Mocha Lisa
River Horse Brewing Co.

 

Poured from a 16 oz. can, Mocha Lisa is a dark brown imperial porter, with a moderate tan head rising above the nicely carbonated brew. Coffee and chocolate notes comingle pleasantly upon the nose. The taste is clean and refreshing, with a balanced sweetness. A nice, substantial lattice forms and holds as you consume. I frequently find coffee overwhelming chocolate in other brews, but they are perfectly balanced here. The substantial 9% alcohol is well masked, resulting in a smooth, light tasting beverage that is eminently drinkable. I called River Horse a couple of days ago, trying to get an idea when their Chocolate Porter would be released, and was told that both Mocha Lisa and Chocolate Porter were being discontinued. I quickly ran out and bought a farewell case of Mocha Lisa. River Horse has reached the conclusion that their porters do not sell well enough, and sometime in January or February, they will be unveiling a chocolate stout. Alas, poor Mocha Lisa.. I knew ye well.

DATE: October 17, 2109... OCCASION: Thursday night before our TV room receives high hats to improve the viewing process... GLASSWARE: Duvel snifter... pours a jet black body with a light brown, half-fingered had that sits thickly in waves... intimidating at 9%... oat grains, ginger bread, vanilla, plum, intense roasted coffee, lactose, and some vegetable matter... I like this, generally, for its size and strength... chocolate is light... this is milky, creamy, like a...well, like a mocha chino or rich coffee with just the right amount of creamer... this is flavorful, with the coffee and vanilla framing this as a dessert, while the sweetness and fire engage the taste buds as a dinner in itself... a bit boozy, but not off-putting... one can puts me in a good place, and a second solidifies the experience... this is better than the other reviewers have found it--I like its strength and reasonably balanced elements... nice label too

 

 

Sampling a cellar temp 16 oz can poured into my snifter. The beer pours a clear cola colored brown hue with a creamy and fluffy khaki colored head of 2 cm. This foam fades slowly leaving dense lattice on my glass throughout the sampling. Leaving a fairly dense surface layer that sticks around through the entire sampling.
The aroma is some sweet caramel and roasted malt notes with a bit of dark chocolate and some sweet coffee. In the light and sweet Dunks variety, with also a little vanilla. No hops and I am surprised when I see the 9% ABV on the can as I dont get any hints on the nose. Nice malty nose.
First sip reveals an average body with silky smooth texture and very fine and gentle carbonation. The carbonation bubbles add just a little depth to the beer physically and are a boost for the experience.
Flavor is what I expect, with sweet chocolate, some vanilla and a bit of roasted malt and coffee too. The finish lingers as a sweeter profile, but certainly isnt cloying. The ABV is also very well hidden as the beer goes down dangerously easy.
I havent been amazed by Riverhorse in the past, but this one is a solid malt forward brew and worth picking up if you see it.

-Imperial Porter with cocoa and aged on Ugandon Coffee beans.

A: Dark walnut pour, sits a dull plum black in the vessel. A good dark peanut shell colored head is one finger standing, smooth and creamy, and well lasting. A good sense of carbonation is observed within while a healthy dose of lace coverage graces the vessel walls with a smooth, milky coating.

S: Milky vanilla bean scents, sweet upfront is followed by a smooth chocolate whole coffee bean roastiness. Dry cocoa and coffee beans are met with a faint charred backing of good strength.

T: The flavor was creamy vanilla coffee richness, sweet with a dry roasted bean finish. Sweetened dark fruit, plums with a sprinkle of campfire ash. Figs and dark caramel bring some sweetness along with a spiciness of licorice and toasted oak. Chocolate malts are really dark and rich, very smooth with some alcohol warming.

M: Creamy milky texture, softly carbonated with a nice fullness.

O: A nice mixture of sweet vanilla, coffee-mocha flavors. Smooth texture, spicy licorice and alcohol warming. Nice drinkability with a building roasty coffee finish that only increases with each sip.

 

 

 

 

A - Dark brown pour with toffee colored lacing that sticks to the sides of the glass.

S - Light char and smoke with mocha and chocolate.

T - Follows the nose with more intensity. Char, chocolate, mocha, chocolate roasted cream, and a lingering chocolate char bitterness that's right in the sweet spot.

M - Medium body but a little thin.

O - This one is an eye opener for me. Will re-visit beers from this brewery.

 

 

Almost solid black. At least a medium body, slight thick almost oily feel with medium light carbonation .
Aroma is a really nice mix of roasted malts, roasted dark black coffee. Dark chocolate and milk chocolate sugary toffee .
Taste is roasted malts and dark coffee, slightly sweet but with a bit of coffee bitterness. Milk and dark chocolate are very present and work really well with the roasted malts and coffee.
Excellent beer that works as a dessert beer but isn't overly sweet and is dry enough to have anytime

**
02/09/2019

Can to wine glass.

LOOK: Dark black. Frothy beige head. Excellent retention. frothy legs
AROMA: coffee and vanilla are prominent with small hints of dark chocolate roasted barley and mineral.
TASTE: barley and coffee. doesn't have the quality expected from the aroma, but still pretty tasty.
FEEL: super smooth. mostly heavy, but not quite full bodied. light to medium carbonation.

A nice brew from my neighbors at River Horse. And a cool can to boot ( I always thought DaVinci never used enough hippopotami in his artwork).

**