Founders Breakfast Stout

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

Poured black with a big brown head. Lots of brown lacing and a nice foam mustache that made my wife laugh at me because it looked like I was drinking a mild shake and it almost tasted like one, or a mocha shake at least. Aroma is pure fresh brewed black coffee, just like I drink every day. As the beer warmed notes of ash were noticed. Flavor was big. Chocolate, coffee, and roasty goodness. All of this was so good but my favorite part was just how smooth and creamy it was. Full bodied and warming. Simply awesome.

Sampled this brew at Cellar’s weekly Friday evening beer tasting. From a 12-oz bottle, pours an opaque, motor oil black brew with a thick and lumpy tan head that hardly goes away. One of the most dense and thickest beer head I’ve encounted. Aroma of sweet Hawaiian coffee, dark chocolate and oatmeal. Taste is smooth, creamy, very light carbonation with flavors of roasted coffee, chocolate and dark fruit. Finish has a light bitter taste at first and then a smooth and velvety coffee aftertaste. Thanks goes to joebrew for sharing this treat!

12 oz bottle. This one poured a most certain black with light wisps and a ring of medium-brown head. Heavily-roasted aroma of rich milk and dark chocolates and an awesome fresh coffee presence. Both the roasted coffee and chocolate were ever-present on the tastebuds, and there was a bit of nutmeg around the edges. Mouthfeel was extra smooth and coating, and the alcohol was very well hidden. Finish was long and full of burnt chocolate and espresso malts, with an accompanying bitterness. Went down extra smoothly. Great brew!

Masterful combination of coffee and chocolate in this stout, with the oatmeal making its appearance at well. Very smooth and not disapointing. Thanks vvclark for the bonus delivery after our regular trade! Baby picture on bottle is a flash of brilliant subtle humour. This could be a favorite regular beer of mine.

Bottle (12oz). Shared with blankboy, bottle from my friend Dave B. I have been waiting for this day for a long, long time now. Poured thick opaque black with a large, lasting, pillowy-foamy dark brown head - gorgeous. Aroma is thick roast dark coffee - a double helping - with burnt roast nuts, baker’s chocolate, extra-bitter hops, yeast, and a hint of cream - beautifully bitter nose. Taste - a near-perfect blend of bitter but not too bitter coffees, chocolates and hops with some tart berry fruit hints - I WOULD have this for breakfast! This has a thick, creamy, almosty whipped mouthfeel, lovely restrained long bitter finish. This would probably kill those idiots who insist Guinness is the be-all and end-all of stouts. Weenies.

This stout pours creamy, fluffy head, dark almost black in its appearance. Semi dry coffee aroma, slightly acidic, light woody character. Very nice. Mouthfeel was very clean, full bodied, plenty of roast coffee character. Nice bitters. Yet aroma promised more of roaster richer experience that flavour delivered.

Rated July 2006. Black body with a moderate chocolate coloured head. Big aroma of coffee grounds and muted chocolate or high test cocoa. Dry coffee up front cedes some ground to a sweet dark malt and light hints of chocolate in the main body of the flavour. More subtle than I remembered. Average to medium palate. Very solid but doesn’t blow me away like everyone else. Coffee flavours are just one of those things I will never truly love I guess. A very nice beer nonetheless. 7-8/4/8/3+/15-16<P> RBSG 2005. Draft! Black bodied with a small chocolate head. Very dry coffee dominates both the aroma and the flavour. Average palate. Disappointing. Probably much better for people who enjoy the coffee like aspects of stouts. Pitcher may have been sitting out for a bit too. 6/4/6/3/13 - 3.2

This stout pours an eclipse black color from a 12oz bottle. Medium sized beige head. Aroma is coffee, roasty malts, pencil shavings with a touch smoky malts. A little vinous quality as well. A medium bodied stout. Lots of coffee and burnt malt flavors. Some nice citrus hop flavors as well. Pretty decent coffee flavored stout. Nice balance between the coffee and chocolate flavors. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is crisp and dry. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.