I’ve tried to make cold brew at home, and it’s just not the same. Somehow the grounds ended up everywhere, it was weak, and worst of all– it wasn’t even ready in time for my 4 o’clock cuppa!

(I went and got a beer instead.)

Next time I’m looking for a roasty, toasty, dark, and caffeinated afternoon sipper, it will be the best-of-both-worlds Awaken the Soul. This Imperial Coffee Stout from Barrier Brewing layers the complex tones of third wave coffee into a rich, smooth, and satisfying stout.

Barrier’s partners for this brew, Northern Virginia’s Aslin Coffee, roasted a blend of natural process Ethiopian and Kenyan coffees. East African coffees are sought out by coffee geeks around the world, beloved for their fruity brightness, which is the result of high-altitude cultivation and careful harvesting by collectives of small farmers.

So leave your morning cold brew to the professionals, and swap in a glass of Awaken the Soul on any chill afternoon.