Best Beers: 7 Coffee-Infused Brews To Keep You Perky
What do you get when you combine two of humankind’s greatest achievements: delicious caffeine-laden coffee and bold, dark beer? Coffee beer, of course!
For breakfast imbibers, happy hour lovers and late-night espresso fiends, the new trend of coffee + beer = one hell of a drink. Craft breweries known for making the best beers are now using the rich bitterness of coffee to create complex brews with exciting personalities.
Usually made with fresh, locally roasted coffee beans paired with artisan stouts or porters, this new libation incarnation is on the tip of the tongues of both beer lovers and coffee drinkers. Hip coffee houses like Intelligentsia are hosting premium coffee beer tasting events, and breweries are experimenting with the best way to highlight the rich coffee flavors.
We’ve scoped the best beers from around the country that feature a shot of caffiene. Try the following coffee beers and experience a symphony of dark flavors, roasted ingredients and after-zing that will dazzle your taste buds.
The 7 Best Beers Made with Coffee
1. Dark Lord Imperial Stout from Three Floyds Brewing Co. in Hammond, Indiana – Considered by many to be one of the best beers brewed with coffee, this Russian imperial stout is only available once per year. Brewed with honey and molasses, this famous coffee stout is presented at an exclusive brew festival, whose coveted tickets sell out quickly each year.
2. Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter from Ballast Point Brewing Company in San Diego, California – An American porter style beer, this sweet coffee brew is tasty with desserts or for dessert itself. With a creamy vanilla-mocha flavor, this dark velvet beer features caramel undertones and hand-roasted coffee beans from Caffe Calabria.
3. Black Phoenix Chipotle Coffee Stout from Bootlegger’s Brewery in Fullerton, California – Blending the smoky notes of chipotle peppers with bold espresso, this coffee stout is bold and beautiful. Using fresh roasted Keen Coffee beans, this chili pepper-fueled brew has an easy start and spicy finish.
4. Imperial Biscotti Break from Evil Twin Brewing in Brooklyn, New York – Imagine that you crushed an almond-chocolate biscotti into your porter without the mush, and that’s how this sinfully delicious dessert beer tastes. Rich, thick and strong, this dark coffee brew also features hints of anise, licorice and vanilla.
5. Cool Beanz Coffee Porter from Palo Alto Brewing Company in Palo Alto, California – Brewed with locally roasted beans from Philz Coffee, this clean, crisp porter is balanced and easy to drink. Nutty and round on the palate, this toasty coffee beer works well for hair of the dog drinking and features chocolate undertones.
6. Bourbon County Coffee Stout from Goose Island Brewery in Chicago, Illinois – Goose Island brewery is located next to a coffee shop in Chicago, so the idea for this black velvet stout came about naturally. Using different coffee beans from Intelligentsia every year, this intense imperial stout is aged in bourbon barrels and goes well with dark chocolate desserts.
7. Sam Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout from Boston Beer Company in Boston, Massachusetts – While Samuel Adams isn’t really a craft brewery at all, this coffee beer will be the easiest to find for those who don’t live within delivery range of smaller companies but still want to try out the trend. Using Sumatran coffee beans and a dark, full-bodied stout, this robust brew features flavors of dark chocolate, caramel and purple fruits.
Related on Organic Authority:
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