Founders Breakfast Stout=Shelf Turd?

Not around here, its no longer on the shelves and if it were I would buy more.

 

It's a classic! But it's not a "whale" or anything exclusive or new to people. It's more like a tried-and-true beer. Much like Two Hearted in the IPA spectrum. At my store it still sells superbly. It's just readily available to most.

 

It seems to hang around through the summer in WI as well. I have yet to see it discounted though.

 

It's still available in some Shops in Las Vegas. When I first bought it (last year), I also thought it was a bit more rare.

 

I live in NY and OH (Cleveland area) and it's always available, but I have never seen it discounted

 

Very happy this beer is so readily available in Chicago. Just picked up a 4 pack recently, not discounted but at $10 for 4-pack of such a great brew it is a beer I try to always have in the fridge.

 

Lots of accounts around here were offered an "additional case" of KBS if they purchased (3) cases of Breakfast Stout ($9.99 retail for a 4pk).

 

The good thing is...its an imperial stout so it doesn't matter if it doesn't move from shelfs for 3-6 months. Non-issue. I have friends that stashed them away for 1-2 years and still taste great.

 

Sometimes I see it on shelves a month or two after distro stops for the year, but not much after that. I do have one store that will usually pull some of the leftover stock off the shelf after about a month past production and cellar it (properly), then put it back out at a slight discount next to the fresh stuff when it comes out again to give people the opportunity to try it aged and fresh 1:1.

 

Keep in mind Founders has expanded its capacity and distribution in that time and Breakfast Stout is probably their most famous beer. Only stands to reason that they're making a ton more of it.

 

That's cool. We have merchants that leave Devil Dancer verticals on the shelf for years. The level of dust indicates the vintage. No price change, either. We got some high quality beer personnel in this area.

 

I hate the term shelf turd. There's nothing wrong with an excellent beer that you don't have to jump through hoops or give up an arm and a leg for.

 

FBS on the shelf whenever you want it is a great problem to have.

 

I noticed this with some of the popular stouts. FW velvet Merlin is a winter seasonal and still ~$10 a six pack at total wine. I know stouts hold up longer than other styles but I'm not aware of many in Arizona who want to sip stouts on a 90° day.

 

Shelf beer? Same idea, not negative.

If you want to call 4+ month old IPAs shelf turds I won't argue with you. That is frustrating and a justified pejorative.

 

Here in Houston it's still readily available - which is surprising to me as well. Obviously echoing what others have said, I think its become a "tried & true" stout and is no longer the whale it used to be.

On another note, I think this really supports the notion that craft brewers need to keep honing & improving their work. Creating new & enticing offerings that beer-drinkers will want to seek out and try.

What am I getting at??? I was personally really disappointed with the re-release of Mango Magnifico.

I love Founder's (absolutely one of my favorite breweries). But, I perceived the re-release of both Mango & Blushing Monk in their Backstage Series as pure laziness on Founder's part. If they're going to re-release Backstage Series brews go for the obvious hits: Doom, CBS, Better Half, even Sweet Repute. Otherwise, at least give us something new.

 

FBS is a freakin top shelf, high end shelf turd then