Terrapin Brewing Company has been turning out distinct, eclectic brews from an Athens, GA brewery for just over 10 years. Co-founders John Cochran and Brian “Spike” Buckowski, who met working at an Atlanta microbrewery, set out to make unique beers that went beyond the offerings of most craft breweries. The Monster Beer Tour is a roster of seasonal brews that could have the motto “go big or go home,” and included in this series is the winter seasonal Wake ‘N Bake. This coffee-infused imperial oatmeal stout is brewed with local beans roasted by Jittery Joe’s Coffee, just two miles from the brewery.

Served on draft into a 10-oz. bar snifter, Wake ‘N’ Bake appears dark and inviting with a mocha colored head. The nose does not present a deep coffee scent, but instead brings to mind the first sweet whiff upon entering a fine coffee shop. There are hints of chocolate hidden inside the more intense notes of coffee.

When you start to sip, take your time, as the stern, 8.1% ABV is so well hidden by the other flavors that the beer’s strength can easily sneak up on you. Flavors of creamy oats, fresh coffee and bittersweet chocolate make for a truly perfect combination. A hint of coffee’s bitterness and a hop bite provide a slightly dry finish, so the beer is not overly sweet or cloying.

Terrapin really nails the coffee oatmeal stout style with this seasonal. Though not as heavy as many other imperial stouts, this beer still packs a punch and has an incredible taste. Strong but not too strong, flavorful but not over the top, this is the perfect beer to go along with brunch — as the name suggests — or enjoyed as an after dinner drink with dessert.

Wake ‘N’ Bake is available in 12-oz. four- and six-packs and on draft throughout the East Coast, including in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The coffee blend used to make the beer is available for order in the Terrapin online store for $16 per pound.