ALPINE Barrel Aged Series-Colombia Urrao
THE COFFEE
The Valle de Penderisco valley floor is just above 1900 meters, so all of the coffee in this region is "high grown". Cold water springs and cool temperatures make for slightly longer fermentation times, which often results in fruit-forward cup characteristics that we generally think to be atypical for Colombia. The profiles can be bit "exotic", fruited flavor notes run the range of dried to winey, but remain very sweet and without the alcohol characteristics that come with over-fermented coffees. On the contrary, these coffees from Urrao have big sweetness, are "clean" and with just enough acidity to prop up the sometimes fruit-focused cup profiles.
THE PROCESS
This coffee is the result of an effort spearheaded with an intermediary in Medellín who have been buying coffee from local farmers in Urrao the past several years, offering high premiums to separate out the best coffees. It's extra work to do this, but the farmer is compensated with prices well above what's being paid by the local cooperative, 2x plus in the case of the top tier. This year they are building their own warehouse and coffee lab at the edge of Urrao town where they will have someone buying coffee full time throughout the harvest season in order to give their coffee project visibility which will likely expand available microlot volumes.
THE BARREL
Where did this start? The barrel was first used by Heaven Hill Distillary (the folks who make Elijah Craig) before being passed on to Reuben's Brews where they created their 2020 BBIS. Finally it landed in our hands so we could rest a few pounds of green coffee in the barrel. We rotated the barrel daily ensuring each bean got a chance to rub elbows with its predecessors. Green coffee is a very good absorber of flavors and smells from its environment, so it picked up plenty of flavors you would expect from a bourbon barrel aged stout.
THE SPECIFICS
- Tasting Notes– Charred Oak, Chocolate Malts, Bourbon, Dark Fruits
- Importer – Coffee Shrub
- Region – Antioquia
- Processing – Washed
- Varietal – Caturra Types, Variedad Colombia, Bourbon Types, Heirloom Types
- Farm/Processor – Many small farmers
- Elevation – 1900+m
- Roast – Medium/Light