This year’s Baptist season just keeps getting BIGGER and BADDER and there’s no sign its stopping. Just in time for Christmas we’re excited to present something a little smaller, yet every bit as exciting: we’re finally able to fulfill the Christmas dream of a Baptist in a can.
Son of a Baptist is an 8% ABV Imperial Stout. It is not barrel-aged like its father, Big Bad Baptist; instead its flavor profile was specifically designed to highlight the complex and often unique flavors of small batch coffees. Instead of just sourcing a single style of coffee that would play well in the beer, we sought out creative and innovative roasters located in our largest markets, then asked them which beans they’re passionate about. Each of the resulting 12 releases of Son of a Baptist is widely different depending on the coffee selected. Some are fruity and sweet, with notes of jam and chocolate; others are rich and earthy, with a big roasted finish. Each limited release is numbered and the roaster’s name is stamped on the bottom of the can. The corresponding details and tasting notes can also be found on our website.
“Son of a Baptist was inspired by Big Bad Baptist, but its purpose is very different. Son of a Baptist was built from the ground up to showcase coffee. By simplifying the malt bill and removing the complexity that barrel-aging adds, we were able to let the beans shine through,” explains Brew Master Kevin Crompton. “Initially we were looking for coffees similar to those we’ve used in Big Bad Baptist, but the recent trend toward lighter roasted beans with these wonderful berry and tobacco notes inspired us to seek out artisanal coffee roasters and explore the flavors you can get from different beans and roasting techniques.”
Last spring, we partnered with 14 coffee roasters for 14 unique nitro-draft releases. This gave our brewers the opportunity to experiment with all kinds of coffee from delicate, lightly-roasted single-origin beans to robust and complex espresso blends. They continually tweaked and refined the recipe into what has essentially become the coffee equivalent of an IPA. As our barista friends like to say – it’s all about the beans.
This year we’ve partnered with 12 coffee roasters from around the country with perhaps more to come. Some are new partners, and some are old friends. Each SOB release will be packaged in 12 oz cans as well as regular and nitro draft then sent back to the coffee’s home market, where you can try the beer and coffee side by side.
2017 Coffee Roasters:
Blue Copper – Salt Lake City, UT
Nestled in the central ninth district of Salt Lake City Utah, Blue Copper is a smallish coffee roasting company founded in early 2013. They’re driven by quality and taste, sourcing some of the finest coffee around and roasting it on the lighter side of the spectrum. www.bluecopperslc.com
Coffee: Suede Espresso (50% Kenya Karatu, 25% Ethiopia Guji Gigesa, 25% Panama Santa Teresa) Tasting Notes: Lemon Green Tea, Fresh Apricot
Novo Coffee – Denver, CO
Founded in 2002 by Jake, Herb, and Joseph Brodsky, Novo Coffee states on their website: “Coffee is commonplace, yet a truly great cup reveals a complex process.” That complex process shines at Novo where they roast green coffee beans in beautiful vintage Vittoria machines and offer some of the most distinctive coffees available in today’s marketplace. www.novocoffee.com
Coffee: Espresso Blend Tasting Notes: Caramel, Blueberry, Banana
Coava Coffee Roasters – Portland, OR
Coava’s philosophy is simple: they focus on quality, complexity, and balance in the cup. Their long-term partnerships with amazing coffee producers combined with the diligent refinement of their craft has led to some of the highest scoring coffees in the world. www.coavacoffee.com
Coffee: Finca Los Terrazas (Guatamala) Tasting Notes: Melon, Cream Soda, Mexican Chocolate
Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company – Detroit, MI
Like many great American brands, Great Lakes Coffee began in a garage with not much more than a leap of faith — and their Italian father. His passion for the art and science that transformed those little green beans into the nuanced roasts they still offer is what inspires everything they do, every day, at their ever-innovating roasting facility.
Coffee: Farmer Don Saboalo (Costa Rica) Tasting Notes: Caramel, Jam, Cane Sugar
Rising Star Coffee Roasters – Cleveland, OH
Rising Star’s coffee is Relationship Coffee. That means they know who they’re buying coffee from and what makes that coffee unique. It’s simple really: buy dang good coffee and pay the farmer and producer enough money to live and enjoy life while sharing a passion for excellent coffee. www.risingstarcoffee.com
Coffee: Loma La Gloria (El Salvador) Tasting Notes: Honey Sweetness, Raisins and Cherries
Cultivar Coffee – Dallas, TX
Cultivar Coffee Roasters was founded by Jonathan Meadows and Nathan Shelton in 2009. Cultivar is firm in their commitment to socioeconomic responsibility, obsessed with process and quality and committed to sourcing only the best coffee they can get their hands on. www.cultivarcoffee.com
Coffee: Finca Malacara Red Bourbon (El Salvador) Tasting Notes: Brown Sugar, Caramel, Apple
Dynamite Roasting Co. – Black Mountain, NC
Dynamite believes the simple act of buying a cup of coffee can drive social change in the communities where the coffee is grown, as well as were its brewed. They are 100% certified organic and fair trade and have been since day one. They are fully committed to their customers, growers and the environment we all share. www.dynamiteroasting.com
Coffee: Finca Cual Bicicleta (Honduras) Tasting Notes: Hibiscus and Sweet Raspberry Jam
Valentine Coffee Roasters – Milwaukee, WI
Valentine Coffee Co. was founded on the premise that coffee begins as a fruit, uniquely evocative of a particular time and place. This character – the terroir – is maximized by carefully roasting beans to the apex of natural sweetness, brightness, and balance… never to bitterness. www.valentinecoffeeco.com
Coffee: Guatemala Huehuetenango Tasting Notes: Citrus, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate
Conduit Coffee – Seattle, WA
Conduit: a pathway towards better coffee. Their coffee is ethically and sustainably sourced, roasted kindly, and delivered locally by bicycle. www.conduitcoffee.com
Coffee: Guatemala La Colina Tasting Notes: Cinnamon, Baking Spices, Milk Chocolate
LAMILL Coffee – Los Angeles, CA
Lamill coffee is an award-winning specialty coffee roaster headquartered in Los Angeles. Their coffee and tea is served in more than 300 locations throughout the US and in select countries around the world. www.lamillcoffee.com
Coffee: Velvet Blend (Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia) Tasting Notes: Chocolate, Hazel Nuts, Caramel
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters – San Diego, CA
Dark Horse has four locations across San Diego and takes pride in roasting the freshest quality beans, daily, in-house. www.darkhorsecoffeeroasters.com
Coffee: Fruit Party Tasting Notes: Marmalade, Pomegranate, Toast
Hogan Brothers – Framingham, MA
Hogan Brothers was founded in 1996, by two brothers, Jay and Jim Hogan, who share a passion for excellent coffees and have shaped the New England coffee scene over the past 20 years. www.hoganbrotherscoffee.com
Coffee: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Tasting Notes: Winey, Full-Bodied, Delicate Berry Undertones
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