Highland - Oatmeal Porter

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Oatmeal Porter
Highland Brewing Company 
12 Old Charlotte Highway
Asheville, NC USA
Est.1994
www.highlandrewing.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.8 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review 
Cola black color letting through very little light.
Very pleasing roast malt and chocolate aromas.
Minimal caramel colored head that evaporated quickly to a skim coating.
Slight carbonation.  Smooth and silky.
Full malt and chocolate taste with slight hops bitters.
Oatmeal flavors on the back of the tongue as it warmed in the glass.
Medium body, hearty flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
32IBU's are tucked neatly into this cola black, chocolaty porter.  It smells and tastes delicious.  This porter hails from some of the Reaper's old stomping grounds, North Cacalackey.  Asheville is probably most famous for the Biltmore House on the Biltmore Estate built more (or less) by George Vanderbilt.  As an unusual consequence, it's also home to the swanky-est McDonald's restaurant, featuring not one, but two fireplaces in the dining room. There are vaulted ceilings and a grand piano as well.  Guess the McDonald's felt the need to keep up with the Vandy's.

One of the notable things remembered from our 4 years residence in NC was the fact that Scots had been among the first to settle the state.  They were hard working, and toiled the land, building estates, farms and fortunes in the process.  So it comes as no surprise that this beer takes a cue from the rich heritage those Scottish Highlanders indelibly left behind.  As for kilts and bagpipes, that's a story for another day, but duly noted that the youngest in our reaper clan played in a famous "Kiltie" high school band after we relocated the crypt to Florida.  Aye!  Bluuuudie Kilties!  Aye!

History lessons aside, I was pleased with this porter and paired it (albeit unusually) with a bowl of chili. On the last days of this cold wave in FL, the combo was fortifying and satisfying to say the least.  It will make a new "comfort food" on my list of things to eat on cooler days.  I'll pass on the haggis.....whew ewww.....haggis!?!