Starbucks New Coffee is Beer-Flavored; Sold in Ohio & Florida

Once more, Starbucks is showing its innovative stripes. The coffee brand has recently launched an experiment involving beer-flavored coffee.

Yes, you read it right. A stimulating beverage made to taste like chillaxing alcoholic tipple. Could wine-flavored coffee be next on their product development list?

"Starbucks is experimenting with a beer-flavored coffee called a dark barrel latte in a 'handful' of stores in Ohio and Florida," Mashable reported. "The coffee tastes like a dark, stout beer - think Guinness - and has no alcohol content."

Sounds like this new cuppa is the answer to the prayers of those wanting to quit drinking alcohol.

"The Dark Barrel Latte is made with espresso and topped with whipped cream and dark caramel drizzle and comes blended with a 'chocolatey stout flavored sauce,'" USA Today noted. "The beverage also is available as a blended Frappuccino."

The said concoction is "inspired by the rise of craft beers," as it is designed to taste like Guinness beer, the Daily Mail said.

"We regularly test new beverages, and testing is an essential part of bringing the Starbucks Experience to our customers," a Starbucks representative explained. "We're looking forward to learning more from the test, but do not have additional information to share on future availability of this product in our stores."

So, is the new beverage up to scratch taste-wise?

"A BuzzFeed writer who got his hands on one in Columbus confirmed that it really does taste like stout," Time reported.

"Please @Starbucks carry the dark barrel latte everywhere! Just had one in Columbus. Not usually a fan of sweet flavored bev but loved this!" praised Twitter user Jessica Hennessey, as noted by Mashable.

"The dark barrel latte at Starbucks literally tastes like drinking a Guinness in the early morning... So yuck," argued user Noel Woods on Twitter.

We're thinking these customers also filled out the survey handed out at the Starbucks locations offering this unusual beverage and made their thoughts known. The said survey asked respondents what they like and don't like about the product, as well as other aspects of the drink itself, the Daily Mail said.

The creation of the beer-flavored coffee could be the company's "savvy way to 'bridge the gap' between morning and evening crowds," a restaurant industry expert told USA Today. "Starbucks already is selling beer and wine at some of its stores in the evening," the news source added.

The Dark Barrel Latte is not the only beverage Starbucks is testing right now. It is also testing the Cherries Jubilee Mocha and the Chestnut Praline Latte, which are more conventional coffee flavors.