Founders Breakfast Stout

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Poured and let to sit out for about 15 minuted before I actually took my first smell or taste, just to see how it looked. It poured jet-black with only a slight head at first so I poured a little more vigorously at the end and it almost looked like nitrogen bubbles coming down the side of the glass but there was no nitro in the bottle obviously. After letting sit for 15 min the head decreased from a little more than an inch to about 1/4 inch but is still there in a tight knit pattern. Also left a perfect unbroken curtain of tiny bubbled dark lace around the rim of the shaker. Aroma is initially roasted coffee beans, almost more ground coffee aroma then a brewed coffee. Which reminds me that this smells exactly like the homebrew I made by throwing 1/2 lb of lightly ground dark coffee beans right into the secondary. However, as this warms the coffee aroma blends nicely with rich dark and bittersweet chocolate, a hint of hazelnut and a nice amount of roasted malt. Very low carbonation which allows for the smoothness of this beer to come through nicely as well as allowing the full rich and complex flavors to develop. The first thing you notice as you take your first sip, besides the low carbonation, is the fact that this beer is overwhelmingly thick and extremely full bodied. Coats the entire mouth and stays for a while leaving all the powerfull flavors to linger. Freshly brewed strong black coffee is the initial flavor but a strong roasted malt character soon follows and blends nicely with the coffee. Chocolate is in there as well to create a nice balance. The oatmeal is used in just the right amount to create an exceptionally smooth beer, but also not too much as to destroy the beautiful head and lace due to its oils (Think Sam Smiths Oatmeal Stout). Some burnt black malts are noticed towards the end and adds to a slight acrid feel to the end that is actually very welcome. No doubt this adds that dark as night black appearance and it really goes nice with all the coffee in here. Low to medium hopping as the finish is just rightly balanced to give a good finish and not to become cloying. In fact it might actually come out tad harsh in the finish and create a slight sensation in the back of my throat now that I think about it. Still one of the best overall stouts in the world. Many thanks to Eyedrinkale for the trade!

Near headless with an opaque body. Mildly viscous. Nose of coffee and ashtray. Very bitter cocoa, coffee and smoked malt. Very good. Chalky. 8.3 ABV tingles the tonsils. Thanks Andre

Bottle brought along by Craig and tasted at Fin and Craigs pre Cropredy Festival mini tasting at Merton, Oxon 12-08-09 Pours pitch black with a tan head. The aroma is coffee and also a ouch of resin is noted. Coffee rush in the mouth, its creamy, some chocolate, roasty malts, even a slight sourness on the edge which tastes great. Quite lovely and really quite distinctive with that Founders thumbprint coming through, I can’t describe it but there is some unique quality that sets there beers apart. The US Impy Stouts won out tonight against their UK counterparts but it wasn’t all one way traffic. A8 A4 F8 P4 Ov16 4.0

Bottle thanks to ygtbsm94 poured a tranalucent black with a small lingering brown head. Aromas of bitter chocolate, coffee, vanilla, roastiness and light licorice. Palate was medium to full bodied and smooooth. Flavors of dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, light carmel and light vanilla with a smooth lingering roasty coffee finish.

Bottle shared with and courtesy of HogTownHarry. Oh, the anticipation! I’ve heard so many good things about this beer, I hope it lives up to my expectations. It pours like motor oil with a small diminishing light-brown head. The aroma, to quote GregClow: COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE etc. It smells pretty friggin’ awesome. I think I will just smell it for a while and I’ll return later. I’m back, time to taste this sucker: Oh yeah, that’s good stuff baby! Flavour of coffee of course, along with some chocolate and a mild bitterness. Creamy mouthfeel and medium bodied. Well it’s safe to say I was not dissapointed in the least, this is an excellent Sweet Stout. "COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE!"

12-oz bottle received via trade with Duane. Pours black with an average fizzy dark brown head, mostly diminishing, spare lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (toasted, burnt coffee, molasses), average hops (perfume), average yeast (leather, meat) with notes of wood, smoke and licorice. Full bodied, sticky texture, lively carbonation and a slight bitter finish. Average duration, moderate sweetness, light acidity and bitterness; toasted dark malt and cocoa flavor, ashy with burnt coffee.

Poured into a small tulip, it produces a nice tan head. Aroma is rich espresso to go along with some burnt caramel. Taste is almost right up there with the big boys but just a little short. Full rich taste. If it has oats, shouldnt it be an Oatmeal or Dry Stout?

Thanks to hopdog for sharing this brew on my wants list. Pours a dark, dark brown with slight red when held to the light. Creamy dark tan head that laced and sustained. Aroma of coffee, chocolate and toasty malts. Flavor of chocolate, cocoa, light coffee. This one was a bit aged and the flavors have seemed to mellowed out and blended a bit.