Stupid question about coffee beers...

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by DeweyCheatem-n-Howe, Aug 25, 2015.

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  1. DeweyCheatem-n-Howe

    DeweyCheatem-n-Howe Initiate (0) May 23, 2015 Massachusetts

    ...are they caffeinated? I mean, I know they're not 4Loko or any of that nasty death juice, but as someone who is extremely sensitive to caffeine after noon or so, can I reasonably expect to drink a 4beans with dinner and not be up all night?

    Follow-up, if they are decaffeinated, how does that work, from a brewing perspective?
     
    #1 DeweyCheatem-n-Howe, Aug 25, 2015
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  2. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Not a stupid question at all...not one that I readily have the answer to, I'd assume that there's going be caffine in Coffee Stouts/Porters, but if someone told me they didn't, I'd find it plausible
     
    #2 TonyLema1, Aug 25, 2015
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  3. Hop-Droppen-Roll

    Hop-Droppen-Roll Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2013 Minnesota

    I have to hypothesize that any beer that is actually brewed with coffee will contain caffeine. I just don't understand why it might not. As for how much is going to be present... (shrugs) :astonished:
     
    #3 Hop-Droppen-Roll, Aug 25, 2015
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  4. Lucular

    Lucular Grand Pooh-Bah (4,367) Jun 20, 2014 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    In general, there is some caffeine in coffee beers but not enough to affect most people who drink them at night (I can attest to that in my own experience).

    However, if you are extremely caffeine-sensitive then it's possible that coffee beers might affect your ability to sleep after drinking them. Only one way to know for sure...
     
    #4 Lucular, Aug 25, 2015
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  5. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Here is a prior thread which may have in it the information you want:

    http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/caffeine-amount-in-coffee-beers.67095/
     
    #5 drtth, Aug 25, 2015
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  6. cookiequiz

    cookiequiz Savant (1,119) Apr 15, 2013 California

    This is a slightly taboo subject in light of the FDA/4Loko issue, but there usually is some amount of caffeine in a coffee beer. However, the quantity seems to vary widely, as brewers infuse with many different methods.

    Solution: just drink your coffee beers with breakfast.
     
    #6 cookiequiz, Aug 25, 2015
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  7. TheKlevin

    TheKlevin Initiate (0) Aug 6, 2014 Michigan
    Trader

    I was on a tour at founders and they were brewing breakfast stout. Someone asked about caffeine and the guide said that unless they brewed the beer with decaf, which they dont, there would be caffeine in it. He said that it was about as much as a cup of coffee.
     
    #7 TheKlevin, Aug 25, 2015
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  8. DeweyCheatem-n-Howe

    DeweyCheatem-n-Howe Initiate (0) May 23, 2015 Massachusetts

    #8 DeweyCheatem-n-Howe, Aug 25, 2015
  9. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Nichts zu danken!
     
    #9 drtth, Aug 25, 2015
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  10. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    This question comes up from time to time. Brewers have addressed it directly (@Sixpoint ).

    To the best of my memory, the official answer is that you're getting far less caffeine than you would in a cup of coffee. Any really noticeable amount would put it into the 4Loko realm of caffeinated alcoholic beverages (as @cookiequiz mentioned), which would be a legal morass.
     
    #10 Roguer, Aug 25, 2015
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  11. jlsims04

    jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

    Yes although I think it varies quite a bit. For example I know when they make Sump at Perennial they essentialy make massive batches of cold brewed coffee and then blend it into the final beer.
     
    #11 jlsims04, Aug 25, 2015
  12. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not really - the FDA made it pretty clear that their concern (and eventual ban) was not for alcoholic beverages with coffee as an ingredient:
     
    #12 jesskidden, Aug 25, 2015
  13. DeweyCheatem-n-Howe

    DeweyCheatem-n-Howe Initiate (0) May 23, 2015 Massachusetts

    Sounds like I should save my 4Beans for weekend brunch... any caffeine after roughly noon keeps me up at night. Side effect of quitting smoking; nicotine causes you to metabolize caffeine much faster, quitting seems to have wrecked the ability I once had to have caffeine in the afternoon and reasonably expect to fall asleep.
     
    #13 DeweyCheatem-n-Howe, Aug 25, 2015
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