Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout | Maumee Bay Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Maumee Bay Brewing Company
Ohio, United States
oh-maumeebaybrewingco.com
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.10%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Maumee Bay Brewing Company’s Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout is a hearty meal in a glass. As it pours, it devours the light and your glass is filled with darkness. This massive beer brewed with espresso beans (from Flying Rhino in Toledo, OH), oatmeal, and lactose offers a rich and complex taste that begs to be savored. With a smooth carbonation and luscious roasted malt flavor, you will fade to black as you slowly sip this finely crafted brew. We recommend serving at 45-50 degrees in your favorite snifter. It’s nothing but total bliss from Maumee Bay Brewing Co.
Added by buschbeer on 04-18-2010
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 65 | Ratings: 368
3.1/5 rDev -25.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle, poured into a snifter at ~50 degrees F.
Appearance: Your usual stout black, letting no light through, with some patches of brown bubbles along the bulge of the snifter. Forms a thin, fizzy, short-lived head of brown bubbles, which rapidly becomes just a ring of brown bubbles around the edge of the surface.
Smell: Coffee. Coffee not unlike the standard breakfast diner Arabica blend. There isn't much else to the aroma, beyond a thin sort of burnt-bitter grain smell, and perhaps a vague tinge of blackstrap.
Taste: Coffee. Coffee not unlike the standard breakfast diner Arabica blend. That's how the flavor profile opens, proceeds, and closes. A handful of other flavors pop their heads through the flavor profile door while it's open, making little cameos - blackened wheat, faint molasses, very mild chocolate, something vaguely resembling a tinge of berry - but for the most part, this is like drinking chilled Arabica coffee.
Mouthfeel: Thick and full bodied, with carbonation just this side of flat. Oddly enough, has a somewhat watery breakdown at the very end of the swallow, despite the fullness throughout the rest of the process.
Overall: While not bad, in fact rather solid, this is not a spectacular example of a breakfast stout. Coffee lovers may find it wonderful. I find it to be right around par for a stout, particularly of the double/imperial ilk.
★ 1,386 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle, poured into a snifter at ~50 degrees F.
Appearance: Your usual stout black, letting no light through, with some patches of brown bubbles along the bulge of the snifter. Forms a thin, fizzy, short-lived head of brown bubbles, which rapidly becomes just a ring of brown bubbles around the edge of the surface.
Smell: Coffee. Coffee not unlike the standard breakfast diner Arabica blend. There isn't much else to the aroma, beyond a thin sort of burnt-bitter grain smell, and perhaps a vague tinge of blackstrap.
Taste: Coffee. Coffee not unlike the standard breakfast diner Arabica blend. That's how the flavor profile opens, proceeds, and closes. A handful of other flavors pop their heads through the flavor profile door while it's open, making little cameos - blackened wheat, faint molasses, very mild chocolate, something vaguely resembling a tinge of berry - but for the most part, this is like drinking chilled Arabica coffee.
Mouthfeel: Thick and full bodied, with carbonation just this side of flat. Oddly enough, has a somewhat watery breakdown at the very end of the swallow, despite the fullness throughout the rest of the process.
Overall: While not bad, in fact rather solid, this is not a spectacular example of a breakfast stout. Coffee lovers may find it wonderful. I find it to be right around par for a stout, particularly of the double/imperial ilk.
★ 1,386 characters
3.35/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This beer was great to look at and had a very nice nose. Unfortunately , it was bitter and acidic and tart in an unpleasant way - not an appealing way. Mouthfeel was then. Overall a decent beer but nothing that need be tried more than once.
★ 243 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This beer was great to look at and had a very nice nose. Unfortunately , it was bitter and acidic and tart in an unpleasant way - not an appealing way. Mouthfeel was then. Overall a decent beer but nothing that need be tried more than once.
★ 243 characters
3.42/5 rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
"Stout brewed with coffee." 9.1% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with cool label art and standard unbranded pry-off cap acquired in a trade with michaellcoates (thanks again, man!) and served into a Mitchells of Lancaster flared stem-tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given its current ratings and Michael's recommendation.
Served cold - straight from the fridge - and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.
A: Pours a two finger rich dark tan colour head. Brilliantly creamy. Soft smooth complexion. Great frothiness. Ideal thickness for the style. Good even lacing clings to the sides of the glass as the head recedes. A luscious supple attractive head overall. Retention is very good, about 6-8 minutes.
Body colour is a solid opaque jet black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.
Looks great for the style. Consistent with the good stouts I've had before. Can't wait to try it.
Sm: Delightful coffee roast with notes of mocha, cream, and light espresso. Some coffee bitterness. Oatmeal. Dark malts. Touches of lactose. Light roasted barley. Some chocolate malt, though I don't get any actual chocolate from the aroma.
No yeast or hop character is detectable, nor is any alcohol.
A balanced aroma and a fairly strong one. The coffee is a highlight; it's very evocative and appealing, with great complexity.
T/Mf: Creamy and smooth on the open, giving way to a dark and chocolate malt body as it reaches the second act. Minimal hopping reflects a desire to keep the hops preservative-only. Coffee is present seemingly throughout, with a developing roastiness that peaks on the climax. It's a bit too sweet for my tastes, though, curbing the otherwise enjoyable roast. Hints of lactose as well. Oats fill out the body nicely. A dash of buried raisin is present. A bit of vanillicin.
It'd be balanced if not for that pesky sweetness. Possesses limited complexity and subtlety.
No yeast character or alcohol comes through.
Smooth and wet. Creaminess is a highlight. Good carbonation. Good thickness. Good presence on the palate.
Dr: Quite drinkable - especially for the well-concealed high ABV - but its overdone sweetness holds it back from greatness. I do like the coffee and chocolate notes, but I'd like to revisit this with some age on it to see if the sweetness fades. I certainly wouldn't trade for it again, but I might get a half-pour of it on-draught if I'm in the mood for a sweet coffee stout. It's certainly not in the same league as the best beers in the style, but for a value offering you could do far worse. Might be interesting on nitro-draught. I can see why it has a following, and I'd like to try more beers from this brewery.
B-
★ 2,852 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
"Stout brewed with coffee." 9.1% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with cool label art and standard unbranded pry-off cap acquired in a trade with michaellcoates (thanks again, man!) and served into a Mitchells of Lancaster flared stem-tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given its current ratings and Michael's recommendation.
Served cold - straight from the fridge - and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.
A: Pours a two finger rich dark tan colour head. Brilliantly creamy. Soft smooth complexion. Great frothiness. Ideal thickness for the style. Good even lacing clings to the sides of the glass as the head recedes. A luscious supple attractive head overall. Retention is very good, about 6-8 minutes.
Body colour is a solid opaque jet black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.
Looks great for the style. Consistent with the good stouts I've had before. Can't wait to try it.
Sm: Delightful coffee roast with notes of mocha, cream, and light espresso. Some coffee bitterness. Oatmeal. Dark malts. Touches of lactose. Light roasted barley. Some chocolate malt, though I don't get any actual chocolate from the aroma.
No yeast or hop character is detectable, nor is any alcohol.
A balanced aroma and a fairly strong one. The coffee is a highlight; it's very evocative and appealing, with great complexity.
T/Mf: Creamy and smooth on the open, giving way to a dark and chocolate malt body as it reaches the second act. Minimal hopping reflects a desire to keep the hops preservative-only. Coffee is present seemingly throughout, with a developing roastiness that peaks on the climax. It's a bit too sweet for my tastes, though, curbing the otherwise enjoyable roast. Hints of lactose as well. Oats fill out the body nicely. A dash of buried raisin is present. A bit of vanillicin.
It'd be balanced if not for that pesky sweetness. Possesses limited complexity and subtlety.
No yeast character or alcohol comes through.
Smooth and wet. Creaminess is a highlight. Good carbonation. Good thickness. Good presence on the palate.
Dr: Quite drinkable - especially for the well-concealed high ABV - but its overdone sweetness holds it back from greatness. I do like the coffee and chocolate notes, but I'd like to revisit this with some age on it to see if the sweetness fades. I certainly wouldn't trade for it again, but I might get a half-pour of it on-draught if I'm in the mood for a sweet coffee stout. It's certainly not in the same league as the best beers in the style, but for a value offering you could do far worse. Might be interesting on nitro-draught. I can see why it has a following, and I'd like to try more beers from this brewery.
B-
★ 2,852 characters
3.57/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Decent pour, hoping for more of a fluffy, longer lasting head. Sweet milk chocolate, rich coffee on the nose. Something tastes not quite right for a coffee stout. Bitter, fruity berries finish the taste. It's not exactly off putting but not my favorite profile from the coffee. Good mouthfeel, silky. Glad I just bought one bottle.
★ 331 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Decent pour, hoping for more of a fluffy, longer lasting head. Sweet milk chocolate, rich coffee on the nose. Something tastes not quite right for a coffee stout. Bitter, fruity berries finish the taste. It's not exactly off putting but not my favorite profile from the coffee. Good mouthfeel, silky. Glad I just bought one bottle.
★ 331 characters
3.59/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is okay, but anyone claiming it is as good or better than Founders Breakfast Stout is out of their damn mind. Aroma is decent...kinda like an espresso & cream, but it's a bit overcarbed with a metallic, slightly sour berry-like finish that detracts from the coffee and chocolate notes. I also wish there were more agressive roast flavors and the sweetness was toned down a bit. I recommend having this on the cold side rather than cellar temp. Again, this is no Founders Breakfast Stout, but more like a poor man's Moloko.
★ 527 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is okay, but anyone claiming it is as good or better than Founders Breakfast Stout is out of their damn mind. Aroma is decent...kinda like an espresso & cream, but it's a bit overcarbed with a metallic, slightly sour berry-like finish that detracts from the coffee and chocolate notes. I also wish there were more agressive roast flavors and the sweetness was toned down a bit. I recommend having this on the cold side rather than cellar temp. Again, this is no Founders Breakfast Stout, but more like a poor man's Moloko.
★ 527 characters
3.62/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
served on tap at the brewpub in Toledo.
Black and opaque with a hint of dark brown at the edges. Head is dark tan, has somewhat weak retention and leaves spotty lacing.
Smells and tastes rather sweet, a tad too sweet in tasting, with a pronounced toffee component. Less dark roast malt flavor than expected, and less coffee flavor than expected for a beer "infused with expresso".
Medium-light body and carbonation. Smooth.
★ 427 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
served on tap at the brewpub in Toledo.
Black and opaque with a hint of dark brown at the edges. Head is dark tan, has somewhat weak retention and leaves spotty lacing.
Smells and tastes rather sweet, a tad too sweet in tasting, with a pronounced toffee component. Less dark roast malt flavor than expected, and less coffee flavor than expected for a beer "infused with expresso".
Medium-light body and carbonation. Smooth.
★ 427 characters
3.78/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I'm a bit surprised at the previous reviews, as this beer is from my home state. Not that I am the expert, but usually when somebody in Ohio brews something right, I hear about it relatively quickly.
There is no bottle date on this beer.
An aggressive pour gets me a finger of rich brown head. It retains well and leaves a big frothy ring and decent lace. The body is that deep brown bordering on black that a good stout ought to be.
I sniff the beer and get a deep roasted malt aroma. This is backed up with a light nuttiness and coffee. Dark fruit is also present, coinciding with the malt and the nuts.
Up front, I get dark fruit and roasted malt with an unidentified sweetness. As I swallow it, roasted nuts, coffee and chocolate open themselves up to be experienced. The aftertaste is that of a rich roasted coffee.
The mouthfeel is almost milky. It seems like it is going for creamy, but doesn't quite get there. It leaves a light residue on the palate.
Overall, I find that this beer is good and certainly worth a try, but falls short of being outstanding. It does have me curious about the other beers the brewer has to offer though.
★ 1,148 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I'm a bit surprised at the previous reviews, as this beer is from my home state. Not that I am the expert, but usually when somebody in Ohio brews something right, I hear about it relatively quickly.
There is no bottle date on this beer.
An aggressive pour gets me a finger of rich brown head. It retains well and leaves a big frothy ring and decent lace. The body is that deep brown bordering on black that a good stout ought to be.
I sniff the beer and get a deep roasted malt aroma. This is backed up with a light nuttiness and coffee. Dark fruit is also present, coinciding with the malt and the nuts.
Up front, I get dark fruit and roasted malt with an unidentified sweetness. As I swallow it, roasted nuts, coffee and chocolate open themselves up to be experienced. The aftertaste is that of a rich roasted coffee.
The mouthfeel is almost milky. It seems like it is going for creamy, but doesn't quite get there. It leaves a light residue on the palate.
Overall, I find that this beer is good and certainly worth a try, but falls short of being outstanding. It does have me curious about the other beers the brewer has to offer though.
★ 1,148 characters
3.78/5 rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Look: Dark body with a dark mocha head that rings the glass shortly after leaving the bottle.
Smell: Bitterness, roast, black coffee, some milk chocolate, and lactose sweetness.
Taste: The taste is similar to the smell, however, a sour twang is leftover in the finish.
Feel: The body could use a little bit more BODY. The lather in the mouth is decent, but it could use a bump up.
Overall - I don't know if I received a bad bottle, but this was unusual. The sour finish was not desirable. If I set aside the sour finish, things look better. However, I cannot, because it is there :(
★ 596 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Look: Dark body with a dark mocha head that rings the glass shortly after leaving the bottle.
Smell: Bitterness, roast, black coffee, some milk chocolate, and lactose sweetness.
Taste: The taste is similar to the smell, however, a sour twang is leftover in the finish.
Feel: The body could use a little bit more BODY. The lather in the mouth is decent, but it could use a bump up.
Overall - I don't know if I received a bad bottle, but this was unusual. The sour finish was not desirable. If I set aside the sour finish, things look better. However, I cannot, because it is there :(
★ 596 characters
3.83/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Appearance is brown-black with a tan head that fades and some nice lacing.
Nose is sweet lactose, with peanut brittle, black coffee, and fresh hops.
Taste is more bitter than sweet, with dark coffee and sweet milk, clove and buttered croissant.
Mouthfeel is easy, with mild carbonation and balanced alcohol. Warm finish.
Overall, this is not bad at all!
★ 358 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Appearance is brown-black with a tan head that fades and some nice lacing.
Nose is sweet lactose, with peanut brittle, black coffee, and fresh hops.
Taste is more bitter than sweet, with dark coffee and sweet milk, clove and buttered croissant.
Mouthfeel is easy, with mild carbonation and balanced alcohol. Warm finish.
Overall, this is not bad at all!
★ 358 characters
3.95/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I live in Toledo. Am a hophead, but tried this one at MBBC today. Very nice. I don't know about "world class," but MBBC definitely knows what they're doing. The Total Eclipse is not over the top. It's not overwhelming with coffee or chocolate. Just a solid, tasty stout that I would have again. It is not in the class of the commonly available (around here, anyway) Founders Breakfast Stout or Founders Imperial Stout.
★ 418 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I live in Toledo. Am a hophead, but tried this one at MBBC today. Very nice. I don't know about "world class," but MBBC definitely knows what they're doing. The Total Eclipse is not over the top. It's not overwhelming with coffee or chocolate. Just a solid, tasty stout that I would have again. It is not in the class of the commonly available (around here, anyway) Founders Breakfast Stout or Founders Imperial Stout.
★ 418 characters
3.96/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle into a Boulevard Tank 7 tulip. Pours a dark brown and settles black in th glass. About 1 finger of fizzy, khaki-colored foam initially, which bubbled down to a lacing after a minute or two. No head whatsoever after 5 minutes. Lots of carbonation bubbles clinging to the bottom and sides of the glass. Big nose on this guy - I could smell it as I was pouring. Strong notes of milk chocolate, lactose, and coffee with hints of caramel and vanilla. On the taste, bittersweet baker's chocolate, bold coffee, bitter oats, and a touch of lactose and vanilla on the back end. On the sweeter side, and very tasty. I am getting a bit of a metallic taste on the finish, but I may be drinking it a little too warm so I'll let that slide. In terms of feel, it's good albeit a tad thin & oily. Definitely thick enough the carry the flavor and alcohol. Overall, not bad at all but not my favorite.
★ 890 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle into a Boulevard Tank 7 tulip. Pours a dark brown and settles black in th glass. About 1 finger of fizzy, khaki-colored foam initially, which bubbled down to a lacing after a minute or two. No head whatsoever after 5 minutes. Lots of carbonation bubbles clinging to the bottom and sides of the glass. Big nose on this guy - I could smell it as I was pouring. Strong notes of milk chocolate, lactose, and coffee with hints of caramel and vanilla. On the taste, bittersweet baker's chocolate, bold coffee, bitter oats, and a touch of lactose and vanilla on the back end. On the sweeter side, and very tasty. I am getting a bit of a metallic taste on the finish, but I may be drinking it a little too warm so I'll let that slide. In terms of feel, it's good albeit a tad thin & oily. Definitely thick enough the carry the flavor and alcohol. Overall, not bad at all but not my favorite.
★ 890 characters
4/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a pretty drink that opens all black and brown, as it should, with nice little bubbles. The aroma is very roasty, malty and coffee.
The taste of a thick, rich, coffee experience. The booze comes a little in the after taste. This is a very good beer from a brewer I normally do not care for enough to give blind faith to. Good one, people.
★ 347 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a pretty drink that opens all black and brown, as it should, with nice little bubbles. The aroma is very roasty, malty and coffee.
The taste of a thick, rich, coffee experience. The booze comes a little in the after taste. This is a very good beer from a brewer I normally do not care for enough to give blind faith to. Good one, people.
★ 347 characters
4/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-dark brown color with a light brown head and a little lacing
S-chocolate, coffee, molasses,dark fruit, dark malt
T-dark roasted malt, dark chocolate, molasses, dark fruit, coffee
F-medium body with light carbonation, smooth
O-decent stout, but flavors just a little awkward together and a little on the sweet side, not in a class with FBS
★ 344 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-dark brown color with a light brown head and a little lacing
S-chocolate, coffee, molasses,dark fruit, dark malt
T-dark roasted malt, dark chocolate, molasses, dark fruit, coffee
F-medium body with light carbonation, smooth
O-decent stout, but flavors just a little awkward together and a little on the sweet side, not in a class with FBS
★ 344 characters
4.04/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: It pours black in color with no light able to come through the darkness. It is topped with ½” of brown head that dissipates to a small puddle right in the middle of the glass.
Smell: Roasted aromas dominate the nose of this Ohio beer it has a bit of coffee aroma that comes in haphazardly every now and then.
Taste: The flavor of this beer follows right along side of the aroma with total domination by roasted flavors which I rather enjoy because the roasted tastes are not bitter in anyway so it makes for a tasty beer.
Mouthfeel: This is a easy drinking stout that is dominated by roasted and coffee notes but since it is not bitter is makes it easier drinking than a person would think out of most stouts and at 9.1% ABV it hides the alcohol very well.
★ 772 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: It pours black in color with no light able to come through the darkness. It is topped with ½” of brown head that dissipates to a small puddle right in the middle of the glass.
Smell: Roasted aromas dominate the nose of this Ohio beer it has a bit of coffee aroma that comes in haphazardly every now and then.
Taste: The flavor of this beer follows right along side of the aroma with total domination by roasted flavors which I rather enjoy because the roasted tastes are not bitter in anyway so it makes for a tasty beer.
Mouthfeel: This is a easy drinking stout that is dominated by roasted and coffee notes but since it is not bitter is makes it easier drinking than a person would think out of most stouts and at 9.1% ABV it hides the alcohol very well.
★ 772 characters
4.06/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Upfront big coffee aroma, followed by deep roasted malts that have lots of chocolate/coffee character, faint vanilla aroma, with a light sweet finish.
A: Black, totally opaque with moderate beige head that dissipates pretty quickly. Moderate lacing evident.
T: Moderate coffee flavor, followed by lots of semi-sweet bakers chocolate from the malts. The beer has a semi-dry finish with a light bitterness.
M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation.
O: Pretty solid; the beer has a nice upfront coffee aroma, followed by lots of chocolate malts. Since the coffee flavor is solid, but not overly complex – the beer could use another layer to make it better and even more tasty.
★ 693 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Upfront big coffee aroma, followed by deep roasted malts that have lots of chocolate/coffee character, faint vanilla aroma, with a light sweet finish.
A: Black, totally opaque with moderate beige head that dissipates pretty quickly. Moderate lacing evident.
T: Moderate coffee flavor, followed by lots of semi-sweet bakers chocolate from the malts. The beer has a semi-dry finish with a light bitterness.
M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation.
O: Pretty solid; the beer has a nice upfront coffee aroma, followed by lots of chocolate malts. Since the coffee flavor is solid, but not overly complex – the beer could use another layer to make it better and even more tasty.
★ 693 characters
4.07/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a dark chocolate color. Aroma is coffee and chocolate. Flavor is coffee, chocolate and a creamy oatmeal. The flavor is nice but the mouthfeel is a little thick. Kind of hard to describe like a rich thick liquid that turns carbonated on your tongue. Not the biggest fan of this but overall this is a tasty brew.
★ 316 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a dark chocolate color. Aroma is coffee and chocolate. Flavor is coffee, chocolate and a creamy oatmeal. The flavor is nice but the mouthfeel is a little thick. Kind of hard to describe like a rich thick liquid that turns carbonated on your tongue. Not the biggest fan of this but overall this is a tasty brew.
★ 316 characters
4.1/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce bottle into snifter, no bottle dating. Pours dense pitch black color with a 1 finger dense dark tan head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Slight spotty lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, toast, toffee, raisin, plum, light vanilla, and yeast/roasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/roasted malt, coffee, and dark fruit notes; with good strength. Taste of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, toast, toffee, dark bread, light dark fruit, light vanilla, light char, and roasted earthiness. Fair amount of roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, toast, toffee, dark bread, light char, and roasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roasted malt and coffee flavors; with a great roasted bitterness/sweetness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, creamy, and lightly chalky mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is an excellent imperial coffee stout. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roasted malt and coffee flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the ABV. A very enjoyable offering.
★ 1,401 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 ounce bottle into snifter, no bottle dating. Pours dense pitch black color with a 1 finger dense dark tan head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Slight spotty lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, toast, toffee, raisin, plum, light vanilla, and yeast/roasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/roasted malt, coffee, and dark fruit notes; with good strength. Taste of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, toast, toffee, dark bread, light dark fruit, light vanilla, light char, and roasted earthiness. Fair amount of roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, coffee, caramel, toast, toffee, dark bread, light char, and roasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roasted malt and coffee flavors; with a great roasted bitterness/sweetness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, creamy, and lightly chalky mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is an excellent imperial coffee stout. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roasted malt and coffee flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the ABV. A very enjoyable offering.
★ 1,401 characters
4.11/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle:
Beer pours dark brown, looking black in a thick goblet. Head grows and recedes quickly. Definitely some froth comes with just a little agitation, but it too runs back into the glass and near the edge.
Nose is a wonderful lightly sweet coffee once the beer comes to temperature. Initial notes also showed some bitter tartness and more sweetness. I like the mellowed out scents from the warmer beer.
The taste hits first with a little sweetness, but it is quickly replaced with coffee and dark chocolate roasted malt notes. Then that fruit, berry-like taste comes in and reminds me of a berry-filled dark chocolate candy bar (but not as sweet). However, as the beer warms, the strength of this fades and even morphs into a coffee-with-cream, lightly sweetened. Some sips I still get some tart-bitter notes but they seem like maybe they come from the play of the lactose and the bitter malts.
Feel is a tad oily, but it makes the beer easy to drink. Medium body, warmth makes this feel a bit thinner. There is a certain depth of flavor that sustains throughout, however. A very nice, easy drinking higher ABV beer. Definitely hides the alcohol well.
Definitely a worthy beer. With the lactose, it fits into milk stout territory, with coffee added. The type of sweetness of the "base style" is obvious, and the coffee notes are well balanced in there. I definitely appreciate this beer for the balance, and would let it warm a little more before my first sip next time I have it.
★ 1,500 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle:
Beer pours dark brown, looking black in a thick goblet. Head grows and recedes quickly. Definitely some froth comes with just a little agitation, but it too runs back into the glass and near the edge.
Nose is a wonderful lightly sweet coffee once the beer comes to temperature. Initial notes also showed some bitter tartness and more sweetness. I like the mellowed out scents from the warmer beer.
The taste hits first with a little sweetness, but it is quickly replaced with coffee and dark chocolate roasted malt notes. Then that fruit, berry-like taste comes in and reminds me of a berry-filled dark chocolate candy bar (but not as sweet). However, as the beer warms, the strength of this fades and even morphs into a coffee-with-cream, lightly sweetened. Some sips I still get some tart-bitter notes but they seem like maybe they come from the play of the lactose and the bitter malts.
Feel is a tad oily, but it makes the beer easy to drink. Medium body, warmth makes this feel a bit thinner. There is a certain depth of flavor that sustains throughout, however. A very nice, easy drinking higher ABV beer. Definitely hides the alcohol well.
Definitely a worthy beer. With the lactose, it fits into milk stout territory, with coffee added. The type of sweetness of the "base style" is obvious, and the coffee notes are well balanced in there. I definitely appreciate this beer for the balance, and would let it warm a little more before my first sip next time I have it.
★ 1,500 characters
4.12/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark dark brown with little deep brown highlights and a tiny toffee colored head that lingers as a pool of foam atop the tulip.
Aroma is sweet toffee, buttery caramel, a bit of alcohol, burnt sugar and slightly toasted malts. Smells nothing like a stout. Then again it's hard to smell anything other than fried in this place.
Flavor is a bit thinner than I had hoped, but given the lack of traditional roast malt and coffee aroma, I guess I should have expected that. Still, the roast malt makes itself known in the flavor throughout. Tends toward the sweet side, burnt sugar, a slight bit of coffee finish. Dark fruits creep in as it warms.
Body is tending toward the heavy side with minimal carbonation. No astringency, bit a slight slickness is evident.
Overall a pretty good deviation from the traditional roast malt dominated stout. Alcohol is evident but somewhat balanced. Definitely worth a try.
★ 915 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark dark brown with little deep brown highlights and a tiny toffee colored head that lingers as a pool of foam atop the tulip.
Aroma is sweet toffee, buttery caramel, a bit of alcohol, burnt sugar and slightly toasted malts. Smells nothing like a stout. Then again it's hard to smell anything other than fried in this place.
Flavor is a bit thinner than I had hoped, but given the lack of traditional roast malt and coffee aroma, I guess I should have expected that. Still, the roast malt makes itself known in the flavor throughout. Tends toward the sweet side, burnt sugar, a slight bit of coffee finish. Dark fruits creep in as it warms.
Body is tending toward the heavy side with minimal carbonation. No astringency, bit a slight slickness is evident.
Overall a pretty good deviation from the traditional roast malt dominated stout. Alcohol is evident but somewhat balanced. Definitely worth a try.
★ 915 characters
4.15/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout
Maumee Bay Brewing Company
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
ABV: 8.60 %
LOOK: Pitch black, off white tan head. Plenty of lacing, brown lacing at that.
SMELL: Chocolate, oats, coffee, and roasted/peat smoked malts.
TASTE: Decadent chocolate, bitter coffee rounds, rich roasted malt flavors all upfront. There is a good balance between the cocoa sweetness and coffee bitterness. Oats lend to the smoothness of feel and richness in taste.
FEEL: Silky smooth, creamy, low carbonated, robust finish.
OVERALL: A high quality coffee stout from Maumee Bay. Definitely recommended.
★ 615 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout
Maumee Bay Brewing Company
Style: American Double / Imperial Stout
ABV: 8.60 %
LOOK: Pitch black, off white tan head. Plenty of lacing, brown lacing at that.
SMELL: Chocolate, oats, coffee, and roasted/peat smoked malts.
TASTE: Decadent chocolate, bitter coffee rounds, rich roasted malt flavors all upfront. There is a good balance between the cocoa sweetness and coffee bitterness. Oats lend to the smoothness of feel and richness in taste.
FEEL: Silky smooth, creamy, low carbonated, robust finish.
OVERALL: A high quality coffee stout from Maumee Bay. Definitely recommended.
★ 615 characters
4.21/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I've had this on-tap a year or two ago, so it's nice to see how this is bottled. 12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours black with a mocha head; head fades quickly but leaves nice retention and decent lacing. The aromas are full of milk chocolate and roasted coffee. Lots of vanilla and expresso. There's some smoke and tobacco in the mix as well. Flavors are rich and bittersweet. The black coffee really does shine. The milk chocolate gives this one its sweetness. There's no heat going on. There's tons of chocolate malts as well. Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of full-bodied. It's still creamy, fluffy, and smooth. Alcohol goes unnoticed.
This is a really well done coffee stout. It's up there with the best coffee stouts out there. Recommended.
★ 753 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
I've had this on-tap a year or two ago, so it's nice to see how this is bottled. 12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Pours black with a mocha head; head fades quickly but leaves nice retention and decent lacing. The aromas are full of milk chocolate and roasted coffee. Lots of vanilla and expresso. There's some smoke and tobacco in the mix as well. Flavors are rich and bittersweet. The black coffee really does shine. The milk chocolate gives this one its sweetness. There's no heat going on. There's tons of chocolate malts as well. Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of full-bodied. It's still creamy, fluffy, and smooth. Alcohol goes unnoticed.
This is a really well done coffee stout. It's up there with the best coffee stouts out there. Recommended.
★ 753 characters
4.21/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
on draft at the brewpub
black in color, tan head. good head retention and lacing. big coffee aroma. good balanced taste, not too acidic or bitter. thick, full bodied. overall, my favorite beer from them
★ 208 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
on draft at the brewpub
black in color, tan head. good head retention and lacing. big coffee aroma. good balanced taste, not too acidic or bitter. thick, full bodied. overall, my favorite beer from them
★ 208 characters
4.21/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Inky black in color, with a moderate head of dark tan foam.
Aroma-Dark roasted coffee
Taste-Black patent malt, roasted coffee, dark chocolate. Very easygoing and smooth for the strength. More like an imperial porter than a stout if that is possible. Lucky to have this fine offering available in bottles and in my back yard, so to speak.
★ 392 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Inky black in color, with a moderate head of dark tan foam.
Aroma-Dark roasted coffee
Taste-Black patent malt, roasted coffee, dark chocolate. Very easygoing and smooth for the strength. More like an imperial porter than a stout if that is possible. Lucky to have this fine offering available in bottles and in my back yard, so to speak.
★ 392 characters
4.24/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a growler into a pint glass
A: Pitch black with a 1/2-finger brown head that quickly settles
S: Tons of coffee, cocoa, milk chocolate, dark malts, vanilla
T: Matches the nose. Lots of coffee but also some creamy chocolate. A nice balance of sweet and bitter
M: Full-bodied, again somewhat sweet/somewhat bitter
O: This is a well-made, enjoyable beer
★ 362 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a growler into a pint glass
A: Pitch black with a 1/2-finger brown head that quickly settles
S: Tons of coffee, cocoa, milk chocolate, dark malts, vanilla
T: Matches the nose. Lots of coffee but also some creamy chocolate. A nice balance of sweet and bitter
M: Full-bodied, again somewhat sweet/somewhat bitter
O: This is a well-made, enjoyable beer
★ 362 characters
Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout from Maumee Bay Brewing Company
4.18
out of 5
based on 368 ratings.
Thanks to BobSacamano12 for this bottle…yes, it’s clearing out the back of the fridge week! No idea how this one got lost. It sounds good. 12 oz. bottle split with no one.
The pour is as expected: jet black, with enough carbonation to thwart my bubble-averse daughter. Nose is as underwhelming as Atlanta in August, with weak coffee & faintly sweet malts vying with, well, not much else. Meh.
Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout is like that Uncle everyone has: not scary, or offensive, but not an experience you want to repeat. Or perhaps even finish. Grainy roast dominates in a water-driven kind of way, with a light sweetness accompanied by the jarring twang of a hillbillies’ bango. And that aftertaste, that aftertaste is where this beer fails. Finish twists into bonfire ashes with a slice of dark fruit that’s just starting to over ripen. The beer I could stomach. The after effects are too much to handle.
Clearly there is something turning in this beer, & turning the wrong way. I’m not sure what it is, but I’ve never craved stone fruit roasted in hot ashes. My first drain-pour in quite some time.
★ 1,121 characters