Big Bad Baptist - Epic Brewing Co.

pokesbeerdude

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased from epic.$12 for a 22oz bottle. Into an epic snifter.

A: Pitch black with a sand colored head that bubbles up to about an inch then fades to nothing. No laying to speak of. Completely opaque.

S: coffee and a ton of it. Man. This is easily the most coffee forward beer I've ever smelt. Just incredible on the coffee note. Some sweet chocolate and a touch of cocoa. Awesome here.

T: like the nose would lead on, huge coffee, tons of roasted malt and a lot of chocolate as well. Brown sugar and coffee, with a little vanilla as well. Not a ton of barrel character but there is a bit of whiskey and oak. Huge milk chocolate as it continues to warm. Wow. Best beer from epic that I've had.

M: just about right a bit more body would help. Surprisingly not hot, just the right amount of warmth.

O: glad I got a bottle of this, easily the best beer I've had from epic. A little more bal character would really help, but this is damn tasty. I love coffee forward beers and this is awesome. Nicely done epic. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 04:04:48 | More by pokesbeerdude

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
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

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally tried it after Ted and others bugged me for like 3 months.

Pours black with a small white head. Then the smell. Holy shit its coffee. Like lots of coffee. bitter coffee and dark chocolate and oak in the taste. Light body, low carbonation, and lots of coffee. There wasnt as much bourbon as I was expecting, but it gets the job done.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 20:22:21 | More by VncentLIFE

Bung

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz. Nice deep black pour, tan layer floats above and sags into the brew to give that layered look.

Aroma, about the strongest roast coffee I've smelled since Breakfast Stout. Some malt, dark chocolate, cocoa beneath.

Taste, Heavy roast again. Malt and coffee. More sweeter notes of chocolate, vanilla, toffee. Cocoa coffee finish. Whisky-oak is just present.

Fairly full bodied, the carbonation is just a bit too lively to give a creamy mouthfeel. Still coats very well. A faint warming but very under control for 11%.
At $13 it is worth trying, maybe not buying a bunch of. Wouldn't mind seeing what some time would do though. It's good, like a big Breakfast Stout, just not quite as all around good as Breakfast Stout, mainly because of the heat.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 02:43:14 | More by Bung

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Batch #10 - Cocoa Nibs and Coffee in Whiskey Barrels

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with some very dark amber highlights and a moderate amounts of visible carbonation near the surface. The beer has a three finger tall dense foamy dark mocha head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer, a couple of small thicker patches, and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Strong aromas of dark roasted malts and green + freshly roasted coffee beans with moderate aromas of oak, whiskey, and cocoa. Lightly bitter in the aroma. Very light notes of vanilla and char.

T: Moderate to strong flavors of green and freshly roasted coffee beans with some more moderate flavors of roasted dark malts. There are some more moderate elements of oak, whiskey, cocoa, vanilla, and charred wood. Light amounts of lingering bitterness.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: This beer is pretty easy to drink considering that it is 12% ABV (roughly) and it is quite enjoyable - the coffee is very present but the whiskey barrel is not as much. Very enjoyable but definitely a sipping beer considering the strength.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 02:33:14 | More by dbrauneis

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
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

IKR

California

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black with a fair-sized medium beige head. Nothing to change here.

Smell: Upfront coffee with some mild brown sugar notes. Maybe the faintest of whiskey notes as well.

Taste: Coffee and some roasted malt notes. I also get some mild vanilla and whiskey from the bal-aging.
The beer finishes with some slight hop and roasted malt notes. The alcohol presence is very subtle for the ABV. The bal-aging pays second fiddle to the coffee notes.

Mouth-feel: Medium to full bodied with the perfect level of carbonation for the style (for my taste).

Overall: Let me preface this by stating if there were a coffee advocate site I would be a long-standing member. The prominent coffee, the good mouth-feel and the coffee nose work well for me. With the pricing in my area I'll be revisiting this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 00:25:22 | More by IKR

wedge

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

@ Ridgewood

Black with a super creamy beige head on top. Black coffee aroma straight away followed by wood, black malt, dark cocoa, mild creamy vanilla, and perhaps a bit of bread. Mocha, bourbon, dark chocolate, and sweetened espresso flavors. Super smooth, creamy, and heavy. Not overly aggressive with the barrel-aged-ness, which is a good thing in my eyes. Also, not boozy...another plus. I imagine, though, that this could become awesomely, ridiculously smooth(er) after a little time in the cellar. Very nice...

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2012 03:07:35 | More by wedge

themind

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A good stout aged in whiskey barrels. Epic does a nice job on this tasty beer. Has a nice aroma with hints of coco and large doses of coffee. The mouthfeel is smooth and the abv is hidden well. As a plain coffee stout this is very good but I feel it falls short on the barrel aging side of things. The whiskey can hardly be noticed. I would have liked a little more flavor in this department. Overall I would buy it again as it is a good price and worth the time seeking it out.

Bottom Line: Epic age this stuff in the barrel a little longer and you will have a legend in the making.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 11:37:33 | More by themind

rangerred

Tennessee

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Release #10. Poured into a snifter out of a 22oz bomber.

Pours inky black with just a small dark tan head that fades to a ring around the side of the glass. Pretty decent lacing considering the abv.

Coffee is quite prominent in the aroma with hints of dark chocolate. Lots of roasted malt that seems slightly burnt. There is vanilla and just the slightest hint of whiskey buried way in the background.

The coffee carries big time into the flavor mixed nicely with cocoa creating almost a mocha character. Lots and lots of heavily roasted malt that borders on being a bit acrid and charred. There is still just a little bourbon in the background that I wish was a little more prominent. Nice vanilla and caramel touches too. The alcohol is well hidden with just a slight warmth in the back of the throat with a creamy and just slightly sticky mouthfeel.

Overall, a very tasty imperial stout but one that is not quite Earth-shattering. I don't know if I would go out of my way to pick this up but if you do come across it, it is worth drinking.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:02:27 | More by rangerred

blakelive784

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

1 pt 6 fl oz brown glass bottle (Release #10) served in a snifter, reviewed from notes:

A - Pours the darkest shade of brown with two fingers of creamy light tan head. Retention is decent for the high ABV, but the head leaves nice cream lacing as it recedes.

S - Sharp dark roast espresso, boozy bourbon soaked oak chips, burnt caramel, semi-sweet chocolates, cream, subtle vanilla and more freshly ground coffee. Amazingly complex and subtle. Seems like it may be pretty boozy, possibly even hot.

T - Espresso heavy latte. Bitter chocolates and coffee. The oak's much more subtle than I'd though it'd be, to its detriment. Subtle bourbon on the finish. Roasted malt body. A bit hot on the back end. The sweetness of the malts counters the bitter coffee notes very well.

M - Full bodied and smooth. Creamy. Not entirely thick.

D - The alcohol is present, but not out of place for the style. The coffee notes on this one are amazing. Highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 21:40:02 | More by blakelive784

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

4.06/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - pours a deep opaque black. just a thin film of deep chocolate brown foam. leaves lots of spotty lacing with every sip.

S - the nose is intense. strong notes of bourbon, caramel, and coffee all fight for attention. there is a touch of oak and vanilla. hints of chocolate and a whiff of smoke round out the nose.

T - silky hints of chocolate and biscuit-y malt flavors up front. roasty flavors of oily espresso beans come out mid palate. Notes of caramel and hints of vanilla come through along with a touch of bourbon. Finish is roasty and slightly and slightly sweet.

M - full bodied with a creamy texture. medium to high bubbly carbonation.

O - Solid barrel aged coffee stout. It's quite good but it is a bit one dimensional with mostly coffee and bourbon taking over. But it is quite good for the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 01:55:03 | More by Teleweizen2

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter. Release #1, one of "a few thousand bottles released."

4.0 A: Black color. One and a half fingers of dense, creamy light brown head. Retention is good and a small ring of lacing is left.

4.0 S: This is quite a smeller. The whiskey is lightly charred and earthy with melon, apple, and smoky notes. Light booziness. Light woodiness and just a hint of vanilla. The base stout gives a soft roastiness with dark chocolate, coffee, molasses, and an earthy quality.

4.0 T: The bourbon again is slightly more powerful than the stout and offers the same components found in the nose. The cocoa nibs and coffee stick out more in the taste and for that I'm thankful. Booze is very well hidden, but does offer a welcomed warming on the finish. Good stuff.

3.5 M: This is the only part of this beer that I'm not thrilled about. Just thicker than a medium body. This could use a touch more carbonation, but it has a decent creaminess to it. Light astringent aftertaste. I'd prefer a bit of a thicker body.

4.5 D: A couple categories could have been a notch higher, so this is the score it gets here. Solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 06:24:14 | More by DavoleBomb

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a pitch black with 2 fingers of tan foam that leaves solid lacing down the glass as the foam retreats.
S - Big coffee aroma is what hits you first, then you start to notice the chocolate and slight hints of the whiskey barrel and even some smokiness. Very nice aroma that reminds you of your morning cup of coffee.
T - Wow, the coffee really comes through in the taste. There is some nice roasted malts along with a hint of smoke. I might be picking up the whiskey a bit but its certainly not a strong note.
The flavor is very enjoyable.
M/D - Smooth bodied, almost creamy mouthfeel, very little carbonation. Slightly oily body as well. This is very easy to drink and hides the alcohol very well. Too well.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 05:17:26 | More by mikereaser

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into chalice at 1702 in Tucson. I think this is the 2012 #9 based on the abv of 11.8 abv.
Pours a pitch black with a finger of deep tan head. Nice thin tan lacing remains throughout the drink.
Smells of fresh crisp coffee, some roasted malts, chocolate, and a hint of booze - bourbon.
Taste is bitter roasted coffee and bourbon....some chocolate flavors.
Its an easy drink abv wise but its full of flavor and heavy. Its a nice brew...a bit over boozey but nice.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2012 01:13:21 | More by DrinkSlurm

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -5.8%
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

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a taster glass.

Pours near black with a thin mocha head. Not too much in the way of lacing. The nose carries some really nice cocoa and whiskey. Really nice combination and well done here. A bit of vanilla and oak in the background. The flavor isn't quite as intense as the nose, but still pretty good. Mouthfeel has a bit of heat, and could be a bit thicker. Overall, really a pretty tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 00:40:48 | More by Thorpe429

mdfb79

New York

4.03/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 01/28/12 notes. Shared with some friends, 22 oz. bottle into a tulip.

a - Pours a pitch black color with one finger of dark tan head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks great.

s - Smells of coffee, cocoa, roasted malts, bitter chocolate, whiskey, oak, and toasted malts. Lots of coffee for a whiskey barrel aged stout, but still very nice.

t - Tastes of coffee, cocoa, roasted malts, vanilla, coffee grinds, whiskey, oak, and choclate. Lots of coffee again, and some nice vanilla here. I like the taste a little bit more than the nose.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth and not very hot.

o - Overall a really nice stout; one of the best beers I've had from Epic so far. I thought there was a lot more coffee then whiskey in the nose and taste, but still really liked it. Would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 01:46:41 | More by mdfb79

kojevergas

California

4.03/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Acquired in Los Angeles for $11.99 a couple days ago. Reviewed live. 11.4% according to my (2012) bottle. Release #10. 1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Expectations are high given its current ratings.

Served refrigerator cold but allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger rich tan colour head of great cream, thickness, and retention (considering the high ABV). Body colour is a solid nontransparent opaque black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Solid for the style.

Sm: Cocoa, coffee, quite strong roast bitterness from the coffee, roasted barley, some stale coffee notes, and dark malts. Coffee/java is definiteley dominant. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Coffee (with some notable bitterness on the climax), some roast, java, subtle chocolate on the open, and whiskey - as subtle as can possibly be. Wow. A bit of malty sweetness. Coffee is dominant. Some caramel. Really marvelously balanced. I quite like it, though the bitterness does come through a bit too much on the finish.

Mf: Great. Ideal smoothness/coarseness balance. Good wetness. Perfect carbonation. Suits the flavour brilliantly. Great thickness to support the flavours. Actually not too heavy on the palate.

Dr: Very drinkable for the high ABV. I'm impressed. A very coffee oriented imperial stout. I could down this all night. Incredible. It's surpassed my expectations. I'd definitely have this again. Epic surprised me. I'd like to have it on-draught. Not a perfect example of the style, but a pretty damned good one.

Low A-

*I had to manipulate the appearance score to give it the letter grade I wanted. Please see my profile page for more information. This keeps my reviews fair and consistent.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 05:48:07 | More by kojevergas

kirok1999

Ohio

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a rich looking black with a nice thick rising light brown head.
Smells of mild milk chocolate mixed with some rich coffee. A mild sweetness comes through as well.
Taste is very nice. Sweet and creamy with lots of coffee and mild milk chocolate. The coffee is well done here, not overpowering at all, just nicely there in the background. The chocolate comes through well and it finishes nicely with a lingering sweetness. Feels rich and smooth. A really well done stout but the price is a bit much to drink with any regularity.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 22:14:56 | More by kirok1999

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big Bad Baptist
Epic Brewing Co.

Pours black as night with an oily, deep brown head. Aromas of charred roasted malts, dark fruits, and alcohol. In the taste, coffee, charcoal, mild sweetness and small hop presence. Bitter almost acrid malt flavor, some barrel presence, providing a nice bite the the beer. Clean alcohol flavors are hidden underneath a strong coffee presence. Full bodied, thick feel. Overall, a beast of a beer, but one thats worth fighting.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 05:13:04 | More by Stinkypuss

4thelvofbeer

Virginia

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice! Great stout. Dark, deep black, with a smell of strong iced coffee. Tastes as it smells--coffee, syrup, and chocolate notes. Silky smooth on the palate. One of the better stouts I've recently had. Bottle price is a little high, but worth the extra cost. Very nice overall!

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 02:04:55 | More by 4thelvofbeer

argock

Virginia

4/5  rDev -7%
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

b3shine

Ohio

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch #4. Deuce to oversized snifter. Looks good; pitch black with lacing. Smells good; coffee and whiskey with malty undertones. Tastes good. If I could give it a 4.0+ I would, but I can't, and I can't give it a higher review than I'd call it. I wish it was a little more barreled than coffeed. Overall, a tasty treat, and another great value beer from Epic.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 22:45:12 | More by b3shine

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared by Lunch the other day thanks! He told me it was described to him as a "poor man's KBS" but since this is slightly more expensive than KBS and not as good, I didn't understand why anyone would say that.

Beer is black with a thin tan head, low retention, some lacing, low carbonation.

Aroma is nice, coffee, sweet, a little chocolate, mild vanilla, no oak or bourbon.

I wouldn't have guessed this was a bourbon stout. I still don't really think so. This is a coffee stout to me, the coffee bitterness is there, the flavors are mostly sweetness up front, malt and a nice coffee finish. I liked it but probably won't have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 16:35:09 | More by drabmuh