“David Cole and Peter Erickson are the founders and co-owners of Epic Brewing Company. Cole and Erickson, originally from California, started an international aquaculture company in Utah in 1992. In 2008, Utah law changed allowing these two entrepreneurs to pursue their longtime dream of opening a strong beer microbrewery in Utah, like those they frequented in the Golden State. Admittedly, beer geeks, foodies and “Epic” adventure junkies, they share a passion for making and drinking fine ales and lagers. The Epic team has a strong belief in doing everything all out.” Epic Brewing

Big Bad Baptist is an Imperial Stout that is brewed with cocoa nibs and coffee added, and aged in whiskey barrels. It is part of Epic’s Exponential Series and each season’s release for this particular beer they use a different dark roasted coffee. This beer, in color, is a lot like Chris Farley’s belt in Beverly Hills Ninja…”The blackness of my belt is like the inside of a coffin on a moonless night”. Yeah its that dark.

At the nose you get a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans, raisin, bourbon, dark roasted chocolate, and the slightest bit of heat. It has a nice fluffy caramel head leaving behind really nice laces.
It’s a medium-medium heavy body with low carbonation, and a mouthfeel smoother than satin boxer shorts. This beer is so ridiculously smooth on the palate its almost as if you licked my uncle Vinnie’s velour jumpsuit (Don’t lick my uncle Vinnie’s velour jumpsuit, he may or may not send you swimming with the fish upon doing so).
The flavor of this beer is out of this world. Fresh roasted dark coffee upfront with hints of smooth dark chocolate, molasses, and vanilla sweetness. There are some underlying notes of dried figs, and dates. The finish and a long finish at that, is bittersweet with a slight astringency. As it warmed more of the bitterness, and heat came through, but it was in fact complementary and not overbearing.

This beer is ridiculously good. I’m blown away; Absolutely delicious! The 12% ABV in this is dangerously smooth. It is so well hidden. If I didn’t know I would have never guessed the ABV on this beer was that high. I suggest drinking this one fresh. I have aged a few from previous years, but as it goes with aging most coffee beers, you’ll lose some worthy notes.

Bottoms up!