New stout using Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee sells out within an hour of launch
US-based AleSmith Brewing Company sold out its new stout, which is blended with Jamaica Blue Mountain (JBM) coffee, within an hour of its launch, according to the company.
Coffee beans from Mavis Bank Coffee Factory (MBCF) were utilised to make the stout dubbed ‘Jamaica Blue Mountain Speedway Stout’.
It highlights the latest overseas company adding value to its product-line using JBM coffee.
“Bottles were sold online on March 3 and were sold out in under an hour,” said Nick Betteker supervisor at AleSmith in an interview with the Observer.
He stated that about 3,000 bottles were sold at roughly US$18 each.
The company sampled coffees from eight regions before deciding on JBM.
The stout apparently offers good brand appeal but the margins are thin. Its based on keeping price of JBM stout within the same price range of its Sumatra and Costa Rican coffee stouts.
“I don’t think we have any plans in the immediate future to offer JBM again. But it sold out really well which is good,” Betteker added.
Most Jamaica coffee companies sell cheaper green beans rather than finished roasted beans or drinks which add value. The local industry however remains cognizant in theory of the linkage between alcohol and coffee and will hold the third Coffee Rum Fest this weekend which will highlight products and tours of coffee farms and sugar estates.
MBCF processes the largest amount of coffee from the Blue Mountains. Some seven years prior the MBCF launched a cold beverage which lasted a short time in the marketplace. Calls and mailed comments to MBCF head Norman Grant went unanswered up to press.
US-based coffee roaster, Mostra Coffee roasted the beans for AleSmith which was founded some 20 years ago in San Diego, California. AleSmith currently employs 28 people and is projected to brew 15,000 barrels in 2014.
“Thanks to Mosta’s diligent work, these 100 per cent Blue Mountain beans were sourced from the renowned Mavis Bank Coffee Factory in Jamaica,” added the company in a press release.
“AleSmith prides itself on sourcing the highest quality coffees for our single varietal Speedway Stouts. With this in mind, we reached out to local roaster, Mostra Coffee. Mostra shares our commitment to quality and bettering the customer experience. After several cupping sessions we found the perfect match in Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee,” stated George Allen, General Manager for AleSmith in the release.
Mosta Coffee is a San Diego, California based artisan micro-roasting company that sources, roasts, brews and serves premium, fair-trade specialty coffee.
Speaking about the collaboration, Mike Arquines, Roaster for Mostra Coffee said of the stout: “Speedway Stout was my first “gateway” craft beer experience. It blew my mind because I didn’t know that beer could taste like this. My Mostra team and I feel like this has been a match made in craft beer and coffee heaven because it brings together two companies who pride themselves with being able to provide an un-compromised experience and product”.
Local coffee production is expected to decline to nearly half the levels produced two decades ago. Its based on rust disease and abandoned farms. Coffee exports earned some US$17.3 million in 2012, according to the latest Bank of Jamaica data.
