Highland Shining Rock Lager

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

Tap @ Barley’s Taproom - This beer was a complete surprise to me. When I ordered it I was thinking of a traditional spring lager but when it arrived it was a dark red in color and looked like an ale. It was VERY tastey. Wonderful caramel malts with a slight hop finish. I would have thought this would of been a fall beer but I’m glad it came out now. I’ve ordered it 4 times at Barley’s and love it everytime I get it.

Very nice spring seasonal. Was not expecting much when I saw "Lager". But this is a very tasty Heller Bock. Nice creamy white head. Spicy, slightly nutty with just right hop flavor. This is a great spring, cool weather treat from one of the best breweries in the south.

Tap. pours a dark amber, thin white head. Great lacing. Toasted malt aroma. Nice sweetness. Surprising appearance, wonderful aroma, but the flavor... Wow. Very full flavored. And it’s a lager! Rich nutty, caramel malt. Lots of earthy flavors, so toasty, and nutty. Finishes with a very soul quenching spice. Nice noble hop bitterness. The finish is not distant from the flavors of a Mr. Pibb. Kinda tasty. Very filling. Surprising and overall a great find. Cheers!

Appearance: Lovely! A nice, deep amber body with a well-formed, frothy, white head. Smell: Aroma of toasted, biscuity malts with an overlaying note of spice. Taste: Toasted caramel and biscuit crumbs with an everpresent spice character, a bit like cinnamon, and a medium sweetness. Dry nuttiness. Spicy hops, restrained bitterness. Finishes decidedly sweet though, with a taste of toast and honey. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-low carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel. Drinkability: Whaddya know, it’s pretty good! Having done zero research beforehand, I was wrongly assuming Highland was just cranking out some bland, basic lager. Shame on ME.

12 oz. Dark copper with a medium-sized, lasting head. Nice frosty lace everywhere. Earth-spicy grain, molasses, occasional corn, woody and toasted nut aroma. Flavors are similar, but have some caramel and more emphasis on the spiciness, wood and nuts. Even some dry cocoa in the finish, and occasional iron. Slightly larger-than-medium body is smooth and dry. Was kind of postponing the tasting/rating of this lager, but this is one damn fine bier. Beats the hell out of Dead Guy and is one of the best lagers I’ve ever had.

Tasted 7/8. Looks: Amber Body, small head clings to the glass. Aroma: Grain, pine,hay, roast. Hard water. Taste: Very malt and grain. Quite spicy. Not sticky sweet. a little peat in there. Moderate chew.Pretty good.

Bottle from Sam’s. Given the name, I was surprised to see the copper/amber pour coming out of the bottle. Pleasantly surprised, I might add. Malty nose. A bit of floral hops. Sweet notes of caramel and toffee. Toasty. Similar on the palate. Quite drinkable. Another solid offering from this brewery.

I found this at Five Points Bottle Shop in Athens, which looks much more respectable inside than out. I actually picked up a ton of stuff there. This is definitely the best beer store I’ve found in Georgia outside of Greens. Anyway, the beer pours a clear copper. The aroma is richly malty. There’s a caramel and honey quality to it and an earthy maltiness that’s quite satsifying. It’s perhaps a little too sweet for true quaffability, but tasty, nonetheless.