Style: Barrel-Aged Spiced Stout

ABV: 11.7

91/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	18
Mouthfeel:	4

EPIC Brewing Company Big Bad Baptista

What the brewers say

“Big Bad Baptista is inspired by traditional Mexican coffee, Café de Olla, which is served with cinnamon and piloncillo, an unrefined sugar. A combination of vanilla, cinnamon, Mexican coffee roasted by Blue Copper, and Solstice Chocolate cacao nibs.”

What our panel thought

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.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: Sweet, Roasty, and Delicious (February-March 2017) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

The Bruery Aloha Friday

Indulgent dark chocolate, big roast malt, coffee, sweet coconut, and rough oak on the nose. Alcohol burn on the initial sip, with moderating nutty-coconut richness, and smooth chocolate malt.

Epic Brewing Double Barrel Big Bad Baptist 2016

__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.”

Great Divide Brewing Barrel Aged Yeti

West Coast hoppy: pine, grapefruit, orange, and lemon rolled into coffee and dark chocolate. Dark malt kicks harder in flavor, with roast dialed up to 11; sweetness fades into hop and roast bitterness with alcoholic warmth. Not much barrel. Hops are nice. America!

FRESH BEERS >

The best new craft beers available in a beer store near you. Sponsored content.

New Belgium Dominga Grapefruit

New Belgium wood cellar blender Lauren Limbach was gifted a new foeder that she aptly named Dominga—a play on the Spanish word for Sunday. She first created a mimosa-inspired golden sour called “Dominga: Goddess of Brunch.” Now we are excited to introduce the cocktail-inspired version, Dominga Grapefruit Paloma. Inspired by the classic cocktail of Mexico, Dominga packs a refreshing combo of bright grapefruit and lime flavors, along with agave and a pinch of salt.

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German festbier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen, and enjoy!

Firestone Walker Parabola ’24

Parabola is always a beast of a beer, with intense flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roast coffee—yet each annual release also bears its own subtle imprint. For this latest edition, we aged the beer for a year in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels. These coveted bourbon barrels imparted signature notes of charred oak, caramel, and cinnamon, taking the Parabola experience to new heights. Pour some out in your favorite snifter; behold the impossibly opaque color as you allow it to warm up a bit; and then let the dark magic of Parabola stun your palate with its unrivaled flavor and complexity.

Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA

For the latest in the Hazy IPA series, ride Sierra Nevada’s interstellar wave of tropical flavor in this Cosmic Little Thing, a hazy nebula glowing with Comet, Strata, and Helios hops for notes of citrus, berries, and lychee. Head into orbit with this 8 percent ABV hazy double IPA before the next Hazy IPA rotator hits. Look for Cosmic Little Thing in six-packs and 19.2 oz singles.

Firestone Walker Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

Out-of-this-world flavor that packs a punch—take a journey with Cosmic Crusher. “Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” says brewmaster Matt Brynildson. Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. The result is a level of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. SKUs available: 12 oz six-pack cans, 19.2 oz single serve, and Mind Haze Variety Pack.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion

Luponic Distortion is the Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules, back for the first time since 2021. The classic Luponic Distortion base recipe returns with an all-new hop blend to deliver a fresh blast from the past. Brewed with a secret blend of new-age hops, the 2024 edition of Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending flavors of lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry. Available exclusively in the Beer Before Glory IPA Mixed Pack.