Epic Brewing 2026 Big Bad Baptist Release Announcement

Epic Brewing 2026 Big Bad Baptist Returns With Six Variants

Epic Brewing Company is bringing back one of its most anticipated annual specialty beer traditions with six new Big Bad Baptist variants for 2026. The latest lineup expands the brewery’s barrel-aged imperial stout series with combinations of whiskey barrels, coffee, cacao, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, rye whiskey and peat-smoked barley.

The 2026 Big Bad Baptist lineup will officially arrive at Epic Brewing’s Salt Lake City brewery on Friday, October 9, 2026, before moving into the brewery’s distribution territory during November. Epic’s official event calendar confirms the October 9 release and identifies the six beers as Big Bad Baptista 10 Year Anniversary, Irish Baptist, Scottish Baptist, Beehive Baptist, Big Easy Baptist and Godfather Part II.

For fans of barrel-aged imperial stout, the new collection offers six distinctly different interpretations of the same Big Bad Baptist foundation. Some variants emphasize dessert-like flavors, others highlight whiskey-barrel character, while Scottish Baptist takes the series into smoky territory with peat-smoked barley. The result is another broad exploration of the possibilities within a rich, roasty imperial stout.

Six Epic Brewing Big Bad Baptist Variants Arrive for 2026

The headliner is Big Bad Baptista 10-Year Anniversary, a milestone version featuring vanilla, cinnamon, cacao and house-roasted Mexican coffee. Epic previously announced this commemorative beer as a 12% ABV imperial stout aged in whiskey barrels, continuing the original Big Bad Baptista concept that was inspired by Café de Olla.

Godfather Part II continues Epic’s Godfather series, focusing on the character and complexity produced through Epic’s whiskey-barrel program. The beer follows the 2025 Big Bad Baptist The Godfather, which MyBeerBuzz previously reported as a whiskey-barrel-aged imperial stout.

Beehive Baptist brings a distinctly Utah-inspired component to the series with local Utah honey and cacao nibs. Epic previously described Beehive as a whiskey-barrel-aged imperial stout built around real Utah honey and cacao nibs.

Big Easy Baptist takes inspiration from the classic Sazerac cocktail, using a rye whiskey barrel-aged stout to connect the beer’s dark malt character with whiskey and cocktail traditions.

Irish Baptist focuses on vanilla bean and coffee, creating another dessert-leaning variation on the Big Bad Baptist foundation.

Finally, Scottish Baptist pushes into a more intense, smoky direction with coffee, cacao nibs and peat-smoked barley. Epic’s earlier announcement described Scottish as a whiskey-barrel-aged imperial stout with coffee, cacao nibs and peat-smoked barley.

16-Ounce Cans and November Distribution

All six 2026 Big Bad Baptist variants will be packaged in 16-ounce cans for distribution beginning in November. The brewery specifically identifies Washington, Oregon, Southern California, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin as markets where beer fans should watch for the new releases.

Epic’s official website continues to feature Big Bad Baptist as a signature part of its barrel-aged stout lineup, and the brewery describes its beer program as encompassing dozens of styles, including barrel-aged stouts.

The brewery release also gives fans a chance to experience the complete collection in Salt Lake City before broader distribution begins. Epic’s October 10 Big Bad Baptist release party will feature all six variants, including house-roasted coffee pours, stout floats and other events surrounding the release.

More Big Bad Baptist coverage from MyBeerBuzz: Epic Brewing has built an extensive history of Big Bad Baptist releases, and MyBeerBuzz has followed the series for years. Check out our coverage of Epic Brewing’s 2026 Big Bad Baptist Beehive and Scottish, Epic’s Big Bad Baptista 10 Year Anniversary Ale, Big Bad Baptist The Godfather and Solstice, Big Bad Baptist Macaron, and Big Bad Baptist Pecan Pie.

Here is the full announcement from Epic Brewing Company.

Epic Brewing 2026 Big Bad Baptist Series Releases Six New Variants

We’re back with our annual Big Bad Baptist series, releasing six new variants of our barrel-aged imperial stout for 2026. The lineup will be available at the brewery on Friday, October 9th, and will hit Epic’s distribution range in November.

This year’s lineup explores a range of barrel treatments, coffee, spices and other ingredients while building on the rich, roasty character of the original Big Bad Baptist.

The 2026 lineup includes:

Big Bad Baptista 10-Year Anniversary — A celebratory blend featuring vanilla, cinnamon, cacao and house-roasted Mexican coffee.

Godfather Part II — The Godfather series is back, showcasing the complexity of Epic’s whiskey barrels.

Beehive — Imperial stout brewed with local Utah honey and cacao nibs.

Big Easy — A rye whiskey barrel-aged stout inspired by the classic Sazerac cocktail.

Irish Baptist — Featuring vanilla bean and coffee flavors.

Scottish Baptist — Brewed with coffee, cacao nibs and peat-smoked barley for a distinctly smoky, complex finish.

The six 2026 Big Bad Baptist variants will be available in 16-ounce cans across Epic’s distribution range beginning in November. Be on the lookout for this year’s variants if you live in Washington, Oregon, Southern California, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, or Wisconsin.

For more information about the 2026 Big Bad Baptist series, visit Epic Brewing Company or email [email protected].

About Epic Brewing Company:

Epic Brewing Company has established a distinctive place in the Utah craft beer scene by focusing on bold, flavorful beers and a wide variety of styles. The brewery’s story began in Salt Lake City, where Epic became Utah’s first brewery since Prohibition to exclusively brew high-alcohol-content beer. Epic says that distinction dates to 2009, when it began producing beers under Utah’s then-definition of high-alcohol beer.

From the beginning, Epic’s approach centered on brewing beers that pushed beyond conventional boundaries. The brewery developed a portfolio ranging from lagers and pilsners to imperial stouts, barrel-aged Belgian ales, smoked porters and hop-forward beers. That willingness to experiment became particularly evident in the brewery’s barrel-aged and specialty beer programs.

The Big Bad Baptist series is one of Epic’s best-known examples of that philosophy. The imperial stout has become a platform for exploring different barrel treatments and ingredients, allowing the brewery to create multiple interpretations of a rich, dark beer. Over the years, Epic has produced variants involving coffee, cacao, cinnamon, vanilla, fruit, nuts, additional barrels and other specialty ingredients.

MyBeerBuzz has followed that evolution extensively. Previous coverage includes Big Bad Baptist Pecan Pie, which combined whiskey-barrel aging with coffee, cacao, pecans, cinnamon and vanilla; Double Chocolate Double Peanut Butter Cup; Quadruple Barrel Big Bad Baptist; and multiple newer variants.

Epic’s 2026 lineup continues that tradition. The brewery has already announced Beehive and Scottish, along with Big Easy, Irish Baptist and Godfather Part II, while Big Bad Baptista 10 Year Anniversary celebrates a decade of the Baptista concept. MyBeerBuzz’s earlier 2026 coverage describes Beehive as a whiskey-barrel-aged imperial stout featuring real Utah honey and cacao nibs, while Scottish incorporates coffee, cacao nibs and peat-smoked barley.

Epic’s official brewery story emphasizes small-batch production, carefully selected ingredients and a commitment to producing highly flavorful beers. The brewery says it uses malts from the United States and Europe, intense hops and triple-filtered water. Its current beer program includes barrel-aged stouts alongside IPAs, Belgian-style ales, lagers and other specialty releases.

The brewery’s Salt Lake City home at 825 South State Street also serves as an important part of the Epic experience. The current taproom includes draft beer, cocktails, indoor seating and an outdoor patio, while the brewery maintains a cold beer selection featuring numerous styles. Epic also offers small samples, making it possible for visitors to explore different beers before selecting a larger serving or package to take home.

The 2026 Big Bad Baptist release continues Epic’s long-running emphasis on variety and experimentation. Rather than simply repeating one imperial stout recipe, the brewery uses the series as a canvas for different combinations of barrel character, coffee, cacao, spices, honey, vanilla and smoked ingredients.

For 2026, that approach produces six separate beers, ranging from the celebratory Big Bad Baptista 10-Year Anniversary to the whiskey-driven Godfather Part II, honey-and-cacao Beehive, Sazerac-inspired Big Easy, coffee-and-vanilla Irish Baptist and smoky Scottish Baptist. The six-pack-style variety of flavors gives Big Bad Baptist fans another extensive release to explore as the series enters another year.

Epic’s official October 9 release date at the Salt Lake City brewery and November distribution window will put the six 2026 Big Bad Baptist variants in front of drinkers across the brewery’s distribution footprint. The brewery’s October 10 release party will then bring all six variants together for a full Big Bad Baptist celebration.

For fans of barrel-aged imperial stouts, the 2026 Big Bad Baptist series adds another substantial chapter to one of Epic Brewing’s longest-running specialty beer traditions.

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