Poured a watery amberish brown into my oversized snifter with a thin off-white head that didn't hang around long, but a swirl of the glass brought back some life to the head and left subtle lacing trails along the side of the glass.
s-Very malty. Soft hints of chocolate and coffee seems more porter like to me than stout-like since the smell is so soft and almost watered down, but not in a bad way.
t-Really comes to life in my mouth. Great malty flavor. Crisp with subtle chocolate and coffee. It is different in that the flavors are nicely balanced and not in your face like a lot of what's out there.
m-Subtle tingle and pretty light. Watery without being watered down. Cooling and refreshing...surprising for a stout.
d-I really thoroughly enjoyed this brew. I question calling this a stout...seems way more porter like to me, but none-the-less I could easily throw back several of these in an evening. It is light and soft.
Dec 28, 2010
Big78CJ from Michigan
3.92/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Not quite as black as I would expect for a beer with Black in the name. There are lighter brown hints around the bottom of the glass and al ight tan head that vanishes quickly. Roasted chocolate malt is the most defining smell but overall the aroma is not as powerful as I expected. The chocolate malt has a sweet, almost milk chocolate smell. Very mild hop taste carries through a milky & malty beverage. The malty flavor and creaminess is fantastically tasty. Smokey flavor like dark roasted cofee makes this a perfect treat for late afternoon. Light and watery mouthfeel from the hops but a milky/malty stout coats the inside of the mouth. I find it just as creamy as a milk stout but with a cleaner mouthfeel. For less than $3 for a tall bottle, I could easily drink this more often.
Feb 12, 2008
3.92/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Not quite as black as I would expect for a beer with Black in the name. There are lighter brown hints around the bottom of the glass and al ight tan head that vanishes quickly. Roasted chocolate malt is the most defining smell but overall the aroma is not as powerful as I expected. The chocolate malt has a sweet, almost milk chocolate smell. Very mild hop taste carries through a milky & malty beverage. The malty flavor and creaminess is fantastically tasty. Smokey flavor like dark roasted cofee makes this a perfect treat for late afternoon. Light and watery mouthfeel from the hops but a milky/malty stout coats the inside of the mouth. I find it just as creamy as a milk stout but with a cleaner mouthfeel. For less than $3 for a tall bottle, I could easily drink this more often.
Feb 12, 2008
jburris64 from Georgia
4.73/5 rDev +21.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
One of my new favorite beers. This one whee poured from a bottle into a pint, had a very dark, almost black coloring, with a light tan head. Stout flavor bitter but did not bite. Smooth with a pleasant after taste.
Nice lace on the rim, coffee and chocolate notes on the nose.
My only complaint is I didn't freeze the glass.
Jun 29, 2014
4.73/5 rDev +21.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
One of my new favorite beers. This one whee poured from a bottle into a pint, had a very dark, almost black coloring, with a light tan head. Stout flavor bitter but did not bite. Smooth with a pleasant after taste.
Nice lace on the rim, coffee and chocolate notes on the nose.
My only complaint is I didn't freeze the glass.
Jun 29, 2014
BeerSox from Virginia
3.98/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz bottle into pint-ish glass
Almost dark black hue with a tan head that lasts forever. Settles to a thin cap. Strong layered lacing.
Dark roasty malts with a touch of chocolate.
Dark bitter malts with a creamy middle. Good balancing hop bitterness. Finishes slightly dry with the roasty malts and some hop bitternes. Medium body, but it seems a little thin for a stout.
Overall good beer with only hints of mocha. Pretty much your average American Stout, but a very good edition of it. Recommended.
Nov 23, 2006
3.98/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz bottle into pint-ish glass
Almost dark black hue with a tan head that lasts forever. Settles to a thin cap. Strong layered lacing.
Dark roasty malts with a touch of chocolate.
Dark bitter malts with a creamy middle. Good balancing hop bitterness. Finishes slightly dry with the roasty malts and some hop bitternes. Medium body, but it seems a little thin for a stout.
Overall good beer with only hints of mocha. Pretty much your average American Stout, but a very good edition of it. Recommended.
Nov 23, 2006
Scott_McCool from Florida
4/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 02, 2019
4/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 02, 2019
BoozerBrad from Texas
3.57/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Mar 19, 2016
3.57/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Mar 19, 2016
tpd975 from Florida
3.91/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a nice deep dark black. Tall mocha head that has nice retention and some sheet lacing.
S: Very roasty with lots of chocolate and coffee.
T: Roasted chocolate malt, baker chocolate, cheap coffee, lightly hopped finish. Simple yet pretty tasty.
M: Medium in body, smooth nicely carbonated.
D: Good, solid easy drinking stout.
Feb 12, 2010
3.91/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a nice deep dark black. Tall mocha head that has nice retention and some sheet lacing.
S: Very roasty with lots of chocolate and coffee.
T: Roasted chocolate malt, baker chocolate, cheap coffee, lightly hopped finish. Simple yet pretty tasty.
M: Medium in body, smooth nicely carbonated.
D: Good, solid easy drinking stout.
Feb 12, 2010
Freeman132 from North Carolina
3.25/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
May 09, 2016
3.25/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
May 09, 2016
malcontent from Illinois
4.14/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Solid mass of black liquid with just a touch of head and tan, haphazard lacing.
Rich cocoa aromas mingle with restrained hops and toasted grains. Mild, sweet tobacco scent picks up near the end.
Not nearly the chocolate rush I'd expected, the rich, burnt nature of the malt is showcased instead with well rounded stout character.
Slight astringency on the finish is the only drawback to what is a solid, highly drinkable American stout.
Jan 18, 2007
4.14/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Solid mass of black liquid with just a touch of head and tan, haphazard lacing.
Rich cocoa aromas mingle with restrained hops and toasted grains. Mild, sweet tobacco scent picks up near the end.
Not nearly the chocolate rush I'd expected, the rich, burnt nature of the malt is showcased instead with well rounded stout character.
Slight astringency on the finish is the only drawback to what is a solid, highly drinkable American stout.
Jan 18, 2007
Black Mocha Stout from Highland Brewing
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
1131 ratings
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