Well, well, what’s this? Not just a bottle of Highland Black Mocha Stout, a beer that I can truly say is amongst my very favorites ever, but also is from a revered Asheville, North Carolina brewery that I’ve enjoyed almost from the day I moved down south. No, this special bottle I hold in my hands is Highland Kinsman Project Black Mocha Stout.

The Kinsman Project encompasses a number of different beers, all variations on Highland’s classic mainstays. Highland says they do a new Kinsman project about 8 times a year, making it difficult to keep up with them all.  They also say on their website:

Head Brewer Hollie Stephenson describes the series as, "All natural - whole or chopped spices; fresh, chopped, pureed, or dried fruit; oak spirals - and not in extract or concentrate form. Ingredients will be local where feasible and as fresh as possible. For example, we hand-cut the dried chipotle peppers and hand-cut and scraped the vanilla pods and beans that went into the Black Mocha Stout.

From the label of Highland Kinsman Project Black Mocha Stout:

We infused our award-winning Black Mocha Stout with all natural ingredients to create a deeply rich, dark beer with notes of toasted chocolate and vanilla layered over hints of earthy smoke and spices.

Highland Kinsman Project Black Mocha Stout has an alcohol content of 5.6% by volume and I paid $8.49 for my bomber bottle. Per the label, the beer is infused with vanilla beans, chipotle peppers, cinnamon sticks and cacao nibs.

Highland Kinsman Project Black Mocha Stout pours to a jet black (but not opaque) color with a thick creamy head and a soft cocoa and coffee nose. Taking a sip, the beer is a little thinner in body than I want but quickly compensates with bittersweet dark cocoa notes, roasty coffee, underlining soft vanilla, a trace of spicy cinnamon, and gentle peppery heat. The beer finishes roasty bitter and very pleasing. In addition to more body, I think I’d like more peppery heat, but you will get a gentle spicy burn on the back of the throat after sipping. On the plus side, all the flavors contribute equally (except perhaps for the cinnamon which I fine lightest of all) and nothing occludes anything else.

Highland Kinsman Project Black Mocha Stout is VERY delicious and I wanted my bottle to never end. I do so hope that these beers are not one-offs, because given the chance, you know that this is a beer I will buy again.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler

 

 

 



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