Winter, as they say, is coming. It’s time to break out the craft beer big guns to help us survive the cold months ahead. To do that, this week two Utah breweries are releasing seasonal barrel-aged favorites.
Epic Brewing’s Big Bad Baptist “season” kicks off Thursday, and Squatters Craft Beers plans to release its Fifth Element farmhouse ale on Saturday.
Big Bad Baptist Portfolio
For imperial stout fans, Big Bad Baptist is legendary.
“We wanted this year’s Big Bad Baptist to reflect the complexity and nuance that goes into its making,” says Dave Cole, Epic Brewing co-founder, in a statement.
Epic actually will be releasing two new Baptist iterations on Thursday (the 2018 Big Bad Baptist is already available).
The most buzz-worthy is likely its Quadruple Big Bad Baptist (10.3% ABV, $20.99/bottle), described by the brewery as “one of those ideas that’s just crazy enough to be great.”
Utah Beer News tasted this particular brew in September while in Denver for the Great American Beer Festival. We can vouch for its deliciousness. PorchDrinking.com has complete tasting notes.
For “The Quad Triple B,” Epic started with its imperial stout aged separately in whiskey and rum barrels. Then it loaded first-use whiskey barrels with Brazil Cruzeiro coffee beans, shaved coconut, and slivered almonds.
Once those ingredients soaked up barrel character, they were added to the beer.
“What’s great about this approach is that the adjuncts don’t mask any of the barrel character we’ve worked so hard to develop in the beer,” says Jordan Schupbach, Epic Brewing’s director of brewing operations, in a statement.
Big Bad Baptist: Epic’s iconic imperial stout is aged in whiskey barrels. This year’s release includes coffee roasted by Salt Lake’s Blue Copper Coffee Roasters. $12.99/bottle.
Big Bad Baptista: It rounds out the Big Bad Baptist “season” and is an imperial stout featuring Mexican coffee, chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla. $14.99/bottle
Fifth Element Farmhouse Ale
On Saturday, Squatters plans to unveil the newest iteration of its limited-release Fifth Element Belgian farmhouse ale ($15/bottle).
“This year’s vintage is decidedly tart with notes of pear and green apple,” Squatters says in a Facebook post. “It finished with a mellow, earthy background.”
Fifth Element is barrel-aged for over a year before the beer is blended and bottled by hand.
Big Bad Baptist: Epic Brewing
- WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 1, 5-10 p.m. (bottle shop and taproom open at 11 a.m.; a representative said bottles would be available for purchase when the shop opens, though it’s always good to verify before making the trip)
- WHERE: Epic Brewing (its newly expanded taproom), 825 S. State Street, Salt Lake City
- NOTABLE: RubySnap baked coconut almond cookies with semi-sweet chocolate chips ($1) to pair with purchased tasters of various Baptist beers
Fifth Element: Squatters Craft Beers
- WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 3, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- WHERE: Squatters Grain Room (third floor of the downtown pub), 147 W. Broadway, Salt Lake City
- NOTABLE: Less than 1,000 bottles were produced
For more information about this week’s bottle release events, visit Epic and Squatters on Facebook.
Got Beer Info.?
As always, if any Utah Beer News readers have the scoop on other noteworthy beer releases or upcoming events, give us a shout so we can help spread the word.
Photo Credits: Epic Brewing Company and Squatters Craft Beers
