Many of us drink coffee throughout the day, until it’s socially acceptable to pour ourselves a beer. But why separate the two? Coffee and beer are two of my favorite adult beverages, and Thursday, September 29, just happens to be National Coffee Day. We at Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine® want to share a list of our favorite coffee-flavored beers to help you celebrate the day.
Now, the most important question now is, “How do you take your coffee (beer)?”
Coffee & Spice
Coffee with a little spice is nothing less than a party in your mouth. Spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg are mainstays in coffeehouses, as well as in brewers’ arsenals. But to take that a bit further, other additions such as chiles and cayenne add an entirely new dimension.
- Elysian Brewing Company Punkuccino (Seattle, Washington)
- Green Flash Brewing Company Dia De Los Serranos (San Diego, California)
- Terrapin Beer Company Cinnamon Roll’d Wake-n-Bake (Athens, Georgia)
- Stone Brewing Co.) Xocoveza for the Holidays (Escondido, California
- Half Acre Beer Company Big Hugs (Chicago, Illinois)
Coffee & Barrels
Barrel aging beer adds rich, woody notes to the flavor, but also a bit of smoke from the charred wood and a hint of the alcohol that was previously aged in the barrel (rum, red wine, or bourbon, for example). For those of you who enjoy Irish coffees and the like, these beers are just for you.
- Fremont Brewing Barrel-Aged Dark Star, Coffee Edition (Seattle, Washington)
- Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout (Chicago, Illinois)
- The Lost Abbey Track 10 (San Marcos, California)
- Founders Brewing Company Kentucky Breakfast Stout (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
- Copper Kettle Brewing Company Snowed In (Denver, Colorado)
- Jackie O’s Pub & Brewing Champion Ground (Athens, Ohio)
- AleSmith Brewing Company Barrel Aged Speedway Stout (San Diego, California)
Coffee & Cream
Milk stouts are smooth and creamy and are an excellent base beer to which to add a variety of flavors—fruits, spices, chocolate, and of course, coffee. The roasty, nutty flavors that come from the coffee are a great complement to the usually sweet milk stouts.
- Ninkasi Brewing Company Noir Milk Stout (Eugene, Oregon)
- Noble Ale Works Naughty Sauce (Anaheim, California)
- Wiseacre Brewing Co. Gotta Get Up to Get Down (Memphis, Tennessee)
- Dangerous Man Brewing Co. Chocolate Milk Stout (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Westbrook Brewing Co. Coffee N’ Creams Milk Stout (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)
- North High Brewing Thunderkissed Coffee-Infused Milk Stout (Columbus, Ohio)
Coffee & Chocolate
Those of you who grew up slamming Yoo-hoo Chocolate drinks on the way to the pool have probably already discovered the yumminess that’s chocolate beer. Add a bit of coffee to the mix, and you’re about as close to liquid perfection as one can get.
- The Saint Louis Brewery Schlafly Oatmeal Stout (St. Louis, Missouri)
- EPIC Brewing Company Big Bad Baptist (Salt Lake City, Utah)
- Otter Creek Brewing Co. Couch Surfer (Middlebury, Vermont)
- Surly Brewing Company Darkness (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Oskar Blues Brewery Ten FIDY (Longmont, Colorado)
Coffee & A Little Something Extra (wink, wink)
Imperial beers are big on flavor and just as big on ABV. Unlike our morning coffee, which is best consumed fast and in large quantities, imperial beers should be savored slowly and with a bit of extra care.
- Tallgrass Brewing Company Big Ricc (Manhattan, Kansas)
- Left Hand Brewing Company Bittersweet Imperial Milk Stout (Longmont, Colorado)
- Founders Brewing Co. Breakfast Stout (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
- Grimm Artisanal Ales Double Negative (Brooklyn, New York)
- Terrapin Beer Company Wake-n-Bake (Athens, Georgia)
- Rhinegeist Brewery Ink (Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Jester King Brewery Black Metal (Austin, Texas)
- Perennial Artisan Ales Barrel Aged Sump (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Tree House Brewing Company Double Shot (Monson, Massachusetts)
Enjoy!