Foreign Exchange Kittywampus 2Pk

Foreign Exchange Kittywampus 2Pk is a high-octane Imperial Coffee Porter brewed at 12.5% ABV, sold as a two-pack from Foreign Exchange Brewing Company in Aurora, Illinois. What distinguishes Kittywampus from the crowded field of coffee-forward dark ales is its deliberate collaboration with specialty roasters — notably Endiro Coffee, whose single-origin Ugandan beans are hand-selected by growers in the Bududa Bukalasi region and freshly roasted locally in Aurora before conditioning.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Aurora, Illinois  |  Style: Imperial Coffee Porter  |  Brewery: Foreign Exchange Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Foreign Exchange Brewing Company operates out of 110 Cross Street in Aurora, Illinois, with a focus on creative, adjunct-driven brewing. Kittywampus is brewed with milk sugar (lactose) for body and sweetness, then conditioned on vanilla and freshly roasted coffee. The brewery has rotated its coffee sourcing across batches — early versions featured Endiro Coffee's Ugandan single-origin beans, while more recent iterations have incorporated Intelligentsia Black Cat espresso, a blend of Brazilian and Colombian coffees. The ABV has also evolved over different releases, ranging from 8.5% in earlier batches to the current 12.5%, firmly placing the latest version in imperial territory.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a pronounced wave of roasted coffee and vanilla, followed by layers of dark chocolate, damp earth, and a subtle caramel sweetness. It smells rich and dessert-like without veering into cloying territory.

Taste: The entry is thick and full-bodied, with immediate dark chocolate and espresso bitterness giving way to a mid-palate sweetness driven by the lactose base. Vanilla rounds out the center, while roasted coffee grounds and brown sugar build toward the peak. The Intelligentsia-conditioned batches lean more heavily into dark chocolate and caramel, while Endiro-sourced versions carry a brighter, single-origin coffee character.

Finish: The finish is long and warming at 12.5%, with lingering roasted coffee, bittersweet cocoa, and a subtle vanilla fade. Carbonation runs low, giving the beer a smooth, almost porter-meets-stout mouthfeel that coats the palate.

How to Drink Kittywampus

Pour Kittywampus into a tulip glass or snifter at cellar temperature — around 50–55°F — to let the coffee and vanilla aromatics open fully. This beer drinks best on its own, sipped slowly to appreciate the layered adjunct work. For a dessert pairing approach, try it alongside a chocolate affogato, where the beer mirrors the espresso and ice cream combination. It also holds up well as a beer float, poured over vanilla bean ice cream for an indulgent after-dinner serve. A small pour alongside an espresso martini flight makes for an interesting side-by-side exploration of coffee in different formats.

Best For

• After-dinner sipping on cold winter evenings
• Sharing with a fellow craft beer enthusiast who gravitates toward dark, adjunct-heavy styles
• Dessert course substitute at a dinner party
• Exploring the imperial porter style alongside comparable imperial stouts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kittywampus taste like? Kittywampus delivers bold roasted coffee and dark chocolate up front, supported by vanilla sweetness and a lactose-driven full body. It drinks more like an imperial stout than a traditional porter, with low carbonation and a warming 12.5% ABV finish.

How does Kittywampus compare to other imperial coffee porters? Reviewers have noted that Kittywampus drinks closer to an imperial stout in body and intensity, with some comparing it favorably to P3 Pressed. Its rotating coffee sourcing — from Ugandan single-origin to Intelligentsia's Brazilian-Colombian blend — gives different batches a distinct character that sets it apart from single-recipe competitors.

Is Kittywampus good for sipping neat? At 12.5% ABV with a heavy body and low carbonation, Kittywampus is built for slow, contemplative sipping rather than casual drinking. Pouring it into a snifter at slightly below room temperature brings out the full coffee and vanilla complexity.

Where is Kittywampus made? Kittywampus is brewed by Foreign Exchange Brewing Company at their facility on Cross Street in Aurora, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago.

What foods pair well with Kittywampus? Dark chocolate truffles complement the beer's cocoa and espresso notes. Smoked brisket or barbecue ribs match its heavy body and roasted character. Vanilla bean cheesecake echoes the lactose sweetness. Tiramisu mirrors the coffee-vanilla interplay. A sharp aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the residual sweetness.

What sizes does Kittywampus come in? Kittywampus is available as a 2-pack, the standard retail format for this release from Foreign Exchange Brewing Company.

Is Kittywampus worth the price? Kittywampus positions as a premium craft release within the imperial porter category, justified by its high ABV, specialty coffee sourcing from named roasters, and lactose-and-vanilla conditioning. For drinkers who value bold, dessert-style dark ales, the 2-pack format provides an appropriate volume for the style's intensity.

Why Kittywampus?

What separates Kittywampus from generic coffee porters is the transparency and intentionality behind the coffee sourcing. The collaboration with Endiro Coffee — whose beans are grown in Uganda's Bududa Bukalasi region and roasted locally in Aurora — ties the beer to a specific agricultural origin rather than a generic "cold brew" addition. The evolution from 8.5% to 12.5% ABV across batches signals a brewery willing to push this recipe toward its most expressive form. With a 4.25 rating on Untappd and consistent praise for its balance of coffee intensity and vanilla smoothness, Kittywampus has earned a loyal following among imperial dark ale drinkers in the greater Chicago area and beyond.