This is one of those 'taste as you type' reviews and fill in the blanks afterwards.
On the initial pour the Rogue Mocha Porter has a deep dark brown to almost black color. I can only get a color by looking through a corner of the beer and not by looking through the glass. The head is deep and rich with many small bubbles leavened by just a few larger ones. The aroma has a definite mocha like appeal with a bit of maltiness to it. So far, so good!
On the taste this beer has a definite bit of bitterness to it that surrounds and captivates the palate. In addition there is an almost smokiness to the initial taste followed by a bit of acridness on the after taste and finish. This beer definitely has some 'heft' to it: a fullness of body I usually expect out of stouts. One of the subtle undertones of flavor that I get is that of mild grass or vegetation (a vegetal taste in wine parlance), but as it is an undertone it is fleeting in its character. Overall, across the palate, this beer is rather smooth in its character, with the exception of some of that early bitterness that is quickly quashed by a good sized sip.
The aftertaste is that of smokiness with a follow-up on the acridness and smokiness for the finish. Some of the acridness has a mild sulfurous character to it that sticks around the back and roof of the mouth after a swallow. Not unpleasant, just surprising.
With this blend and mix of flavors I can see where the brewer is going with this beer. There is a definite trend towards the mocha concept first hinted at in the aroma of the beer, but no real follow-up on the palate. What one does get is the feeling of having drunk a good coffee, with a bit of cream and nut extract (though I can't pin down which one). This is heightened even more with the aftertaste and finish, which is definitely one of a deep, dark espresso that one has just sipped.
This would make a wonderful dessert beer, especially for heavier chocolate or chocolate raspberry confections as the flavors would blend and complement each other quite well. I could also see this with a main course of polish sausage and dark rye bread with a side order of sauerkraut to complete out the flavor spectrum provided by the beer. Or you could have it like I'm having it: after a nice meal and needing to relax.
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