Fresh Founders Breakfast Stout.

We have done major verticals of a variety of big stouts for the last six years. The idea that your opinion in this post has any sort of validity means you have done the same for at least as long with at least as many beers. Have you?

I find that some big stouts turn into nectar of the gods with a few years properly cellared. Some brett beers/wild ales/lambic-esque and barley wines do as well. One Barley Wine I brewed recommended not drinking for four years. Coffee stouts generally lose their coffee flavor but also the higher ABV ones get less alcohol in the mix and a pleasant sherry note. We did Abyss 2008 through 2016 last year and the 2010 was the unanimous favorite. Some beers do poorly in the cellar, but you will never know which improve and which do poorly without taking the time and effort to properly cellar and have the patience to wait and give proper tasting of them.

I've judged competitions, and have homebrewed since 1989 so I don't think I'm a noob or some kind of other directed idiot looking for acceptance. Perhaps you can tell us your experience so we can understand the credentials behind your opinion?

 

Nicely worded. I read his statement and moved on with the old though that "it's impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument".

 

I just put a keg of fresh FBS on my Kegerator. Friggen love having it on through the holidays and cold months. Tastes awesome this year per usual.

 

FBS is probably my favorite seasonal stout, and probably beer in general. However, this year's batch is a little underwhelming to me. I don't know if it's a change in the coffee or what, but just doesn't have the same wow factor for me as previous years. I also wonder if that's why it's $3 cheaper this year? It used to be $11.99 and now I can get it for $8.99 here in Iowa. Did Founders themselves think it wasn't up to standards? Or what's up with that? Don't get me wrong, I've still gone through two 4 packs already, but I am not sure if anyone else agrees?

 

I had a year old FBS tonight. While I prefer it fresher at a year, it's still pretty amazing.

 

Funny how Stone recommends aging w00tstout. I guess they're noobs.

 

I'd add I think that Kbs is also better fresh. The coffee fades, if it's a pepper stout the peppers fade, they're also much better fresh. See : Mexican Cake.

 

Just came from the store with a mix six, two of them are Breakfast Stouts :-)

 

I like FBS and KBS within a year.

 

Yow! Guess I won't be emigrating to Australia any time soon!

 

Like the user here who mentioned seeing this for $24/case in may/june, I don't think too too many age this with a true intent to age it. I drank so much of it, I generally like to see and compare how one year compares to the next. Out of 6-7 four packs bought, I saved one four pack, of which I have had two in comparison with the latest FBS.

Same with when I was in VT last year. Area local shop had multiple four packs in August for $6. I would be absolutely STUPID to be say no to even an aged FBS (from the year prior, the age on the FBS would have been about 10 months).

This sort of beer would/has arrived locally and they are charging crazy prices.. How people pass up $10 or even $12 absolutely stumps me. I know stuff is competitive now. But are we at the point of saying no to $11 FBS four packs? If that is the day, than I hope every shitty local brewery pumping out subpar copy cats of this DIE and never show back up. FBS has never been a disgrace or a disappointment, like so many are claiming here

 

To clarify, when I say "this sort of beer would/has arrived locally", I'm talking local breweries own local interpretation of a coffee stout (where they end up charging $5-$6 for not even a full pint but $6-7 for a 13 oz.tulip.. Farmore are barely worth their elevated price point.

Since I have been trading for this beer in '13, then seeing it locally for the first time ever in '15, I have never been disappointed with either the price or the quality.

But truly, continue to hate it and I will continue to buy. I don't get why I try to change peoples opinions anymore. Like what you like and let it be

 

You're right, they're not n00bs

 

I personally think Founders really struggles with batch control/consistency.

I thought last year's Breakfast stout was bad; almost metallic to my palate.

This year's was a lush, enjoyable coffee-forward treat. I enjoyed it very much.

 

Well, you're the one choosing to ignore the actual facts. This is not a matter of someone's personal opinion. For example, if you stated that IPAs are great for aging, that'd be false and wrong.

 

What fact do you think I'm ignoring?

 

I may pick up some of this if the price is right.

Not a big Founder's fan at all. I think most of their beers are just average-Centennial, Mosaic, Harvest.

I do think KBS is good tho.

 

Imperial Stout is one of the best styles of beer that is suitable for aging. And I'm talking about Imperial Stouts without any coffee, vanilla, peppers, coconut, etc. added.

Great examples are Bell's Expedition Stout (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/287/1444/)
Founders Imperial Stout (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/21822/)
Dark Horse Plead The 5th (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1471/45073/)

 

Not to jump in here but those aren't "facts" at all. They are a bunch of BeerAdvocate links, which are basically a compilation of opinions. Now, if you were to provide some links to studies that show how stouts with adjuncts somehow oxidize or degrade faster than stouts without adjuncts then perhaps you would have a point....and even if you did, all @dennis3951 stated was that he doesn't agree with you. He enjoys aged stouts w/ adjuncts. That's not a factually wrong statement, that's a personal opinion. Big difference. Just like you said IPAs aren't good for aging, that is your opinion. Perhaps there is one guy out there ho happens to enjoy aged IPA. It would be factually wrong to say "all IPAs were made to be aged" but not factually wrong to say "I love an aged IPA".

TL;DR Just because general consensus backs up your opinion on something does not make it a fact.

(and by the way, I happen to agree with your overall take on the subject)

 

Riiiiiight! Those 3 beers actually do exist. That's a fact, not an opinion. The rest of my comments aren't opinions either. Just like global warming, but some people choose to ignore those facts.

I'm done here!