Big Bad Baptist - Epic Brewing Co.

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
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

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
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

mfavoino

Washington

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a New Belgium globe on 3/2/13.

A: Poured an oily black with one finger of espresso head that retained well. Head receded to a creamy rim covering the body.

S: Tons of roasted coffee jumping out of the glass, roasted malts, sweet milk chocolate. Huge coffee nose.

T: Wow, the roasted coffee comes at the palate right away. Bitter coffee, sweet chocolate, and subtle whiskey barrel as it finishes. Leaves a lingering coffee flavor on the tongue.

M: Thick and creamy with a slight touch of alcohol warmth. Dry finish.

O: I think this is the most coffee flavored stout I've ever encountered. Super flavorful, bold, and decedent. A must have for coffee lovers and those that appreciate a coffee forward Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 04:10:28 | More by mfavoino

Beejay

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Release #1

A: Thick and deep brown as it pours. Waiting a few moments lets the head grow up out of the body in a nice dark tan color. The beer in the glass is black.

S: Man there is a lot of chocolate in there. The first thing that hits is cocoa nibs, followed by a rich, but slightly bitter smelling coffee aroma. There is a nice oak and vanilla character in the finish, although it is a lot more subdued than the coffee and chocolate. If someone planted a cafe mocha and it grew into a tree, this is how an orchard of them would smell.

T: Coffee, chocolate, and now a hint of the whiskey. The finish is sweet, with a meandering coffee note, and an oaky overtone. It's certainly one hell of a beer.

M: Thick, and creamy. The finish has a bit of an oily feel about it. The carbonation may actually be just a touch high on it for me, but it's a thin line between being a bit too much, and being perfect.

O: This is luscious, rich, and delicious. Everything that a coffee, chocolate, whiskey barrel stout should be. Fine work.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 23:35:32 | More by Beejay

Ohiovania

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a chance to try this at 2011 Brewzilla in Cleveland during Beer week. So I decided to pick up a couple bottles @ Acme in Akron, OH.

$12.99/ bottle (worth it)

Knocked my socks off. Best chocolate/ coffee imperial stout I have ever had to date. The only down side is that it's a bit sweet.

The alcohol is barely noticeable and the flavor is overwhelmingly complex. Get this one while it last. It's rumored to be a one time brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 19:43:05 | More by Ohiovania

Avast

4.6/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is one of my favorite imperial stouts I've ever had. Great body, pours a smooth, deep black color. Beautiful dark copper head. Right off the bat you can smell the coffee and chocolate. First taste is a bitter bite from the whiskey cask aging and the acidity from the coffee. Smooths out with a wonderful dark chocolate finish. I love this beer. Perfect for a cold winter night. Make sure you share, its a big boy.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 22:14:22 | More by Avast

yamar68

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An imposing looking beer... thick black syrup that shows barely an edge of copper clarity, dense half finger of light brown that leaves loads of boozy lacing.

Massive charred wood on the nose, sweet whiskey notes, bitterish coffee presence, sphagnum, burnt caramel, oats, syrupy dark chocolate notes... hot cocoa or something, the 11% abv is perfectly integrated on the nose.

Oh, wow... one word comes to mind - "whiskey-choco-timber-syrup-cafe-caramel." Such enormous flavors taking so many different directions. What I'm actually most impressed by though is the perfect placement of hot whiskey... it blends beautifully with earthy charred woods and mocha flavors. Fantastic stuff.

Wow.

Jesus, man.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 00:48:15 | More by yamar68

Beerlover

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pours black with thin khaki head, smells roasted malty and strongly of coffee. medium low carbonation, smooth on the palate. Taste overwhelmingly of coffee! Great River's "redband" coffee stout is nothing compared to this! tastse like cup of black coffee with no sugar or cream, i wouldn't be surprised if there was 50% or more coffee in this one! no booziness at all or cocoa that i can pick out. the bourbon is also very faint unfortunatly.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 23:12:53 | More by Beerlover

DonDirkA

Arizona

4.68/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Release #2, 11.3% ABV. Very very strong nose of roasted black coffee. Cocoa scents weave their way in and out through the coffee smell. The coffee is dominant through the sip and the swallow, but not in an overbearing way, as can be the issue with many coffee stouts. There is a slight trace of chocolate that is followed by a subtle oakiness. The swallow is a bit hot, no doubt from the whiskey barrel aging, but not uncomfortably so. The rich mouthfeel is complimented by the coffee flavors that wash everything down and stick around on your tongue long after you've finished. Overall this a pretty extreme beer from all angles and it will definitely be too much for some but fans of strong, burly stouts will find plenty to love here.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 10:24:37 | More by DonDirkA

beer2day

North Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Opaque black pour with no light filtering through at all. Dark khaki head, 1 fingers worth. Only downside is the beer is light on head retention. Thin sheen of wet lace all around the glass.

Nose is very complex. Coffee overwhelms, but cocoa comes through along with oak underneath that. Smells like a roasted chocolate covered espresso bean.

Strong coffee flavor, espresso even, with a strong roast chocolate presence. Citrus hops manage to sneak through all the coffee and chocolate bitters in the finish. Definite smoked oak flavor from the barrels. Not really picking up the whiskey until the very end of the bottle. Vanilla starts to pick up late in the bottle, too. Wow, this is complex.

Feel is a bit disappointing. A little on the thin side. For a beer this powerful on the tongue, a thicker feel would pair better.

Overall, this rivals the best coffee stouts I've tasted. The best beer I've had from Epic.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 02:47:40 | More by beer2day

dfernandez77

California

4.68/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

appearance:
Dark brown like bittersweet bakers chocolate. Clear but dark enough light barely penetrates. Medium dark tan head that dissipates to creamy tan foam.

smell:
Bittersweet chocolate, vanilla caramel, butterscotch, espresso, and dulce de leche. Amazing rich depth and complexity.

taste:
All of the richness and characteristics of the aroma. Like a smooth 70% Cacao chocolate, with vanilla, espresso, and sweetened condensed milk. Super phat roasty malts well balanced with the cacao bitterness. Like a beerTiramisu mouthgasm.

mouthfeel:
Big slippery fat oat stout assault, then the slight dry astringency is all over your tongue. Finishes inexplicably simultaneously slippery and dry. Crazy complex.

overall:
OMFG! Stunning. Sign me up for a barrel. Give me a huge Chalice full accompanied by a Tiramisu soaked in French roast espresso with secret layers of blackberry jam. Amazing.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 02:18:45 | More by dfernandez77

Rizalini

Nevada

4.68/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A big thanks to Jeremy6566 for sending me this Big Bad bomber! Release#9 poured into my Deschutes tulip glass.

A - Pours almost black, with 1 finger of mocha colored head. It fades leaving a ring of brown lace.

S - The smell is amazing on this one! Coffee initally, but as I inhale deeper, I'm getting the bourbon, followed by some chocolate and coconut.

T/M - Wow, there's a lot going on in the taste. Starts out with a big wave of coffee and bourbon. After the initial burst of coffee and bourbon comes the chocolate and coconut. A nice blend of all the flavors. The coffee and bourbon really take center stage, but then the chocolate comes and really rounds out the flavors. It is a little boozy, but at 11.8% that's to be expected. Full mouthfeel, perfect carbonation

O - Hands down one of the best BBA stouts I've ever had. All the flavors are on point, nothing too over powering. Alcohol is there, but very subdued. Excellent brew, and again, a big thanks to Jeremy6566 for this amazing brew!

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 02:27:37 | More by Rizalini

johnnybgood1999

Virginia

4.7/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer poors pitch black with a mellow, brown cocoa head. Smells like a delicous mocha coffee. Vanilla and bourbon are noticeable secondary notes.
On the first sip, Big Baptist coats the tongue with a well balanced mix of cocoa and coffee. The coffee blend tastes like a quality brand was used, very robust and quasi espresso flavors come through. The chocolate was dark, sweet, and bitter. This made me happy, as I prefer dark chocolate versus super sweet in my beers. Vanilla, bourbon, and oak are present throughout, but become more pronounced on the back end of the palate. The mouthfeel is viscous, yet pleasantly light enough. Baptist drinks smooth and easy. I actually wanted more after I finished my bomber. Overall, this was an impressive beer that I rank right up there with The Abyss, but slightly below Goose Island BCBS. I can't compare it to KBS, as the only one I was able to procure mysteriously disappeared a year ago from my fridge. Yes, I'm still crying about that. Baptist fills a niche that I'm fond of; a beer you want when you can't tackle a bigger BCBS type brew. My first beer from Epic and it will not be my last. Very nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 13:43:50 | More by johnnybgood1999

jtd1969

North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Deep black and beautiful, no lacing...

N - Chocolate, sweet fruit, coffee

T - Coffee, sweet fruit, chocolate, lite bourbon(mainly on after taste) Taste more like a bourbon soaked fruit with nibs...

M - Full bodied, medium carbonation, smooth!

O - One of my fav stouts for winter!! So good not to try it!! Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 01:52:48 | More by jtd1969

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.74/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Pours a nice, full dark brown head and looks black as night.

Has a velvety smooth, rich feel in the mouth. This has a strong smell of cocoa, coffee and a slight hint of whiskey. It is fine to drink on the colder side, but the cocoa comes out even more the warmer it gets.

The taste has a strong amount of black coffee, cocoa and subtle sweetness of aged whiskey with a dry aftertaste.

Even though there is a high ABV (11.7) this is extremely easy to drink and is light-medium bodied not very thick and heavy despite the rich flavors.

I'm going to pick up another bottle or two and see how it ages. This is my new favorite from Epic and I would love to have this on tap.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 07:45:43 | More by JohnnyMc

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

this is an absolutely insane bottle of beer, dont ever pass up a chance to drink one of these. it pours inky black, thick, and dangerous. smell is coffee, dark dark pure cocoa, burnt barley, and pipe tobacco. the taste is unbeatable to me, and i almost never give out 5's. this surpases the abyss to me on flavor, really. fantastically rich brewed coffee up front with lots of woodsy, burning, organic matter hitting in the middle. big semisweet chocolate flavors come in just past the halfway point, followed by fresh tobacco tones and a syrupy sugar cane alcoholic tingle. this all rides on a slow rolling wave of the fullest body you can imagine and mellow carbonation just enough to keep it moving. a touch sludgy though, and maybe a good one to share around for the fainter of heart. gets downright hot boozy as it warms up, and is a definite slow sipper. if there is a better imperial stout on the planet, bring it to me, because this one is absolutely magic. black magic! best beer ive had from epic, and the highlight of my beer tour of utah. world class

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 16:13:39 | More by StonedTrippin

joecast

Australia

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Hollingsheads in Orange Ca.

Well, what can I say. One of the best beers I've had in a long time. Exceptional balance, mouthfeel and drinkability.

Superb, delicate chocolate aroma. Light oak and roast. Taste is as smooth as anything. Hardly any alcohol heat which is quite an accomplishment considering the abv. And so easy to drink, not filling or overpowering. Fits as a desert beer, accompaniment with dinner, or just something to sip on before bed.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 22:03:49 | More by joecast

Someguy1_8t

California

4.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Release #7 - served in a tulip glass.

Appearance - The color for this was black. It had about a finger of rapidly diminishing head.

Smell - The first aroma to hit me was a strong coffee scent. This was followed by wet oak or wood grilling planks, which I'm assuming comes from the whiskey barrel aging. The aroma was strong enough to smell from about 2-3 feet away. There where also hints of sweet vanilla and chocolate and some booze, again probably from the barrel aging.

Taste - The taste was much like the smell. Bold taste of roasted malts , chocolate and dark roast coffee. There was also vanilla, oak, and a hint of booze.

Mouthfeel- There was a full bodied mouth feel to this one with very little carbonation. Viscous and velvet like. With a lingering of the roasted coffee for a bit.

Overall - I thought this was one of the best Imperial stouts I have ever tried, if not certainly the most interesting and intriguing.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 05:33:37 | More by Someguy1_8t

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Amazed by this beer, pitch black pour into my Stone R.I.S. chalice, absolutely absorbed all the light in my glass. Big thicket of khaki tan head forms fine even bands of lacing between sips. A perfect breakfast beer, hair of the dog, basically smells and tastes like a coffee bomb with dark bitter chocolate and oak barrel aging effects smoothing things out a good bit. Espresso notes creamy vanilla and charred oak, this was one big complex Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout that I enjoyed immensely. Body wasn't cloying full to the max with flavor and texture, evenly carbonated...excellent offering. Overall I'm in love and I need to find more I only had one bottle and I need more of this nectar. I've officially been baptized!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 21:10:02 | More by WVbeergeek

audiobean

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Hit the spot with that coffee flavor. It was strong enough to enjoy, but not too strong. It was rich in its stout manner and engulfed my taste buds in that way that only really good beer does. This brew is definitely going on my Christmas wish list. Hopefully Santa isn't Baptist.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2012 02:31:36 | More by audiobean

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.88/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

HUGE thanks to VegasBeerMan...

A: Pours a pitch black motor oil slime with a full finger of mocha colored head. The foam settles fairly quickly leaving a nice frothy ring around the edges of the glass.

S: The nose is coffee, chocolate, roast, ans smoked meat. It's the perfect balance of everything wonderful in an Imp Stout. Damn. I want to drink this beer immediately.

T: Mmm. Great sweet malt up front mixed with char and barrel aged greatness. I get chocolate and more chared wonder as this beer comes through in the middle. The finish is pure milk chocolate and roast. Absolutely fantastic.

M: Full bodied beer. This beer is silky smooth, coating, and lingers forever. It's perfect.

O: This beer is killer! I had no expectations before I opened the bottle, and now I want a case more. This is one of the best/most memorable BA beers I've had in a long, long, long, long ass time. This beer is glorious.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 01:32:19 | More by trxxpaxxs

chefdaddy18042

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Amazing brew! Everything the bottle described is in this brew. Has the taste of an RIS with a touch more sweetness and this is where the cocoa nibs come into play with the bitterness matched with the sweet. Color was magnificent, dark black appearance with the rusty grey head. Very much in love with this brew. Shame I only have one bottle left, but I will be saving this one for a special occasion

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 19:06:58 | More by chefdaddy18042

buffs9

Colorado

4.88/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - very dark, with tan head, tiny bubbles.

S - coffee dark chocolate, morecoffee, bit of whiskey

T - I'm not a coffee drinker, but I like what coffee and bourbon do together in beer. like a mix of FBS/KBS, but with stronger coffee flavor. Incredibly smooth, sweet and bitter.

M - very creamy, love the way this beer drinks.

O - excellent and highly recommended. Totally underrated, perhaps b/c it's not rare?

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 22:22:43 | More by buffs9

AnotherImperial

Arizona

4.93/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Release #9, 22 oz bottle, consumed out of snifter at room temperature

A - Very dark brown, nearly opaque. Quickly dissipating, deep, tan head. Minimal cling. Looks lovely.

S - Mostly espresso and a hint of dark fruits, combined with a wonderful, non-bourbon whiskey aroma.

T - Absolutely fantastic. Chocolate and non-bourbon whiskey , followed by espresso and slight dark fruits, ending with a perfect amount of heat. Allowing a sip to sit in my mouth for a few seconds really allowed the chocolate to show itself.

M - Ever so slightly lighter than anticipated based upon the appearance. Slight carbonation present.

O - This beer was shockingly good. I tried it for the first time a few days ago and went back the next day to purchase a few more, including the one I am now reviewing. Though different (mainly in the type of whiskey flavor), this beer is nearly as good as KBS, and I didn't have to stand in line or pay $100 to get a 4-pack via eBay. If this is your style, do what you can to get one of these. I can only hope every release will be this memorable.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 03:15:00 | More by AnotherImperial

bcostner1

Tennessee

4.95/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Release #4; 11.1% ABV.

A: Virtually pitch black. Nice rich khaki head that lingers. Pours with some definite viscosity.

S: Smells like coffee with some vanilla creamer added. Some bourbon and faint chocolate undertones.

T: WOW...this is phenomenal. So complex. Starts out sweet with some mild bourbon (emphasis on the mild...which is good b/c it doesn't overpower everything else that's going on) and vanilla flavors. Some definite molasses and brown sugar there too. Towards the middle I'm getting more of that "coffee creamer" taste. The finish is mainly coffee bitterness with a little bit of sweet milk chocolate and bitter cocoa. The coffee definitely lingers for a while. Damn, I LOVE this stuff!

M: Very smooth and silky. ABV is extremely well hidden. Great thick, viscous body yet very highly drinkable. This one could be dangerous.

Both bourbon barrel and coffee stouts are among my favorite styles. This one merges them to perfection in my opinion. I'm not sure why this beer hasn't garnered more attention. I think it definitely deserves it. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys these styles and I will absolutely be seeking more out myself if/when given the opportunity. Fantastic!

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 23:45:51 | More by bcostner1