We spoke with Bryan Harris, Head Brewer in Chattanooga for Cherry Street Brewing, and Dean Johnson, Head Coffee Roaster of Mean Mug coffee in Chattanooga, TN, to get some insight on why this beer is so special. The brewing process for beer and coffee actually have some similarities, with Bryan noting “just like with coffee, our coffee addition method is temperature dependent. We added the coffee at the optimal time for flavor extraction.” Any coffee or beer fanatic knows the ingredients are crucial to yielding a great end result. That’s why we chose Mean Mug, who takes their coffee very seriously. “we've selected a washed process crop from the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala, which yields well-loved and consistently delicious coffee due to its higher elevation and rich terroir,” notes Dean. Since this is a washed processed coffee, the beans are able to be roasted at a higher temperature which develops the more delicate fruit notes that are featured in the cup. Mean Mug then spends a little more time in the middle stage of roasting to create a more balanced sweetness and body through an extended maillard (caramelization) reaction. The resulting flavor profile is sweet, clean, and citric with highlights of almond and a subtly sweet cherry presence.