[BEER REVIEW] Founders Breakfast Stout... and a tale from Soviet Sweden

The beer I will be reviewing today has a "fun" little side story to it, in that it was actually stopped and banned from sale in Systembolaget, the government owned chain of liquor stores in Sweden. Why? Because there was a depiction of a child eating porridge on the label. All in accordance with the Swedish alcohol law. This isn't the first time a product is banned from sale in the Systembolaget. The Bollinger Grand Année 2002 was stopped because it had a stylized pistol on the label. The Swedish distillery Mackmyra produced a liquor they called Vit Hund, which basically means White Dog. The tagline on the label, if it would be translated into english, was: "White dogs always sit nicely." This was deemed as racist and the label is now covered with a white tag with capital letters saying "CENSORED." Business as usual in Soviet Sweden, folks! Fortunately the Breakfast Stout is now back on the shelf's, but with the head of the child cut away from the label. Morbid socialists.

On to something more pleasant, the beer in question. Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is according to ratebeer.com one of the world's top five breweries. They have as many as four beers among the world's top 100 on Ratebeer, and are renowned for their really heavy and strong stouts. They have won countless of awards, among them six World Beer Cup medals. The founders Mike Stevens and Dan Engberg have since 1996 successfully brewed beer with the philosophy of "We do not brew beer for the masses, but for the chosen few." The question is whether they could ever expect the massive worldwide response and demand that their products have brought. This doesn't seem to have compromised their integrity or the quality of their beer.

Founders Breakfast Stout

This Double Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Stout is truly a legendary craft beer, brewed with oat flakes, two types of coffee - Sumatra and Kona - and sweet and bitter chocolate.

Origin: Grand Rapids, Michigan, US
Brewery: Founders Brewing Co.
ABV: 8.3%
Style: Imperial Stout
355 ml bottle

Appearance: Black with a brown and a bit spongy foam with some sizzling bubbles. The fluid is quite viscous.

Nose: Roasted with a rich and a bit dry coffee aroma and tangy notes of ashes and burnt wood, freshly tarred boat, pine needles, dark chocolate-fudge and hard rye bread. Perhaps a bit of bitter almond and cinnamon as well. After a while lovely vanilla steps forward.

Palate:  The first thing I notice is how smooth, creamy and rich it is in my mouth!  Reluctantly, but with anticipation, I swallow the first sip. Roasted oats. The taste is significantly roasted and very dry, with a lighthearted dark chocolate sweetness that has a hard time against the bitter notes of ash / burnt wood and bitter coffee. The 60 IBU (international bitter units) definitely make themselves known. There's something here reminding me of candied cherries also. It has a medium body and is somewhat oily.

Finish: Some minerals and metals in the long finish and the aftertaste is roasted and slightly smoky with a vague hint of vanilla. Towards the end licorice becomes a distinct element, constantly accompanied by bitterness.

Conclusion: In comparison with many modern imperial stouts the Breakfast Stout is located in the lighter spectrum with its 8.3%. But there's still substantial roasted, burnt and intense flavors offered and the beer feels rather dry and slightly tart. The burnt bitterness prickles the tongue after a while. I'm not sure if I would want to drink this for breakfast... but definitely after a good dinner. This is a beautiful piece of work and deserves 4.8 (out of 5) at least.

—  SteemSwede