30 Dec Buffalo Bayou Big Black Cowbell by Nick B

Big Black Cowbell

Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.

Houston, TX

Hoppy Stout

ABV: 10.2%

IBUs: Not Given

Packaging: Draft, 22oz. Bombers

For two weeks in a row, I dropped the ball and missed my deadline. I guess I owe the rest of the crew two six packs. Or maybe I’ll just send them all a BBC as a late Christmas gift. If you’re unsure about whether I mean Buffalo Bayou’s Big Black Cowbell or the traditional BBC, just know that you’re correct in whichever one you were thinking. For me, it’s the beer that I am reviewing this week. It’s billed as a “hoppy stout” so I aimed to find out what that might mean.

I actually had Big Black Cowbell back around Christmas. The label said it was “perfect to whip out” so I took it home for the holidays for my family and friends. I am originally from a small town between Corpus Christi and Victoria, and they don’t get much craft in my hometown so I bring the goods to share with my dad and friends when I can.

Big Black Cowbell was very carbonated, but not overly so. It had a generous amount of tan head (really trying to stay away from puns here) and a black body. The smell was all dank hops and caramel malt. I would have thought I was about to have an IPA if this was a blind tasting. The flavor profile is slight fruity hops with a lot more of that earthy, resinous dank hop flavor mixed up in caramel maltiness. The body has a medium mouthfeel (stop thinking about puns, y’all) and as I had actually expected… This is just a black IPA.

The packaging for Big Black Cowbell is basically the same as every Buffalo Bayou bottle and features the classic buffalo in front of a huge, white cowbell with the name in big, block-ish lettering. The best part of the labeling is the description on the side. It is worth reading.

I am giving Big Black Cowbell 3 stars because it is a pretty decent black IPA. Why they felt the need to call it a “hoppy stout,” I just don’t know.

Do you think I missed a golden opportunity to fill this article with puns? Would you be willing to whip this out in front of your conservative family members? Did this beer intimidate you with its name or were you brave enough to see what all the hype was about? Let us know below! Beers to you, Houston!