Founders Breakfast Stout 2015

Love this beer, grab a case each year from the two batches that hit our area a couple of months apart. It's always superb, this year as well.

I feel a lot of the variance in bottles that people seem to get are not coming from the beer as much as it being influenced from outside sources. Temperature, glass, fatigue, eating, smoking, even odors in the room, can impart sensory changes.

Variances in years is all subjective, comparing an aged 2014 to a fresh 2015 proves nothing. Comparing it to your notes or review from last year's batch is probably more fair.

 

Not that vegans are their target market or anything (because they clearly have no trouble selling this beer), but I sure wish they would brew a batch without milk chocolate!

 

It took an act of the Legislature but it became available this fall in New Hampshire. I picked one up but have not had it yet. I will let you know.

 

I had it for the very first time during a trip to San Francisco last weekend. Mind blowingly good!

Can't wait for distribution to So Cal.

 

Breakfast stout from year to year has been relatively consistent - not too much variation year over year. However, their barrel aged beers, specifically KBS, has drastically declined given the demand for such offerings. The difficulty of replicating a non-barrel aged beer year over year is substantially lower than replicating a barrel aged one, as evidenced by the 2015 version of KBS relative to its older brethren.

 

Which dates are you all experiencing bad ones? I picked up some dated 9/22 today.

 

I found it to be fantastic as usual. Perfect for a cold night

 

I'm a little disappointed this year. Seems more timid in flavors and thinner in body than I remember. Bottled 10/17

 

It's the same every year. It's you that's changed.

 

Just started drinking my first 2015 FBS. Tastes exactly the same to me compared to 2013 and 2014. Personally I'm not a big fan of it fresh. Don't get me wrong, it's good just not great. After about nine months of age however, I think it becomes a much better beer.

 

I am drinking a 2014 FBS as I write this. The coffee is certainly subdued from the fresh 2015 I recently had, but it's still there. I am quite surprised how well this held up after more than a year.

Given the relatively low price and the relative ease to obtain FBS (i.e. one doesn't have to RUN to get it, like KBS), Founders continues to have a winner here. Count me in as a FBS fan boy!

I would like to see them pop up the ABV a bit...like they did on 2015 Backwoods Bastard...

 

I actually emailed DogFish Head about Punkin this year; it had been a few years since I had it and was just so watery tasting. Apparently my taste had just matured

 

Haven't had any yet, but love this one with it's excellent mix of price value, availability, and <9 ABV with that great creamy breakfast stout taste, expect it to be regular in my fridge this winter

 

I disagree on ABV, I'm glad to see a world class stout with lower ABV, hard for me to find time to drink many high ABV beers and there are already plenty of great options in Imperial Stouts or BA Stouts if you want more alcohol

 

Perhaps its because I bought it super fresh, but I found the coffee much stronger, not a bad thing but I think it overwhelmed the chocolate. Still one of my favorite beers though.

 

Tried a bottle last night it was delicious, strong coffee as it was cold but when it warmed up got a lot of chocolate.

 

Had it on draft a few weeks ago and good as previous years. Had it again last night and still very delicious. Great beer to enjoy on these brisk fall days.

 

No one has yet mentioned the anticipation factor. Could it be that you have embellished your memory to the point that FBS cannot live up to your expectations? I know that some people have far better beer tasting skills than mine, but I find it hard to believe that any human being can taste a subtle (judging by the posters so far) difference 6+ months apart. Even if you had leftover from last season, the aging would change the profile.
Of course there is seasonal variations of hops, malt, oatmeal, coffee, chocolate etc.. not to mention the fact that Founders probably has to source from different suppliers and blend to get closest to the desired results.

On my third 4 pack now and its still one of my all time favorites for the style.

 

Scored my first case Saturday.

 

I'm going to correct myself - NH politicians removed their heads from their @sses and the label was allowed. MI - Founders home state - is the only state they distro to that didn't allow the baby label.