EPIC Brewing Company Big Bad Baptist #27

**Aroma:** Pronounced malt aroma with subtle spicy, floral hop notes. Pils malt dominates, but toffee and light chocolate are there, too. Great melanoidin profile. Some earthiness as well. **Flavor:** Malty sweetness is the first impression. Nice complexity as the flavor develops. Toast, toffee, and cocoa complement dark fruit flavors. Moderate hop bitterness lingers alongside the malt, and hop flavor is relatively pronounced. The more I drink it, the more I like it. **Overall:** An excellent, almost quaffable doppelbock, which is surprising given the alcohol. Exhibits complexity of the best doppelbocks, and malt nuances continue to evolve as it warms. Nice, clean lager finish. I could imagine putting this in my fridge...but not for long!

__Aroma:__ “Lots of vanilla, followed closely by milk chocolate. Very light chile and cinnamon, with some roast. It’s an appealing aroma that promises a sweet holiday stout—it smells like a sugar cookie. Woody, with a slightly acidic aroma.” __Flavor:__ “The cinnamon is a dominant player on the palate. Vanilla and milk chocolate support, with a touch of cayenne and alcoholic heat in the finish. More chile heat than expected. The barrel lends some booziness, but not much sweet coconut or vanilla from the wood. Light coffee notes, with cocoa, roast malt, caramel, and sweetness to balance.” __Overall:__ “Incredibly complex, with all the right pieces, yet a bit hot. The big barrel flavor blends well with the Mexican chocolate, and just enough alcohol.”

__Aroma:__ “Like almond liqueur, with a gentle blend of roast, chocolate, and coffee. The coffee brings an earthiness for complexity. Notes of leather, oak, and vanilla bring a decent blend of barrel and flavor. Very clean overall.” __Flavor:__ “Well-blended roastiness from the malt and coffee, and some light barrel character helps pull the pieces together with notes of tannin, leather, oak, and vanillin. Nutty caramel, sherry, and a fruity yeast profile that includes dry cherries make for a fruitcake effect. Coats the mouth without being cloying. A deeper dominant flavor note than others in the category, heavy on bass notes.” __Overall:__ “Tells you up front to slow down—it’s a little hot from the booze—but a very nice balance of chocolate, coffee, and oak, which all work together to balance the sweetness. The fruitcake notes—dried cherries, almonds, and bread—worked great. I like this a lot.”