Here’s a new to me beer in the Highland lineup: Highland Thunderstruck Coffee Porter, a new seasonal from this Asheville, North Carolina brewer. The beer is named for Thunderstruck Ridge, a local geographical attraction in the area. I say “new” in that it was new to me in 2014 anyway, as I first enjoyed it about a year ago (November 30th, 2014) at Taco Mac here in Canton. Shortly thereafter, I bought a bottle at Total Wine and snuck it away into my beer fridge.
I enjoyed the heck out of the beer at Taco Mac, but guess what? As we shall soon see, I think I liked it even better with about a year of age on it (I drank my bottle on November 5th of 2015 and it was filled on 10/03/14). Never fear, though, as the beer is back again for 2015. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to get more.
From the label:
This robust porter has a full body with some hints of chocolate from the Chocolate Malt and Midnight Wheat. The mild hop aroma showcases the roasted flavors and subtle fruit and spice notes of the artisan fair-trade, organic coffee, roasted in the neighboring town of Black Mountain at Dynamite Roasting Company.
Ingredients from the website:
Grain: Pale Malt, Carmel 60, Chocolate Malt, Midnight Wheat, 1.5lbs coffee/bbl
Hops: Chinook, Hallertau Mittlefrue, German Select
Highland Thunderstruck Porter has an alcohol content of 5.8% by volume and 26 IBUs. This is a fall/winter seasonal beer, and I paid $5.25 for a 20-ounce mug at Taco Mac. It runs $9.99 a six-pack in bottles at Total Wine.
Highland Thunderstruck Porter pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head of foam and a senses-awakening nose of bitter coffee grounds. Taking a sip, the beer has a medium body with big roasty notes of chocolate and real coffee infused flavors reminiscent of the fresh coffee grinds that the nose promised. The finish is bitter-roasty with perhaps the faintest trace of grassy herbal hops.
Comparing the beer fresh on tap and with a year of age in the bottle, I’ll tell you that there isn’t a lot of difference between the two. As I said, though, I think I prefer it with age, because the coffee notes really seem to pop even more than they do fresh on draft, and let me tell you, they really pop there too. This is really a wonderful beer, perfect for the approaching cool and cold nights.
Would I buy it again? Oh yes, I certainly would. Highland Thunderstruck Coffee Porter left me, well, thunderstruck. Try it and see if you don’t agree.
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