Big Bad Baptista
Epic Brewing Company

Big Bad BaptistaBig Bad Baptista
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Epic Brewing Company
 
Utah, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #210
ABV:
11.7%
Score:
98
Ranked #459
Avg:
4.41 | pDev: 5.9%
Reviews:
204
Ratings:
815
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 24, 2023
Added:
Nov 13, 2016
Wants:
  46
Gots:
  170
Whiskey Barrel-aged Imperial Stout with Coffee, Cacao, Vanilla & Cinnamon
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by gregy55902:
Photo of gregy55902
Reviewed by gregy55902 from Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Nothing too special on the pour - looks like your standard stout, dark with a small mocha colored head.

S - Nice coffee, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and a hint of whiskey.

T - All of the above flavors and more! Incredibly complex and delicious. The coffee is at the front, but it blends perfectly with the vanilla, spicy cinnamon and chocolate flavors. A lot of stouts these days are sweetness bombs, but this one is well balanced. Drier finish, but just enough sweetness to keep it interesting. The whiskey barrel perfectly complements the added vanilla and cinnamon, and creates a spicy aftertaste that is very reminiscent of Fireball.

M - It's like a smooth dark chocolate candy bar in the mouth. Alcohol is barely noticeable, but nicely warming.

O - Glad I picked this up. It is freezing here today, but this is a nice way to warm up! Beers like this go quickly around here, but I will try to grab another bottle because it's really that good. This is my jam!
Dec 08, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.29 by not2quick from Missouri

Feb 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by smi69 from New York

Feb 01, 2023
Photo of RyanK252
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California

4.4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2016 bottle poured into a snifter

A: Pours basically black with a frothy khaki tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little thin lacing.

S: Smooth bourbon and milk chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, roasty, coffee, brown sugar, peppery spice, a bit earthy, faint coconut, and a hint of oak.

T: Opens with really nice spice, cinnamon and vanilla, smooth bourbon, brown sugar, toffee, milk chocolate, coffee, roasty, peppery, a bit earthy, a hint of coconut, and a faint touch of oak.

M: Full body, mild carbonation, creamy smooth, just a touch of warmth.

O: Beer #2000 for me. Coffee has faded from some time in the cellar but it still drinks really nicely.
Jan 24, 2023
Photo of DrOfGolf
Reviewed by DrOfGolf from Delaware

4.5/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My local alcohol and beer store had this one way in the back on the shelf. After I saw that it was a rare release, I just had to get it. So glad that I did. Great tasting and worth it if you see it.
Oct 18, 2022
 
Rated: 4.39 by mdaschaf from Indiana

Jul 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.72 by WynnO from Florida

May 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by Dovers from Wisconsin

Mar 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.05 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Dec 01, 2021
 
Rated: 4.53 by chrishiker1409 from New York

Sep 17, 2021
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.49/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
ive been wanting to try this variant forever, i know its around and popular, but i have somehow missed it until now, so it was with a ton of anticipation that i got into this one, cool to find it on tap too! its the classic baptist done with vanilla and cinnamon as well to mimic mexican coffee, pretty awesome. these added ingredients contribute a lot to what is already one of my favorite stouts, making it wintery and cozy, sweeter and even more complex. the vanilla brings the barrel treatment to the fore, a denser bourbon profile here than in the original. the cinnamon hits nicely with the coffee, not spicy but warming and earthy, toasty, and unifying. still lots of dark roast to this, both from the grain and from the coffee, and along with some bitterness from the cacao, its very balanced, the vanilla doesnt make it sugary, and this is scary drinkable because of it. so smooth in texture to like all of them, woody and charred, lightly smoky and rich, not too much alcohol coming through. the cinnamon lingers a little on the tongue with the coffee, those are the last two things i taste, and i love what the vanilla and cinnamon add to this overall, leaving the base beer in tact but bringing new complexities into the mix, i think they hit the mark with this one. i dont know why thought this had chili peppers in it for the longest time, it does not, and they would be unnecessary. this is wonderful!
Aug 31, 2021
 
Rated: 5 by estruntz from Maryland

Jul 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4.45 by chossboss from Oregon

Jun 07, 2021
Photo of erosier
Reviewed by erosier from Connecticut

4.91/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours a dark brown/black with a medium bodied milk chocolate colored head that sticks around for a while before dissipating. Aroma is of very strong chocolate, coffee, and cinnamon. Surprised the barrel aging doesn't come through more in the aroma. The flavor matches that aroma almost to the T with bold chocolate up front followed by an excellent roasted coffee flavor finished off with a sweet cinnamon. A hint of the barrel aging was in there but but as much as expected, but it probably took some of the cinnamon bite out of it giving it that sweeter cinnamon flavor. Velvetly feeling, it's not too harsh from the high octane, just the right amount of thickness and carbonation. Overall a superb beer.
May 08, 2021
 
Rated: 4.02 by Dicers from California

Apr 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by BMBCLT from South Carolina

Apr 01, 2021
Photo of LifesAnesthesia
Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia

4.42/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L - pitch black with a large dark tan head that sticks around and leaves some lacing behind
S - Tons of bitter coffee and dark chocolate
T - Tons of bitter coffee and bitter dark chocolate up front and throughout intermixed with notes of cinnamon, vanilla, hints of caramel as well as a nice amount of whiskey on the backend providing a slight hint of peat and alcohol
F - Full bodied with a light amount of carbonation. Smooth
O - A very solid whiskey stout
Mar 21, 2021
Photo of AlarmClock314
Reviewed by AlarmClock314 from Wisconsin

4.71/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
3/17/21: 22oz bottle, release #15, 11.4% ABV, 2018. Aged for about 3 years in a refrigerator. Pours jet black with a small sized brown head. Smells of cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, bourbon, coffee, and earthy hops; pleasant and sweet smell. The taste matches the smell exactly with great flavor intensity. It's rounded out from the aging and doesn't have any noticeable oxidization/port flavors. Medium bitterness and fairly strong sweetness. Medium body which fits well to balance the intensity and sweetness. It held up well with aging. Would be a good IS to share.

12/1/16: 22oz bottle, release #1, 11.7% ABV. Drank fresh. Pours jet black with a medium sized brown head; nice lacing. Smells of cinnamon, vanilla, cocoa, light roast coffee, bourbon, and earthy hops; very pleasant. The taste follows closely with cinnamon, vanilla, roasted malt, cocoa, coffee, bourbon, earthy hops, and molasses; good intensity. Medium bitterness and fairly strong sweetness. No noticeable alcohol. Average body and below average carbonation. Overall, a great Mexican chocolate IS with lots of intensity and complexity. Reminds me of stronger version of Stone Xocoveza without the chili peppers and not barrel aged.
Mar 18, 2021
 
Rated: 4.74 by Vonerichs from Colorado

Feb 20, 2021
Photo of DaveMaciolek21
Reviewed by DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

4.78/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Deep brown to black pour, tan head. Oh, how this beer evolves as it warms! Spice and bite up front with cocoa in support at the onset, with the results of whiskey barrel aging prominent. As the beer warms, nuance comes in--toffee, dark fruit, cinnamon sticks interact with the spice and bite. Excellent winter long-term sipper!
Feb 13, 2021
Big Bad Baptista from Epic Brewing Company
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 815 ratings