Founders Breakfast Stout

[steveh]

Yes, that says breakfast...

Double chocolate, coffee, oatmeal stout - 8.3% ABV - 12 oz. bottle - Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Pours syrupy thick, opaque black with a dark (reddish brown) chocolate milk colored head that sits up well at first but settles quickly. I think this is the darkest head I can remember on a beer.

Coffee and roasted malt nose with mellow chocolate back along with mild earthiness and dark fruit notes.

Roasted malt bitterness and coffee notes in a mouth-full. Some dark fruit notes asserting themselves through the robust roast malt and coffee character. Even some slight citrus character peeking through. A dry, alcohol finish that would be cloying in a paler beer. Mocha-java finish.

Medium to heavy body with a syrupy to creamy mouth-feel.

Big, robust, chewy beer that lets you know you have a glass full of malt goodness. The oatmeal and chocolate help smooth and balance the roasted malt and coffee notes and alcohol to a mellow drinking experience. In a word, yum.

S.

http://www.foundersbrewing.com/home.php

[tarapin]

Sounds fantastic! I hope I will be able to find it around here. Thanks for the run down.

[chazwicke]

Sounds interesting. Is coffee used in the ingredients? I like the thought of oatmeal and chocolate used to mellow the harsh roasty edge. I'll bet this one would be superb on nitro. Thanks for the review.

[steveh]

Breakfast Stout
You’ve got to love coffee to truly appreciate this phenomenal brew. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and sweetened imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee. We’re actually not sure if this is some type of coffee cake or a beer. Either way you can drink this ale with a fork. Breakfast Stout has an intense fresh roasted coffee nose toped with a cinnamon colored frothy head that seems to never fade and makes you wish breakfast could last forever.

Specs:
8.3% ABV
25 IBU’s
Color: Black Unfiltered
Cellar: 1 year*
Availability: Quarterly (limited production, pre-order only)
Serving temperature: 42 f
Glassware: Bubble glass

S.

*Not sure if that means they cellar for a year, or it's possible to cellar this one for a year - at 8.3, I don't see why not.

[steveh]

Are these folks on the contact list for the RealBeer Convention? They're right up the road from Kalamazoo (zoo zoo).

S.

[davesarman]

I'm not a big fan of coffee beers, but I do remember seeing somewhere that your taste buds are most receptive in the morning. I can remember doing some beer judging for a competition that started in the morning and remember being amazed at how much more I picked up in the flavor of the beers in the morning, as compared to later in the day or evening. I suppose your taste buds get fatigued throughout the day. Anyone else ever experience this? (Although I should say, I'm not an advocate for drinking in the morning on a regular basis, but for the purposes of taste profiling, I see nothing wrong with it.)

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by steveh
Are these folks on the contact list for the RealBeer Convention? They're right up the road from Kalamazoo (zoo zoo).

S.

I'm thinking Bruno was aware that they are in the area.

Bruno, do you have a list of breweries that are within reach?

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by davesarman
your taste buds are most receptive in the morning.

I was unaware of this. Maybe I'll drink some orange juice right after brushing my teeth and see what happens.:D

Actually that is an interesting bit of information.

[Bruno_78]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I'm thinking Bruno was aware that they are in the area.

Bruno, do you have a list of breweries that are within reach?

http://www.indianabeer.com/Brew-Michigan.html

Founders is not on that list though. Grand rapids might be a little far to drive, but well worth looking into. I might try to get there on my scouting trip.

I'm thinking about trying to hit as many of these as I can, as well as Big Bucks. Might make for a nice weekend trip. Sort of like "Sideways", but with beer.

Can you believe the people who are flocking to those establishments just to sit in the same seats and drink the same wine as those guys? I heard the other day that there are at least 4 - 5 people at all times outside of the Hitching Post taking pictures of the place.

Has anyone seen that movie yet?

[Bruno_78]

Originally posted by steveh
Are these folks on the contact list for the RealBeer Convention? They're right up the road from Kalamazoo (zoo zoo).

S.

Steve, I didn't think you were coming!:eek:

You never expressed your opinions in that thread. Come to think of it, neither had Kalleh, and I know she and her husband were interested in attending.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Bruno_78
Steve, I didn't think you were coming!:eek:

Haven't said 'cause it's too far away for me to plan - other commitments et al.

Doesn't mean I'm not thinking of you guys, though!

S.

[fretlessman71]

All I know is that beer isn't just for breakfast anymore. ;)

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by steveh
Haven't said 'cause it's too far away for me to plan - other commitments et al.

Doesn't mean I'm not thinking of you guys, though!

S.

That was one of the reasons for scheduling it so far out. so that IT could be the prior committment.

Bruno if you need my help at all just let me know.

I am planning on a few trips in the next coming months. But if you need me. I'd be happy to help out.

[fretlessman71]

chaz, do you ever have reason to come to CO in your travels?

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
That was one of the reasons for scheduling it so far out. so that IT could be the prior committment.

Maybe, but the prior prior-commitment is a long standing beer-fest tradition. And no, I didn't vote for the dates selected. ;)

S.

[threecb]

This beer sounds delish! I like oatmeal stouts best, but this seems like a combo of oatmeal/coffee. Guess that's why it's a BREAKFAST stout!:rolleyes:

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
chaz, do you ever have reason to come to CO in your travels?

Sure. I only have 5 states left to travel through. Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Iowa and Wyoming. So a good place to start out would be Denver and head north in a circle.

[fretlessman71]

And the things that are stopping you ARE..... ;)

[ray m]

Originally posted by chazwicke:

Sure. I only have 5 states left to travel through. Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Iowa and Wyoming. So a good place to start out would be Denver and head north in a circle.
_________________________________________

Wow, Chaz, are you in for a treat when you visit Wyoming!! I took the family to Jackson Hole/Grand Teton Nat'l Park/Yellowstone a couple years back. It was the most beautiful area we've ever experienced, and we damn near didn't come back. My wife and I are seriously thinking about moving out there when our son hits college & is out of the house. I think we're going back out there next year, but I think we're gonna drive this time, through South Dakota, Montana, etc.

Anyway, back on topic. This brew sounds absolutely scrumptious!! I'm starting to get in the mood for another trade!

[fretlessman71]

I couldn't move too close to Yellowstone - the sulphur smell and I don't get along for too terribly long.

You know, SOMEONE'S got to come up with a <2% ABV Real Breakfast Stout that's as tasty as this sounds... maybe I'm the one to do it!

[chazwicke]

Yeah I thoroughly enjoyed Montana and Idaho a few years back could not quite fit Wyoming in on that trip. One of these days though. I am thinking of selling My RV though. Since I have the beach place, i don't use it as much as I had hoped.

[fretlessman71]

You could get a beach house in Wyoming.... :)

[chazwicke]

Yeah on one of the hot springs.:D No need for a jacuzzi then.

[ray m]

Originally posted by fretlessman71:

I couldn't move too close to Yellowstone - the sulphur smell and I don't get along for too terribly long.
___________________________________________

I must admit that Yellowstone was OK---so much of it was burned up in that big forest fire they had out there, sometime in the mid to late 80's I think. Just kinda got a tad tired of it after 3 days there, but it was still awesome.

The Tetons and Jackson Hole, though---that's beautiful country!!

[kevin]

Founders in downtown Grand Rapids is about a one hour drive north of Kalamazoo. If you go west to the lakeshore there is the New Holland Brewery or east to Battlecreek is Arcadia Brewery. In downtown GR there is also the BOB which has good beers on tap, only drawback is everywhere in downtown GR you have to pay to park. Another brewery in GR is the Grand Rapids Brewery I was there last friday and it was just ok, I met the head brewer, but the two beers I tried seem to have a strange tang taste in the background. Big Buck in Auburn Hills is more east towards Detroit, and the other in Gaylord is up north. I really miss their java stout.

Hey Bruno if you coming this way let me know maybe we can hook up.

[chazwicke]

Thanks for that info. Bruno, Maybe we can get Kevin to do some legwork too?:D