Lakefront Fuel Cafe

Brewed by Lakefront Brewery
Style: Sweet Stout
Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA

Serve in English pint

Lakefront Brewery, Inc. Fuel Cafe Coffee Flavored Stout--Brewed By Lakefront Brewery Especially For Fuel Cafe--A Stout Brewed With Coffee--2011 12 oz. Bottle. 6.10% ABV. 18 IBU’s. (4.0 / 5.0) No sediment. Thick dark bronze pour. Obsidian black brew. Big lacy dark espresso head. Rich roasted mellow coffee front. Crusty roasted burnt mild creamy sweet smooth coffee mild fruit Stout body. Dry mild hop tangy hint lingering roast refreshing balanced end. Sampled 1/27/2011. Malt of the Earth Beer of the Month Selection received 1/19/2011.

I would describe this brew as a powerful wave which washes over the sandy shore, a wave that brings a fast rush of chocolate roasted coffee sweetness, touched with a bittering pine twang - the wave then peaks suddenly recedes without warning and then fades almost immediately into obscurity. The finish is rather non existent and the immense flavors evaporate into nothing incredibly quickly. This brew would really be something if there was more of whatever was in it. Each sip was a crashing wave of intensity fizzling out into nothingness.

23-Jan-11 (12-oz bottle: Obtained in trade with footbalm, thanks Eric!) In contrast to the fresh bottle I sampled several months ago, this bottle has been cellared for a few years. Also in contrast to that fresh bottle, I actually like this cellared bottle! It still features very dark and dry coffee-like roast, but there is no sign of the burnt flavor or astringent mouthfeel from the previous tasting. Also of note, it has also picked up a prominent flavors of licorice, blackstrap molasses, and dark chocolate, as well as the expected earthy and woodsy flavors that typically evolve with extended cellaring. The nose is a bit reclusive, reluctantly offering dark roast, molasses, licorice, black coffee, cherries and dark chocolate. It’s medium bodied on the palate, so that is consistent, and carbonation is light-medium. Very dark brown in color with some transparency evident at the edges and a wafer-thin head that fully dissipates. It’s still far from being my favorite coffee stout, but at least I don’t dislike it like the fresh bottle. Nevertheless, I cannot ignore that the fresh bottle was, on the whole, somewhat unpleasant to drink, and as such, my rating numbers must take that into account.

18-May-10 (12-oz bottle: Purchased 09-Apr-10 for $2.49 at Super Junior Market in San Diego, CA) This coffee stout is very dry and roasty with notes of dark chocolate and burnt coconut, and the coffee flavor has a very herbal aspect rather than that delicious, freshly ground flavor I was hoping for. And on the palate, instead of being rich and smooth, this is medium bodied, dry, and a bit astringent. Carbonation is light-medium. The nose smells flat-out burnt, not dark roasted, with day-old coffee grounds and smoke. Dark brown in color with a ruddy tint, and the tan head pours to half an inch before settling fairly quickly to a thin ring. Expected a solid beer, but it’s just not that enjoyable. Disappointing... (4, 3, 4, 3, 9 = 2.3)

A black body with a thin brown head that had minimal retention and very little lace. Coffee notes seemed to be forced and the roasted malts were marginal at best. Flavor was similar with some sweetness in the finish. A medium-dry and thin body.

Great beer for the coffee drink. Very strong coffee smell and taste. Full bodied taste and dark rich color.

Purchased at Breeze-Thru in Milwaukee, WI; consumed prior to watching the Bears/Seahawks playoff game. Appearance is pure black with a thin tan head that quickly dissipates. Aroma very nice, dominated by coffee and roasted malts with a bit of sweetness and chocolate. Taste is pretty much coffee with a rich backing of chocolate but it’s not really a rich brew. Decent carbonation, a little thinner than what I would prefer. Not a bad beer but I feel they could’ve done better by having it a tad bit richer.

Thanks to StormKing47 for sending this beer my way. The beer pours a deep black color with a tan head. The aroma is very nice and better than expected. I get a lot of strong, bitter coffee as well as some chocolate and roasted malt. Overall, this smells like a very nice coffee beer. The flavor is not as nice as the aroma, but there are not any huge faults with it. I get a good amount of coffee and roasted malt, but I also get some cherries and chocolate. There is quite a bit of bitterness from the heavily roasted malt. The more I drink the beer, the more it starts to gain a cough syrup quality. Thin to medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Black pour from bottle with a very thin head. Aroma is day old black coffee. Taste is weak coffee, chocolate and roasted coffee beans. Smooth finish. Better than expected.