Big Bad Baptist - Epic Brewing Co.

oline73

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a tasting glass.

Appearance: Pours almost black with a layer of tan head that fades fairly quickly. This is a very smooth beer. Roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate. There is just the right level of sweetness. This is a very good imperial stout. I'd definitely have more.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 23:22:42 | More by oline73

maximum12

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This gets my nomination for beer name of the year. When I read about this release, I giggled & had to have one. Luckily it showed up locally. 22 oz. bottle split into two Darkness glasses. Release #1.

Pour is black. Nose catapults out of the bottle whilst the beer is mixing with the air with a blast of coffee, coffee, & maybe a little roast.

Big Bad Baptist should be the brew of choice for Mitt's coming campaign. This beer could keep people up a night, there are at least sixteen shots of espresso topping off whatever beer is present. There are also a few layers that come with a distinctiveness that's startling. Under the coffee there's vanilla/bourbon, then to a lesser degree, sweet malts. Roast is mixed in somewhere, indistinguishable from the coffee except for the char shadowing the aftertaste. But ultimately this is a coffee game that goes genocide on everything else, limiting its upside.

This is a big improvement on the Epic Imperial Stout, but I wish the entire ton of coffee didn't fall into the mash tun. Oh well. Ultimately, a good beer that could use a lighter spin in the coffee washer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2011 04:00:30 | More by maximum12

billab914

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Batch 1 poured from a 22oz bottle into my Stone IRS glass. It poured black in color with a frothy tan head barely covering the top of the beer and clinging to the edges of the glass. Nice lacing as I drank it.

The aroma shows a good amount of roasty, bitter coffee flavors to it. The chocolaty flavors really come out in it as well and mix pretty nicely with the whiskey. Some notes of oak and vanilla smooth it out a little. The coffee is a little dominating, but it's a pretty nice aroma overall.

The taste also has a big roasty and bitter coffee flavor throughout. It's a a little overpowering of the other flavors for me. In the finish I do get some of the dark, bitter-sweet chocolate and whiskey flavors coming out along with just a hint of vanilla.

The mouthfeel is heavy with carbonation being low. Overall it was a pretty decent beer, but the roasty, bitter, coffee was a little overpowering for me. I liked the coffee flavors, it just overshadowed the chocolate and whiskey a little too much for me. A little more balance would have really gone a long way. Pretty decent beer of the style, but not an outstanding one for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 01:55:29 | More by billab914

ehammond1

California

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Effectively black with a thin brown head. Leave the glass oily and spotted on the way down.

Full aroma of chocolate, mild coffee, and complementary whiskey and barrel. Vanilla and oak combine nicely with the base beer.

The flavor is, too, very well integrated. Nice combination of melted chocolates, some coffee, and integrated bourbon and barrel flavor. Alcohol is hidden very well. Some mild roast and molasses present.

Near full in body with low-moderate carbonation.

A very nice beer. I wish I could find a bottle of this to enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2013 15:48:25 | More by ehammond1

ArrogantB

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at hops and pie. Standard imperial stout appearance: motor oil. Filmy head. Aroma was the most glorious coffee beans, so rich with a dab of chocolate. The flavor followed suit and was just as nice. Overall this was a fantastic beer and I need to score some bottles of this stuff or else head back for another glass.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2012 18:53:45 | More by ArrogantB

mdaschaf

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Review from notes.

A: Pours black with a small off-white head on top, quickly reducing to a thin cap. Minimal lacing.

S: Lots of cocoa and chocolate upfront. Some light coffee with nice roasted malt. As it warms the coffee aroma intensifies. The barrel imparts a bit of vanilla.

T: Really nice combination of coffee and chocolate here, both a bold flavors that blend nicely for an almost mocha like flavor. Nice roasted malt underneath with a slight kick from the whiskey barrels.

M: Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Abv hidden nicely, but slightly warm as it goes down.

O: Was very impressed with this beer. Glad that Epic is now in WA.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 15:20:19 | More by mdaschaf

flexabull

California

4.26/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Batch #8

Pours a deep dark flat black color with a small tan head.

Aromas are very nice. Lots of coffee up front, both dark roasted beans, and brewed espresso. Some bourbon and cocoa as well.

Taste is smooth, and fairly easy to drink for such a beast of a beer. Coffee forward, but not overly so like I find a lot of coffee stouts. Light bourbon, heavy roasted malts, and cocoa notes. Finish is warm, with some pine bitterness.

Mouthfeel is smooth and soft. About right for the style.

Overall? Very impressive first beer for me from Epic. Well balanced, flavorful, but not overpowering. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 20:38:05 | More by flexabull

morimech

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Release #1

Viscous liquid that is deep black color. Half inch of head forms and settles quickly to a thin cap. Moderate amount of spotty lacing is left down the glass.

I get mostly coffee in the aroma. This does not change much even as the beer gets close to room temperature. Just subtle hints of roasted malt, chocolate, and the faintest trace of whiskey.

Coffee forward flavor as well. A little bit of roasted, burnt bitterness from the malt. Slight hint of chocolate. The barrel aging did not impart much flavor. Would of liked more. Alcohol is well hidden. Just slightly warming in the finish. A little unbalanced with the heavy coffee flavor.

Full bodied and close to perfect carbonation. Just a little too fizzy upfront.

The flavor was dominated too much by one element. For the cost of the bottle I wanted a much better executed stout. The barrel-aging needed to come out more. I would still give the next release another try.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 18:46:26 | More by morimech

Pencible

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: This poured an opaque black with a little tan head.
S: It smelled like huge fresh black coffee, with oak and toasted coconut and a little dark chocolate and molasses.
T: It tasted like lots of fresh black coffee, with some bitter dark chocolate and oak, and a little toasted coconut and smoke. It had a clean and surprisingly mellow bitter aftertaste.
M: It was slightly thick with lots of carbonation. Decent body.
D: This was a great coffee stout, up there with Black Xantus, and better than Cafe Royale. I loved the scent and taste. The body was a bit weak, but finish was so smooth, it was really easy to drink. Should be drunk fresh, but may be interesting to age. Definitely recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 18:35:50 | More by Pencible

argock

Virginia

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz brown bottle into a clear glass snifter. Release #3 on label. Purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $13.99.

A: Black body with 1-finger beige cookie colored head with big bubbles and decent retention with only spotty lacing.

S: Cocoa and dark chocolate with a fairly strong unfermented almost lactose sweetness with some light whiskey sharpness and bitter black coffee. I wish all of these components were more prominent, but there is nothing wrong with this nose.

T: The flavor is sweeter than expected all the way through with accents of strong black coffee and espresso. The milk chocolate middle add some sweetness. The roast comes through more as the beer warms giving some strong tobacco character. The whiskey adds a touch of vanilla sweetness but not much else.

M: I bumped this up a notch because this dangerously does not drink like 11.4% -- the body is medium and very silky and slick.

O: I liked this beer but like a little more presence. It's a good stout but needs a little more body and a little less sweetness. I agree with those that don't think this will age well - the alcohol is amazingly well-hidden and I think the base stout is a little lacking in complexity.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 03:38:04 | More by argock

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from release #4 (bottled on 1/23/12) poured in to CBS snifter.

A - Poured black. One finger of bubbly espresso coloured head that receded to a thin layer. Some light lacing.

S - Whiskey up front that gives way to a bold espresso aroma, charred oak and cocoa nibs. The overall nose is very bitter with noticeable alcohol.

T - Massive espresso flavours up front that give way to whiskey, charred oak and heavily roasted chocolate malts. Bitter cocoa nibs are present as well, which combine with the espresso to create an almost overpowering bitterness that dominate the palate, somewhat muting the barrel aging qualities; but that is not a bad thing, as it allows the flavours to integrate well with good balance.

M - Medium to full body. Somewhat viscous. Light carbonation.

O - A little to heavy on the coffee but very good. Will be interesting to see what happens to my other bottle with a year or so of age on it.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 14:20:49 | More by TheSevenDuffs

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch #7, received in a trade and poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Poured a nice deep dark brown with a good slightly bigger than one finger mocha head that faded to leave a thin blanket and light, light side lacing. Nice appearance for an 11% beer.

S - Mmmm. Sumantra coffee. Super light bourbon notes along with oak and good vanilla. Make no mistake, this nose is pure Sumantra coffee, light alcohol. Not getting much roast malts of chocolate as this glorious coffee drowns it out.

T - Much more bitter coffee notes here, fresh grounds, light 85% cocoa. The bourbon comes out nicely in this one and interplays wonderfully with the coffee. 2 months old, has this faded a bit? Possibly, but the coffee is still dancing around in the mouth. The wiskey is a bit faint but that is alright, the alcohol isnt super noticeable, however, its still a sipper. Absolutely delicious

M - Mouthfeel is lowly carbonated, silky smooth. Alcohol isnt really noticeable but definately a sipper. Nicely done.

O - Overall, this is a damn good stout. Damn good. The marks would have been higher if BA Speedway wasnt fresh in my memory as far as coffee stouts go. Seek this one out BAers, its worth it.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 04:49:01 | More by rudzud

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an Elysian snifter. Pours pitch black with a nice one finger brown head with good retention and lots of lacing. Nice aroma of toasted and sweet malt, chocolate, nuts and a hint of wood. Flavor follows aroma with toasted and biscuit malt, chocolate, coffee, nuts; boozy. Finishes with smoke, toasty malt, vanilla. chocolate liqueur and grassy hops. Medium bodied with some creaminess. A very nice flavor progression and the rich flavor almost covers the high ABV. One the dangerous stouts, it constantly invites further tasting, but the alcohol requires paced sipping. Very enjoyable and well made.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 04:18:21 | More by LiquidAmber

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #58 (November 2011):

LOOK: Pitch black, impressive head

SMELL: Exotic coffee, dark chocolate, soft charcoal, burnt currants, vanilla, booze, wood

TASTE: Thick, syrupy, smooth, bitter char, wood, booze, espresso, cocoa powder, faint vanilla

This beer is a beast! Usually you don't see such grace and balance with bigger Stouts. From roasted, wood, booze and sweetness, it all comes together. Seriously, this one gives some of the more hyped Imperial Stouts something to think about. A true ticker, beer geek, hunter or whatever, should be seeking this brew out.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 03:40:55 | More by BeerAdvocate

claspada

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Release #1.

Pours a viscous liquid that is deep black color. Half inch of head forms and settles quickly to a thin cap. Moderate amount of spotty lacing is left down the glass.

Aromas begin with mainly fresh black coffee, lots of darkly roasted espresso beans. This does not change much even as the beer gets close to room temperature. Subtle complementary notes of roasted malt, dark bitter chocolate and the faintest trace of whiskey.

The tastes follow the nose with a straightforward coffee flavor, overtaking all the complementary base beer flavors. A little bit of roasted, burnt bitterness from the malt. Slight hint of dark chocolate. The barrel aging did not impart much flavor, definitely would have liked a lot more and I am not a fan of overly barrel heavy beers, but this needs more. Alcohol is well hidden. Just slightly warming in the finish. Quite unbalanced with the heavy coffee flavor.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied and close to perfect carbonation. Finish is dry and mildly bitter from the abundant coffee additions.

Overall, the flavors were way too dominated by one element; the coffee. Little to no barrel flavors, bitter roasty coffee overshaddows everything else here. It is not bad by any means, flavor-wise, but I can go get a cup of Joe for a buck at the convenience store. A coffee bomb of a beer indeed, so if that's your thing, not for me though, and I love coffee.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 03:39:23 | More by claspada

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle opened on 2.15.13
Release #8

A - Pours a very dark brown with an active head that slowly fades.

S - Strong coffee, bitter chocolate, subtle whiskey.

T - Whiskey, then chocolate, then strong coffee finish. A touch of booze again.

D - Good carbonation and a heavier body.

O - Nice coffee, chocolate, and a touch of whiskey.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 06:58:27 | More by HuskyinPDX

mcallister

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an almost deep purple, a tan head of two fingers fades into a molten top leaving no lace.

Amazing aromas of big and bold freshly brewed coffee. Dark chocolate, black and blueberry, light whiskey and hints of oak. Roasted malts and a hint of smoke.

Coffee monster here and delicious, big and toasty with hints of mocha, heavy cream, burnt caramel, toffee, plum, blueberry, very light wood, with some bourbon notes late in the finish. Other brooding dark fruits, coffee tannins galore and a smidgeon of vanilla.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 18:55:14 | More by mcallister

garymuchow

Minnesota

4.19/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Batch #7
Cold snow and rain April night. Seems like a good time.
First whiffs are of heavy coffee and deep dark malt. The barrel aging lends a creamy quality to the aroma as part of the vanilla. The whiskey aroma is mostly background. Hints of the chocolate bits in the periphery.
Pretty much all black. Small dark head that settles to a smear but still leaves a little lacing after the drink. Dark red/brown highlights.
Still fresh enough to be sharp. Big, rather thick and chewy. Small sips fill the mouth with flavor with great endurance. Some heat. Has the complexity of the dark malts, some of the whiskey, some vanilla, bits of chocolate. Warmth pretty darn quickly in the gut. Heavy smooth. The dark malts push to the point too heavy (near burnt- could be the coffee addition). Rather fine carbonation. Aftertaste is strong on coffee with a ground like experience.
This is good. I'm not in love with it. Not sure why, but it's not inspiring a strong reaction. Interesting and well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 01:23:08 | More by garymuchow

cosmicevan

New York

4.31/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

big thanks to hanzo for tossing me this one in the LNBA Secret Santa BIF. enjoyed from my sam adams snifter.

Release 9

a - brew pours a fairly lush and thick black with a thin creamy mocha tan head that hung out for the party. nice chunky lacing giving the head a concave look as the lacing clung to the glass while the head fizzled away.

s - big chocolate covered booze soaked wood. really decadent and rich. the dark coffee is evident and really compliments the smell. everything is in the right place.

t - huge chocolate. dark coffee. i get more whiskey than bourbon, but the wood and booziness is a great match for the beer and the blend.

m - the first thing i noticed about this beer was the feel. super silky. really rich and filling.

o - BIG beer. very rich and very filling, but really tasty. super enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 03:40:17 | More by cosmicevan

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Release #1

A: Poured out like a big vat of prune juice with black food coloring. Thick and with no head, this monster just saw there staring at me ominously....

S: More than a hint of coffee...jeez loueez! The coffee was of the gourmet variety and had sort of a soft, buttery quality on the scent.

T: Perhaps that butter is whiskey? ...now that I actually got proactive and read the bottle, it definitely is, alas! Still, lots of coffee and I got some cocoa infusion as well as more sweetness as it warmed.

M: It's rare that I get an equal amount of bourbon and coffee in a beer (usually one trumps the other), but this is one of those that pulls it off. After my tongue pulled out its magnifying glass, it got a few bubbles posing as carbonation, and the aftermath on the glass: minimal lacing. The aftermath on the palate: coffee....and then some.

O: This totally blew me away. If you really want to taste coffee AND bourbon in your beer, this is the one for you!

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2011 22:48:51 | More by Chaney

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

650ml bottle. Release #3.

Pours a blackish brown with a big tan head that leaves some nice lacing.

Coffee dominates the smell. I am not getting the bourbon and only slight cocoa.

Coffee also dominates the flavor. I feel like the flavors aren't meshing in this one. It just tastes like a coffee stout to the nth degree.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 01:54:26 | More by crossovert

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle. Release #1, 11.7% abv. Deep brown, approaching black. Nice contrasting mocha head. Head fades to a thin layer after a minute, but still a good looking brew. No lace.

Coffee and some cream seem to jump out of the glass. A nice, darker roast. Caramel, burnt sugar, and some bittersweet dark chocolate notes. Maybe a hint of oak.

Dark chocolate, along with some fresh roast coffee. Some dry, burnt notes. Caramel, and burnt sugar. Dry tannins at the finish, along with a hint of booze.

Full body, chewy with lower carbonation. Some warmth at the finish. This is certainly a blast of coffee, with some nice compliments. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 00:14:07 | More by Bierguy5

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into snifter

Pours a viscous black color with a small, yet fluffy browned head. Patchy lacing on the glass with some filmy retention resting on top of the brew.

A smack of coffee in the nose with some nutty tones. Bourbon and oak sweeps this away without becoming too hot. Rich chocolate and coffee bean notes swell into the profile.

Coffee and chocolate kick off the flavor, which is fairly rich yet balanced. Somewhat sweet, but tempered by oak and bourbon warmth. Vanilla is present throughout with some molasses and roasted dark malts. More coffee and booze towards the finish.

Fuller body, decent carbonation, silky and creamy on the tongue. This is one of those beers that makes me think, "Why am I trading when this is sitting on the shelf?" Definitely a really nice barrel aged beer that I'd like to have more of.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 05:06:44 | More by xnicknj

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.28/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Black as night, mocha head. Sits still with a brown ring on the the glass. Chocolate and coffee dominate the aroma, with an underlying vanilla and wood note. Toasted notes and some dark fruits. Cocoa leads the taste. Some bittersweet coffee follows, toasted and roasted notes, some sweetness and dark fruitiness. Back end vanilla and toasted oak round it out with some accompanying whiskey notes. The feel is full, and somewhat coating. The alcohol can get a bit heavy, so this makes a good closer.

Overall, a wonderful stout. -bal stouts are hit or miss with me, but this is a hit.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 04:52:53 | More by EgadBananas

AgentMunky

California

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a stemmed flare glass at Michael's in Charlottesville. Release #1 (11.7%). Brewed on December 2010 and blended with June 2011. Packaged 22 September 2011.

A: A big, gorgeous tan head. Incredibly black, but shot through with ruby highlights.

S: Amazing! Loads of coffee -- reminiscent of Péché Mortel, one of my all-time favourites -- and sweet, dark chocolate are utterly captivating.

T: Is there such a thing as TOO much coffee bitterness? Maybe... Regardless, this beer is chock full of it, resulting in a long, lingering bitterness and a bittersweet maintaste. I love this beer, even if it's a tad one-dimensional. Smooth and utterly delicious.

M/O: Surprisingly substantial, and altogether bitter. This is a great beer and an amazingly good Imperial Stout. Highly recommended...if you like coffee. I will have another. So good.

Notes
Malts: Muntons Maris Otter Malt, Briess 2-Row Brewer Malt, Crystal Muntons, Weyerman Light Munich Malt T1, 2-Row chocolate malt, 2-row black malt, roasted barley
Hops: Nugget, Chinook, Cascade
Other: Coffee, Cocoa Nibs
+++
Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into an Albemarle Ciderworks glass. Release #3 (11.4%). Brewed on 22 August 2011. Packaged 9 December 2011.

4.5A: Pours viscously, black and dark. Opaque, with little to no head.

4S: There is a strange scent here, lingering amongst the coffee. Nitrogen? Carbon dioxide? Not as powerful or as excellent as the first release. Still shit tons of coffee.

4.25T/4: Flat coffee. BIttersweet chocolate. Lingering (coffee) bitterness. The whiskey shows a little bit more on this release, offering a subtle, almost subversive, vanilla sweetness. Substantial, chewy, and thick, but little carbonation. Even some hops in up here.

4.5O: A big, bruiser of a coffee stout. I strongly suspect that actual brewed coffee is added (not just coffee beans). Recommended for coffee lovers. Would drink again, but man it's expensive.

Notes
Malts: Muntons Maris Otter Malt, Briess 2-Row Brewer Malt, Crystal Muntons, Weyerman Light Munich Malt T1, 2-Row chocolate malt, 2-row black malt, roasted barley
Hops: Nugget, Chinook, Cascade
Other: Millcreek Coffee nibs (French Roast), Cocoa Nibs

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 01:06:22 | More by AgentMunky