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| Starbucks is testing a beer-flavored latte | Starbucks is testing a beer-flavored latte |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| At Starbucks, gimmicky drinks are all the rage. For example, people like the company’s pumpkin spice latte. | At Starbucks, gimmicky drinks are all the rage. For example, people like the company’s pumpkin spice latte. |
| But Starbucks is going beyond Halloween-themed beverages and offering lattes that taste like beer. Get ready, Ohio and Florida — you are the test market for beer-flavored drink called the “Dark Barrel Latte.” Starbucks confirmed its plans with the Associated Press. | But Starbucks is going beyond Halloween-themed beverages and offering lattes that taste like beer. Get ready, Ohio and Florida — you are the test market for beer-flavored drink called the “Dark Barrel Latte.” Starbucks confirmed its plans with the Associated Press. |
| The drink’s “savory toasty malt” flavor is meant to be reminiscent of a stout. But rather than the thick creamy head you’d get on a Guinness, the Starbucks drink comes with caramel and whipped cream on top. It also incorporates a “chocolatey stout flavored sauce,” spokesman Linda Mills told the AP. However, it doesn’t contain any alcohol. | The drink’s “savory toasty malt” flavor is meant to be reminiscent of a stout. But rather than the thick creamy head you’d get on a Guinness, the Starbucks drink comes with caramel and whipped cream on top. It also incorporates a “chocolatey stout flavored sauce,” spokesman Linda Mills told the AP. However, it doesn’t contain any alcohol. |
| An image posted on Reddit by a Starbucks employee offers more detail: “a blend of espresso, dark caramel and chocolaty stout flavored sauce, and freshly steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and dark caramel drizzle.” It has a “roasted malt” taste and comes hot, iced or as a Frappuccino. | An image posted on Reddit by a Starbucks employee offers more detail: “a blend of espresso, dark caramel and chocolaty stout flavored sauce, and freshly steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and dark caramel drizzle.” It has a “roasted malt” taste and comes hot, iced or as a Frappuccino. |
| A beer-flavored latte sounds strange, but its complement already exists. There are plenty of boozy beverages masquerading as coffee without the caffeine: Samuel Adams makes one of several coffee flavored stouts. Lagunitas makes one that tasted like cappuccino. Duck Rabbit makes a milk stout with a latte vibe. Kahlua is a coffee-flavored liquor. There’s even vodka that tastes like coffee. | A beer-flavored latte sounds strange, but its complement already exists. There are plenty of boozy beverages masquerading as coffee without the caffeine: Samuel Adams makes one of several coffee flavored stouts. Lagunitas makes one that tasted like cappuccino. Duck Rabbit makes a milk stout with a latte vibe. Kahlua is a coffee-flavored liquor. There’s even vodka that tastes like coffee. |
| Starbucks declined to elaborate on its future plans for the beverage. Earlier this year, the company said it would start selling beer and wine at some locations. | Starbucks declined to elaborate on its future plans for the beverage. Earlier this year, the company said it would start selling beer and wine at some locations. |
| Ultimately, customers will decide the beer-flavored latte’s fate. Here’s some early feedback: | Ultimately, customers will decide the beer-flavored latte’s fate. Here’s some early feedback: |
| On Twitter, the Beer Sommelier, a craft-beer consultant, was optimistic: “Starbucks tests coffee with beer taste: The new beverage could be a savvy way to ‘bridge the gap.’” | On Twitter, the Beer Sommelier, a craft-beer consultant, was optimistic: “Starbucks tests coffee with beer taste: The new beverage could be a savvy way to ‘bridge the gap.’” |
| Kai Ryssdal of public radio’s Marketplace was less enthusiastic: “No, come ON! Coffee-flavored stout is fine. Beer-flavored coffee is wrong.” | |
| Starbucks’s new offering comes as competition for breakfast customers has gotten fierce. McDonald’s now sells pumpkin-spice lattes, and is giving away regular coffee for free this month in a bid to bring in customers. | Starbucks’s new offering comes as competition for breakfast customers has gotten fierce. McDonald’s now sells pumpkin-spice lattes, and is giving away regular coffee for free this month in a bid to bring in customers. |
| h/t Mashable | h/t Mashable |
| Related: Soon you’ll be able to get a real drink at Starbucks | Related: Soon you’ll be able to get a real drink at Starbucks |
| Related: Proof that Americans love pumpkin-flavored anything | Related: Proof that Americans love pumpkin-flavored anything |
| This post has been updated to reflect that Marketplace is distributed by American Public Media not by National Public Radio. |