Big Bad Baptist - Quadruple Barrel
Epic Brewing Company

 

 

Review: 2323
Name: Big Bad Baptist Quadruple Barrel
Brewery: Epic Brewing
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
ABV: 10.5%
Canned: 2018
Date: 03 Mar 2025
I opted for another Big Bad Baptist, which is one year older. Thus far, the series has not produced anything outstanding. I am using a tulip glass and serving the beer at 48 degrees. The pour created a frothy, foamy, one-fingered, dark brown head with average retention. The quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass. The color is dark brown with dark ruby red hues, charting at SRM 36, and is opaque. The appearance of the beer is average for this style.
Nosing the glass, I smell vanilla, coffee, chocolate, bourbon, char, earthiness, leather, oak, smoke, Maillard, nuttiness, dark roasted malts, lightly toasted cereal grains, malty sweetness, molasses, raisins, and a hint of toffee. I also notice yeast, floral, pine, coconut, and fruity notes. The bourbon, oak, and char aromas are massive.
Sipping the beer, I noticed its harsh chocolate bitterness, tobacco, leather, oak, smoke, Maillard, nuttiness, dark roasted malts, molasses, lightly toasted grains, malty sweetness, burnt sugar, raisins, figs, earthiness, yeasty phenol, and coconut. Like the aromas, the whiskey, oak, and char pervade throughout the flavor.
The mouthfeel is bitter and chewy, and the finish is dry and bitter, as in over-saturated malts and barrel aging. The body is medium-plus with medium-low carbonation.
Another average Epic beer, Quad Barrel, has the flavor profile it advertises; however, balance and harmony are lacking. Unlike the last beer that I consumed, this had more depth, but the overuse of barrel aging and barrel-aged ingredients choked the beer's potential. I was surprised that the beer did not show any over-aging notes, considering it was over six years old with a low ABV.

 

2018 Vintage, consumed Dec 2023 from bottle. ABV: 12.3%

Draft at the Taphouse. Inky black with a one finger beige head. Sweet aroma, candy bar with some roasty notes. Taste allows for each of the adjuncts to come out, coconut, chocolate, almonds...Almond Joy. Creamy feel with a nice mellow bitterness.

Consumed 2020. A fantastic imperial stout which really benefitted from the barrel aging, contributing to a great depth of flavor and constantly evolving characteristics as it warms up. It's a bit thin for the style, but worth every penny. I wish they would make this one again as I was only ever able to find one bottle.

 

 

 

Batch #7 stored at room temp since release.

Deep, dark, light denying, black body briefly floating a 1" cap of cocoa colored bubbles that recede to a large island and an edge-hugging ring. Agitation reveals sheets of spotted lacing with legs, leaving a leopard skin pattern behind.

Notes of coconut, cocoa powder, wet oak, and vanilla compete with a cardboard and rubber band influence. I am trying to ignore them, but it is difficult.

Flavors are much better. Chocolate, coconut, cocoa powder, vanilla, dirt, and ash are strong and the rubber and cardboard are greatly diminished. Virtually no booze warmth and the only note of the abv is the barrel oak and vanilla.

Smooth, oily, full feel with a hint of powdery-grit remainder that seems to dry and beg for more.

Overall, I may have waited too long, but it is still a good experience.

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a quarter finger high tan head that died down, leaving a short head covering the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S Moderate aromas of whiskey are present in the nose along with notes of chocolate malts and rum.
T: The taste has moderate to strong flavors of whiskey and rum from the barrel aging along with underlying notes of coffee and hints of dark malts.
M: It feels full-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I found this Imperial Stout to be quite drinkable considering its strength. The taste has a very nice balance between all of the different flavors as not one flavor was overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

 

 

 

Consumed in 2021, tasted sour and infected.

Feb 2020 Review
Celebrating 8.8 mile run this morning. Best in a long, long time. 22oz bottle. 2018 release 11. Poured into Founders CBS goblet.

Pour: deep, rich brown, 1 finger dark tan head that dissipates pretty quick but leaves heavy clouds and a thick ring. Pretty good lacing that tends to stick. Very attractive. 4.5

Nose: rum dominates, red wine?, subtle chocolate, coffee. 3.5

Taste: rum, whisky, chocolate, coconut, coffee. Chocolate more pronounced, rum more subtle as it warms. hints of oak and vanilla as well. Pretty complex, pretty tasty. 4.0

Feel: smooth, low carbonation, not really viscous although it looks like it should be. Really easy drinking. 3.75

Overall: looks great, smells ok, tastes good, goes down really easy. Not sure it was worth the price ($20 or so) but enjoyable. 4.0