Founders Breakfast Stout
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate, backed by a subtle oatmeal smoothness that rounds out the edges. On the palate, flavors of dark-roasted espresso, cocoa powder, and a hint of vanilla unfold with genuine depth. The body is full and silky — the flaked oats do real work here — without tipping into syrupy. The finish is long, dry, and lightly bitter, with coffee lingering well after the swallow.
About the Brewery
Founders Brewing Co. is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has been operating since 1997. They built their reputation on bold, high-gravity beers and occupy a firm place in the upper tier of American craft brewing. Their specialty and seasonal lineup — including KBS, CBS, and this beer — has a dedicated following among stout enthusiasts, and their barrel-aging program is among the more respected in the Midwest.
Food Pairings
A bacon-and-egg breakfast or brunch spread plays directly into the beer's coffee-and-chocolate character, echoing the name honestly. Dark chocolate brownies or a flourless chocolate cake mirror the cocoa notes without fighting the roast. A sharp aged cheddar offers enough salt and fat to contrast the bitter finish cleanly. Barbecue pulled pork works well too, since the sweet smoke of the meat softens the beer's drier edges.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial Stout takes the foundational roasted-malt structure of a standard stout and pushes it harder — more malt, more hops, more alcohol, typically landing between 8% and 12% ABV. The style originated as an American craft interpretation of Russian Imperial Stout, a category historically brewed in England for export to the Russian court. What separates it from a standard stout is sheer intensity: deeper roast, fuller body, and often additions like oats, chocolate, or coffee that American brewers use to shape the flavor profile. It sits richer and more complex than an Irish or Foreign Extra Stout.