Founders Breakfast Stout - Founders Brewing Company

tvl89

Texas

5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served from a bottle at around 55 degrees. This is my first founders breakfast stout so my expectations were really really high. Oh god I wasn't disappointed at all! The appearance is just like a typical imperial stout; pitch black with a decent head that dissipates in about 3 minutes. The smell is just awesome, coffee, heavy chocolate, roasted malts and more chocolate. The taste is just like the smell very delicious, very creamy. The first flavor you palate detects is the rich coffee, followed by tons and tones of dark chocolate, ending in a pleasant bitterness. This could be perhaps the best Russian stout out there. I highly recommend!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 01:26:46 | More by tvl89

patre_tim

China

3.85/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Dark brown, almost black opaque with a half head of deep brown mocha colour with a slight rusty tinge. When held to the light you can see a deep brown rusty amber tinge a half cm into the body.

S: Dark chocolate, coffee, toffee, mostly a sweet dark coffee scent, coffee liqueur.

T: Coffee, dark chocolate, snow or freezer burn, then a sour almost watery quality that then turns into a rusty metallic taste, and a finnish of black coffee. Very complex. As I drink it, the metallic disappears, and becomes more of a black licorice taste. There is a sweetness to it, but its not overwhelming, and remains more in the background.

M: Medium heavy body, somewhat lighter than some American Doubles, medium low carbonation. Syrupy.

O: I like it, but was certainly disappointed based on the high ratings this one has. Certainly does not add up to 100 for me. I much prefer the taste of Peche Mortal to this. Will go well with the Black Joe Cake (a chocolate cake with coffee in it and a vanilla icing) I'm about to have from my Birthday.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 13:25:33 | More by patre_tim

GonzoHomebrewer

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the beers that really started it all for me

A- Black as the coffee that wafts from it, with a small not so dense mocha head

S- The nose on this beer, as a coffee lover, just does it for me. Just a wonderful bouquet of cold press, dark roasted coffee with semi sweet chocolate in the background. Just awesome

T-A little lackluster compared to the wonderful smell, but still does a good job of conveying the dark roasted coffee and semi sweet chocolate,

M- This is where I could use a little less carbonation or perhaps it is just simply too thin, but relative to other Imperial Stouts, the mouthfeel is lacking, is more American Stout than Imperial.

O- I have a bias because this is one of the beers that got me enamored with craft/micro/nano/artisanal whatever we call it now; beer. Still, anybody who considers themselves a craft beer connoisseur ought to try this beer. It is worthy

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:21:26 | More by GonzoHomebrewer

bobbyr5

Michigan

4.83/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

This is one of Founders' best.

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 8.3%

Purchased at: Discount Beverage, Canton, MI

Pour: Thick dark pour that resembled ice coffee

Aroma: Smell mostly of coffee with the sweet smell of chocolate

Flavor: Coffee and Chocolate flavor

Overall: A+

Usually comes in four packs in Michigan, but I managed to them in a mix a six pack for cheaper. Good substitute for a morning coffee!

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 14:58:06 | More by bobbyr5

fitrock2112

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Poured Breakfast Stout in to a snifter.

A - Black as midnight, brown head that is barely noticeable.

S - Coffee, roasted malts.

T - Whoa, very smooth coffee and chocolate. Some sugary sweetness comes through as well mid palate. This is a true winner.

M - Light carbonation, heavy mouthfeel, but smooth as silk. Luxury at its finest.

O - Well, its Founders Breakfast Stout. enough said! Enjoy. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:56:48 | More by fitrock2112

sguzman

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Another favorite! Had it at the Stout on 33rd West by 1 Pen Plaza NYC. I must say it has a lovely aroma with a twist of bitter cream. The body was very filling and satisfying. I enjoyed it so much i had 4 in one sitting and didn't make it back to work. The cream stout taste leave your pallet satisfy and refreshed. I would recommend the beer to any women you wish to have a great time with.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2013 19:53:30 | More by sguzman

iabeerbaron

Iowa

4.6/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 8.3%

Purchased at: Brother’s Market; Lisbon, IA

Pour: Thick brown/black pour with a brown head.

Aroma: Wonderful aroma of rich coffee and chocolate with roasted malts.

Flavor: Definitely a full-bodied stout. A ton of coffee and chocolate flavor with the roasted malt rounding it out nicely.

Ratebeer.com rating: 100/100

Beeradvocate.com rating: 100/100

Overall: A+

My recommendation: A go to seasonal for sure. Like I said above, you still could possibly find some on the shelves and it’s the perfect time to stock on a few four packs. A must try brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 17:07:26 | More by iabeerbaron

Andrew61923

Connecticut

4.81/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Poured from undated (I'm sure it rubbed off) bottle into my Gandhi Bot glass. I do know it's an older bottle, likely from last fall. One of my favorites and I'm surprised I haven't rated it yet.

A: Dark and pretty as ever. With an aggressive pour, a small khaki head forms, but it fades quickly and leaves a very thin halo along the edge of the glass and some very nice lacing.

S: Coffee up front with a good amount of dark, bitter chocolate. Amazing that the coffee has held up as strongly as this, as I remember the chocolate starting to take over last time I had it. Maybe I was wrong...it has happened before.

T: God I love this beer. I'm definitely picking up on more chocolate on the palate than I did in the nose, but the coffee is certainly still there. I have never noticed this before, but there's a bit of a brownie with nuts going on as well. The dark chocolate lasts forever at the back of my tongue.

M: The viscosity of this beer is spot on, but the carbonation is just a bit too high the more I think of it. It doesn't detract from my enjoying the beer that much, but if I'm looking for a flaw, I've found it. Overall, still solid, however.

O: I have one more from this batch that I think I might sit on a bit longer to see what it develops into. I imagine that the coffee will continue to fade, but that all other aspects of the beer will remain strong. I never hesitate to grab a 4-pack of this, and am excited to hear it'll be coming out in 6ers in the near future. I recommend you do the same.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:57:16 | More by Andrew61923

DaveySebastian

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

FIRST REVIEW!

A: poured opaque, motor oil black color about 2 fingers of cinnamon-colored head. The foam stayed for a while with lots of lacing and legs.

S: coffee dominates the aroma with slight hints of chocolate, oats, and sweet roasted malts

T: coffee is the first taste with a cappuccino sweetness and slight chocolate bitterness. The malts and oats mellow out the coffee flavors to bring the beer to balance.

M: silky and smooth with a medium body. the alcohol definitely warms a little but isnt present in the flavor. carbonation wasnt noticeable

O: i turned 21 not so long ago and this was the first beer i legally purchased. Awesome, awesome imperial stout! Every time i have one i pick up on a different flavor, im very sad ill have to wait till next winter to have another one!

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 17:27:33 | More by DaveySebastian

Genuine

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a clean tulip glass - this one I wanted to be able to capture the aroma and look of it -

It poured a beautiful black velvet with medium dark head that sat upon the black as sin body. The Aroma of this beer immediately hit my nose and began making me want more. As I drew closer to the glass, getting nearer to the tulip. the most amazing and perfect smell of coffee with hints of dark chocolate arise. Perfectly roasted beans tantalize the nose!

Taste - this is where it all comes together - nice dark and roasted malts hit you first, sliding over the palate where it dances on your tongue where bitter and dark chocolate flavors meet and combine into this fantastic brew.

Mouthfeel - a bit more on the medium to heavy side, the carbonation is perfect for the style.

Overall - this is my favorite stout, I have yet to have a better stout than this one. I always look forward to it's arrival on the shelves and I'm enjoying my last one tonight. What a world-class beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:02:09 | More by Genuine

lovethebelgians

Iowa

4.55/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

yummy in my tummy! this beer is delicious. Every time I drink it I feel just like the kid on the label looks like he feels...fulfilled. For not that expensive of a beer you get a pretty heavy full of flavor brew. The coffee flavor is evident but not overpowering, chocolate comes out right away, carbonation is just right, and the high alcohol isn't too apparent. I love this beer it's very easy to go through a four-pack in a day or so by yourself

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 20:47:17 | More by lovethebelgians

jaycle

North Carolina

4.29/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Poured into snifter. Deep brown, near black. Thin tan head which dissipated quickly. I was disappointed in this. My glassware was clean, but the bottled date was nearly 10 months ago. Perhaps this is why?

S: Smells like wine/bourbon mix. I smell cherries and grapes

T: Sweet cherry wine, Toasted malts. Alcohol leaves an impression and removes these flavors quickly

M: Low carbonation. Medium bodied. Alcohol gives dry finish

O: I enjoyed this beer a lot. I think the hype around it, from BA and friends, was too high. I would like to give it another go with a fresher bottling date and see if that helps the Apperance and mouth feel. This beer's strong suits definitely come out as it warms. I would drink this around 50 next time starting out.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 23:49:47 | More by jaycle

punky796

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

A - Pours pretty black/super-dark brown, with a finger and a half of nice brown head. Really good lacing that stays there.

S - Coffee, chocolate, little bit of grain/oatmeal, malts, toast/bread. Some kind of berries maybe, as others have mentioned?

T - Coffee, chocolate, grain/oatmeal, malts, toast/bread, berries. Be it all ye know on Earth, and all ye need to know.

M - Just like everything else I've tried from Founder's - pretty much perfect for the style. Medium-low carbonation, smooth and oily-silky, present but non-bitter aftertaste.

O - Man. What's to say here. This is a damn good beer. Everything just balances out so well with it, though non-coffee drinkers might be understandably put off a bit. I'm not sure but I might be underrating this a little, though I just find it hard to rate higher than Dirty Bastard. But whatever - don't pass this one up.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 12:40:09 | More by punky796

downeyj4

Michigan

4.96/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Coffee lovers unite!!! When I heard about this beer, I was a bit skeptical at first. A chocolate coffee oatmeal stout? That sounds like it has a lot going on, and I was right. The color is deep brown. It has a great aroma of roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee. The taste is right on. It has the bitterness of coffee and the maltiness of beer. It is unlike anything else out there and man does it it keep me coming back for more.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 18:51:34 | More by downeyj4

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.54/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Super dark, with a creamy, partially retained neck. The aroma brings toasted coffee notes, chocolate, licorice, and a slight acidic idea. The body is viscous, bringing the elements of the taste and a persistent bitterness stemming from roasted barley/malt. The alcohol is present, warm, and hop bitterness, although present, is completely dominated by the toasty character of this beer. Great beer indeed - despite my skepticism.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 02:50:17 | More by HabiMendes

MisSigsFan

California

4.4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a jet black color with a 1.5 finger thick tan head. Head leaves plenty of lacing and doesn't dissipate until about half way through. It seems live every time I go for a sip and put the glass back down a bit of the head comes back. Nose has a lot of chocolate and coffee in it, as well as a hint of grain. Taste is similar, but with more coffee than chocolate. Hints of oatmeal and grain and smoked malt. Just a bit of alcohol in the finish. Good amount of bitterness to it. Mouthfeel is actually quite thin for a stout, but I like it. About average carbonation. Overall, this is a great stout. I think it's a bit ridiculous to rate this at 100. BA seems to have a big Founders bias. It's very very good, but to say it's perfect is crazy. I'd love to get my hands on KBS. I hear it's a completely different beast.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 21:03:08 | More by MisSigsFan

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.46/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into snifter. Jet black, no light gets through, with a medium dark brown head that dissipates pretty quickly. Smell is coffee, chocolate, and some dark fruits or bourbon. Taste is a little underwhelming considering the hype; it's a solid imperial stout but I was expecting more. Coffee and chocolate abound, with a full body.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 00:15:21 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

CMUbrew

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bottle dated 09/04/12 poured into a Founders snifter

A: Pours midnight black, with a finger's worth of dark brown head from an aggressive pour. Head is quick to fade to traces of bubbles and foam. No light is getting through the oil black body.

S: Even after eight months, coffee is still the biggest player in the nose. Roasted coffee is noticed first and is followed by rich dark malts and a bready malt toastiness. Bitter chocolate is there too.

T: In a word: delicious. Breakfast blend coffee is evident, although it has toned down with age. Bitter, dark, and sweet chocolate flavors combine with heavy malt flavors and toasted bread. A bitterness I believe I can still attribute to hops is just barely perceiveable. Lingering roast and dark chocolate flavors in the aftertaste. If it was not for the slight warming feeling, I would not know there was alcohol in here. It is indeed the beer I would want to have with breakfast, given a choice.

M: Fairly viscous, slightly oily-slick, and creamy smooth. Exactly how you want a stout of this ABV to feel.

O: Just fantastic. Comparing this older bottle to my experience with it fresh, I can assuredly say the coffee has toned down some, thus allowing the chocolate to play a bigger role. I would guess between six and twelve months is when this beer is in great balance. My preference would have to go to an aged breakfast stout. Set a few bottles of this aside if you can resist the temptation to drink it all right away!

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 04:25:47 | More by CMUbrew

drrone

Arizona

4.49/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a very dark black, but just a little brown can be visualized against light. Trace carbonation can be seen and a decent amount of floaties (these I have not seen in the past). One finger of tan head.

S - Nice nose with prominent chocolate and coffee, with hints of roasted malt and caramel as well.

T - Great coffee hit, with bitter chocolate breaking through.

M - Thick, "chewy" and full bodied. Traces of carbonation slithering up the side of the goblet.

O - Really a great Imperial Stout. I find this a faithful go to, it never lets me down and always lives up to expectation. Founders pulls through as usual.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:21:05 | More by drrone

Burkbom23

Connecticut

4.66/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pitch black pour with not a spec of light showing through. Beautiful 2 finger foamy brown head that has good lasting power. Nice lacing that sticks all the way down. Can't imagine a better looking brew. Aroma is just what it says on the bottle. Coffee, chocolate and oatmeal. Some hints of alcohol and dark fruits as it goes down. The taste is like the aroma but so much better. Amazing, fresh, dark coffee beans. I feel like I dunked my head in a bag of the highest quality columbian coffee beans and just opened my mouth and started chewing. Did I mention it tastes like coffee???? Lots of delicious dark chocolate and mocca on the palatte also. As big of a beer this is and as complex as the taste is it is still extremely drinkable and smoooth in the finish. Just leaves you wanting another sip every time. Very warming feeling as it goes down. Pretty full body, but not crazy heavy. Creamy, Velvety mouthfeel. I havent had a beer with a mouthfeel like this but I am going to give it a 4.75 because I believe one exisists somewhere out there. This stout is as good as advertised. Tastes like the most delicious chocolate/coffee ice cream you could imagine.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 01:40:09 | More by Burkbom23

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.11/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355ml bottle poured into tulip 24/4/13, thanks Rutager for getting me one of my longest standing wants

A not quite black and you can see deep under the foam, I can see a few bubbles streaming up the side of the glass, two fingers of dark foam leaves a few partial rings of lace before it falls.

S lots of milk chocolate and coffee with some sponge toffee, I like the coffee notes but its pretty straight forward but solid

T chocolate's a little darker in the mouth and a little sweeter, coffees a little more noticeable and works well, a little hard toffee but mostly coffee and coco

M not as thick as I would guess from the color but that still leaves a fair amount of body, creamy from the bubbles, a little slick and a nice lingering coco coffee mix

O Pretty solid stuff but fairly simple much to my surprise, straightforward but very drinkable, my glass is empty at this point typing the review

I was expecting a little more, perhaps I built this one up a little to much and the hype behind it didn't help either. Don't get me wrong this is a great beer but I wouldn't place it in the worlds top 15 beers where it currently sits.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:50:57 | More by wordemupg

mjc3151

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - black, dark as night.

S - coffee, coffee, and more coffee. Is this beer or coffee?

T - You guessed it. Tastes like coffee, especially in the beginning once the beer passes my lips. But after the initial coffee blast i sense a bit of chocolate, which is good because it makes the coffee less overpowering than it would have been. I am not big on coffee stouts, so the chocolate mellowing is a welcome taste.

M - heavy, thick, light carbonation

O - As others have pointed out, this beer is heavy on coffee. If you do not like coffee stouts, then stay away. If you enjoy coffee stouts, then you will love this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 02:31:29 | More by mjc3151

ZRBE

Oregon

3.49/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Heard a lot about this guy, finally got a chance to crack into one.

A - Looks like a flat stout. Minimal head and lacing.

S - Really sweet. Berries, chocolate, coffee. Cocoa nibs for days.

M - A little harsh. A bit of acidity.

T - Meh. Quite bitter with the coffee, though the chocolate is nice. I don't drink coffee so I admit the style is not my favorite, but while I've enjoyed other coffee beers in the past this one did little for me.

O - Disappointing. Too bitter, too acidic, the carb and the mouthfeel drag this one down for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 19:30:41 | More by ZRBE

oscaryuengel

Missouri

4.93/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - pours an intense, smoldering black with a small 1/2 inch tan head. Bubbles form on the glass in patches and does not stick.

S - the aroma of coffee dominates. This is *the* breakfast stout, especially in terms of smell.

T - the coffee dominates as well, with undertones of moderate spiciness and rich chocolate.

M - fizzes intensely; a powerfully heavy beer.

O - a perfect representation of the style, this breakfast stout does not hide its true nature. Coffee.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 02:25:14 | More by oscaryuengel

hoosiersapper27

Indiana

4.68/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Bottle date 11/24/12 to glass. Bought at LL on St. Joe

Appearance-Dark black and brown 1 Finger dark tan head dissipating quickly. Not the most impressive looking beer. Head has dissipated to nothing but a ring of foam.

Smell- Chocolate, malt, slight coffee, little alcohol.

Taste- And there is the coffee. Tastes of coffee beans, chocolate, alcohol, maduro cigars, toasted oat bread, dark fruits are very light but present.

Mouth Feel-Thick and Sticky like chocolate syrup

Overall-Wow, what not to say. Definitely taste fantastic seems right on the ball. The only way I can put this beer into words in like smoking a dark wrapped cigar and eating a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes with coffee.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 00:41:50 | More by hoosiersapper27