Ever since people learned how to brew beer with hops, we have been trying to incorporate all sorts of flavors into our beers. Some brewers have successfully added vanilla to their brews. And there are even rumbles about a cannabis-infused ale. Well, that would be a riot, wouldn’t it?
How about a coffee-infused beer? Not just the coffee-flavored stouts. You can get a coffee flavor with dark malts. I’m talking about beers with actual coffee beans added as a flavor ingredient. Do those exist?
The good news is, yes, coffee beers exist. The task, however, is that you may need to put in a lot of effort to hunt down some of these brands. But that’s where we come in; we identify the most popular and easy-to-find brands of coffee beers so that you know what to look for and what to expect.
So below are 11 popular coffee beers.
1. Breakfast Stout by Founders Brewing Company
Beer Style: Imperial Coffee Stout
Alcohol Content: 8.3% ABV
Tasting Notes: Coffee, Chocolate, Stone Fruit
A sip of the Breakfast Stout actually feels like you’re drinking a warm cup of Caffe Mocha in the morning. Perhaps that’s why they call it Breakfast Stout. Overall, it has a full body and creamy texture, a great substitute for your morning coffee. But slow down on the booze; it’s heavy on alcohol. You don’t want to show up to work tipsy.
2. Beer For Breakfast Stout by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Beer Style: Milk Stout
Alcohol Content: 7.4% ABV
Tasting Notes: Roasted Coffee, Smoked Bacon, Maple
Do you have wild fantasies of having beer for breakfast? Well, you can buy a cold bottle of Beer For Breakfast Stout, a Milk Stout concocted by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. And the breakfast theme doesn’t end at the name.
You see, the brewers were trying to make a true breakfast beer with authentic breakfast ingredients. So they added Guatemalan Antigua coffee, maple syrup, and Rapa Scrapple’s secret blend of spices.
Beer For Breakfast pairs well with hearty breakfast meals like eggs, scrapple, bacon, sausages, and home fries. It also combines well with a juicy steak, vegetable hash, and creme brulee.
3. Early Riser Coffee Porter by Boulevard Brewing
Beer Style: American Porter
Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
Tasting Notes: Chocolate, Caramel, Light Roast Coffee
Early Riser is a befitting name for a worthy beer. What’s better than waking up to some coffee? A foamy beer, of course. Just to get the coffee right, Boulevard Brewing blends coffee beans from three different coffee regions. If you like Columbian coffee, you will love this porter.
As an American Porter, don’t expect a lot of bitterness. But the full body does compensate for the low hoppiness.
4. Coffee Stout by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer Style: American Stout
Alcohol Content: 6.2% ABV
Tasting Notes: Roasted Malt, Coffee, Chocolate, Caramel, Fruity
This is what you want in your tulip glass; a black Stout with a tan head. To the nose, it’s hard to ignore the strong chocolate and coffee notes, which are also consistent with the taste of the beer, plus some malty and fruity characteristics.
Sierra Nevada’s Coffee Stout is not a big beer, at least by the standards set by the Breakfast Stout and Beer for Breakfast Stout.
5. Victory at Sea by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Beer Style: Imperial Porter
Alcohol Content: 10% ABV
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Medium Roast Coffee, Hazelnut, Milk Chocolate
Ballast Point Brewing went above and beyond to flavor this beer. Victory at Sea is infused with vanilla and Caffe Calabria coffee beans.
The result is a big beer, 10% ABV strong, with a pitch-black body and a tan head. Unfortunately, you can’t enjoy this beer all year round because Ballast Point offers it seasonally. But come winter, this is the companion you need.
6. Mocha Porter by Rogue Ales
Beer Style: American Porter
Alcohol Content: 5.6% ABV
Tasting Notes: Caffe Mocha, Chocolate, Fruity
Rogue Ales’ Mocha Porter is the proud son of Oregon. The beer is called “Mocha” for a reason (or a couple of reasons). First, the porter tastes like a warm sip of Caffe Mocha, with prominent chocolate and coffee notes. And the beer’s color is a shade or two darker than the Mocha Color. As for the head, that’s pure mocha.
To whip up this complex cocktail of flavors, Rogue Ales uses 2-Row, C120, Munich, and Chocolate malts. They then add Kiln Coffee as the cherry on top of the already flavor-rich cake or, rather, beer.
7. Maple Bacon Coffee Porter by Funky Buddha Brewery
Beer Style: American Porter
Alcohol Content: 6.4% ABV
Tasting Notes: Bacon, Coffee, Maple
We venture into craft beer territory to pull out our next entrant, the Maple Bacon Coffee. Interesting fact, the name of this American Porter gives us a clue on what to expect from the beer.
The Funky Buddha Brewery calls it a “Diner-Style Breakfast in a Glass” because the beer weaves together flavors of smoky bacon, sticky maple syrup, and toasty coffee.
Coincidentally, Maple Bacon Coffee Porter pairs well with pancakes drenched in maple syrup, molten chocolate cakes, bacon and egg sandwiches, steak and eggs combos, and braised short ribs.
8. Heritage Coffee Brown Ale by Alaskan Brewing Co.
Beer Style: English Brown Ale
Alcohol Content: 7% ABV
Tasting Notes: Milk Chocolate, Coffee, Fruity, Smoky
The Heritage Coffee Brown Ale is what I imagine would happen if your favorite cup of espresso had a baby with your favorite ale. Heritage Coffee Brown Ale is the result of a collaboration between Alaskan Brewing and Heritage Coffee and Roasters.
And what they do at Alaskan Brewing is mix the coffee (Caffe Expresso) with their assortments of malts. They mash together, they boil together, and they ferment, well, together. The coffee is infused from the start in what Alaskan Brewing calls “Coffee Cold-Brewing.”
9. Cubano-Style Espresso Brown Ale by Cigar City Brewing
Beer Style: English Brown Ale
Alcohol Content: 5.5% ABV
Tasting Notes: chocolate, Espresso, Vanilla, Caramel, Milk
No, the Cubano-Style Espresso does not contain tobacco. But just imagine how awesome that would be; all your vices in a single bottle (nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol). But it does contain coffee peppered with cocoa, vanilla, and lactose. The end result is a nice blend of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and milky flavors; yummy!
10. Cold Brew IPA by Rogue Ales
Beer Style: American IPA
Alcohol Content: 7.5% ABV
Tasting Notes: Hazelnut, Coffee.Maple Syrup, Light Chocolate
Rogue Ales is at it again. Another coffee beer from Oregon. Rogue Ales’ Cold Brew IPA is a well-choreographed dance between hops and coffee. To make this symphony of flavors, Rogue Ales blends their hoppy IPA with Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ Original Cold Brew Coffee. The result is a well-balanced blend of coffee and hoppy notes.
11. Baba Budan Coffee IPA by Appalachian Mountain Brewery
Beer Style: American IPA
Alcohol Content: 6.6% ABV
Tasting Notes: Grapefruit, Citrus, Espresso
As you would expect from an IPA, the Baba Budan Coffee IPA is a hoppy craft beer. And as such, it is quite bitter. Add some espresso notes, and you have one complex flavor profile. But to lighten the mood, the Appalachian Mountain Brewery adds a fruity character to the mix with citrus and grapefruit notes.
A little disclaimer, Baba Budan is from North Carolina. Tracking it will be hard, but once you get your hands on a can, you’ll be glad you tried it.
Popular Coffee Beers: FAQs
There’s still a lot of mystery surrounding coffee beers. To clear things up, why don’t we tackle the internet’s burning questions regarding coffee beers?
What Are Coffee Beers Called?
It’s okay to call them coffee beers. But to be specific, you can describe them with the names of their style. For example, a coffee-infused Stout can be called a Coffee Stout.
But then that’s another thing with coffee beers; when it comes to coffee infusion, Stouts and Porters are the favorite candidates. Maybe because the roasted coffee flavor blends well with the smokey and toasty flavors of these beer styles.
Look at our list; it is studded with Coffee Porters and Coffee Stouts. But if you look for them, you’ll find Coffee Ales and Coffee IPAs.
Which Beers Have Coffee Flavor?
You can impart a coffee-like flavor by simply using dark malts. Look at Guinness Foreign Extra Stout; it has a coffee flavor, yet it does not contain a single bean of coffee in it.
But for authentic coffee-infused beers, here are some popular brands:
- Breakfast Stout
- Beer For Breakfast Stout
- Early Riser Coffee Porter
- Coffee Stout
- Victory At Sea
- Mocha Porter
- Maple bacon Coffee Porter
- Heritage Coffee Brown Ale
- Cubano-Style Espresso Brown Ale
- Cold Brew IPA
Is a Stout a Coffee Beer?
Well, not all of them. Sure, when it comes to coffee infusion, the stout is the first place a brewmaster turns to. How can you blame them? Some stouts have deceivingly natural coffee flavors without having any coffee in them. So, they should be compatible.
But some stouts use actual coffee to bolster their toasty flavors. Such a stout is an authentic coffee beer. You may even call it a Coffee Stout.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, folks, the most popular coffee beers on this side of the North American continent. So, what have you already tried? Which beer are you looking to try next? And What is your impression of coffee beers? Do tell, spill the tea in the comment section below.
Michael, a dedicated homebrewer, founded Unknown Brewing after perfecting his craft through trial and error. A DIY enthusiast, he also enjoys tackling projects and reviewing tools, sharing his expertise to help others succeed.