hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Big Bad Baptist

Tap to rate

Epic's legendary imperial stout aged on coffee beans and cacao nibs in bourbon barrels. Rich, decadent, and complex with waves of espresso, dark chocolate, and vanilla.

ABV
12%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark45
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedcoffeechocolate
roasted
coffee
chocolate
vanilla
dark fruit
oak
Aroma
The nose opens with dominant espresso and roasted coffee notes, supported by cocoa powder and dark chocolate undertones.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Big Bad Baptist

◎ Appearance

Deep black-brown color with an opaque body and minimal light transmission. A dense, tan head forms and clings to the glass with steady retention, leaving substantial lacing on the walls as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is gentle and restrained, appropriate to the style.

deep black-brownopaquedense headstrong lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with dominant espresso and roasted coffee notes, supported by cocoa powder and dark chocolate undertones. Vanilla and bourbon oak emerge beneath, along with subtle hints of dark fruit and a faint alcohol warmth. The barrel aging adds a subtle vanilla and wood-spice character that frames the coffee-forward profile.

espresso-forwardcocoa and chocolatebourbon oakvanilla notes

◐ Taste

The palate is full and enveloping, with roasted malt providing a bitter-sweet foundation that carries waves of brewed coffee and dark chocolate across the mid-palate. Cacao nibs add subtle texture and tannin structure. Vanilla and oak lend complexity without overshadowing the core flavors, while 12% ABV provides warmth and body without harsh alcohol bite.

roasted maltcoffee-chocolate interplayfull-bodiedwarming alcohol

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with roasted and coffee notes lingering alongside a gentle bitterness and drying oak tannin. The bourbon barrel influence persists as a faint vanilla undertone that extends the aftertaste.

long finishlingering coffeewarming
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
89
Appearance
86
Finish
88
Serve at 13–16°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Big Bad Baptist

More from Epic Brewing Company

Hopulent IPA
Hopulent IPA
American IPA
7.3%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Los Locos Mexican Lager

About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, coffee, rich character as Big Bad Baptist will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →New to Imperial Stout? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →