Epic Big Bad Baptist 4Pk

Epic Big Bad Baptist 4Pk is a barrel-aged imperial stout from Epic Brewing Company, sold in a 4-pack format at 11.5%–12.7% ABV depending on batch. Scoring a remarkable 97 on BeerAdvocate across more than 4,100 ratings, this coffee-and-cacao-infused stout has earned a reputation as one of the most consistently lauded American imperial stouts available.

Quick Facts: ABV: 11.5%–12.7% (varies by batch)  |  Origin: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA  |  Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Epic Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Epic Brewing Company, founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, built its reputation on bold, high-gravity beers, and Big Bad Baptist stands as the brewery's flagship dark ale. The base imperial stout is brewed with a complex grain bill that includes Muntons Maris Otter, Briess 2-Row Brewers Malt, Crystal Muntons, Weyermann Light Munich Malt I, 2-Row Chocolate Malt, 2-Row Black Malt, and Roasted Barley, hopped with Nugget, Chinook, and Cascade. After primary fermentation, the stout is aged in used whiskey and bourbon barrels, then infused with real coffee and cacao nibs. Crucially, each batch receives a different dose of coffee, meaning the ABV and flavor profile shift from release to release — a detail that has turned batch-hunting into a pursuit among devoted fans.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich dark chocolate and roasted coffee dominate the nose immediately, followed by undercurrents of toasted malt, oak, and a subtle bourbon-like warmth. A faint licorice note and tobacco leaf add complexity as the beer opens up.

Taste: The entry is thick and bittersweet, leading with cacao nib intensity and medium-roast coffee that coats the palate. Mid-palate, caramel sweetness from the barrel aging emerges alongside toasted malt and gentle oak tannins. The bourbon character stays restrained, letting the chocolate, coffee, and tobacco interplay take the foreground.

Finish: The finish is long, dry, and remarkably reminiscent of sipping neat bourbon — oaky, lightly tannic, with a lingering cocoa bitterness. The mouthfeel throughout is viscous, oily, smooth, and creamy with a light tingle of carbonation.

How to Drink Big Bad Baptist

Big Bad Baptist is best served at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate its layered aromas. Pouring too cold will mute the coffee and barrel complexity. While this stout is built for sipping on its own, it also works in decadent beer cocktails: a Black Velvet variation (blended with dry sparkling wine) plays the stout's sweetness against bright acidity; a Beer Float with vanilla bean ice cream amplifies the chocolate and coffee richness into a dessert; and a Boilermaker pairing alongside a pour of rye whiskey creates a complementary dialogue between the barrel-aged stout and straight spirit.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer collector who tracks barrel-aged releases
• After-dinner sipping as a dessert course replacement
• Vertical tastings comparing different Big Bad Baptist batch numbers
• Cold-weather gatherings where a robust, warming stout sets the tone

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Big Bad Baptist taste like? Big Bad Baptist delivers a dense, bittersweet profile dominated by dark chocolate, medium-roast coffee, and cacao nib richness, layered over toasted malt and restrained bourbon barrel warmth. The texture is thick, creamy, and viscous with a dry, bourbon-like finish.

How does Big Bad Baptist compare to Founders KBS? Both are bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts infused with coffee and chocolate flavors, placing them in the same family of American barrel-aged stouts. Big Bad Baptist tends to lean more heavily into cacao nib bitterness and features batch-to-batch variation in coffee dosing, while Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) is generally recognized for a more uniform release profile with pronounced espresso and maple-like sweetness from its cave-aged barrels.

Is Big Bad Baptist good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a sipping stout by design, with its high ABV, layered barrel character, and dessert-like complexity rewarding slow, contemplative pours at cellar temperature.

Where is Big Bad Baptist made? Big Bad Baptist is brewed by Epic Brewing Company in Salt Lake City, Utah. The brewery ages the imperial stout in used whiskey and bourbon barrels before infusing it with coffee and cacao nibs at its Utah production facility.

What foods pair well with Big Bad Baptist? Dark chocolate truffles mirror the cacao nib character and amplify the stout's bittersweet depth. Smoked brisket or barbecue ribs complement the barrel-aged oak and caramel sweetness. Aged cheddar or Gouda contrasts the coffee bitterness with savory richness. Crème brûlée echoes the caramelized malt notes, and espresso-rubbed short ribs tie directly into the stout's roasted coffee backbone.

What sizes does Big Bad Baptist come in? This listing is a 4-pack format. Epic Brewing has also historically released Big Bad Baptist in individual large-format bottles, though availability varies by market and batch.

Is Big Bad Baptist worth the price? Big Bad Baptist positions as a premium barrel-aged imperial stout — a category where pricing reflects extended aging time, specialty ingredients like cacao nibs and coffee, and limited batch production. With a 97 rating on BeerAdvocate and consistent critical praise, it delivers strong value relative to other barrel-aged stouts at comparable price tiers.

Why Big Bad Baptist?

What separates Big Bad Baptist from the crowded barrel-aged stout field is its deliberate batch-to-batch variation — each release number carries a distinct coffee dosing level, giving repeat buyers a genuinely different experience with every batch. That approach has earned a 97 on BeerAdvocate, placing it in elite company among American imperial stouts. The grain bill is more complex than many competitors, blending six malt varieties with roasted barley before the beer ever touches a bourbon barrel. For drinkers who want a barrel-aged stout that rewards attention and invites comparison across releases, Big Bad Baptist remains one of the most compelling options brewed in the United States.