Imperial Cold Brew Rum BA

The portrait

Imperial Cold Brew Rhum BA represents one of La Nébuleuse's most ambitious and audacious creations. This Imperial Stout, aged in rum barrels (BA = Barrel Aged) and infused with cold brew coffee, embodies the pursuit of complexity and aromatic intensity pushed to its extreme.

On the nose, aromas of cold coffee immediately dominate, accompanied by expressive rum notes that lend the beer a decidedly alcoholic, even boozy, character. On the palate, the beer is powerful and warming, with a pronounced presence of barrel-aged rum that can sometimes overpower the other flavors. The cold coffee provides a roasted bitterness that complements the malty richness of the Imperial Stout base, while the barrel wood contributes notes of vanilla and sweet spices.

This beer demands respect: with its 10% alcohol content and intense profile, it's best enjoyed in small sips, like a precious digestif. The strength of the rum and the intensity of the coffee make it a meditative experience rather than a thirst-quenching beer. Some tasters found the barrel influence too prominent ("too much barrel"), highlighting the delicate balance required in this type of brewing.

History & Innovation

Imperial Cold Brew Rhum BA follows in the footsteps of the great aged beers that La Nébuleuse has explored over the years. This 2018 creation reflects the Renens-based brewery's ambition to push stylistic boundaries and offer beers that defy conventions.

Using rum barrels to age an Imperial Stout is not common practice in Switzerland and requires specific technical expertise. Unlike the more frequently used bourbon barrels, rum casks impart tropical, molasses, and Caribbean spice notes that interact differently with the malt base. The addition of cold brew—coffee brewed without using cold brewing—adds another dimension: coffee prepared using this method offers milder, less acidic aromas than traditional hot coffee, while still maintaining remarkable aromatic intensity.

This beer was primarily served on tap during the summer of 2018, notably at Trois 8 and the Brussels Beer Project, where it elicited mixed reactions. While some tasters were won over by its complexity and boldness, others found the balance difficult to grasp, with the oak influence sometimes overpowering the overall character. This diversity of opinion illustrates the exploratory nature of this creation, a beer designed to make a lasting impression rather than to please everyone.

Food and beer pairings

Imperial Cold Brew Rum BA, with its powerful, alcoholic and complex profile, deserves pairings as bold as it is:

Intense chocolate desserts : A dark chocolate fondant (minimum 70%), a bittersweet chocolate mousse, or an intense brownie find a perfect partner in this Imperial Stout. The roasted coffee notes resonate with those of the cocoa, while the rum adds a surprising Caribbean dimension.

Strong cheeses : Blue cheeses like aged Roquefort or Gorgonzola find an interesting counterpoint in the strength of this beer. An aged Comté (24 months or more) or an alpine Gruyère also offer fascinating pairings, their dried fruit notes interacting with the beer's complexity.

Tiramisu : The perfect pairing par excellence! Tiramisu, with its coffee, mascarpone, and boozy notes, resonates perfectly with this Imperial Stout made with coffee and rum. A heavenly marriage where each element complements the others.

Cigar : For enthusiasts, this beer can accompany a good cigar at the end of the evening, the roasted and woody notes creating a harmonious dialogue.

Coffee desserts : A coffee panna cotta, an opera cake, or profiteroles with coffee sauce find a natural echo in this beer, which amplifies the taste experience.

To be enjoyed on its own : With its complexity and power, this beer can simply stand alone as a digestif at the end of a meal, served at cellar temperature (12-14°C) in a tulip glass to appreciate all its aromas.

The final word

Imperial Cold Brew Rhum BA remains in our memories as a boundary-pushing creation, an exploration of the limits of intensity and aromatic complexity. Although this beer is no longer produced, it embodies the adventurous spirit of La Nébuleuse, this desire to never settle into the comfort of tried-and-tested recipes.

For those fortunate enough to have tasted it, it remains a memory of an intense, sometimes perplexing, but always memorable experience. A beer that left no one indifferent, that provoked thought and debate—exactly what a great craft brew should do. A legacy of audacity that reminds us that exploration, even when it reaches its limits, helps advance the art of brewing.

Cheers! 🍻

The recipe