Highland Oatmeal Porter

Brewed by Highland Brewing Company
Style: Porter
Asheville, North Carolina USA

Draft at Taco Mac, TN. Pours black color with an average frothy light brown head that was lasting with fair lacing. Moderate roasted coffee nutty aroma. Medium body. Balanced roasted bittersweet flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of an average duration. Drinkable porter.

12 oz bottle

Thanks to Cougar for sending this as a bonus in a recent trade. It is amazing to find out how many craft brewers are plying their trade in what I have not thought of as a beer mecca. While not quite on the same level as Duck Rabbit, this is still a very well done oatmeal porter.

Aroma / Appearance - A one finger foamy head lingered over the top of a caramelized copper colored body. The aroma reminds me of fresh hot oatmeal with a trace amount of milk poured into it then topped with strawberries and sugar. Throw in a cup of straight black coffee alongside it to complete the experience.

Flavor / Palate - Mint, chocolate chips and cherry juice form the initial impression. After that comes the taste of watered down coffee with a malty prescence. Underneath the taste is a base of oatmeal and cream. The finish reminds me of a Milky Way bar. It feels just a little on the thin side but overall it is not too bad. I could see drinking this on a cool late fall or early spring day. It is a good transition from winter imperial stouts to lighter summer beers.

Tap. Creamy tan average head with great lacing. Opaque-black color. Aroma of toasted malts and some vinous hops. Flavor was semi sweet with some bitterness in the finish. Oily textured with a long lasting finish. Good but not great.

12oz Bottle @ Coles Buffalo NY. Little dissapointed. Average if best. Light body, average malt flavor. nothing special

I’m fairly fond of this one. It’s not fall-over-fabulous but is indeed tasty and hails from the same area as my mother and her side of the family so it holds that for me as well. We do have this in a store or two around here but it’s much better on tap. Has a warm, thick, smooth smell/feel. (I do realize that none of those things technically describe a "smell" or aroma but I’m still working on my ability to properly express my observations on beer in writing... bear with me.) From the aroma and color, I expected it to be a bit heavier. The appearance, aroma and taste don’t seem to match up with the relatively lighter body of the beer. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you enjoy having a few because it keeps it from getting to heavy on your tum. Somewhat chocolatey. Toasted chocolate, if there were such a thing. Again, seems it should be thicker judging from the smell and taste. Also a bit more carbonated than its other characteristics would suggest. Starts slightly sweet and finishes fairly dry. This is my favorite of the Highlands beers.

Bottle from decaturstevo - thanks! Pours a clear dark brown with a massive and lacy tan head. Chocolate and molasses aroma. Creamy medium body with light carbonation. Taste picks up some coffee, along with the chocolate and molasses. Slightly dry and bitter finish.

Flavorful and dry, this above-average porter was a pleasant experience. At the same time, it did nothing to make me wake up and take notice. Average, light brown head above a dark brown body. Average to heavy toasted malt aroma of coffee and dark chocolate. Very little sweetness in the flavor. Instead, the hop bitterness came to the front quickly. The texture was thin and slightly gritty. Average carbonation. Bitter finish.

22 oz. bottle: Deep brown pour with heavy amber highlights and thin tan cap. Light nose is mostly chocolate and bitter coffee. Medium bodied - with more exaggerated notes of espresso and sweet chocolate. I am really missing the oatmeal here - this drinks like a regular porter, which isn’t a bad thing. It just isn’t anything special either.