Now Beer This: Coffee Beers, ‘Tis The Season

I am a study in contrasts, to be sure. On the one hand, I love traditional beer styles and brewing methods and curl my lip at new-fangled, fabricated styles. On the other hand, you throw some coffee into ANY beer style, and I mean ANY beer at all, and I’m probably going to like it.

Hanging out with another beer nerd last night, I confessed that if I was forced to choose between beer and coffee, I might have to choose coffee. Maybe that’s a little overstated, but I say it only to admit that I’m probably a way bigger lover of coffee than most, which is why I love the idea of mixing coffee and beers. If you’ve ever hung out with me, you may have seen me double-fisting a combo of espresso and beer and singing, “Uppers and downers! Uppers and downers!” I have problems. I know.

But it makes sense, right? When you think about it, one of the overwhelming aspects of beers, particularly my favorite style, the IPA, is bitterness. And what’s more bitter than coffee? And when you’re moving over to darker beers that have roasted malt flavors, what’s more roasty than coffee? There’s a lot of synergy to be found here. But contrasts can be found, too. I’m telling you, beer and coffee is a match made in heaven.

So what should you be looking for if you’re interested in going down this road? I’m so very glad you asked!

Hotbox Coffee Porter/Oskar Blues

This is one of the most universally loved coffee beers around. And with Oskar Blues having an NC brewery now it can be found fairly easily. A traditional pairing of rich coffee and a roasty/toasty American porter, you will be well-pleased by this paragon of pairing.

Mocha IPA/Stone

Coffee in an IPA? Surely you jest! I don’t, and stop calling me Shirley. As teased above, the magic here is between the bitter coffee and the strong hop bitterness of this IPA. The demon wizards at Stone throw in a touch of chocolate too (bless them) to tie in the roastiness of the coffee and chocolate with the sweetness of the chocolate and crystal malt/dextrin-y foundation of this delightful brew. My friends who are hop-heads don’t enjoy the fact that coffee aroma overwhelms the hop aroma associated with the style, but I ain’t mad at it.

Breakfast Stout/Founders

This is a no-brainer. It’s a little cheaty because it’s not just a coffee beer; it’s called a breakfast stout because of the additions of coffee, oatmeal, and chocolate (so you can have it for breakfast!). Which means it’s going to be good no matter what, right!? Everyone who loves coffee in beers also loves this beer, not to mention it is ubiquitous; if you can’t find any of the beers on this list, you will be able to find this one.

Baba Budan/Appalachian Mountain Brewery & Fonta Flora

This team-up beer is a coffee IPA that, while not easy to find, is worth the effort. The interplay between the citrus hops and the smoky coffee is not what you’d think it would be – a fight to the death – but is instead a brilliant tango, such that Gomez and Morticia might perform. This is probably the most adventurous of the list I’ve compiled here (short list though it may be) but I think you’ll dig it.

Go do some beer shopping, come home, make a fire, and open up some coffee beers and enjoy ’em. Cheers.

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