It’s been a
pretty stout night tonight, as I not only had my first sample of Anheuser
Busch’s Bare Knuckle Stout but also a taste of a far more hearty and robust
stout from Georgia’s Terrapin Brewing Company, Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal
Imperial Stout. Why, just the name alone is enough to get you out of bed
in the morning (or perhaps put you there at night).
Rest assured that as stouts go, the latter is far more satisfying than the
the former. David still has it all over Goliath it would seem, and as a
nasty little ice storm settles over north and central Georgia as I type, a
warming chocolaty stout is still the perfect remedy for a cold winter’s
night.
I’ve always found Imperial stouts to be just the beer for this time of year,
though they can certainly be enjoyed year round. This one is a little
different from the rest. It’s not quite as strong as far as alcohol is
concerned, with only about 7.5% alcohol by volume.
Wake-n-Bake is part of Terrapin’s Monster Beer Tour series of high
gravity (read alcohol) brews. Details from the brewery:
This is a full bodied imperial stout with flavorful coffee taste and
aroma. Black as night, this coffee stout is thick, rich and full of flavor.
It includes Costa Rican Coffee roasted by J. Martinez coffee roasters in
Atlanta.
Malt: 2 Row Pale Malt, Flaked Oats, Flaked Barley, Chocolate Malt, Black
Malt & Roasted Barley
Hops: Columbus & Northern Brewer
Original Gravity: 20.3 *P, Final Gravity: 6.8 *P, ABV: 7.5%
This stuff doesn’t officially hit the streets until January 31st, but I got
a preview this weekend at Five Season’s Brewing Company. Draft only for now,
I’m hoping it is eventually bottled (Terrapin Rye Pale Ale went from draft
only to bottles, after all).
Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout pours to a jet black color
with a creamy tan head and a divinely roasted barley nose. The palate is oh
so smooth, with smooth and silky oatmeal notes that make the beer eminently
drinkable.
But what do you drink with your oatmeal in the morning? Why coffee, of
course, and that’s here too, not the suggestions of coffee that roasted
malts and barley often imply but far more genuine notes from the stuff
itself.
There’s chocolate, too, and just a hint of licorice. In the finish, just
enough roasty bitterness to balance, but not overpower. Yowza, this is good
stuff.
Get your oatmeal and coffee all in one glass. While it lasts. And tell them
the Bruguru sent you.
NOTE: Want to have a Wake-N-Bake morning? You can, and still retain your sobriety. Jittery Joe's, makers of the coffee used in Wake-N-Bake Stout, now sell their blend online. You can try it by clicking here to go to their website store.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft