Talking about barrel aged beers with a few friends the other day, the discussion turned to how easy to obtain they have become. No more waiting in line or getting on a reserve list or bribing the manager at the local liquor store. These days, you just walk in the store or head to the brewery and buy them, or even have them delivered to your door.
To be sure, you may not always be able to get the exact barrel aged beer you're after, as some remain rare. But you can get plenty of them, and plenty of good ones at that. This past Black Friday, just a few days ago, I walked into Total Wine and easily added several bottles of various versions of Bourbon County Brand Stout to my cart. I also got a 4-pack of Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout, and a 4-pack of Allagash Gatherwell Stout.
Today, though, I am here to talk about a barrel-aged beer bought online: Epic Big Bad Baptist Double Chocolate Double Peanut Butter Imperial Stout Aged in Whiskey Barrels with Coffee, Cacao, Peanuts. Just saying the name is a mouthful, though nowhere near the mouthful a sip happens to be. My daughter bought this for me for Christmas in November of 2020 from Craftshack.com.
Ingredients from the website:
Malt Bill: Marris Otter, 2-Row, Light Munich, Chocolate Malt, Black Malt & Roasted Barley
Hops: Nugget, Chinook & Cascade
Adjuncts: Imperial Stout Aged in Whiskey Barrels with Coffee, Cacao, Peanuts.
Epic Big Bad Baptist Double Chocolate Double Peanut Butter Imperial Stout Aged in Whiskey Barrels with Coffee, Cacao, Peanuts has an alcohol content of 11.5% by volume according to the label of my bottle. There is no freshness dating on it, but my daughter bought me a 4-pack of Big Bad Baptist variant bombers and this was one of them. That was for Christmas of 2020, so this bottle is at least 3 years old and aging nicely.
About Epic Brewing
Back in 2009, Epic Brewing Company became Utah's first brewery since prohibition to exclusively brew high-alcohol content beer. We handcraft and carefully package our unique beers in cans and classic 22-ounce bottles. Whether you're throwing cans in your pack for a long hike or breaking out bombers for big celebrations, we have the right beer for you. Discover natural variations of taste, from sweet or smoky malt to hazy and piney IPAs, or barrel-aged stouts with decadent adjuncts.
Epic is perfect for Utah's casual beer drinkers and adventurous connoisseurs alike!
Chocolate Double Peanut Butter Imperial Stout Aged in Whiskey Barrels with
Coffee, Cacao, Peanuts in an Epic Brewing Glass
Tasting Notes
Epic Big Bad Baptist Double Chocolate Double Peanut Butter Imperial Stout Aged in Whiskey Barrels with Coffee, Cacao, Peanuts pours to a jet-black color with a moderate creamy tan head of foam and a nose of smooth milk chocolate, coffee, and boozy bourbon. Taking a sip, the beer is full in body, rich and creamy on the mouthfeel. It pops with roasty coffee grinds and boozy bourbon. I get smooth milk chocolate and darker cocoa in layers, but the peanut? Not so much. There is perhaps a hint, but not enough to call this a peanut butter cup beer. I do not think that is the age of the beer talking all the same. There is a warming alcohol finish and lots of boozy bourbon notes at the last.
Value & Verdict
My daughter paid $89.95 for the 4-pack, so about $22.49 a bomber bottle. I do not have any other pricing information.
Make no mistake, though I would like more peanut flavor, I am really enjoying this beer, and I get nuts are hard to pull off in a beer. The more I sip the more I love this beer, so I will say that yes, I would buy it again, even at the high price.
