Vice & Virtue – To Be Frank Coffee Stout

Vice & Virtue – To Be Frank Coffee Stout Review

Vice & Virtue Brewing brings a refined beer aesthetic to Kelowna. Many of their well-received creations are light, fruity sours…but one of the creations we sampled recently is right on the other end of the scale.

To Be Frank is a dark stout with a distinct coffee flavour. Unusually, the beverage employs gourmet java beans that have been aged in a bourbon barrel. Normally it’s beer that ages in wood, but Vice has pulled a switch thanks to their beanery partner, Tug 6 Coffee.

As summarized by Hopline editor Ed Kaye on his personal blog Bring Your Porter to the Slaughter,

To Be Frank is a stout brewed with Kenyan Kahete green beans from Tug 6 coffee roasters that were aged in a Woodford Reserve Bourbon barrel for 60 days before being lightly roasted.

The attractive brew pours black as night with a fluffy, light tan head. On the nose, there is chocolate, dark coffee beans and peppery alcoholic notes.

On the palate, it’s amazing, like drinking cream. Flavours include coffee, chocolate and black liquorice. This is a stout lover’s dream.

If you can find a way to get your hands on this brew, be sure to try it; either way, never turn down beers from Vice & Virtue.