Yankee Brew News Archive

Redhook Introduces Coffee Stout in Connecticut

Originally Published: 06/96

By: Gregg Glaser

The Redhook Brewing Company, soon to be a New England micro with the opening of their Portsmouth, New Hampshire brewery later this year, introduced Double Black Stout at a launch party in Connecticut in March.

Available on draft and in 22-ounce bottles, Double Black Stout is a collaboration between Redhook and Starbucks Coffee Company, both from Seattle. After primary fermentation of the stout, Starbucks coffee extract (a blend of Central American arabica coffee) is added. A release from Redhook states that they brew their stout with five varieties of barley malt (two-row pale, Caramel 40, Cara pils, Chocolate and Black Patent), a touch of wheat, honey, and two varieties of hops (Chinooks and Northern Brewer) in the Imperial Stout style. Alcohol content is about 6.25% by volume.

Curiously enough, because of the small amount of caffeine in the beer from the coffee, the beer attracted enough press coverage to be featured on at least one television news program. Anti-alcohol types decried a product that combines alcohol and caffeine, because they felt it might send a confusing message to drinkers about the counteractive effect of the caffeine on the alcohol content of the beverage.

The coffee taste does indeed come through loud and clear, with the roastiness of the dark grains right behind. It's a black beer with a big, tan, creamy head.