Founders Breakfast Stout - Founders Brewing Company

Uniobrew31

Pennsylvania

1.6/5  rDev -64.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

This beer looked great but the smell and taste were over the top. Subtle is the key to a good flavored beer. Not for me...way too much burned coffee and chocolate taste. My opinion is that this should not be classified as beer. I am not against flavoring beer but this was too much for me. I love Beer, coffee and chocolate so imagine my disapointment that the combination of the three just doesnt work.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2012 16:56:17 | More by Uniobrew31

Northsider

Illinois

2.2/5  rDev -51.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Had this in bottle. I was super excited to try this because of all the great reviews I've heard about it.

Holy jesus christ... "double chocolate, coffee, oatmeal stout"?! I don't think that's enough...let's try to cram some more crap into this beer! What a flavor overload, and not in a good way. This beer was just way overwhelming for me, and as usual, way over hyped by snob-, erm, beer advocates. This was the most bitter thing I've ever tasted in my life...the taste alone made me almost gag and puke, and subsequent smells from from the glass tickled my gag reflex.

It's just too much of everything in this beer. PASS.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 14:00:17 | More by Northsider

negroobserver

New York

2.35/5  rDev -48%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance... Looks very dark. Pours very dark with about a half inch of cream colored head.

Smells... Burnt, smokey scent is what stands out. Hints of chocolate and coffee.

Taste... Strong coffee flavor, which transitions into a bitter coffee flavor. Not very impressive.

Mouthfeel.. Watery. Light creamy texture. More appropriate for a porter than a stout.

Overall... It's a disappointing beer. Had great expectations for this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 03:24:42 | More by negroobserver

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

2.48/5  rDev -45.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

A - Dark brown brew with a finger and a half of dark tan head. Small specks of lacing are everywhere on glass, but they are scatter and practically refuse to clump.

S - Extremely potent coffee. It smells exactly like intense dark roasted coffee beans. It smells like a coffee from a French press. I honestly don't like that smell much (I don't really drink coffee) - and definitely not when it is this pronounced.

T - The other flavors are completely overshadowed by the dark roasted coffee beans - an espresso-esque flavor. A touch of chocolate and burnt malt. The aftertaste is partially a slightly bitter coffee aftertaste, but mostly the unpleasant chemical aftertaste that I abhor in coffee. There is a bit of bitter burnt malt and even less dark chocolate in the aftertaste as well.

M - Medium viscosity, a tad subpar in smoothness. Not refreshing on the tounge, but it is on the throat.

D - Wow. I can't remember the last time I have been this disappointed by a top rated beer. I can understand why coffee achievers might be enthralled by the beer, but that it not me. A subtle coffee presence is appreciated, but drinking a cold carbonated mocha isn't what I want when I want a stout. The drinkability is pretty bad because the coffee chemical bitterness is relentless - it just never disappears. The mouthfeel isn't helpful - my tounge feels like a raisin.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2006 04:08:12 | More by mrasskicktastic

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.53/5  rDev -44%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bottle: Poured a pitch-black color ale with a nice dark foamy head with average retention. Coffee aroma is quite overpowering with some subtle roasted malt. Taste is totally overpowered by coffee and as much as I like some coffee characteristic in my stout I cannot drink coffee. Total lack of balance or complexity, just an overpowering of coffee. Definitely not one for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2006 20:43:40 | More by Phyl21ca

jdoolin

Ohio

2.6/5  rDev -42.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Presentation: 12oz bottle, poured into a snifter

Appearance: Dead black with a light brown head that didn't last

Aroma: Smells like... uhh... coffee. Maybe a *hint* of roasted malt, and mere traces of chocolate.

Taste and Mouthfeel: Very creamy, silky and smooth. Very nice chewy mouthfeel. But the taste was less than outstanding. It tasted like a dry stout mixed with a cup of day old black coffee. Strong coffee with very little roasted malt character. I didn't get chocolate at all unless I thought really hard about chocolate. I wouldn't have guessed it was in there had I not known beforehand. No hop presence, but that's not a big deal. The finish was dry. In fact, it was only sweet at the very first. The coffee bitterness was there throughout.

Notes: This was quite a disappointment. I love Founder's and everything I've had from them, and I love oatmeal stouts, coffee stouts and chocolate stouts. But this was just not balanced. Way too much coffee. I won't be having this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2006 21:42:52 | More by jdoolin

ericwgbeer

Pennsylvania

2.65/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Founders site calls this brew "the coffee lovers consummate beer".
I will definitely give them that.

Poured into a pint glass. Served at 45-50º.

A - The darkest brown possible without being black. Head is 1.5 fingers with a beautiful dark tan color that leaves some nice lacing as the brew is consumed.

S - Coffee, coffee, and burnt malt & burnt coffee. Some hops. Slight chocolate as well. Not too bad overall, but the burnt malt/coffee just dominates and smells...well...burnt. The smell lets you know what's coming.

T - Very coffee. A bitter and burnt finish that won't go away. Not very complex overall.

M - Full-bodied. Very good for the style.

D - I was disappointed, overall, for such a highly rated brew, but this is not a beer that I would choose again. If you are looking for "the coffee lovers consummate beer" and don't mind a bitter, burnt finish, this is the beer for you.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2010 04:15:31 | More by ericwgbeer

mbrown26

North Carolina

2.65/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I'll probably go against the grain on this beer and not give it the a+ rating that a lot have.

A: Did have a great look. Dark, Dark, Dark, with a small tan head.

S: Smelled good of chocolate and coffee.

T: Wasn't that impressed with the taste. The balance was nice and probably deserves a high score for the ABV balance, but just not for me. I'm not sure stouts are my thing.

M: About average for a quality stout.

D: For those who like this kind of brew, this will certainly be up your alley.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2010 02:25:34 | More by mbrown26

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

2.68/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A decent, if overrated, burnt coffee stout.

Presentation: 12 oz bottle. Old fashion design around the illustration of a boy eating from a bowl, mixed with the Founders branding. Five word description: double chocolate oatmeal stout. Does not show date of bottling, but displays IBUs (60), and Alc. (8.3%) Poured into a snifter.

A - Almost opaque pour leaving a thick black color with a nice creamy head that shows good retention and leaves fine lacing.

S - Burnt coffee aromas (Espresso gone wrong, like a morning coffee maker that has been too long on the fire). Roasted malt that escapes-adds to the burnt coffee feeling, faint chocolate under the dryness of some oats. Strong and characteristic but not particularly pleasing.

T - A tone richer than the smell, the maltiness is capable of holding part of the burnt coffee closer to calling some part of the flavors "roasted" instead, but without much success. Luckily the malts don't hinder the coffee blend entirely and in fact may rescue some of that spoiled coffee taste with a distinct richness that lingers on an acidic note. Chocolate is buried under the exploded coffee wall but there is a faint semi-sweet note that embraces whatever is left struggling of that ingredient.

M - Full bodied, with smooth carbonation.

D - Hmmm, it can be drunk, but I'm feeling more and more disappointed as I progress through the beer. Unless you are passionate about the way the flavor unfolds, and also like the smell that takes a persistent front seat this is not going to be too easy to be had.

Notes: This is probably not my thing. I fear that this and others might be to some notion of style due to a discrepancy in the appreciation of coffee. This is critically burnt coffee and some aspects of the stout do rescue it, and emphatically it is not the other way around i.e. this is not coffee enhancing the brew. Now, there are brews out there doing it much better than this one (without being mind blowing Southern Tier's Jahva does it nicely, or the even their Mokah when it comes to pushing chocolate and coffee.) I have had my share of bad coffee, and this brings too many memories of it after a lifetime of enjoying straight up espresso. Then I also think that, all things considered, this is a decent brew (I do think that Founders work is typically top notch) but it suffers from over hype. Chocolate is subdued, coffee comes as burnt, and a good stout malty base does wonders in trying to rescue the attempt, unfortunately that might be the actual highlight.

As an update, I had another bottle at much colder temperature and while most of the general characteristics remain the same the burnt character that was so present the first time is not that unbearable in the second try, it has better drinkability but does not earn much in terms of memorability...

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2009 05:08:26 | More by Daniellobo

samie85

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A- An aggressive pour yields a pitch black beer with a brown, one finger head.

S- Sweet chocolate and strong coffee with a bit of alcohol.

T-Strong, acidic, bitter, roasty coffee with a tiny hint of chocolate and a dry, alcoholic finish.

M-I really thought the oats would contribute a thicker mouthful. To my palate, this is on the very thin side of medium bodied with low carbonation, while having some smoothness.

D-I just really don't understand the hype on this one. I've had coffee stouts before and enjoyed them, but the alcohol presence (even though the ABV is only just over 8%) and strong coffee acidity don't lend themselves to a highly drinkable brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2010 00:52:35 | More by samie85

kscaldef

Oregon

2.88/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Big light brown head, very dark brown body

S: Lots of chocolate, a little coffee. Some sweet breadiness.

T: Bready, with mild chocolate. Not much sweetness.

M: Honestly, a little thinner than I expected. Very dry bitter finish.

O: Nothing I wouldn't drink, but by no means on par with most of Founders offerings.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 04:28:57 | More by kscaldef

bob182

Ohio

2.88/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This is what broke my heavy beer streak. It was just too much for me. Sipping bear to be sure, but one I'll never sip again if I'm paying. However, it was distinctive enough to warrant trying in some different form, like on tap, or, again, on someone else's tab. Mmm, coffee. Like a triple strength brew: Not necessary. Be ready to chew this one and be done. It's an unpleasant meal in a bottle. I gave this one away and didn't bother finishing the 6-er.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 02:39:26 | More by bob182

crnipeter

Slovenia

2.9/5  rDev -35.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

cit: "Brewed with ...bitter and sweetened imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee."

355 ml bottle (bottled 11/05/10) into 180 ml baby-Chimay chalice. Pours viscous, opaque dark reddish-brown body with well formed yet small tan head with low retention, leaving walls of lace on the glass-sides before fading out to a soapy film. Aroma is overpowering bourbon-like alcohol with milk-chocolate richness, intense roasted coffee beans and mild malty sweetness. The texture is silky due to oats used while the flavor is a blend of quite aggressive hot alcohol, milk-chocolate, roasted coffee and molasses. Both chocolate and coffee seems chemical, artificial-flavors alike rather than achieved by combination of roasted grains and malt-sweetness. There's a touch of herbal hops towards the medium-dry finish with lingering roastiness and hop-bitterness. Full bodied with moderate, fine carbonation.

In short: An artificially tasting, alcoholic Imperial Stout without any esters of fruit, lacking complexity and subtleness.

This is a marriage of sweet, oatmeal and imperial stout. Equal results (i.e. a rich chocolate & coffee) could be obtained solely from the grain but some like to take shortcuts compensating lack of skills and such brewing-techniques are called »creativity« then.

Btw, what's a child doing on the front label of an alcoholic beverage? We are fortunate that these people work in the brewing not in the porn industry...

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 00:23:12 | More by crnipeter

BlindPig

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

A- Thin dark mocha head on a black body. Little lacing.
S- Big coffee aroma with hints of oatmeal. Some drier scent too.
T- Big blend of coffee and oatmeal. Has a dry bitterness in it from the malts and hops. In the aftertaste coffee just dominates the flavors. Lacks complexity.
M- Full body with low carbonation.
D- I really wasn't a fan of this. Seems very simple and I really can't see the attraction behind it. Way to much coffee for me also.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2007 07:06:58 | More by BlindPig

PDXHops

South Carolina

2.93/5  rDev -35.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

2008 vintage on tap in December 2010 in a shaker pint. Appropriately dark body with a modest head and a bit of lacing.

A nice beer, but also a decent argument that coffee stouts aren't meant to be aged. While the nose is quite pleasant, the coffee flavor has faded to the point of staleness. It makes for an odd marriage with the also faded, yet smooth chocolate and roasted malts. The body is thinner than expected. Honestly, not a beer I'd recommend aging based on this sampling. It seems to be at its peak fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2011 01:35:11 | More by PDXHops

philipquarles

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to rmasen for this one; I had been looking forward to it ever since I'd tried Péché Mortel.

Pours a completely opaque black with a small ochre head that recedes to leave some nice lacing. Smells of thoroughly roasted malt; so roasted in fact that there's no real conventional malt taste. It's essentially all bitter coffee with faint chocolate notes. Burnt, bitter flavors dominate the taste with gobs of coffee and some dark cacao. Earthy character with an astringent finish. As hard as it is for an RIS to be unbalanced, this one is; a dry stout beefed up with spent Folger's grinds. It does have a thick feel, but it's too oily to be a real positive. Definitely a sipper. Maybe my expectations were too high, but this was disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2009 04:00:17 | More by philipquarles

coachdonovan

Rhode Island

3/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a jet black (obviously) but absolutely no head. I made sure to let this one warm up, so not sure what's up with that.

Aroma is 100% roasty. Not like a smoky schwarzbier, but more like the aftermath of a fire. Taste is equally roasted coffee with unsweetened chocolate. The alcohol doesn't cause a problem with drinkability, but the burnt and bitter flavor does. Maybe I'm at a disadvantage because I don't like coffee, but this one just doesn't do it for me. I really want to like it more, but I can't do it - too unbalanced.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2010 00:42:11 | More by coachdonovan

MowryJC

Illinois

3/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. 2009 vintage bottle into a snifter.

A - Dark, slightly viscous pitch color with no chance of light coming through. Weak, one finger head that leaves virtually no lacing down the side of the glass.

S - COFFEE. I don't get much else, maybe a hint of oats and a little chocolate, but the coffee is too far out of balance, probably because it gets a big old boost by the roasted malts.

T - Again, Coffee immediately followed by a little astringency from the malts, back into coffee. And the coffee seems to have a lot more acidity to it than espresso even. Almost no semblance of chocolate at all. I really can't believe how out of balance this seems.

M - Slightly oily, but not cloying at all, which is quite nice. The chewiness is enjoyable as well especially in the throat. I didn't feel ruined for the night from this beer, which I worry about with such strong flavors in this style.

D - Surprisingly drinkable if it were more balanced in flavor. I have to give this another shot given its reputation, but I was pretty disappointed in the lack of balance for this first round.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 06:08:52 | More by MowryJC

QuentinCall

Georgia

3/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Bottle (dated - 11/14/11) into a Duvel tulip.
The appearance is no more attractive than any other imperial stout I've experienced: jet brown/mahogany with an exuberant, oatmeal tinged head that quickly tapers off to a thin blanket of lace. There is certainly coffee in the nose and while it is the defining aspect, alongside it there is a pronounced alcohol note and an aroma somewhat reminiscent of old books: must and wood and wet rot. I allowed myself to imagine I had stumbled into an abandoned library and this beer stood beside vast and cryptic volumes seemingly awaiting my presence. The taste follows logically from the smell, upfront booze and coffee ballasted by roasted and chocolate malts, however it is monochromatic and hampered by a too-prominent alcohol profile. The finish does have an alternative and ultimately unwelcome facet of the coffee - bright, clean, acidic and maybe even possessive of an espresso-like grit. In regards to the style the feel is surprisingly thin, lacking heft or depth.
Overall this was a nice, but particularly unexciting, experience. Unfortunately acidic and boozy, lacking the depth of character I've come to believe an imperial stout can embody. Nonetheless, you should try it. I honestly feel like you should. All these people can't be wrong can they? My perfectly average 3 rating does not nullify the fact that this is a really important beer, a benchmark even, to a significant population. Its just that it didn't strike me as anything all that special.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 00:23:30 | More by QuentinCall

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The only thing better than an excellent stout is an excellent stout on draught...so that would mean this one on tap at the Capital Ale House in Fredericksburg, VA would blow away the (incredible) bottled version? Well...

From notes; poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours the typical borderline pitch-black color with a one-finger tan colored head. Not much retention, but pretty good lacing.

S: Same as the bottled version, but not as strong. Chocolate, coffee, and licorice; this one has a bit more roastiness.

T: The decadent richness of the bottled version wasn't found here. When I really concentrated, I could still find some of the original goodness, but this was otherwise weaker for some reason. There was the usual coffee, chocolate and roast, but it was muddled in its texture, and dare I say, somewhat watery. What a disappointment.

M: Thin bodied, a little rough, dry finish, and perhaps a touch watery - good for a porter, but not a stout. Definitely not like the bottled version.

O: Just what the hell happened here? Anyways, I'll give this benefit of the doubt and assume the tap lines were dirty. I'd pass this up if you see this at the Fredericksburg Capital Ale House. This will get re-reviewed as soon as I see this one at a different establishment.

I still love this beer, though, so don't get the wrong idea with this review.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2012 03:47:20 | More by ThisWangsChung

quasimoto

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Deep black, opaque. Faint ruby highlights are gleaming through. There is a nice big 2inch head on this thing and as I let it sit, it laces nicely.

S - Straight off the bat , it's old coffee grounds. Its not iced coffee, or a frappachino, but old coffee grains. There is a light mixture of some chocolate, in the middle but then turns to deep roasted grains.

T - The aromas transfer over to the taste and make it almost a balanced beer, but not quite. The deep coffee grain is turning to mud, and in turn taking the grains with it. The chocolate is no where to be found in true form but only a perceived notion of its previous existence is left behind. Out of all the reviews I have read, I cant believe no one has picked up the high rubbing alcohol flavor in the back of this beer. Either this needs to age, or this thing is a mess.

M - One of the good things about this beer is the mouth feel. It starts off smooth with the carbonation/bitterness, and then smooths out to a nice creamy mouth feel. The alcohol warms the as it sits, and then warms the throat.

D - I hope this thing needs to age. I really do. Maybe then it will be a true 93/Outstanding beer. But for a rather fresh beer. It's not even close.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2007 02:17:39 | More by quasimoto

rosmhuire

New York

3.05/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Dark brown coloring with tan-colored head.

S: All coffee on the nose

T: Coffee is definitely the primary flavor here. Also, this is a bit too sweet for my liking.

M: Average

D: I honestly was shocked that I did not care too much for this beer. Everyone on this site has such a hard-on for FBS, I was expecting to love it as well. I love oatmeal and imperial stouts, but this just did not measure up for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 18:45:34 | More by rosmhuire

LOCAL

New Hampshire

3.1/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into Duvel tulip glass

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown/black with no light passing through. Forms a faint coco head that disappears almost immediately.

Aroma: Faint oat, coffee, and bitter chocolate notes... not too much to be honest.

Taste: Similar to the nose with oats and roasted malt up front. The "double chocolate" and coffee seemed like an after thought in the taste profile.... strange considering the name.

Mouthfeel: On the heavier side. Sticks to the tongue.

Overall: Its OK. The alcohol is very well hidden given the ABV. I was really expecting a lot more from this brew. Not much in the way of chocolate or coffee in this one, at least not with the name tag it comes with.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2009 19:17:53 | More by LOCAL

nick76

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The aroma is fantastic and could even set the standard for the style. It has coffee, chocolate, cream, burnt malt, hops, and molasses. The appearance is black with a small but nice tan head. The flavor is way to burnt and bitter with a acidic burnt coffee after taste. The palate is actually a little thin for the style. Overall its a beer worth having but in the end its not fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2009 03:59:49 | More by nick76

tr4nc3d

Kansas

3.15/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a jet black color with a tan mocha colored head that resides rather quickly. Lacing coats the sides of my glass beautifully.

Fresh brewed coffee, vanilla, oatmeal, roasted malts, toffee, smoked wood chips, black licorice. Lots of great smells coming from this brew, I can not wait to try it.

Smells a lot better then it taste. Very upfront pretty bold bitter dark coffee taste, charred malts, and should I dare say quite watery. A very teeny tiny sweet taste does try to show up but definitely is overpowered with the coffee bitterness.

Medium with light carbonation. A little sticky or chewy should I saw. Left with that coffee aftertaste.

I picked up a 4 pack and will compare notes with the others. Maybe I'll age one. Anyways this did not do it for me really that much.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 02:58:53 | More by tr4nc3d