Epic Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter 22OZ

Epic Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter 22OZ is a whiskey barrel-aged imperial stout brewed with roasted cacao nibs, coffee, and peanuts, bottled at approximately 11–12.4% ABV in a 22oz format. This variant of Epic Brewing's acclaimed Big Bad Baptist series carries a 97 score on BeerAdvocate across thousands of ratings, placing it among the highest-regarded imperial stouts in the American craft beer landscape.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~11–12.4% (varies by batch)  |  Origin: Salt Lake City, Utah  |  Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Epic Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Epic Brewing Company, founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, launched the Big Bad Baptist line as a rotating series of barrel-aged imperial stouts, each batch receiving a distinct treatment of adjuncts and variable coffee dosing—meaning no two release numbers are exactly alike. The Peanut Butter expression is aged in whiskey barrels and conditioned with roasted cacao nibs, coffee, and peanuts, layered over a grain bill built on Muntons Maris Otter, Briess 2-Row Brewers Malt, Crystal Muntons, Weyermann Light Munich Malt, 2-Row Chocolate Malt, 2-Row Black Malt, and Roasted Barley. The result is a dense, complex stout where the peanut character integrates alongside the barrel and roast elements rather than dominating them.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Roasted cacao nibs lead the nose, followed by dark-roast coffee and a subtle, savory peanut nuttiness. Underneath, whiskey barrel oak and a light boozy warmth round out the bouquet.

Taste: The entry is rich and sweet with dark chocolate and roasted malt intensity. Mid-palate, coffee bitterness and smoky peanut flavors emerge, balanced by notes of bourbon-soaked oak. A medium-strong bitterness develops toward the peak, keeping the sweetness in check and preventing the beer from becoming cloying.

Finish: The finish is drier than expected for an imperial stout at this weight, with lingering bitter chocolate, toasted peanut, and a boozy, warming undertone. The texture is thick, viscous, and creamy throughout, tapering to a clean close.

How to Drink Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter

Pour this stout into a snifter or tulip glass at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to allow the barrel character and peanut nuance to fully express themselves. Sipping it neat is the ideal approach—rushing through a 22oz bottle of this complexity would be a disservice. A small pour over a single large ice sphere can tame the boozy heat on warmer days. While not a traditional cocktail ingredient, adventurous drinkers have used barrel-aged stouts like this as floats on a Chocolate Espresso Martini to add roast depth, blended into an adult Peanut Butter Milkshake with vanilla ice cream, or stirred into a Stout Flip with a whole egg for a rich, dessert-like nightcap.

Best For

• Sharing with fellow craft beer enthusiasts during a bottle share night
• Pairing with a rich dessert course at a dinner party
• Gifting to a barrel-aged stout collector who hunts limited releases
• Cellaring alongside other imperial stout vintages for a vertical tasting

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter taste like? It delivers dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and smoky peanut flavors over a whiskey barrel backbone, finishing drier and more balanced than its rich, sweet entry suggests.

How does Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter compare to Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout? Both are whiskey barrel-aged imperial stouts with significant complexity, but Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter distinguishes itself with its roasted peanut and cacao nib additions, giving it a nuttier, more dessert-forward profile compared to Bourbon County's straightforward barrel and dark fruit character.

Is Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter good for sipping neat? Yes—its thick, creamy body and layered flavor profile reward slow, contemplative sipping from a snifter at cellar temperature, where the barrel and adjunct complexity can fully unfold.

Where is Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter made? It is brewed by Epic Brewing Company, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with some distribution labeling indicating production in Colorado.

What foods pair well with Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter? Flourless chocolate cake amplifies the cacao nib notes; peanut butter brownies create a harmonious echo of the beer's core flavor; sharp aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the malt sweetness; smoked brisket complements the barrel char; and vanilla bean ice cream served alongside makes for a classic stout-and-dessert pairing.

What sizes does Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter come in? The standard release is a 22oz bomber bottle, which is the flagship format for Epic Brewing's Big Bad Baptist series.

Is Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter worth the price? It positions as a premium craft beer within the barrel-aged imperial stout category, and its 97 BeerAdvocate score and multi-adjunct barrel-aging process place it in strong company against other limited-release stouts at similar price points.

Why Big Bad Baptist Peanut Butter?

A 97 on BeerAdvocate across more than 4,100 ratings is not a score easily earned—it signals consistent quality across multiple batches, not a single lucky release. The variable coffee dosing from batch to batch means each release number offers a slightly different experience, rewarding repeat exploration. Among the crowded field of adjunct barrel-aged stouts, this expression stands out by integrating peanut, cacao, and coffee without letting any single element overpower the base beer. For drinkers who want barrel-aged intensity with genuine balance and a dry, non-cloying finish, the Peanut Butter variant is one of the most accomplished entries in Epic Brewing's lineup.