Breakfast Stout
Founders Brewing Company

Breakfast StoutBreakfast Stout
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From:
Founders Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #2
ABV:
8.3%
Score:
100
Ranked #152
Avg:
4.51 | pDev: 9.09%
Reviews:
4,158
Ratings:
17,948
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 13, 2024
Added:
Jul 27, 2003
Wants:
  2,060
Gots:
  6,980
The coffee lover’s consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, and Sumatra and Kona coffee, this stout has an intense fresh-roasted java nose topped with a frothy, cinnamon-colored head that goes forever.

60 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by deebo:
Photo of deebo
Reviewed by deebo from Michigan

4.85/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Had in the bottle before, wanted to see how it fares fresh on tap.

A-Black as night with a tan oily intimidating head that laces the glass.

S-Dark roasted coffee, chocolate is evident, and so much more.

T-Heavy dark chocolately heavy malt taste. Long satisfying non bitter, yet hoppy finish. Hops carry the significant malt character really nicely.

M-Thick, yet smooth. Little carbonation. Really enjoyable.

D-Way too high.

O-An outstanding beer. Probably the top stout I've ever had. At over 8% ABV, this is the bomb. Great flavor and mouthfeel.

On 10/25/12: Evaluated a fresh one (8/15/12 or maybe it's 9/15 the first number is tough to read) with one in the cellar (11/14/11) since last year.

A-The newer beer has a little more head, otherwise they look the same. No difference in head retention or lacing.

S-2011:tons of chocolate with a surprising amount of coffee aroma still present
2012: weaker aroma, much less chocolate with more of the coffee in the nose
I prefer chocolate so I like the aroma of the year old beer better.

T-2012: A bit green in the taste, not how I remembered last year's version.
2011: A lot more chocolate and coffee in the taste, tastes a lot like how I remember it tasting last year (i.e. it has not faded as much as I'd expect-especially the coffee taste). The big difference is it has gotten a little sweeter.
This batch from 2012 seems to be missing quite a bit from last year. It is much earthier tasting (coffee from a different location?). There is also a bit of a meaty roasted beef taste. Strange.

M:2012: This is where I think the biggest difference lies from how 2011 tasted fresh as well as today. The body is quite a bit weaker.
2011: The body and taste has now transformed a bit from a big stout to more of a dubbel where the malt is not only chocolately but also you get some hints of fermented fruit (rum raisin) which was not present fresh. A little cloying but still very drinkable. Starting to take on the moutfeel characteristics of a RIS. Carbonation is comparable for both versions. Alcohol is non-existant for both years.

O-I definitely think this year's first batch of FBS isn't as good as any FBS I had last year. If I was scoring this year's it would be much lower. The taste has too much of a green earthy coffee taste and the body is thin. Anyway, the year old FBS still is quite outstanding. I wondered how it would hold up and it has much better than I expected. I suspect it wouldn't do well for that much longer. But I would trade the rest of the FBS I bought for last year's. I wonder if subsequent batches from this year are tasting the same.
Jan 08, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.21 by ThaKennster from Texas

Mar 13, 2024
 
Rated: 4.06 by sbradley41 from Pennsylvania

Mar 05, 2024
Photo of mbrandes62
Rated by mbrandes62 from Tennessee

5/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Omg
Mar 04, 2024
Photo of kotocar
Reviewed by kotocar from California

3.5/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I sure was looking forward to drinking this beer because of the glowing reviews. Unfortunately this beer isn't for me -- and I love stouts and porters too! I guess I "should've known" because I am not a coffee beer fan. I don’t like coffee in my ice-cream or in my beer.

The beer itself tastes like a adjunct stout with added coffee and roasted dark chocolate. It mostly taste of molasses though. Sorta reminds me of a cup of shoefly pie in a glass. It tastes rich and hearty and probably has a equivalent of a loaf of bread in it.... but I've had much better "imperial" stouts from other brands which didn't need to adjunct and add coffee to the beer.

If you like coffee in your beer then go for it. If you want a "normal" stout then stay away.
Feb 20, 2024
Photo of paylstep
Reviewed by paylstep from Canada (ON)

3.83/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
From the tap at stout nyc in fi-di:
Balanced smoke, coffee, dark choc... Maybe the most well balanced, well proportioned beer i've ever had. Hard to fathom how balanced it is.
However, this is too carbonated for my taste, and far too bitter. I will take many an irish dry stout over this beer any day. I feel this beer has been a tad overhyped. For the price, i know it is.
Feb 14, 2024
Photo of LagerMan_US
Rated by LagerMan_US from Maine

4.78/5  rDev +6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfect. Drink from small glass : )
Feb 13, 2024
Photo of TurboMon_911
Reviewed by TurboMon_911 from New Jersey

4.59/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottled on 05/02/2023. Poured a dark chocolate color into a clear glass Singha mug with a finger high khaki colored head which receded in a minute or so, but left a fair amount of fine lacing. Aromas is heavy of chicory, chocolate and caramel with raisins and roasted malts in the background. Flavor follows nose and is coffee forward but finishes with a bitter sweet chocolaty dryness. Medium to full bodied it is easily drinkable, has no booziness or burn and goes down smooth. Have had this many time over the years in it's many different forms, (KBS,CBS) and it's always a pleasurable experience/treat.
Feb 05, 2024
 
Rated: 4.45 by oneeye from Pennsylvania

Jan 22, 2024
Photo of Saluki
Reviewed by Saluki from Florida

4.51/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Slim head, which is good to me. The look looks like a stout. Yes, it is chocolate, and a stout, but actually not over bearing or sharp. Nice full refreshing mouth feel. Really puts the local craft guys, for one third the price, here any way, to shame. This one is a winner if you like the style. KBS still gets the nod.
Jan 16, 2024
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

4.51/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep black producing a 1.5 fingers of foamy, moderately lasting mocha head that leaves of foamy, finely bubbled, moderately lasting, mocha head which recedes to a thin collar ring and surface cap, leaving behind wisps and streaks of lace. When you get to the bottom of the glass you can see that it is clear with a brownish burgundy color. Aroma is coffee heavy, chocolate, burnt pumpernickel, caramel, molasses and a hint of dark fruit.Taste is sweeter than the nose indicates: semisweet roast, bitter cocoa, coffee, toffee, burnt bread and dark fruit. The coffee is much less intense than in the nose. The roast is present throughout the sip intensifying in the finish it dominates the cocoa, toasty, moderately bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied with low carbonation. It producers a fine peppery prickle in the finish, is lightly creamy, smooth and a pleasure to drink.
Jan 13, 2024
 
Rated: 3.63 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.4 by rexdeopp from Texas

Jan 09, 2024
Photo of JasonColemanLasVegas
Reviewed by JasonColemanLasVegas from Nevada

4.43/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Dark Brown in color, opaque, small thick espresso brown head with low retention.
Nose: big coffee followed by botter chocolate malt, dark fruit, fig and prune and chocate covered raisin, little bit of molasses, little bit of green bell pepper from the coffee.
Palate: low carbonation, high alcohol, toasty espresso, coffee, bakers chocolate, rich baked bread crust and dark fruity esters, prune and dark raisin and brown sugar. Medium bitterness, some coming from the roast, finishes off dry with lingering coffee. Good quality!!
Dec 16, 2023
Photo of BigMac59
Reviewed by BigMac59 from Texas

4.3/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Beautiful head with lots of lacing.
Nose is chocolate and coffee
Wonderful taste, rich and decadent. Slightly more bitter than a lot of stouts.
Coffee and chocolate are the predominant tastes.
High on carbonation.
Overall very good!
Dec 09, 2023
Photo of Tom-o-Bedlam
Reviewed by Tom-o-Bedlam from Texas

4.71/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Coffee, chocolate, and tobacco. Really spectacular taste, perfectly balanced. Coffee on the nose, then the taste is dark chocolate and Java with notes of tobacco on the back end. An all time great stout.

Not getting much oats, if any. Seems odd to call this an oatmeal stout.
Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.46 by Nyoder

Nov 25, 2023
Photo of nizzle8287
Reviewed by nizzle8287 from Texas

4.5/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Kinda surprised that an adjunct stout has made it into the number 2 spot in the "Oatmeal stout" class.
Anyway, poured into a pint glass at about 45f. Pours pretty extremely dark brown to black, with a khaki head that lasts for a minute or two until it recedes to a thin film and a ring that leaves nice lacing.
Smells of coffee and baker's cocoa.
Taste is malty chocolate forward that is dry and then the coffee hits and lingers there, ending it sort of an ashy smoky finish that resembles raw baking cocoa mixed with coffee grounds. Not sure where the "Oatmeal" in this oatmeal stout is supposed to have a time-slot... Kinda overwhelming on the coffee.
Mouthfeel has medium carbonation, but lacks the smoothness that some other stouts have.
Overall, a medium heavy beer that is very coffee forward, and I think even has a bit of caffeine in it, which I don't care too much for unless I am to wake up and drink it every morning, which I'll admit that it's Thanksgiving today and I'm staying home alone, so this beer is being served for breakfast.
Pretty good brew, but I won't be buying this one all the time.. too much adjunct flavors that take it too far away from the category of simple "Oatmeal Stout."
Nov 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.68 by sewerchewer from New York

Nov 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.43 by vabeerguy from Virginia

Nov 02, 2023
Breakfast Stout from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 17948 ratings