Breakfast Stout, according to Founders, is "The coffee lover’s consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked
oats, bitter and imported chocolates, and Sumatra and Kona coffee, this
stout has an intense fresh-roasted java nose topped with a frothy,
cinnamon-colored head that goes forever."
It's 8.3% ABV and available during the fall and winter in the Founders distribution network, which includes most of the Midwest and East Coast. There are rumors and rumblings about Founders bringing some of their offerings out to California, and we have in the last year seen a few kegs make their way out here. There's still no concrete word about if we'll see regular distribution of either kegs or bottles, but we have our fingers crossed! My bottle today is a late 2011 bottling that I received in a trade.
Appearance: Dark opaque brown, practically black, with a mocha-colored thin head that recedes to a small layer of foam of the same color without leaving much lacing on the glass.
Smell: A huge wave of sharp, bitter coffee, particularly espresso. There is also a hint of smokiness, and overall the scent is strong and black and not very sweet at all.
Taste: More massive espresso flavor, but a bit of milk chocolate creaminess rounds out the palate. There is no burn from the alcohol, which is nice. Like the nose, the flavor is predominately that of fresh roasted coffee -- the roasted quality is so present -- but it is nice to get a little bit of sweetness in from the chocolate. That sweetness becomes a bit more obvious as the beer warms, which is a pleasant effect, and the flavor becomes reminiscent of a creamed coffee liqueur.
Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy, with soft carbonation. Very substantial.
Overall: A pretty delicious stout, particularly if you like them coffee-forward. I think I tend to prefer just a bit more sweetness, but this delivers 100% on what it claims to be, and I love drinking it when I get the chance.
4/5
It's 8.3% ABV and available during the fall and winter in the Founders distribution network, which includes most of the Midwest and East Coast. There are rumors and rumblings about Founders bringing some of their offerings out to California, and we have in the last year seen a few kegs make their way out here. There's still no concrete word about if we'll see regular distribution of either kegs or bottles, but we have our fingers crossed! My bottle today is a late 2011 bottling that I received in a trade.
Appearance: Dark opaque brown, practically black, with a mocha-colored thin head that recedes to a small layer of foam of the same color without leaving much lacing on the glass.
Smell: A huge wave of sharp, bitter coffee, particularly espresso. There is also a hint of smokiness, and overall the scent is strong and black and not very sweet at all.
Taste: More massive espresso flavor, but a bit of milk chocolate creaminess rounds out the palate. There is no burn from the alcohol, which is nice. Like the nose, the flavor is predominately that of fresh roasted coffee -- the roasted quality is so present -- but it is nice to get a little bit of sweetness in from the chocolate. That sweetness becomes a bit more obvious as the beer warms, which is a pleasant effect, and the flavor becomes reminiscent of a creamed coffee liqueur.
Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy, with soft carbonation. Very substantial.
Overall: A pretty delicious stout, particularly if you like them coffee-forward. I think I tend to prefer just a bit more sweetness, but this delivers 100% on what it claims to be, and I love drinking it when I get the chance.
4/5
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