I’ve often expounded upon the virtues of combining coffee and beer (stout and porter specifically). Honestly, the results are a lot like combining chocolate and beer: often impressive, occasionally spectacular. That should not surprise, since the three delicacies have a commonality: they all derive their character from the roasting process, be it barley malt, cocoa beans, or coffee beans one is kilning.
Tonight I got to sip a new (for me anyway) example of the marriage of beer and coffee: Laughing Dog Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter. This is a hefty brew at 9.2% alcohol by volume and is made with coffee from Sandpoint, Idaho’s Evans Brothers Coffee company. That’s only about 3 miles from Ponderay, where Laughing Dog’ brewery is situated. How convenient.
I bought a 22-ounce bomber bottle of Laughing Dog Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter at Total Wine for $6.99, which is actually a good price these days. If nothing else, the label certainly called the beer out to me, and I couldn’t pass on it. Besides the attractive imagery, the label features the half canine Egyptian deity Anubis (hence the name of the beer). He may not have been a laughing dog, but he was a dog all the same, and thus a fitting cast member in the Laughing Dog pantheon.
Laughing Dog Anubis Imperial Coffee Porter pours to a jet black color with a huge creamy tan head formation and a big coffee and roasted malt nose. Taking a sip, the beer starts with roasty malt but then cedes to the coffee with dark, roasty espresso notes emerging quickly. Some licorice pokes through, too. The body stays moderate to retain a modicum of imperial porter character, though it becomes almost stout-like at the last. Dark fruits and chocolate emerge into the finish, but the coffee has the final say and this definitely finishes like espresso with dark, almost harsh roasty notes and warming alcohol.
Very delicious, a tasty coffee beer that serves as a perfect nightcap.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft