Lazarus Breakfast Stout
Great Lakes Brewery

An old Project X bottle that has been in the cellar (at pretty variable temperature) for longer than it should have been. But this bottle has held up stunningly well and is much like I remember the earlier bottles drunk fresh.

Pours an inky black with only the faintest red tinge at the edge of the glass when held up to light. An impressive coffee-coloured head with great retention. Aroma of dark roasted malts plus coffee and chocolate nibs. Flavours are well balanced with the roasted dark and chocolate malts transitioning to a pleasantly bitter finish, of both hops and coffee.

Mouthfeel isn't as silky or creamy as I'd expected from the appearance, but overall this is a stunning beer I'd love to see Great Lakes brew again.

A blog about the brew:
http://saintjohnswort.ca/2010/11/18/so-you-want-to-be-a-brewer-great-lakesst-johns-wort-lazarus-breakfast-stout/

This is the second round, sans pepper.

A: Black with a tan head, good retention & lace.

S: Mocha, dark roasted coffee, demerara, figs and a light spicing. Not a huge nose, but some nice depth.

T: A plethora of coffee flavour, some underlying bakers chocolate & licorice, dark caramel, treacle/molasses, dates, some grapefruit & piny resin, solid bitterness that doesn't overwhelm, slight hint of spicing (not sure if they kept the cinnamon in this one).

M: Moderate to full body has a light residual sweetness and only a hint of roasted acidity. It seems a bit lighter than their Morning Glory.

D/O: Very solid.

This is the kind of stout I like to drink. If Great Lakes doesn't get one into their regular lineup, they should at least do a seasonal.

Follow-up: I just tried the first version with the pepper. The coffee wasn't as intense, and it worked well with the dark chocolate flavour. Good stuff.

On tap at Volo; Great Lakes/Mike Lackey feature. Into a tulip.

Poured pitch black and almost sludgy. Deep brown head, good retention and significant lacing. Nose has some smoke, a ton of dark roasted coffee and espresso, and some milk chocolate. A sweeter caramel (?) side to it as well. Taste is huge on the coffee and I'm loving it, less espresso but shares the stage with a sweeter milkiness/caramel again. Bitter from the coffee I'd presume, but doesn't linger too long. Medium high carbonation and a good drink. Heavy on the coffee, but I'm not sure what else you'd want from a breakfast stout. Quite enjoyed this.

On tap at Volo. Ridiculous amount of coffee, one of the few coffee style beers that you can get a caffeine buzz. Average mouthfeel. Wafts coffee aroma. Not so drinkable. Dude where's my stout?Fast disapearing head. Sugar for balance. A tad of spiciness, and herb.