SOB Coffee Stout - Epic Brewing
This beer is a perfect fit for the Brew family. It is a high power Imperial stout flavored with the addition of rotating small batch coffees and cacao nibs. It is the complete package for us, and let me tell you that we were happy to get our hands on it.
Son of a Baptist (SOB) is unique in that its flavor varies based on the coffee selected for each batch. This is pretty neat, and it opens the door to so many flavors and complexities that Epic Brewing says range from fruity and sweet notes of jam and chocolate, to rich and roasted earthy flavors.
One of the reasons we started this blog is because we absolutely love the varieties of beer and coffee available in modern culture. It is mind blowing to think how many varieties can come from one coffee bean or four simple beer ingredients. This beer is a great combination of that mission.
It is quite stout at 8% ABV and it has a heavy malt bill consisting of Ultra-Premium Muntons Maris Otter, 2-Row Brewers Malt, Black Malt, Crystal Malt, Chocolate Malt, Roasted Barley, Cara-Aroma, and Demerara Sugar, and it is balanced out with powerful and aromatic Nugget, Chinook, and Cascade hops (EpicBrewing.com). Chinook is so distinct to me and it is such a great addition to this strong stout, especially when considering the coffee and cacao flavors, and the addition of Nugget and Cascade hops round it all out, making it surprisingly balanced.
First Impressions:
First Look: Lovely dark color with little head formation.
First Smell: Chocolate malty sweetness. We also get a bit of the hops, particularly Chinook and some of the floral notes of Cascade. It has a dense flavor profile that reminds me of an espresso. Noticeable ABV from the smell.
First Taste: The malt bill with the hops is robust and complex. The Chinook is very forward, but the bitterness of it complements the heavy malt sweetness. It is quite smooth for such a high ABV, making it rather easy (and dangerous) to drink. It has a great finish with a dry coffee mouthfeel going down. After getting the first drink down, the flavor that settled on the palate was almost like a frozen fudge pop, which is pretty freaking great considering it’s one of my favorite childhood treats. (Mrs. Brew agrees.)
Epic Brewing’s SOB Coffee Stout is a beer and coffee lover’s dream. It brings in all the great flavors of both, and gives drinkers the opportunity to experience it in many varieties. Epic suggests pairing is with egg dishes, waffles, and hard cheeses.
Epic Brewing is based out of Salt Lake City and Denver. And if you liked the Son of a Baptist, check out their seasonal barrel-aged Big Bad Baptist varieties of Imperial Stouts. That’s where I’m heading next.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew