No Tears Shed for this Sad Panda

It is always a joyous occasion to try a new coffee stout! Today it is Sad Panda from Horse & Dragon Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.

The nose is coffee and vanilla; as I have said before, I don’t have a great nose. The coffee notes seem most likely to be Sumatran coffee giving that bold, rich flavor with mild acidity and bitterness. There are vanilla notes and a slight sweetness in this light-bodied stout.

Very easy to drink, and it is hard to believe this stout comes in at 6.8% ABV. An enjoyable stout, even in the middle of summer!

On the Holy Grail Scale of Coffee Stouts, I give Sad Panda a 7.

Cheers!

Keg Creek Sunrise

Who doesn’t love a good sunrise!

I was strolling through the craft beer section at a local grocery store when the words “Mexican Imperial Coffee Stout” caught my eye! Immediately I grabbed the last six-pack and headed home.

Keg Creek Brewing created this wonderful deep chocolate Stout with an incredibly thick and smooth body! The secondary notes include vanilla and some medium coffee notes. If you aren’t a big coffee drinker, don’t shy away from this one. The finish is perfect in the heat that is present from the Guajillo and Pasilla chilies used in this beer.

At 8.2% ABV, you get great legs and even more warming from this Stout for a cold winter’s night.

Cheers!

Wake'n'Quake

It’s all about good coffee beans and the body of the stout

Looking for something that will make you jump up and take notice? I am not talking about an earthquake, but a great find of a coffee stout!

I was at Stone Hollow Brewing Company a couple of weeks ago and saw there was a coffee stout on the menu. I was eager to give it a try! The very first thing I notice about the stout was this wonderful coffee aroma. So if there was that much aroma, I was already anticipating a good amount of coffee flavor. The coffee used is Guatemalan from Cultiva in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The coffee is deep and rich at the frontend. There are subtle notes of chocolate upfront too in this oatmeal stout. The coffee is bold but not bitter throughout. The finish has some caramel notes that fade away and the coffee remains.

The body is very creamy and the head was nice on this beer. For a stout, this one is on the lower end of the ABV at 5.8% but it drinks bigger than that!

It has been a long time since I have referenced “The Holy Grail Scale” of coffee stouts and Wake’n’Quake gets a 10!

Cheers!

Midnight in the Daylight

A recent visit to Pals Brewing Company in North Platte, Nebraska introduced me to the coffee stout named Midnight in the Daylight. This stout has an intense coffee aroma from the Kona and Sumatra coffee that is roasted in nearby Madrid, Nebraska.

The bold coffee flavor balances well with a chocolaty, smooth finish. A silky mouth feel on this 8.2% ABV stout. It was a great beer to share with some of my coffee stout friends!

I will give this one a 9 out of 10 and the Holy Gail Scale of Coffee Stouts.

Cheers!

Continuous Chaos by White Elm Brewing

In the winter months, I really look forward to some big beers. So what do I mean by “big beers”? The imperial stouts that are made with tons of grain to achieve a high gravity and ABV. There is something so decadent about these beers. The rich malt flavor and smooth mouthfeel makes my night when I come out of the cold after a long day.

White Elm Brewing excels at creating these wonderful stouts. I remember my first one I had at a local restaurant. I had finished the meal and was looking for something to cap off the evening. I saw an imperial stout from White Elm Brewing out of Lincoln, Nebraska and had to give it a try. It was very remarkable and from that point on, I make sure to try as many as I can.

I happened to be in the taproom on the day Continuous Chaos was released. i was intrigued by the fact that this beer was a coffee imperial stout. Always love a good coffee stout. The other part was maple flavor added. So I saved this one for a couple of weeks and my anticipation was building on what it would be like.

The maple flavor hits you at the beginning of this beer. Nice and sweet up front! The mouthfeel is smooth and silky. The back end is where I get the coffee flavor. The coffee in this stout is Cultiva Black Label Toddy.

I highly recommend trying out this imperial stout, if you get the chance.

Cheers!

Keg Creek Brewing PerkElation

So many great coffees at Friedrichs

For some reason when I heard the name of this beer, I thought of the show Friends where they would hang out at the Central Perk coffee shop. I can totally see a group of friends hanging out in the Keg Creek Brewing taproom or around a campfire enjoying this wonderful coffee stout.

PerkElation is a great name for a coffee stout. I was ecstatic to try this one out! I made the trip to Glenwood, IA on a cold, snowy April day. Usually you don't think of snow in April, but as soon as I walked up to order a beer and I saw this bottle with the flurries visible outside the windows. I knew I had to try it. 

This coffee stout has a nice coffee aroma. For me it is the amazing bold coffee flavor packed into this 5.25% ABV stout.  The coffee is an international blend created for Keg Creek Brewing that is a light medium roast from Friedrichs Coffee. Friedrichs has many locations in Des Moines and Urbandale, IA.  What I find unique in this beer is that it is has a tart finish unlike any other that I have ever had.

On the Holy Grail Scale of Coffee Stouts, I gave this one an eight. Love the coffee flavor!  Add a little bit of creaminess to this one and it would be at the top of the scale!

Can't wait to check out their barrel aged version of this beer.  Cheers!

Lucky Bucket Wicked Joe

I love the saying "Go Big or Go Home". Lucky Bucket has definitely gone big with the Wicked Joe! This beer is big in coffee flavor that remains throughout the full sip. The Certified Evil Imperial Oatmeal Stout takes on a whole new set of characteristics after being aged in the Cut Spike Single Malt Whiskey barrels. For those of you not familiar with Cut Spike Whiskey or Certified Evil, I recommend trying them first individually. The reason I say this is when you then have a drink of the Wicked Joe you will really appreciate what the barrel aging has done for this beer! I have a hard time truly describing how rich the flavor of this stout is. The Cut Spike Whiskey barrel adds a very slight sweet flavor that when combined with the bold coffee flavor is pure nirvana in my mind. 

Beautiful 10 ounce pour is how the Wicked Joe is served in the taproom. Cut Spike Whiskey barrels age this beer to perfection in less than 6 months.

The Cut Spike Whiskey is a wonderful single malt whiskey. Amazing to have a distillery and brewery together!

When talking to a couple of folks that were in the Lucky Bucket taproom, one other thing stood out for everyone was the fact that even though this is a barrel aged beer, it is not over boozy. The ABV is at 9.3%. This is truly a beer that will be best served in that 35 to 45 degree range. So as you sip on it, don't worry if it warms up just a little bit because it will tend to just have even more flavor as it warms. I know that this beer also has some vanilla bean added to it. The vanilla flavor for me is very subtle. The texture is silky and creamy in your mouth.

From Archetype in the Blackstone District of Omaha...

For the coffee side of Wicked Joe, it is Guatemala and Ethiopia blend that is bold but yet very balanced in this beer. The coffee comes from Archetype Coffee which is a local coffee house in Omaha. If you like a great cup of coffee, check them out in the Blackstone District of Omaha.

Kicking the year off for me with a Perfect 10 on the Holy Grail Scale of Coffee Stouts! Better make sure to visit Lucky Bucket soon to try the Wicked Joe and all of their other great craft beers. 

Cheers!

Zipline Brewing Co Espresso Stout

I have been holding onto this one for just the right moment. Long day at work and time to sit down to enjoy a coffee stout!  Nice dark stout with a perfect foamy head. Raising the glass up to my nose, I get an equal amount of coffee and roasted malt aroma. 

From the first taste, I take in lots of the roasted flavor. This is definitely a nice, rugged stout. My palate is not picking up much on the chocolate malt in this stout.  The coffee flavor is nice, but I wish it was just a little bit more bolder.

This is definitely one that you can enjoy sipping over a nice long conversation. In terms of the Holy Grail Scale, I will give this one a 6. Great stout flavor!   Cheers!

Bell's Arabicadabra - Watch It Disappear

I can't imagine what the breweries go through when it comes to selecting the right blend of coffee for their stouts. Bell's Brewery has hit this one out of the park! The aroma of this beer has a nice enticing coffee aroma. Not overpowering but lets you know what you are about to drink.

As I take a sip of this milk stout, I get a different combination that I have not had before. It is creamy on the front end, coffee in the middle, and creamy again in the back end. The coffee flavor afterwords does linger and for a coffee lover like myself, I enjoy that!

I can see how this beer got its name. I know it doesn't take long after I open one for it to disappear!  On the Holy Grail Scale of Coffee Stouts ... I give it a 10.  The combination of the bold, rich, coffee flavor with the milk stout creamy finish makes this an amazing coffee stout!

Don't know much about Bell's Brewery check them out at https://www.bellsbeer.com/

Lazy Horse Canyon Coffee Breakfast Stout

Nothing better than visiting the Lazy Horse taproom on a fall day

Picture from http://www.canyoncoffeeroasters.com Visit them in Lincoln, NE at 4701 Old Cheney Road - Suite G

I have been waiting for almost a month for this coffee stout to come out. When I heard about it, I couldn't wait to try it. From the picture you can see the beautiful, creamy head on this wonderful colored stout.  As you raise the glass, the coffee aroma fills your nose. 

The front end has amazing bold coffee flavor. The coffee comes from the Canyon Coffee Roasters in Lincoln. I won't give away the blend of coffee in this - I will let you try it first!

The back end has a very smooth creamy taste. You would think you are drinking a milk stout, but it isn't. The creaminess comes from the malts used in this beer. For coffee lovers this is one that you must try!

For more information on Lazy Horse click on the name.

Oh you thought I forgot to rank this on the Holy Grail Scale of Coffee Stouts ... It is definitely a 10.  The combination of the bold, rich, coffee flavor with the creamy finish is a winner in my book!

Stand Up and Shout

My first Coffee Stout from an Oregon Brewery and this one is solid!  Nice coffee aroma in a smooth front end stout and the back end has a little hop edge. I didn't notice the vanilla flavor too much in this brew. The kona coffee flavor is good but I prefer just a little bit bolder flavor. On the Holy Grail Scale, I will give this one a 7.  Cheers!

Epic Brewing Company Son Of A Baptist

It has been awhile for a having a Coffee Stout and let me tell you this one is very enjoyable! Aroma is earthy and roasty. As you swish the beer in your mouth, it is super silky. The coffee is bold but not bitter. You can tell a lot work goes into the coffee portion of this brew. There is only a minor hint of chocolate. On the Holy Grail Scale - I give this one my very first 10!

White Elm Rum BA Coffee Stout

Oh my this is one flavorful Imperial Coffee Stout! This beauty is aged for 6 months in a Mt Gay Anjeo Rum Barrel. The flavor from this rum barrel is incredible.  The aroma from the rum and Cultiva Toddy coffee draws you in immediately. The first sip hits your taste buds with rum, cocoa, and a nice hint of coconut. Believe me this beer doesn't taste like a 12.1% ABV beer.  I love all of the flavors wrapped into the 10 oz pour that I had.  For me though, a little bit more coffee flavor would add to this wonderful stout. I have this coffee stout at a 9 on the Holy Grail Scale. If you are in Lincoln, NE check out White Elm Brewing at 2717 S 8th St, they have a great selection of quality craft beers!

Looking for some great coffee, then make sure to check out Cultiva Espresso & Crepes in Lincoln at 727 S 11th St.

Calico Espresso Stout

Wasn't expecting to find another incredible coffee stout from a Nebraska brewery, but Calico Espresso Stout by Thunderhead Brewing Company is a coffee lover's dream! This incredibly smooth stout from Kearney, Nebraska gets its great coffee flavor from the espresso provided by the Calico Coffee Company. The espresso and hint of chocolate flavor is pure happiness for your taste buds! I highly recommended that you give this one a try.  On the Holy Grail Scale, I have the Calico Espresso Stout at a 9.

It you make it out to Kearney, check out Kitt's Coffee Bar featuring Calico Coffee Co. in the morning and pull up a bar stool in the afternoon at the Thunderhead Brewing Company taproom. Other taproom locations include Omaha, NE.

Lucky Bucket Wide Eye Coffee Stout

Wide Eye is an attention grabber from the first sip.   This coffee stout has a bold coffee flavor delivered from one of Omaha's favorite coffee shops - Archetype Coffee.   This stout has immense flavor and will be loved by those who truly love coffee.  On the Holy Grail Scale, Wide Eye comes in a 7 for me.