Counterflow Coffee and Bay City Brewing Launch Witching Hour Coffee Stout Inspired by Southern California Punk Culture
TL;DR
Counterflow Coffee and Bay City Brewing's Witching Hour collaboration offers a market advantage with its accessible 5.5% ABV coffee stout appealing to broader audiences.
Witching Hour is a 5.5% ABV coffee stout brewed with Counterflow's cold brew for balanced coffee-forward flavor, dialing back intensity from their previous 9% ABV Gambino stout.
This collaboration celebrates San Diego's punk rock spirit and creates community through shared nostalgia, bringing people together over craft beer that honors local culture.
Witching Hour coffee stout launches with three bold flavors including Apple Pie and Coconut Macadamia Nut at a free release party featuring food pairings and espresso martinis.
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Counterflow Coffee and Bay City Brewing have partnered to create Witching Hour, a 5.5% ABV coffee stout that captures the punk rock spirit of Southern California. This collaboration represents the next chapter in their creative partnership following last year's Gambino Coffee Stout, with the new brew designed to be more accessible while maintaining the craftsmanship and attention to detail that defines both companies. The beer was inspired by the shared love of Southern California's punk rock culture and childhood memories of growing up in San Diego.
Austin Pinder, head of brewing at Bay City, explained the shift from their previous 9% ABV Gambino Coffee Stout: "This time, we wanted something more accessible to the masses. We created a smoother, lighter, and even more coffee-forward flavor." The result is a beer that balances intensity with approachability, featuring Counterflow's signature cold brew that brings a fresh, bold aroma and subtle espresso character. While Gambino leaned heavily on liquor and malt, Witching Hour dials back the intensity and brings coffee flavors forward, creating what Geoff Davis described as "honoring that punk rock energy that shaped us while keeping it true to San Diego's craft scene."
The beer is designed not just for connoisseurs but to connect with Southern Californians through its imaginative, communal character and full flavor profile. The Witching Hour release party will take place Thursday, November 13th, from 6pm to 9pm at Bay City Brewing's downtown location. The free public event will feature Counterflow Coffee's iconic espresso martinis and a food pop-up by ELE Burger, offering perfect pairings for the new stout. Three bold flavors will be premiered: Apple Pie, Coconut Macadamia Nut, and the Original Witching Hour.
Following the launch, Witching Hour will be available on tap at Bay City Brewing's Midway and Downtown locations and distributed to bars and stores throughout Southern California. Counterflow Marketing developed the visual identity and storytelling for Witching Hour, channeling what they describe as "the wistful edge of SoCal punk" with a moody, raw aesthetic that maintains modern refinement. The collaboration between Counterflow Coffee and Bay City Brewing continues their tradition of creative partnerships that redefine craft beverages while staying true to San Diego's community roots.
Witching Hour delivers what the companies describe as "the perfect balance of craft and caffeine, brewed for the nights you don't want to end," capturing the energy and nostalgia of Southern California's distinctive culture. This release matters because it represents a strategic shift in craft beverage marketing toward broader accessibility while maintaining artistic integrity, potentially expanding the audience for specialty coffee-infused beers beyond traditional craft beer enthusiasts. The partnership demonstrates how regional cultural identity can be leveraged to create products with authentic local appeal, serving as a model for other craft beverage collaborations seeking to balance commercial viability with creative expression.
Curated from PR Karma
