Coffee Pales and Hop Bombs? New? You tried? You like?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by cavedave, Oct 19, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 2
  1. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Had a Jeff O'Neil beer from Peekskill Brewery a couple months ago, a coffee pale that was light in color, nicely hopped citrus and a bit of pine, heavy on the coffee aroma, and the taste was full as well. Really nice.

    Now I am sipping a hoppy take on a black ale, really chock full of great coffee, and well hopped and dry hopped, with killer strong flavors tasting together like happy friends.

    I haven't seen this style before. (I know, where have I been?) I mean, coffee has been in many recent beers, but mostly in darker styles that have milder hopping. These are coffee hop bombs, this black ale especially, blessedly so. If others exist I would love to try more, but what do I look for?

    Gotta say so far I am loving this style, to me the coffee just hits in there where you think it ought not to go, but it does belong, it adds a delcious complexity that is awesome. But all I've had are these 2.

    Have you tried these? Which did you like? Do you enjoy the style? What do you like/dislike about it?

    Inquiring minds want to know
     
    #1 cavedave, Oct 19, 2012
  2. ImJ2x

    ImJ2x Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2012 California

    Well, you failed to name the black ale. I'm slightly interested, but confused. There are plenty of somewhat hoppy blacks. Are you saying this one is more "coffee-y" than most?
     
    #2 ImJ2x, Oct 19, 2012
  3. ThickNStout

    ThickNStout Pooh-Bah (2,142) Mar 8, 2011 Georgia

    The 2 coffee IPAs I've had were both from Mikeller.
    Koppi was ok, Sleep Over IIPA was awesome.
     
    #3 ThickNStout, Oct 19, 2012
  4. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sorry, yeah, these beers are coffee forward, but definite hop bombs, and I am a hop loving homebrewer. But coffee is the costar with equal billing. I have had plenty of coffee beers, never ones this full of hoppy goodness. And I have never seen beforea light pale beer with the intense aroma and taste of coffee. This Black Ale is called Midnight Toker (nice homage to SM), it is brand new from Peekskill Brewery, and if this is the future I am loving it. The coffee pale is called Wakeup Call.
     
    #4 cavedave, Oct 19, 2012
  5. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    *making shopping list* Sleep Over IPA
     
    #5 cavedave, Oct 19, 2012
  6. gatornation

    gatornation Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,388) Apr 18, 2007 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    surly Coffee Bender is the one i like
     
    #6 gatornation, Oct 19, 2012
  7. Kopfschuss

    Kopfschuss Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2009 Oregon

    Cascade Coffee Blond brewed with Oblique Roasters Harrar beans was heaven. I could smell the coffee from about two feet away, just enough hops to make its' presence known but didn't overtake the flavor of the beans and light enough to drink about 3-4 of them. Ughhh, I may need to take a walk down there and see if it is on draught still as I am salivating just thinking about it.

    If you want to brew with coffee, I say go with some great beans or your favorite beans as it will pay off with the final product. The Harrar beans they used makes my favorite coffee up the road from my house. It was like the ultimate union of coffee and beer for me.

    A++ for Coffee blondes. A style I hope to see more of.
     
    #7 Kopfschuss, Oct 20, 2012
    cavedave likes this.
  8. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    I have had 2 coffee IPAs before and both have been severely lacking in coffee aromas and flavors.
     
    #8 UCLABrewN84, Oct 20, 2012
  9. QuentinCall

    QuentinCall Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2011 Georgia

    Another vote for Sleep Over. It has a singular coffee profile, is really well-hopped and wonderfully balanced.
    Definitely one of the better and more exciting beers I've had this year.
     
    #9 QuentinCall, Oct 20, 2012
  10. Kopfschuss

    Kopfschuss Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2009 Oregon

    FYI, the Cascade beer got me wanting some more so my gf and I went there tonight. More info if you want, 60 ibu and 5.9% abv. Notes of blueberry, coffee and just enough bitterness to round it out.
     
    #10 Kopfschuss, Oct 20, 2012
  11. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've had Coffee Bender, what a great beer, but it is not very hoppy, it's a delicious brown ale with some serious coffee in it.

    I've had coffee forward browns, porters, milk stouts , American stouts, Imperial Stouts, but these beers I recently tried feature coffee forward and hop forward in a base beer different than anything I have tried. Or imagined.

    Seems from the few replies this isn't exactly unique, but it probably is fairly new. Definitely gonna try and get the ones recommended.

    Any other opinions or ideas out there?
     
    #11 cavedave, Oct 20, 2012
  12. bkov33

    bkov33 Zealot (666) Dec 5, 2007 New Jersey

    if they use real coffee, wouldent it change the srm color to a amber or a brown ale?
     
    #12 bkov33, Oct 20, 2012
  13. afrokaze

    afrokaze Pooh-Bah (1,962) Jun 12, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    A bit off topic but Mikkeller's Spontan- coffee variation wasn't half bad. Who would've thought a coffee sour would be decent?
     
    #13 afrokaze, Oct 20, 2012
    drgarage likes this.
  14. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    All I can say is the coffee pale I tried was a true pale, and had more coffee aroma than many other much darker coffee beers.
     
    #14 cavedave, Oct 20, 2012
    Kopfschuss likes this.
  15. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    I kind of liked it.
     
    #15 UCLABrewN84, Oct 21, 2012
  16. Retail1LO

    Retail1LO Initiate (0) May 4, 2011 Pennsylvania

    My uncle said Sleep Over was awesome. See....now I'm intrigued.


    Tired hands in Ardmore, PA made a black Indica coffee saison that was...stellar. They're getting ready to but it back on soon. Can't wait for more.
     
    #16 Retail1LO, Oct 21, 2012
  17. Treebs

    Treebs Pooh-Bah (1,728) Apr 18, 2011 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #17 Treebs, Oct 21, 2012
  18. drgarage

    drgarage Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2008 California

    I really enjoyed Sleep Over, as well. Kind of like drinking iced coffee, but with much better flavor.
     
    #18 drgarage, Oct 21, 2012
  19. sir-knifes-alot

    sir-knifes-alot Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2012 Colorado

    Coffee Pale? Never had it...but definitely want to now!
     
    #19 sir-knifes-alot, Oct 21, 2012
  20. EdelweissDad

    EdelweissDad Initiate (0) Jun 27, 2012 Georgia

    I tend to think of most American (or American brewed) Imperial Stouts as being coffee forward, and somewhat hoppy (as is the American way). Old Rasputin, for instance, is a classic--featuring both coffee and an unavoidable hop presence. Nothing like an IPA of course, but hoppy nonetheless!
     
    #20 EdelweissDad, Oct 22, 2012
Page 1 of 2
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.