Now Beer This: Pick-Me-Up

Back in the ’90s, Drew Carey was a thing, and his show featured him and his weird friends (who were just like us) doing their weirdo things. One of those things was developing a beer with caffeine in it, which they called Buzz Beer. Silly idea, but I think they were on to something…

I’m not talking about the idea of drinking Red Bull with your booze so you can party longer — and tax your poor little heart for all its worth. I’m talking about the idea of melding two of my favorite beverages: coffee and beer.

As with anything, there are purists in both fan bases that don’t encourage this sort of fraternization. But I don’t care what they think. Beer and coffee can be a fantastic combo! Let’s look at a few of the better offerings…

Hi-Wire Strongman Coffee Stout

You’ll notice a theme with these beers; most of them involve coffee in a stout or porter. That’s fine as the roastiness of the coffee and the roasted barley tend to work together. That’s this beer in a nutshell. Coffee flavor leads, followed shortly by chocolatey/roasty malt. A touch of sweetness is not far behind, and you’ve got a very enjoyable beer.

Cigar City Cubano Espresso

Man. This treat is heavy on the espresso flavor, but it’s balanced by the addition of lactose, a sugar found in milk which happens to be non-fermentable, which means it stays as a kind of smooth sweetener in the beer. A nod to Tampa’s Cuban community, this is a beer you should seek out.

Founders Breakfast Stout

Coffee is not the only star of this show; it’s a “breakfast” stout because it has coffee, oatmeal, and chocolate added to it. I don’t know how many of us make chocolate a delicious part of your complete everyday breakfast, but I know how many of us should be doing so. This boozy beauty weighs in at 8.3% ABV, so you know you’re drinking, but this is a great example of a brewery writing a symphony with ingredients, not just relying on its diva to carry the show.

Stone Mocha IPA

Yes. Coffee IPAs are a thing. And they should be more of a thing. Purists scoff at these because the coffee aroma competes somewhat with the hop aroma, but I find that charming. It’s like walking into a restaurant and smelling lots of appetizing smells instead of just one. Hops, coffee, chocolate…what’s not to love?

Coffee beers might not be for everyone, but like most adventures, you don’t know if you’ll like it unless you try it. So get out there and go find you some coffee beers. I insist.

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Now Beer This: Craft Beer Needs Your Help

Talking about craft beer normally gets me all excited but I have to admit it’s kind of a downer these days. Every day I wake up and read about another brewery closing and it makes me terribly sad for the future of this industry, and selfishly sad for our ability to easily access top-notch beer. Who […]

Now Beer This: Where Do I Be Drinkin'?

It’s crazy times, I know. Many of us are scared to go out and do the things, and those that aren’t are very much hobbled by the rules – sometimes promulgated by government and sometimes reflecting the concerns of business owners – that restrict what we can and cannot do. If you’re a beer drinker in […]

Now Beer This: Hops, Hops, Hops

I make no secret of the fact that my favorite thing about beer is hops. I love the aroma, the flavor, and while I don’t necessarily get excited about it, I’m intellectually appreciative of the antimicrobial properties of this special plant product. As a brewer, I often take for granted the knowledge of what hops […]

Now Beer This: How Do We Beer Now?

I know, I know, you’re sick of thinking/hearing about how the whole virus thing is completely smurfing up our way of life currently. Me too, friend. But I thought it would be worthwhile taking a moment to talk about the best ways to procure beer while we are engaging in “social distancing.” I suppose it […]

Now Beer This: Burial Brewing

Best Brewery Ever Right Now: Burial Brewing Seriously – these folks know their stuff. Everything I’ve had from them has been top-notch and I truly don’t think I can sing their praises too much. That said, in the spirit of journalistic integrity, my only attempt to balance this glowing recommendation will be to mention that […]

Now Beer This: Differentiating Between Ales and Lagers

What makes Ales “Ales” and Lagers “Lagers?” When people find out I’m a Professor of Beer-ology, I almost always get this question from them. It’s a great question, and I’m happy to answer it. I can give you a short answer, but the long answer is SOOOOOO much more informative, and helps you to understand […]

Now Beer This: A Lesson in Sessions

A Lesson in Sessions: Let’s Pick a Go-To Session IPA! If you’re not already familiar with the term “session” beer, then you should be. This moniker refers to beers — most often IPAs, because that’s the best beer style in the world — that have a lower ABV content (less than five percent) so you […]

Now Beer This: A Wicked and Pernicious Weed

There’s a myth that one or more Kings of England referred to hops as “a wicked and pernicious weed,” which isn’t true, but it sounds really good and people who love hops — such as myself — enjoy sniggering at it. Beginning in the High Middle Ages in England, there was a distinction between ale […]

Now Beer This: Brewing 101

Normally, I like to share with you my latest favorite brewery, an interesting beer style or beer/food pairing ideas. That’s tons of fun. But have you ever wondered what, exactly, makes beer? Well get your paddle, grab your notebook and grow yourself a beer-d (see what I did there?), because I’m going to walk you […]

Now Beer This: Beers for Your Stupid Friends Who Don't Like Beer

Beer for your stupid friends who don’t like beer? Well, first, you shouldn’t be hanging out with those people. It’s 2020 and there’s enough negativity out there already. Ditch ’em. But if you can’t ditch ’em, then maybe you can turn ’em! This is actually one of my favorite past times: Trying to convince non-beer […]

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