Seattle's Reuben's Brews announces the release of a coffee-infused beer, Bear Mug, and a limited-edition coffee blend.
Coffee, like beer, has been given poor representation in the beverage realm.
Ask someone their favorite coffee they’ll probably say Starbucks, Folgers, Maxwell House or Yuban. Equally, you can ask someone their favorite beer, they’ll probably say Budweiser, MGD, or some local light pilsner. Then again if you are like the countless who share a zip code in the Pacific Northwest, the answer to favorite coffee or beer might become more nuanced.
Whatever the reason, beer and coffee, when compared to tea and wine, are often more associated with aggressive or uneducated behavior than something refined and therapeutic.
For Adam Robbings, co-owner of Reuben’s Brews, coffee has no such negative association. If anything, coffee has slowly changed this ex-pat from the UK’s perception of coffee.
As someone who has spent numerous years, living in the Emerald City of Seattle, Washington, Robbings has slowly evolved his appreciation and understanding of not only coffee but beer. One only has to step into their taproom, in Seattle’s maritime neighborhood of Ballard, to see the walls of awards, rewarding a brewery who appreciates beer. But secretly, its coowner has a deep-love of coffee which started much like his beer brewing career, at home.
A generic representation of beans after being roasted.
It began with a home coffee roaster, experimenting with various beans from regions throughout the world. With each roast, each grind, and each cup, Adam Robbings developed a palate for coffee his British heritage might’ve never considered. Chalk it up to living in Seattle, birth mother of Starbucks coffee and numerous family roasters, or maybe it was his love of beer, but Robbing’s is combining his two loves in a unique beer - Reuben’s AM Brews, Bear Mug.
We’ve used coffee in a number of beers over the years – from IPAs to barrel-aged stouts. But despite always pairing an “off-the-shelf” coffee to the beer, we’ve never used my knowledge of coffee to create a specific coffee blend for the beer. Until now! Our latest coffee beer is a collaboration with our friends at Kuma Coffee, who we’ve partnered with on a number of projects over the years, which we’re calling “Bear Mug“: we’ve taken our classic Robust Porter to another level with the addition of our unique coffee blend.
image courtesy Reuben’s Brews
Using his experience as a home-coffee-roaster, Robbings has blended two unique coffee regions in Kenya and Honduras. The result is a coffee that combines notes of Milk chocolate, vanilla, raspberry compote, a bright acidity, notes of bakers chocolate, subtle lemon, and floral (almost lemon grass) characteristics.
Combined with this Robust Porter and the brewery couldn’t be happier what they’ve created.
Working on creating the blend, the Honduran and Kenyan together was phenomenal. A chocolatey rich base with a bright fruit highlight, with medium acidity, was exactly what we were going for, and it’s just what we’ve achieved.
To celebrate this new release, the brewery is also offering a select amount of their coffee blend, for those looking for a side-by-side coffee experience. Also, the brewery has stated they will release a cold brew edition of their coffee blend, soon.
image courtesy Reuben’s Brews
Reuben's Brews is located in Seattle, Washington, and has two locations at 5010 14th Ave NW Seattle, WA 98107 and 800 NW 46th St, Seattle, WA 98107. For more information on Bear Mug, their limited-edition coffee blend, or their other beers, ciders, and hard seltzers visit https://reubensbrews.com.
About Reuben’s Brews
Adam and Grace Robbings opened Reuben’s Brews in 2012, after an award-winning homebrewing career, naming the brewery after their first child, Reuben. At their family brewery they brew from the glass backwards: designing each beer with intention, unbound by constraints. They know that making that extra effort is worth it. From their everyday favorite beers to innovative new releases, they help you grow your love of beer. Reuben’s Brews. Beer Unbound.
The Reuben’s Taproom (5010 14th Ave NW in Ballard) is currently open daily 12pm-9pm. The space has been updated for the times and features an expanded outdoor seating area and a new To-Go Store. They strictly adhere to all current state and local health precautions to keep both their customers and their team safe. Please visit www.reubensbrews.com for full details, and follow @reubensbrews on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates.
Customers are also invited to order online for contactless pickup at www.reubensbrews.com/shop or stop by for walk-up purchase.
The Brewtap (800 NW 46th St. in Ballard) is closed until further notice.
Corrections.
The brewery wishes us to clarify that the coffee blend is in fact only Honduran and Kenyan. In taste testing Honduran, Kenyan, and Guatemalan coffees he narrowed it down to just two. This is also evident when reviewing the bag of coffee, the cold brew, and the beer itself’s label.
We apologize for the confusion.
