Founders Imperial Breakfast Stout

Formerly brewed at Founders Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter

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From a very expensive growler! Pours a thick oily dark black color with a frothy dark brown head. Nose is mocha, light malt. Taste is breakfast stout with an emphasis on coffee. Notes of chocolate, malt, roast, and mocha. very smooth, rich coffee aftertaste and a hint of light bitterness.

A: I poured this into my Arrogant Bastard pint glass and was struck by the absolute black, viscous nature of this beer. It has a thin layer of mocha foam on top. S: A huge wave of coffee aroma hit me right in the face, followed by bitter chocolate. A lot of roasted malt character comes through on subsequent sniffs, but I do not get much, if any oat. T: Just like the aroma, the taste is absolutely full of coffee. The chocolate and roast malt come through in force in the middle of the palate, and then the coffee comes back and lingers on the finish. The finish, besides being full of coffee flavor, also gives an excellent bitterness, probably from the coffee and chocolate. M: As I said in the appearance portion, this beer is very viscous. Despite the thickness, it is very smooth and goes down quite easily. The carbonation is low, but that’s to be expected. D: I was expecting this to be a really tough to take down. While it is filling, it is such a complex and delicious beer I just couldn’t help but drink this and finish wanting more.

UPDATED: OCT 15, 2007 This came out of a handpull cask at Founders black party. I think it was made two years ago, and maybe cask conditioned for two years. Poured with a giant dark brown head. Smell was coffee chocolate, cream. Taste was incredibly smooth, huge chocolate and coffee, creamer, one of the creamiest stouts I have ever had. Judging by reviews from 2005, I think this stuff got way better with age. Absolutely amazing stout.

Bottle. Deep black in color with a nice creamy thick tan head that really lasts. Chocolatety roasty coffee like aroma. Vanilla notes. Malty roasty flavor. Chocolate and caramel notes. Finish is bitter chocolate. Roasty finish. Sweet. Smooth and creamy. Rich. Ful bodied. Well balanced. Well done brew.

Tap at brewery: Totally opaque black with creamy, thick, light brown head that lasts forever. Aroma is chocolately, with cherries, vanilla, faint roastyness. Flavor is malty, full of a wet chocolatelyness, mild vanilla, just a hint of dry bitter malts, with an almost imperceptible presence of roasted barley. Very silky mouthfeel, like drinking velvet, with a mild finish that leans slightly towards bitterness. Hides the alcohol well.

black body with a head that looks like whipped-cream, so so creamy, with out a doubt the creamiest brew ever, tastes like a stout shake and the 9% is hidden extremely well, super sweet and chocolately with some bold roasts, this is the dank shit, damn that was good

On nitro tap at Founders. Pours dark with creamy tan head. very light smooth feel. Not as strong as expected. very little flavor at begining with stronger coffee afternotes. At 4.50 for an 8oz glass, there are much better beers.

UPDATED: DEC 5, 2006 tap at founders...nitro....black body with typical nitro app...aroma light in coffee and chocolate, with a touch of hops...flavor is quite the same but a tad weak....8oz for $4.50 is another way founders is taking to their customers up the ass...

On tap at Founders. AKA Imperial Breakfast Stout. Nitro tap. Dark brown/black body, medium tan nitro head. The aroma conjured thoughts of Breakfast Stout: bitter, roasted coffee, hints of chocolate, and rindy, grapefruity hops. What surprised me was the initial emptiness of the flavor on my palate, followed by strong coffee and a touch of unsweetened chocolate that were more-or-less aftertastes. I didn’t pick up much alcohol, either. Surprisingly lackluster considering its "brethren" and its high ABV. Perhaps this would be better off nitro.