I wanted to start this post with a line like "Breakfast just got a whole lot better" or "They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day" but I'm pretty sure it has already been done. You know why?

Although this beer hasn't been around all that long, everyone has already written about it.

It's that damn special. Remember in the Aventinus post when we discussed how the Reinheitsgebot legislature limits ingredients allowed for use in German brewing to hops, water, grain and yeast? If you've ever wondered what they're missing out on, you certainly need look no further. A beer like this Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewing - brewed with real coffee and chocolate - could never be brewed under German laws.

If you're anything like me, you've done the Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout and the Young's Chocolate Stout and thought, "Okay... but I want something to really WOW me." Good friends, it seems the dark beer gods have heard our prayers, because I do believe I have found the stout of my dreams. Any and all of my preconceived notions about oatmeal, chocolate, and coffee stouts were turned upside down: this is a beer worth seeking out.

The brewery notes:

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. 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.

Fortunately, where I come from, breakfast DOES last forever: 24-hour diners, New Jersey's littered with 'em.

This beer, however, has proven somewhat harder to find. My wife and I tracked down the Breakfast Stout at our favorite store only once, followup attempts were futile. A couple of weeks later, though, we struck gold when we found a place that actually carries it on tap. I'm considering connecting myself intravenously to the keg- at least until I can find it in the bottle once again.

That aside, here's what other reviewers have to say: BeerCritic: "A favorite... 20 out of 20." Beer Advocate: "Quite possibly one of the most interesting American Double Stouts on planet Earth. Absolutely delicious." Seven Pack Beer Blog: "You’re going to love it - go ahead and buy a 4-pack before you even read the review." Beer Dorks: "The smell alone is intoxicating in it’s richness. And the taste is not far behind."

Experience

My wife and I found this beer on the shelves of a local store, and of course it was the words 'Breakfast Stout' that had me intrigued from the sight. We had never heard of it, only of Founders whom had produced the Red Rye we enjoyed several weeks prior. I had been relatively unimpressed with some of the stouts in my search for the ultimate dark beer. I

'll never knock Old Rasputin- my tried and true companion- but I had been looking for a more intense, dark-roasted, thick, taste-bud-busting brew. Porters, save a few, haven't been my thing lately, so I've been focused more on (imperial) stouts. I cracked open a bottle that very same night, anticipating the odd oatmeal dominance that had all too often rained on my parade throughout my search.

The viscous, oily black brew painted the curvature of my tulip with an impermeable velvet facade, void of light. An ample reddish-tan head rose to form the crown of the bold brew, black as the soul of the sinful ingenuity that dreamed up this decadent treat. The dark roasted malts and pronounced coffee notes immediately began to peak my interest.

For a coffee lover the aroma is outstanding; for those less enthusiastic, the nose may come across as intimidating. Rest assured the execution is phenomenal: balanced, rich, roasty, and semi-sweet with a pleasantly bitter finish. My wife took a sip from my glass and was instantly in love.

The creepy baby abroad the label stared ominously back at us, reveling in its newly-acquired grip over our petty lives. The mouthfeel of this beer is thick, oily, slick, and full-bodied. While not overly hoppy, there is some presence on back end - a nice bitter contrast to carry out the sweetness of the chocolate. Overall, the ideal marriage of a climactic mid-palate burst of dark, roasted malt flavor and a gradual descent to the perfect, lasting finish.

Exploring Oatmeal

I was listening to an episode of Craft Beer Radio a few weeks back where the hosts were discussing their earliest days of beer exploration. Jeff Bearer was talking about how he originally started to identify and familiarize himself with the taste of particular ingredients, hops in particular.

I can't remember for sure, but it may have been a bottle of Hop Devil that he mentioned paved his way to understanding the hop flavor in beer, when he finally said (many years ago), "so THAT'S what hops tastes like!" I can relate on a similar level with oatmeal stouts, and the beer that helped me grasp the concept was Sam Smith's Oatmeal.

I would more or less consider the Smith a 'no-frills' classic oatmeal - dry and full bodied while not particularly complex; minimal hops presence and of course the unmistakable oatmeal aftertaste. Unfortunately, I'm not a huge fan of the Sam Smith - but it most certainly outlines the basic flavors found in oatmeal stouts, and now I can use that knowledge to distinguish the characteristics of other oatmeals.

Final Thoughts

I may have found myself down the road of dissapointment a number of times in my search for an incredible dark brew, but luckily for all of us, the Breakfast Stout is full of surprises. While the brewer says the imbiber must "love coffee to truly appreciate" the beer, I think it is more accessible than the brewer implies. Breakfast Stout is screaming with coffee and chocolate notes, but I don't think that either flavor overpowers the balance, as is too often the downfall of a beer using this approach.

This is truly an outstanding example of what beers of this style can acheive, and takes the ballgame to a whole new level. As I have heard this is a seasonal brew, I may require some time in a rehabilitation facility as the weather warms and this masterpiece becomes even harder to find. God help us all. I thank you, Founders.

America (Michigan) - 8.3% ABV

Founders Brewing [website]

Imperial Stout