A Nice Cuppa

Unless you are a seasoned craft beer appreciator, the combination of coffee and beer might sound a little strange, but the two flavors work together and make a nice pairing.

My first experience with mixing the flavor of beer with coffee was when I was in graduate school. At the north gates of the campus were two of my favorite hang-outs: Highland Coffees and The Chimes, a pub. One day I was sipping my Columbian Supremo at Highland Coffees when a buddy of mine dropped into the shop and said, “Hey, let’s go across the street and grab a beer.” I wasn’t quite finished with my coffee so I took it along. I ordered a stout over at the Chimes and took a sip of it while I still had the taste of the Columbian Supremo in my mouth. What I tasted was incredible. The yomame between coffee and stout was perfect. I wondered what other beers would go with coffee and began to experiment.

In the spirit world, coffee liqueurs are common place. Everyone has heard of Kalluah and, of course, Irish Coffee. But you might not be so familiar with Espresso Stout — a popular drink with the craft beer crowd. Espresso Stout is actually brewed with the espresso in the beer. It’s a natural combination since the dark roasted barley that gives stout its pitch black coffee color even tastes like roasted coffee beans. Espresso Stouts make great dessert beers. Like coffee, they stand up to sweet desserts. I often will pair an Espresso Stout with a raspberry mousse or vanilla ice cream. Try making an Espresso Stout float sometime and you’ll probably give up on root beer forever.

When I began brewing my own beer, one of the first beers my wife Denise and I made was a Chocolate Coffee Porter. (A porter is similar to a stout.) I added dark chocolate and Columbian Supremo to the brew and the result was highly pleasant and a big hit with my friends. But you don’t have to brew your own beer at home to try these coffee based beers for yourself. A number of commercial examples are available. One example is Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here’s how they describe this beer:

“You’ve got to love coffee to truly appreciate this phenomenal brew. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and sweetened imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee. Breakfast Stout has an intense fresh roasted coffee nose toped with a cinnamon colored frothy head…”

Readers in the Pacific Northwest will be able to try the Pike Street XXXXX Stout or the Pyramid Espresso Stout. Here on Long Island, you’ll often find Espresso Stout on tap at the Southampton Publick House. So check out your local brewpub or beer store and see what sort of coffee beers you can find in your area. If you love coffee and beer, why not have them together?