Breakfast Stout: Not just for breakfast anymore

I don't care what the calendar says: Autumn is so over. Unless you're one of those lucky people living somewhere that escapes a real winter, you're either feeling the cold start to creep into your bones, or you will soon. It's that time of the year, time to clear out your stash of fall favorites (you aren't still drinking Oktoberfest, are you?) and pick up some beers that will do a better job at warming you up.

A good imperial stout is hard to beat. I had to bring this one back from Massachusetts, but I'm drinking Founders Breakfast Stout. This 8.3% ABV oatmeal stout is one of the best comfort beers out there, with a luscious oatmeal texture rounding out its considerable bitterness. With only 25 IBUs, it needs more than just hops to balance out the big malt load. The heavy doses of two kinds of coffee and two kinds of chocolate complete the package, especially in the aroma. This is a bold beer. That said, it isn't scary. Every element of this beer is in balance, including the alcohol, which is present but not overwhelming. The scariest part about it might be its appearance. This beer is jet black and completely opaque, even when I briefly held my glass right up to a light bulb. The head is brown. The beer looks intimidating. But again, this is not an imperial stout designed to shock you. It is designed to comfort you.

Most imperial stouts don't have oatmeal, but even without the silky texture that oatmeal provides, good imperial stouts shouldn't be overpowering with alcohol. They should be balanced, warming you gently from the inside after you swallow. No beer should ever taste "hot" in the mouth. This one, like the best imperial stouts, tastes hugely roasty and bittersweet, with many layers of flavor to tease out. Enjoy it.

The imperial stout is one of my favorite styles, especially this time of year. Like Founders Breakfast Stout, many are only brewed once a year, so grab them before someone else does. Try cellaring a few, if you're into that, and you'll find some of the bitterness drop, the alcohol flavor mellow, and some sherry-like flavors might even develop. It's my understanding that darker beers age better than lighter beers. If you don't want to bother cellaring, don't. Brewers work hard to make their products drinkable as soon as they leave the brewery. As for me, I'll be enjoying the rest of my Founders Breakfast Stout over the next few weeks. I'll also try making my own version, complete with coffee and chocolate, very soon.

Stay warm.

Not Your Mother's Oatmeal

We're inching toward Winter here in Indianapolis and nothing helps to bolster you in the cold like a good stout. This oatmeal stout from Breckenridge pours a very dark brown with a tan head. Has a nose of oatmeal with some sweet chocolate notes. The taste is smooth with a roasted malt flavor that gives way to a finish of moderate coffee tones. It strikes a decent balance between some of the more mellow stouts and the Russian Imperial Stouts. In all I wouldn't call it exceptional, but a very good beer that is very tasty and drinkable.

Breckenridge makes a host of very good beer, including some small batch varieties. If your local specialty brew shop carries any I highly recommend giving them a try. You will not be disappointed.

Samuel Smith: Oatmeal Stout

Since Josh brought up the topic of dark beers, I thought I'd continue the thread with a quick write-up on Samual Smith's Oatmeal Stout. In short, I just discovered this beer a month ago or so, and I'm not entirely sure how I managed to go this long without having this beer as a regular contributor to my (incredibly well balanced) diet.

This Oatmeal Stout pours quite dark (though not nearly as dark as Darkness does), with a medium-tan head. The aroma is of dark roasted coffee, malted grains, and raisins. The taste is a perfect balance between bitter and sweet, with a bit of, may I say smokiness? As I work my way through the glass, and as the beer warms slightly, I'm delighted more and more by the complex flavors that reveal themselves. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light for this style, which I very much appreciate. In the past, I've been put off by a few oatmeal stouts that were overly heavy. After finishing the glass, the dark, rich flavors linger for quite a long time, as you'd expect for an Oatmeal Stout.

If you haven't given yourself a chance to try this beer, I'd recommend you pick it up during your next run to the store. I can get it here in Minneapolis for around $9 for a four-pack of 12oz. bottles - it's well worth it.