Fuel Cafe (Coffee Flavored Stout) - Lakefront Brewery, Inc.

hoptualBrew

Florida

3.43/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle by a lower key brewery that I have come to like. "Especially for Fuel Cafe", thats pretty cool that they do that. This is a jet black stout with a huge dark khaki mocha head miniscule fine bubbles looks like that of bottle conditioned brews. Legs stick to the glass w/ minimal lacing, I woulda thought the opposite seeing the <6% abv.

A lot of dark bitter chocolate in the nose accompanied by roasted coffee and a little nut quality. Taste follows suit, just two big components here - the dark chocolate and the roasted coffee. Up front is where the chocolates start sweet yet bitter. The coffee hits on the back end still intertwined with dark chocolates. Moderately thick (7/10) with a drying mouthfeel that I didnt really care for.

If I recall correctly, this was $8.99 a 6pak at Total Wine. Well priced, I am liking Lakefront Brewery more & more.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 21:49:00 | More by hoptualBrew

BilbosNuts

California

3.93/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a dark, dark brown which is borderline black. It has a nice mocha colored head, but it fades quickly to a small ring. It appear sot have a decent amount of carbonation.

S: Lots and lots of coffee. Some earthy and sweet malts are also noticeable.

T: The taste is very similar to the smell with a big coffee kick followed by the earthy and sweet malt backbone.

M: It is medium bodied with no carbonation, very still. It has a sort of chewy fell to it while also being very smooth and easy to drink.

O: This is a good coffee stout and a fine way to start the day. I would've liked some more complexity, but if you're a coffee lover, this would be quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 18:16:00 | More by BilbosNuts

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into clear coffee mug.
A: Body is a deep black in color and the tan head pours a one finger formation, and retreats to a thin layer. lacing is left in a layered pattern.

S: The aroma is very welcoming of chocolate and coffee. While notes are present, they are also on the lighter side for the style.

TM: The beer has a rich coffee flavor on the palate, while still holding on to critical element that make it a stout. On the mouthfeel it is a bit thin and watery on the finish. The roasted element is a bit lost, but overall a balanced taste. The level of carbonation is a bit high for my preference in this style, but not too high.

O: The overall impression I got from this brew is a lighter more approachable morning coffee brew, with a lower ABV for style and a lighter easy drinking character. I wouldn't say that this brew defines the style, but is a very nicely balanced beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 13:26:09 | More by GDBEERMAN

Bobheed

Texas

1.85/5  rDev -44.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: Poured a deep black with a tiny mocha head. By all accounts what a stout should look like

S: Got some roasted malts, not a whole lot of the coffee that I would've expected. Has a bit of a earthy smell, somewhat herbal

T: Pretty bad. Very little flavor. I at least got the coffee a bit, but overall it was really lacking here.

M: Way too thin for any kind of stout. Minimal carbonation and kind of left a film on my tongue

Not too good. I doubt I will revisit this one

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 05:47:57 | More by Bobheed

chinchill

South Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle bottled in November 2010 and served in a pint glass.

Pours opaque and nearly black with a towering head that quickly settles to a rather thin, creamy, resilient, dark tan top

Aroma has coffee and dark roasted malts in about equal strengths. However, the coffee component becomes dominant in the taste and even more dominant in the aftertaste.

T- As advertised, there is plenty of coffee flavor this brew. Too much black coffee in that it doesn't allow the dark malt to shine as it should in a stout. Aftertaste of coffee with some faint roasted malt and fainter hops and smoke. More bitter and sour than sweet.

M - smooth but with some hops/carbonation tingle; semi-dry finish. Near medium body.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 18:30:30 | More by chinchill

JackieTH

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is the first bottle randomly selected of eight from Lakefront's sampler pack of eight different varieties. That's nice.

Poured dark brown black with an inch of tan head. Smell was coffee-forward with background notes of malt, grain, chocolate. Taste was heavily roasted coffee as advertised with malt and bitterness of the beer a background element. Body was on the lighter side of medium. Overall this tastes like a middling quality lager with a healthy dose of french roasted coffee, served cold. Decent but the flavor profiles are only partially integrated, perhaps by design.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 14:28:47 | More by JackieTH

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into snifter - thanks to kstrickler

Pours an opaque black color with a crop of tanned head. Fades fairly quickly, with a few patches of lacing.

Notes of roasted coffee beans in the nose along with nuttiness and dark malts. Touches of chocolate and caramel as well.

Roasted dark malts dominate the profile with intermittent notes of coffee beans. Some nutty flavor coupled with milk chocolate sweetness and vanilla. Decent malt backbone, although fairly light on the coffee. Finishes dry and a bit sweet.

Medium body, higher carbonation, a little prickly on the tongue, some lingering dry and chewy feel as well. I'd like to see the coffee amped up a little on this, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 02:24:35 | More by xnicknj

JayS2629

Alabama

3.65/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a jet black color with a thick tan head that fades fast, but leaves walls of mocha on the glass.

The aroma is mild with roasted malts, dark chocolate and robust coffee.

The taste starts out with cocoa and dark choclate, followed with a black coffee and bitter finish with earthy hops.

Simple and unbalanced. Not enough coffee flavor to call it a coffee stout. It also resembles a porter too much. Not quite enough body for the stout label.

Easy to drink. Nothing offensive, but nothing extraordinary.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 04:19:14 | More by JayS2629

lurpy1

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark black, upon first whiff, this brew is all coffee all the time. Can't knock that!

i have had coffee stouts that really tasted burnt, and others that have gone the opposite direction by going all Frappucino. Give Lakefront credit for doing neither. However, the beer was a bit bitter yet, and the consistency was little gritty. Nevertheless, a pretty good drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 20:29:43 | More by lurpy1

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Notes from 7/27/11. Enjoyed at the brewery in a bottle.

A - Dark brown with a small amount of white head.

S - Dark caramel and a good coffee punch. Some bitterness is evident as well.

T - Dark caramel, bitter dark roasted coffee and a slight hop bitterness.

M - Medium body, light carbonation

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 13:58:40 | More by TheSevenDuffs

EricCioe

Montana

3.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to my sister for passing this along.

This pours a deep mahogany with a nice, espresso crema head that's about two fingers and leaves chunky lace. On the nose there is dark chocolate and some coffee, but also some smoke and dark fruits. In the mouth there is a slightly sour lactic note that goes pretty well with the coffee, which is less forward than I had expected. Any chocolate from the nose pretty much disappears in the mouth. The body is pretty light, but not necessarily surprising for the ABV. The finish is pretty long with the lactic sour note lasting longest.

Overall, this is a pretty interesting stout, one that doesn't quite fit the coffee billing to me, but it's interesting in other ways. There are certainly redeeming qualities here, but if I want a coffee stout, I'm usually going to reach for something a bit bigger and a bit more coffeeish.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2011 22:06:38 | More by EricCioe

match1112

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: poured pitch black and thick. had a one finger khaki head that doesnt last long. left a ring and little lacing.

S: smelled like the coffee pot was on and filled the room with roasted coffee, even my wife asked if i was drinking iced coffee or something.

T: tasted like coffee with a little chocolate in there with a slightly dry bitter aftertaste.

M: a little flat kind of boring didnt feel as thick as it looked.

O: its a gooood coffee stout worth the try

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 12:55:29 | More by match1112

jmbranum

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought in kansas enjoyed at home in okc.

Roasted aroma.

Very dry stout with some roasted coffee notes, extremely dry. Fair amount of hops for a stout. Lots of toastiness. Just a bit of tannins.

Medium body but bitterness prexominates. Interesting.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 05:20:34 | More by jmbranum

brdc

Wisconsin

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Last one from their sampler pack, which as I mentioned before, it is like every other sampler should be: 8 different bottles!
Quite dark in color, nearly but not quite black in a pint glass. Small dark tan head, minimal retention, some lacing.
Aroma lacks power, you really need your nose in there to get some chocolate and roasted malts. Minimal, if any coffee.
Light bodied, it lacks body in the same way it lacks aroma.
Flavors are pleasant, but also a little too delicate. Despite the fact I had this on a hot summer night, it still felt a little too watered down.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 14:22:17 | More by brdc

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark brown, almost black, with a tan foam head. No lace, no real retention.

Big coffee nose, but little else.

Expresso bean up front, with a little sourness and then the palate clears out a bit to strong pure coffee bitterness. I slight pucker at the end. I got what they advertised, but hard to find any brew in my pint of coffee. Sour edge is off-putting, but not enough to warrant a lower grade. 1 trick pony here.

Fuller bodied, good mouth clearing tendencies, and a little carbonation tingle/or is it acid?

One and done for me. Overkill at its purest. The flaws are hard to overlook. What works, works really well, but as I drink this I'm adjusting ratings - lower. Everything works well but the taste, and for a beverage that's a big flaw.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 22:58:29 | More by OtherShoe2

DarthKostrizer

California

3.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Look: Black with reddish brown rings around the edges. 1/4 tan head with no retention

Smell: Huge malt profile right off the bat. Traces of dark fruits coffee and chocolate

Taste: Roasted malt character upfronst and in the middle. Really amazing coffee after taste. I like the back end but the front end is just ok

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with actually a pretty high level of carbonation which is a bit off putting and it tingles the roof of your mouth a bit

Overall: This is not a bad coffee stout but it's not great especially when you compare it to something like speedway stout

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 06:31:32 | More by DarthKostrizer

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours an opaque brown colour with thin tan head that dissipates fairly quickly. Smells of very mild coffee with some mild roast, very faint smell for a coffee stout though. Flavour has a little bit of bitterness and roast, not too much going on. This is ok, but I've had much better versions of this style.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 22:43:05 | More by kwjd

Mississipping

Mississippi

3.3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours completely black with a small brown head that dissipates quickly, leaving only a thin brown ring behind. Almost no lacing.

S: Malty, slighty smokey, and bit of coffee. There really isn't much going on here, which is slightly disappointing.

T: Bitter roastiness, a bit of coffee, and some maltiness and hops. The taste matches the smell. Not much going on and what is going on is slightly unpleasant. Bitter and slightly bland.

M: Much lighter than expected for the style. Thin but smooth. Pretty high carbonation makes it just a bit prickly on the tongue. Just a touch drying at the finish.

D: It goes down pretty easily, but it's not something that I particularly enjoyed. I love a good coffee stout, but this just fell short.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 22:34:47 | More by Mississipping

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A - Pours jet black with a small one finer tall mocha colored head leaving little to no lacing down the glass.

S - Smells of coffee, dark roasted malt, dark fruits, and a touch of vanilla. It smells a bit stale to me and it isn't even that old.

T - Starts off with lots of dark roasted coffee up front slowly giving way to a mix of dark roasted chocolate malt and a light vanilla sweetness. The body is very thin and it makes it very hard to finish the whole thing. The finish has lots of dark roast, lingering for some time.

M - Heavy body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Thin, watery, feel with lots of dark roast in the finish.

O - I have had better. I think it has potential but it fell well short of my personal expectations.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 19:58:47 | More by orangesol

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Viscose dark walnut exit from the bottle appears a deep black with a scarce mocha tinted head that barely covers the surface even with an agitated pour. Clean window dressing. Its black (not a hard accomplishment) with a lackluster head, therefore average at best in my eyes.

S: Fresh whole roast beans, quite nice, Deep roast keeps you sniffing and has a decent strength behind it. Bitter bakers chocolate and fresh roast best sums things up here.

T: Seems a bit thin at first. Alcohol, coffee roast with a semi-bitter finish of chocolate with a light acrid taste. Oats with some juicy dark fruit rounds things out. Eh not bad, but hardly enough to take notice. A thin start but a stronger finish offers some redemption.

M: Medium viscose body that turns thin on longer holds. Light carbonation, very slick and slippery texture leaving only a slight roasty fade.

O: Better then average over all prospect, but not by much based solely on nose and decent flavor, appearance and mouthful were average. Unlikely repurchase begins to tire out half way though, single purchase only.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 22:49:55 | More by beerthulhu

mocktm

Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Part of random make your own 6 pack, 12 oz into pint glass.

Pours an opaque black with half a finger or so of dark brown espresso colored head. Quickly rescinds to nothing but the faintest rim lining the glass, leaving zero lace to mark its presence.

Aromas of coffee, obviously, with faintest hints of chocolate and brown sugar. Coffee is a little overbearing, not allowing me to pick much else out.

As with the nose, taste is overwhelmingly dark roasted and bitter coffee. I'm really having a hard time garnering anything else, not for a lack of effort. Pretty straight forward I guess.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a syrup like consistency. Not a lot of carbonation, but it drinks well enough for a reasonably low ABV stout.

Overall, it is what is advertised. A very coffee forward, albeit simple, American stout. Wouldn't get again though when there is so much more that can be done with the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 15:39:26 | More by mocktm

Rizalini

Nevada

3.4/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Recieved in a trade from StLThrash. Thanks for sending this brew my way! Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my Deschutes tulip...

A - Pours a rich, dark brown color, letting no light show through this one. A 1 finger light brown head fades rather quickly leaving some descent lacing.

S - Coffee, but that's obvious. Having a hard time pulling any other smells besides that tho...

T - Roasty coffee is leading this one, as it should be. Other flavors lead to a chocolate and hazelnut. A slight bitter hoppy finish.

M - Medium, almost creamy mouthfeel. Real good carbonation.

O - A good coffee stout, but not as bold as I like my stouts to be. I guess for a 6% beer, that's to be expected. Still, a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 07:28:31 | More by Rizalini

lawlerj

Nebraska

3.3/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a wine glass.

A - pours a nice black color, appears a bit viscous, not much head at all. Doesn't stick around and leaves a small collar. Tan head.

S - big coffee smell, obviously, with some dark chocolate and roasted malt.

T - Again, coffee and chocolate, but a strong bitter taste in their as well. Ok, but not great.

M - medium bodied, not a lot of carbonation. Not quite flat. I would have like a little bit more here.

O - overall, ok. Maybe I just don't dig coffee stouts, but I was a bit disappointed by this.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 23:18:03 | More by lawlerj

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I know, I know ... What's the deal with the (supposedly) unstoppable CANQuest (TM)? This is a mere pit stop to empty out the BeerFrigerator of some of the aged/aging stuff that got thrown in there and abandoned/forgotten about in the hurly-burly of life. Is it bad if the last time that I can remember drinking this beer was our impromptu tailgate before the Stillers/Vikes game on 18 Dec 2005 (today is 23 June 2011)? Whoops!

The label was notched "June/Week 4", so let's call this six year-old beer. And by gum, it stood up well. I got a rocky finger of deep-brown head with limited retention. Color was a deep brown with only cola highlights at the edges. Nose was still rich with French Roast coffee notes. Very dark, very roasty, very coffee-like. I even got some dark chocolate in there as it warmed. Mouthfeel was not quite creamy, but close and the favor had begun to take on a (probably unintended) sourness to accompany the bitterness. It was not overwhelming, but it should be kept in mind if you want to age this beer. Finish was quite bitter, like my morning coffee. As a retired US Navy sailor, I drank my share of bitter coffee. We used to try everything, from ground cinnamon to salt, but when you are making massive amounts in a stainless steel machine, bitter is the name of the game. This had that same bitterness and all I need now is a doughnut, two eggs over easy and some grits and I'll be right at home.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 19:21:43 | More by woodychandler

Brenden

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I picked this up during my weekend in BG, so notes are very recent.

Fuel Cafe is a thick, inky black in color. A creamy head one finger tall sustains itself for some time, and lacing is quite good.
The aroma is, naturally, malt-heavy, with notes of roast and coffee grounds.
The flavor offers more. It's lightly sweet with a barley-like malts backbone that's plenty roasty. Coffee is the key here and is allowed to stand out, and each sip leads to a gentle citric hops twang in the finish.
The body seems appropriately full, though not particularly heavy. It seems to thin out a little as it goes. Carbonation is light but allows for a creamy smoothness to come out nicely, but a prickly feel detracts somewhat.
This is a good example of a coffee stout and one to try.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 17:59:58 | More by Brenden