Founders Breakfast Stout - Needs time ?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Tsull123, Sep 26, 2014.

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  1. Tsull123

    Tsull123 Initiate (0) May 31, 2013 Rhode Island

    I just picked up my first 4-pack of FBS of the year and it just tastes like burnt coffee to me. The last time I had FBS was April/May of last year, so it had been aging for at least 6 months. I was really disappointed in the first two I've had, was wondering if it just needs to age a bit, if i actually got a bad batch, if this year's isn't as good as last (or...heavens no!...i have an unreliable memory).

    To embellish my experience: I was expecting velvety chocolate notes with hints of well roasted coffee, a light carbonation and a pervading smoothness brought to the brew by fine oats.

    I got: Something that tasted like someone poured a shot of vodka over a ration of Sanka crystals then hit it with a blowtorch for for a few minutes, and finally steeped this mess in municipal tap water for a while before bottling it and calling it "Founders Breakfast Stout". But seriously, it tasted like drinking a shitload of boozy burned coffee.

    Am i just nuts on this one, or has anyone had a similar experience?
     
  2. robear

    robear Initiate (0) May 24, 2014 Wisconsin

    Coffee is going to fade quickly in any big stout. Even 2 months and this beer mellows out quite a bit. I prefer it fresh- by 3-4 months I'm unable to pick up any coffee at all.
     
  3. moshea

    moshea Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2007 Michigan

    For an espresso drinker, the coffee flavor is out of this world. Drink it fresh!!!
     
    AirBob, BrettHead and tkdchampxi like this.
  4. BBAVUSO21

    BBAVUSO21 Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2013 New York

    Ive noticed the same thing actually you're not nuts. Noticed a lot of booze when fresh. I let them sit for a month or so. Not too long cause coffee does fade. But I find the taste is at its peak then. Although I could be crazy of course.
     
    BalancingBrooms likes this.
  5. Donco

    Donco Pooh-Bah (1,639) Aug 12, 2013 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Best rule: To each his (her) own. If you like it more mellow, let it sit for a few months. If you're an espresso freak, drink fresh!
     
  6. RochefortChris

    RochefortChris Grand Pooh-Bah (3,271) Oct 2, 2012 North Carolina
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Fresh and with age FBS is awesome. For my personal taste, I prefer it with some age.
     
  7. ASak10

    ASak10 Initiate (0) Jan 2, 2014 Colorado

    I don't know if I agree with this...I recently had 2012 BCBCS and the coffee was still very present and it was very delicious. Perhaps it wasn't as strong as when it was released, but you could most definitely taste the coffee front and center. Perhaps FBS is different in that regard but I find it hard to believe that all coffee flavors would just disappear after 3-4 months.
     
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  8. robear

    robear Initiate (0) May 24, 2014 Wisconsin

    I have a '12 BCBS waiting for a bottle share, I'll have to taste that one and see how it goes. I drink a ton of strong black coffee on a daily basis so it usually takes some extra umph for me to pick it out in a stout. Every bottle of FBS I've ever had just tastes like a roasty stout to me- not sure what coffee they use but I'm assuming it's not a huge dark roast or if it is, they don't use a ton of it.
     
  9. archiebunkerjr

    archiebunkerjr Pundit (910) Oct 25, 2010 Michigan
    Trader

    What did you eat the day before you enjoyed your FBS? Your taste buds can be thrown off sometimes depending on what you have ingested that day. Even up to 12 hours.
     
  10. Tsull123

    Tsull123 Initiate (0) May 31, 2013 Rhode Island

    Good call, in this case I'd just eaten a Burger King breakfast combo so i don't think that would have impacted my tastebuds much, but that's good to note for future reference.

    I guess i just need to let them age a few months, they just taste like really strong bitter/over roasted coffee. I guess i mainly wanted to see if i other people were having similar experiences with FBS this year or if it was just me.
     
  11. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    As someone who likes coffee (hence me buying a coffee stout) I am finding these 4-day old FBS to be awesome!

    Oh, and as someone who drinks a pot of black coffee every morning, they definitely don't taste like burnt coffee.

    Give it another go I say.
     
  12. BrettHead

    BrettHead Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2010 Nebraska

    Kona and Sumatra :-)
     
  13. robear

    robear Initiate (0) May 24, 2014 Wisconsin

    Wow. Those are pretty distinct and strong coffees, I'm amazed that I've never picked them out before. Then again, I also haven't really picked up on the chocolate either. Sounds like I need to run out and get a fresh 4-pack and re-calibrate my palate. Maybe with a waffle brunch before watching football tomorrow. Sucks to be me! :wink:
     
  14. ELS

    ELS Savant (1,053) Apr 22, 2012 Florida
    Trader

    I just had my first fresh 2014 FBS of the year tonight and it was great. I think the coffee taste is better when fresh. I also have 2012 and 2013 FBS and although it does lose some of its coffee flavor, it's not a dramatic difference and the smoothness of the 2012 is amazing! I love FBS (almost as much as KBS) and am so grateful that it is plentiful at my local store. I agree with earlier posts, maybe your taste buds were off or possibly a bad bottle.
     
    Ilovelampandbeer likes this.
  15. mbmiche

    mbmiche Pundit (906) Aug 10, 2014 Illinois
    Trader

    I'm still waiting... When FBS makes it to Chicagoland, I'd be happy to chime in on this conversation. I can't believe that it hasn't hit the shelves of any of my local stops yet...
     
  16. BlueRogue

    BlueRogue Initiate (0) May 1, 2011 Maine

    Founders starting distributing to my state in 2012. I bought a case of this beer that year, and last year, and yet I haven't been able to bring myself to age a bottle. If it's got coffee in it, and the alcohol isn't at all noticeable when drinking it fresh, I don't see any point in aging it. That's just my personal preference.
     
    Ilovelampandbeer likes this.
  17. BEERschlitz

    BEERschlitz Initiate (0) Oct 13, 2013 Michigan

    You're correct that the '14 sucks. Bad year for FBS. Unless you've drank a couple hoppy beers first it tastes like a burnt foldgers coffee/booze bomb.
     
  18. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    The quality and intensity of coffee flavor diminishes quicker than hops. FBS fresh is an absolutely incredible beer. Slightly less fresh it is near great, and very good when aged. This beer is always a pleasure to drink, but a treat when fresh.
     
  19. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Always best fresh. Same goes for KBS.
     
    BrettHead and kzoobrew like this.
  20. DaveBar

    DaveBar Initiate (0) Oct 21, 2013 Canada (ON)

    Had a 2pk from last year drop on my lap from a colleague. He didn't like them so I inherited them. Will try this year versus this year's batch and report back!!!
     
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