Alewerks Cafe Royale

Picked one up for $10 at WF Devon today

 

Agreed. But to think how easy it is to find compared to KBS and fairly cheaper gives it points

 

Dude, work on your math.

22 oz Cafe Royale for $11 at Total Wine.
12 oz bottle KBS for $6 at Total Wine.

Seems pretty comparably priced to me.

Or look at it this way...for $12 you get two bottles of KBS but you only get one bottle of Cafe Royale.

 

So I was thinking about this. Is Cafe Royale the 5th best barrel-aged stout regularly available around these parts (excluding one-offs)? I'd put it behind BCBS and BCBCS, KBS and Parabola, but it's got to be next right? Admittedly, I haven't had Big Bad Baptist yet, so I'm not sure where that fits in.

 

Better than that. Probably better than the Central Waters stuff too.

 

Maybe the recent batch of Cafe Royal was much more expensive because I have always gotten it for $8.

 

I guess you're not counting Alewerks BB Porter either then

 

Most everyone is missing the fact that KBS and cafe royale are two different styles. Cafe royale is a sweet stout brewed with lactose. While KBS is your more coffee chocolate forward American imperial stout. Both are world class, both have become relatively tough finds. Geoff just recently starting brewing more than one batch of the CR, as it was previously just a December or so release. And even so, those are super small batches. I love both beers, but consider them to be very different styles. Also, I would put alewerks bitter valentine, BB porter, and their fifth anniversary ale (was draft only and incredible, they also barrel aged a portion I believe), up there with cafe royale. In addition, they make an incredibly drinkable pumpkin ale. No doubt in my mind that alewerks is the best brewery in the state who bottles. If Mad Fox bottled, I'd put them up there as well.

 

It has gone up. I just paid $10, when I was used to paying a little over $9. When I got some at the brewery in December it was $9.

 

bravo...

(golf clap..) it was only a matter of time. give this man a raise. (or woman).

 

The better question is, how does it rank against CCB Cognac Sweet Stout, or Voodoo Cowbell, or FFF Moloko? I've only had Moloko, which I thought was awesome, but Cafe Royale blows it out of the water. In my opinion, anyway.

 

I plan to do a side-by-side of Alewerks' Cafe Royale, Hardywood Bourbon Sidamo Coffee, and KBS. Should be fun.

 

I poured a couple of Aleworks normal stuff (pale ale or such) at a beerfest near UVa last year and the owner came by his booth for awhile... really nice guy and loves beer. I agree their pumpkin is great... had it for the first time two or three years ago. Have not come across the Cafe Royale yet, but maybe I'll take a trek over to WF Clarendon today

 

Thank you very much. I just became a member here just so I could thank you and many others for the valuable information(as well as some of the humorous not-so-valuable) that I was able and hopefully able to gleam in the future off of here. I recently visited Awewerks brewery, and am curious where Mad Fox is located. My friend and I go brewery hopping on weekends when we both have the time, and that doesn't ring a bell as one we have been to before. The Cafe Royale was certainly better than the Coffee House stout they also sell, which I believe they said was the same recipe minus the aging in bourbon barrels. Peace, love, and good fortune to all who read this.

 

Mad Fox is in Falls Church, VA. Was there last weekend, and the beers as always are fantastic. The food is top notch as well. Well worth the visit for sure!

 

Mad Fox is in Falls Church, VA