Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout

Total Score: 8.05/10

Review #1,111 – This is it; my last hurrah, my final long-format review on BeerAdvocate (I’m now on Untappd as “doktorhops” where I will still on occasion dispense beer-laden advice 140 letters at a time). I have several reasons, but it mainly boils down to having two little ones and too limited an amount of time keep writing these reviews (over 458,700 words and counting – that’s enough to fill a novel FFS). So I saved the best for last: Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout. Some ppl know me as “that guy wot wrote the most liked FBS review on BA” and I figured it rather fitting to review one of their most legendary brews: the maple syrup bourbon barrel ripper known affectionately as “CBS”. Spoiler alert: This’ll be bitchen.

Poured from a 355ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours richer, denser, more-viscous than FBS – Wow! What a demonic looking beast this Imp-Stout is! Blacker than a black heart covered in a tar-like ooze, with a thin ring of tan lace, this is the beer that launched a thousand beer nerds – to paraphrase Marlowe. 10/10.

S: Very much a KBS meets a maple syrup barrel kind of aroma: bourbon hints, oak/woody/vanilla tones, dark chocolate and roasted coffee… and of course the signature ingredient: maple syrup! There’s an odd pear/apple ester too – not sure what that’s doing here (not unlike the odd shochu character in KBS). Still this is a complex and well-rounded fragrance, superb work again from Founders. 9/10.

T: Hmmm, much sweeter than I recall KBS. I’m sure you’re thinking “derp man” however it is customary for sweeter flavours from a barrel to mellow out during the ageing – this just feels like KBS with maple syrup added post-ageing. That said, if you’re a sweet-tooth then this is maple heaven. Flavour profile is very much like KBS, powerful with notes of: roasted coffee, dark chocolate, bourbon, oak/woody/vanilla, molasses and a hint of coffee bitterness in the finish. 7/10.

M: Yep, there’s that Founders body – smoother than a Motown R&B singer, this is as heavy and luscious as they come – a perfect 10 like the other BS’s. 10/10.

D: Alas, for me this brew was sweet to the point of a needle – an insulin needle. Too much of a good thing, there is such a beer: Canadian Breakfast Stout. IMO the best of Founders is (and perhaps will always be) KBS. No lie – I struggled to finish this it was so sweet, paying $24 for the bottle helped it go down, I cant abide wasting a beer at this price point. Sorry for the (semi)-sad ending. 8/10.

Food match: Perhaps pancakes could soak up this sugar-bomb of a brew?

Pannepot Special Reserva (2014 vintage)

Total Score: 8.75/10

Yay, been looking forward to this for soooo long! Pannepot Special Reserva: A version of Struise Brouwers Old Fisherman’s Spiced Ale, barrel-aged for 4 years in a Bordeaux oak barrel from France. Funny they aged this in wine barrels from France because this is the beer equivalent of a very fine aged wine. In fact it reminds me of that Black Books episode where they try to recreate a bottle of wine reserved for the Pope by using a cheap bottle of red, vanilla essence and an oak twig (probably my favourite episode of Black Books) #goodtimes So what exactly can one expect from this 10% ABV beauty? Something smooth, yet spicy, with a long oak finish? Your guess is as good as mine (if that was your guess, otherwise hard luck old spice).

Poured from a 330ml bottle into an Orval chalice.

A: Dark brown with a burgundy-red tinge, quite an active mocha-coloured head that fizzles down as fast as it came leaving a faint ring of lace. Looks like a Belgian Dark Strong Ale (as opposed to the Quadrupel it’s listed as on BA), reminds me of Gulden Draak, which is not golden despite the name. 8/10.

S: Very much like the original Pannepot Old Fisherman’s Ale (cardamom, cinnamon, mace, dark fruits, brown sugar and yep: Vegemite/Marmite) with a solid red grape must vinous note from the barrel. Here’s hoping that Vegemite/Marmite character from original Pannepot has settled down a little, although I know if I had it today – 4 years after my original Pannepot review – I would have rated it higher than a respectable, yet slightly paltry: 8.05/10. 9/10.

T: As expected “It’s a party in my mouth, and everyone’s invited!” (God bless you Ken Griffey Jr.), with a flavour profile so explosive I’m surprised a glass bottle could contain it: cardamom, cinnamon, mace, dark fruits, brown sugar, VegeMarmite™, yes yes, some mid-palate oak wood tones, touch of vanilla, red grape must, yeast? Did I mention yeast? VegeMarmite™ is a yeast paste so that counts, and a dry spicy finish. Next to no alco-burn. This is a true sipper right here. 9/10.

M: Mid to heavy bodied, the minimal carbonation comes across as a bit prickly for some reason, detracts a touch from this otherwise world-class brew. 7/10.

D: It’s hard to go past this Pannepot Special Reserva, some of the edges I found too rough with original Pannepot have mellowed over time, along with that chaotic nature, and the barrel has given this brew a subtle face-lift, enough to leave a refined sipper that has a slight wild side – top stuff Struise! 9/10.

Food match: Gotta be some fine French ‘haute cuisine’ for this puppy… puppies too.

Alvinne Oak Aged Cuvée de Mortagne Sauternes

Total Score: 8.95/10

Look, I’ve actually tried an Alvinne beer before on tap (it was an elderflower sour, I think it was their Cuvée Sofie Vlierbloesem) and it was fantastic. I decided these Alvinne guys & girls knew their elbows from their ankles [that’s the PG version of the phrase – useful to know when you have kids], and thus I sought out the BIG[Bearing Immense Gusto]-est brew I could get my hands on. Welcome to my review of Alvinne’s Oak Aged Cuvée de Mortagne Sauternes – a 12.8% ABV oak aged amber Quadrupel. Yep, this is going to be BIG! Added bonus – I don’t have mind a decent Botrytis wine, so looking forward to this 😀

Poured from a 330ml bottle into an Orval chalice.

A: Presents a deep hazed amber-ruby body with a thin ring of bubbles instead of a head, although for a brief moment it did appear to be cream-coloured. Looks a bit like a wine/beer fusion (beer for the colour, wine for the lack of head/fizz). There’s always a chance of no head with a 12%+ ABV beer, so no worries here. 8/10.

S: What an aroma too! I had to plug a nostril to the top of the bottle to get as much of this intoxicating fragrance into my olfactory senses: mead-like, grape must and Botrytis vinous notes lead the charge, with hints of bubble-gum, raisin, and vanilla oak tones rounding out the experience. It’s rare that beer has my nostril glued to the bottle lid like some eager Beagle, but this really is sensational! 10/10.

T: Punchy AF with a real sugar-bomb explosion of flavours: vinous, grape-must, mead, bubble-gum, raisin, vanilla oak notes, yep this has all of the above going on. Along with a slight dry mid-palate wood tone, and a dash of herbal bitterness in the finish. 12.8% ABV??? Where Alvinne hiding that? Drinks like a fine Pinot Noir, soft, yielding, yet complex too. Only downside – the sugar is strong with this one, I’m going to have to book in my sexennial dental visit now (my policy with my teeth being: if it ain’t broke, don’t visit the dentist). 9/10.

M: It’s slick and gooey, like a good sticky date pudding, but the lack of carbonation is alarming to this old craft aficionado (I mean anything is better than nothing). 7/10.

D: This is a really special beer from Alvinne – I’m getting a real Omnipollo feel from this brewery, like they’re Belgian but they’re willing to try something new. Rarely does a beer with so much promise come along like this, if only they could just tweak the sweetness a touch as it does begin to cloy. That 12.8% ABV though, so well hidden. Oh yeah, a dash more carbonation would be nice too. 9/10.

Food match: Treat this like a fine wine, red meat (rare) celeriac, parsnip and truffle.

BrewDog Tokyo*

Total Score: 8.1/10

Hello Tokyo*! This big boy from them-dogs-that-brew is a 16.5% ABV behemoth of an American Imperial Stout with some intriguing ingredients listed on the label: cranberry, jasmine, vanilla – are we really going to taste these components in a 16.5% Imp-Stout? Well, I’m game to give it a try – if only to tell you about it (see what I’m willing to do for my readers? Extra mile and all that). Well, let’s ‘ave at it!

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: She looks pretty black, like the deepest darkest depths of the Mariana trench (which makes me feel like seafood pizza for some reason) and a ring of tan bubbles on the surface – murky and ominous AF. 8/10.

S: Fruity, funky and roasty with aromas of: roasted espresso coffee, red coffee cherries, raisin, cranberry, prune, woody tones and a touch of vanilla in the background – bit of a fruitcake-heavy aroma for an Imp-Stout (throw in a dash of ™mite for a bit of that yeast spread goodness). Heavy stuff, I’m steeling myself for that first sip – it’s been a while since I’ve touched a beer this strong. 8/10.

T: Pretty f__ken smooth given the ABV! Flavour profile begins soft and sweet with a jammy fruitcake (raisin, cranberry and prune), mid-palate roasted espresso coffee, light floral hint (jasmine you old dog), oak tones, vanilla, dash of ™mite and a nice even-keeled bittersweet finish. Right on the money with that bitter/sweet balance too. This is a real BrewDog corker – did not expect the ABV profile to be this smooth (that said I’ve had this beer in the stash for about a year – it’s hardly fresh and had plenty time to mellow out). 8/10.

M: No real surprises here – just a typically viscous-bodied Imp-Stout™, all heavy and oily-like, it’s good not great, maybe a teeny-tiny bit thin (just a touch!). 7/10.

D: By far the softest 16.5% brew I’ve encountered, props to BrewDog – they clearly know how to stash nana’s booze in the fruitcake. I’m curious as to their bigger brews (oh I don’t know, just The End Of History! However I’m not keen on drinking beer from a taxidermied stoat, I’m weird like that – can watch people having heart surgery but I find animal cruelty unsettling). Dis good Tokyo*. 9/10.

Food match: It sips like a fine wine but handles like an Old Ale, game meats or cigars.

*Not sure why BrewDog added the asterisk next to Tokyo*, it’s grammatically confusing to say the least – let me apologise on behalf of those canny Scottish BrewDogz: soz peeps.

Cantillon Rosé De Gambrinus

Total Score: 8.7/10

Been a while since I’ve cracked a beer for a review, and even longer since it was something special like a Cantillon, so here goes: This Rosé De Gambrinus is a 2 year old Lambic with macerated fresh raspberries and malted barley/wheat malt bill. The last (and only thus far) Cantillon I reviewed was their Gueuze 100% Lambic, which whilst I’m not a massive sour fan (plus I seem to get acid re-flux from them which makes me even less enamoured with them) however I can appreciate a good sour beer when it crosses my path, and Cantillon really do know their shit – it’s not hype that their Lambics come so highly regarded… yes, this is going to be a special brew regardless of my personal tastes *rubs hands*

Poured from a 750ml corked and capped bottle into my new Orval chalice (a special gift from my very special lady – thanks babe!).

A: Hazed deep ruby red, beautiful colour! Head, when it existed, was pink-tinged, very little carbonation action inside the glass (no laser-etching in this Orval chalice). But mon Dieu that body! Like a fine glass of Cabernet Franc, mwah! 10/10.

S: Raspberry AF! Notes of grape must, yeast-funk, floral perfume (think roses, carnations), hint of pepper spice and a long tart finish to round it all out. Much like my opinion of the Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic: this aroma is a flawless 10/10, and could frankly be sold in little eau de toilette bottles for much more than Cantillon are selling it for as a beer – it’s funny how those economics work. 10/10.

T: Hmmm, much sweeter than expected (though not really sweet at all) – flavour profile begins and ends with proper fresh raspberry character. In between is where that Cantillon magic takes place with notes of: barnyard yeast funk, slight dry woody character, a tart acidic crisp apple/lemon twang, a floral touch, and astringency from bitter cinchona bark, with a finish that is long dry and slightly tart. Complexity-wise it’s not as multi-faceted as I recall the Gueuze 100% Lambic being. 8/10.

M: And again as with the Gueuze 100% Lambic: a bit “more body wouldn’t go astray” with this mid to light bodied Lambic. Carbonation is a tad lacking too, but these are minor complaints. 8/10.

D: Once again Cantillon does not disappoint – coming from someone who is not into sour beers I’m pretty blown away by how much Cantillon fit into a 5% ABV beer package, it’s got a bit of everything – like a good Shakespearean tragedy. It’s just a shame it’s not more regularly available in my neck of the woods. 9/10.

Food match: Raspberry tart with crème Chantilly of course!

Brewfist The Spaghetti Western Imperial Chocolate Coffee Stout

Total Score: 7.8/10 

I’ve taken my time to get to this brew – having added it to BeerAdvocate 7 months ago. Yes, it’s been at the back of my fridge, quietly biding its time, let’s face it – with a best before of 12/25 it’s in no hurry. Why now then? Turns out I’m cleaning out my beer cellar, I’m taking a hiatus some point in the future, I’m drawing an imaginary line under my reviews, it’s time soon for a vacation – a vacation from reviewing [as fun as it’s been]. So I’m not hugely familiar with Brewfist, having only reviewed their Catepillar APA in 2014 and not being impressed I’ve avoided them since. This sounds intriguing: Grappa barrel-aged chocolate coffee Imperial Stout – how many things can Brewfist pack in there? *straps self in*

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Blacker than my bike chain (which really really needs a clean already) with a nice big khaki-coloured cappuccino foam head that slowly drops back leaving minimal lace on top. There appears to be some real density to this brew – at 10.7% ABV it’s going to be quite the bruiser I suspect. 8/10.

S: Heady stuff! Big with dark chocolate, cacao nibs, espresso coffee and an unmistakable whiff of powerful Italian grappa (think vodka on major steroids with a dash of brandy thrown in for good measure – like vodka needs a brandy kick anyhow). This is one impressive… no, it’s more ominous, like a large bus-sized man in a trench-coat and trilby standing in the shadows – there’s an overriding sense that this beer will in fact mug me. 9/10.

T: Powerful but approachable – not expecting that. Flavour profile consists of the following: Dark chocolate, cacao nibs, espresso coffee, a bold grappa slap, smoky notes, woody and earthy tones. Yep, this is a big fish. That grappa slap comes through even more as the glass drains – it starts to come across a bit too Fusel-like and hot, but thems the breaks with grappa – it’s the drink that’s designed to make you want to barf your gall bladder on digestion. Finish is roasted coffee bitterness and yes, a slight alcohol burn belying that 10.7% ABV. 8/10.

M: Feels dense but at the same time watery (sounds like a contradiction but it’s not), mid to heavy body, flat(ish) carbonation – needs work here. 6/10.

D: Grappa is not the best thing to age a beer in. That said I’m pleasantly surprised by this brew, not FBS surprised, but it certainly wasn’t as bad as I thought it might have been. Plus there’s a really solid base Stout in this Brewfist. 7/10.

Food match: Spaghetti: Western-style (which I imagine has pinto beans and salsa).

Newstead Brewing Imperial Yirg Stout

Total Score: 8.75/10

Funny enough: whilst Green Beacon has all to recently been on the wane as a brewer, Newstead, who I’ve never been a big fan of, are on the ascendancy brewing corkers like their Long Story Wheat Strong Ale, and now this [which I consider – spoiler! – their best brew yet]: Imperial Yirg (Bourbon barrel-aged) Imperial Stout. Which also contains my favourite single-origin coffee: Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. So what we have here is my most vaunted of beer styles: a Breakfast beer. Yep, we all know my relationship with Breakfast beers. I love them. Founders Breakfast Stout, Alesmith Speedway Stout, Mikkeller [INSERT: Beer Geek ANYTHING here], Prairie Bomb!, Clown Shoes Barista, Evil Twin Wet Dream… look, what I’m trying to say is that this Imperial Yirg has A LOT of competition. And it totally delivers.

Poured from a 375ml can into a Duvel tulip.

A: Reasonably dense-packed tan head that leaves lace splotches as it goes down, almost-black but not totally opaque deep cola-brown body. Looks pretty ominous, as most Imp-Stouts should. 8/10.

S: I wont lie – this has been sitting in the stash cupboard for months awaiting review, so it’s not going to be a fresh coffee aroma, but there is a definite coffee fragrance to it. That Bourbon has really stepped into the limelight though, big woody/vanilla tones, touch of smoke, dark chocolate, oh yeah: coffee too, but comes across more as an espresso coffee aroma than Yirgacheffe. Unfortunately Yirgacheffe is best fresh [here’s a helpful acronym for that: YIBF]. 8/10.

T: Wow, just wow – this is as close as an Aussie brewer has got to that holy grail of beers: FBS. It’s a bit on the punchy side with the vanilla from the barrel, but the rest is so FBS… it’s like a halfway between FBS and KBS: roasted coffee, dark chocolate, that aforementioned vanilla, woody tones, a bit of a red coffee cherry character, mid to light espresso bitterness and a smooth finish. It’s sweet AF too, but we’ll live with that. That 8.3% ABV is pretty well hidden too. This is a classic Brekky Stout. 9/10.

M: Not as good as Founders on the body, but they are the champions of heavy-bodied beers, mid to heavy bodied, light but very dense carbonation. 9/10.

D: Yep, this is Newstead’s best beer EVAAA! I’m stunned that an Aussie brewer like Newstead can come out of nowhere with a dynamite brew like this. That said I’ve always thought that they’re a better dark beer brewer [their APAs/IPAs are forgettable at best]. Top notch Breakfast Stout right here 🙂 9/10.

Food match: Soft-boiled eggs on pumpernickel with boiled asparagus and mayo.

Pirate Life Unfazed by the Haze New Holland IPA

Total Score: 8.7/10

I recently had 2 new beers… no that’s a lie – I went over to NZ and had a plethora of new beers, but that’s another story… back to these 2 beers: the newly owned by AB-InBev Pirate Life Unfazed by the Haze New Holland IPA, and one from the independent craft brewer Green Beacon (the latest batch of Scrimshaw IPA). Interesting thing is: this batch of Scrimshaw is shit. It’s just terrible, GB must have lost their head brewer or something because this summers Scrimshaw (which I rated previously at 7.9/10) is abysmal. Good news is: Pirate Life have not skipped a beat since their buyout – this “New Holland IPA” (a cheeky nod to Australia once being named New Holland) is a sensational brew, I’m pleasantly surprised, cheers PL!

Poured from a 355ml can into a nonic pint.

A: Unfazed by the haze – purely because there is no haze, this is as clear as clear can be, with a nice golden body and a fluffy white head that sticks around rather impressively leaving sticky lace as it goes down. Yep, I might have been hasty calling this a New England IPA, still looks good though. 7/10.

S: Tropical papaya upfront, bit of mango, must be Mosaic hops, green/leafy hop character throughout. They didn’t spare the hops with this one – good to know that Pirate Life haven’t completely kowtowed to their evil corporate overlords [half joking/half not there]. Touch of pepper and a light piney/earthy tone round out this “New Holland IPA”. 8/10.

T: Pirate Life are back to their old tricks again – this brew comes across with a marriage of flavours from their IPA and IIPA – it’s got that syrupy hop character from the IIPA along with a less-intense backbone of their regular IPA. It’s well-balanced and moreish with notes of: papaya, mango, touch of pepper, and leafy/piney/earthy hops leading to a medium-to-mild herbal hop bitterness. As far as NEIPAs go this is pretty spot on, and the fact that they’ve squeezed in plenty of flavour at only 6.2% ABV is icing on the cake [unless you’re trying to get drunk really fast]. 9/10.

M: Decent medium bodied thanks to wheat and oats in the grain bill. Carbonation also has a nice heft to it, a luxurious mouth-feel all round here. 9/10.

D: TBH I wasn’t expecting this to be any good, I know when a craft brewer sells out the quality of the beer is the first thing to go, but this is right up there with in the best of the Pirate Life oeuvre… I’m going to nip down to the bottle-o for another 6-pack of this. PS: FOR SHAME GREEN BEACON. 9/10.

Food match: Green papaya sal… no we’ve done that many times before: Pad Thai.

Sierra Nevada Cherry Chocolate Stout

Total Score: 8.55/10

Getting to the good stuff in my stash – this one has been hiding in there for about a year: Sierra Nevada Cherry Chocolate Stout… and I hear you say “Doc, it’s almost summer in Brisbane, what are you doing man?!”. Yes it’s getting hotter here by the day – but I wont let a bit of summer stop me from drinking a great stout [insert evil laugh here: something along the lines of “Muahahaha” yes, that should do it]. Not much else to add really, I’ve been a keen supporter of SN for years, and reviewed 25 of their brews [this will be 26 now] – if this has to be the last SN beer I ever review then they’ll be going down guns blazing because their Narwhal Imp Stout is legendary. Been looking forward to this one for a long while, cheers SN!

Poured from a 750ml corked and caged bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Opaque obsidian body with a lively mocha-coloured head that departs before I had a chance to bid it farewell, oh well. Not much in the way of lace retention either, but we know this can happen often with +8% ABV brews. Rather ominous looking brew this. 8/10.

S: Cherries on the nose and in yo face – could smell that delightful aroma as soon as I cracked the bottle. A more comprehensive whiff reveals notes of: chocolate (duh!), chicory, molasses, a light char wisp, cacao nibs, and an overall earthy tone. Well, this should be pretty damn good – my nose rarely lies to me [my lips on the other hand are a bit of a problem]. 8/10.

T: Dammmmn tasty! Flavour profile is upfront dark chocolate and cacao nibs, mid-palate molasses sweetness, touch of cherry soda character (that is thankfully dulled quite a bit from the ageing – because boy that flavour would have stood out badly if this was a fresh bottle!), earthy centre, bit of smoke-char, and a chicory/coffee bitter finish. Overall balance of the flavour profile has a slight edge towards bitter, and that “cherry soda” note does stand out, but this is damn smooth and tasty for 8.5%, drinks like any great aged Imperial Stout. 9/10.

M: Smooth AF mid to heavy bodied with a nice dense carbonation – not quite “Founder’s body” as I’m oft heard to say, but pretty close. 9/10.

D: Hmmm, it’s hard to recommend this as a “Cherry Chocolate Stout” as the cherry flavour is pretty bad – it’s hard to nail cherries in a beer, ask any Belgian brewer – however the rest of this brew is sound, and tasty to boot. TBH this 750ml bottle went down a tad too easy – the sign of a great beer right there. 8/10.

Food match: Roast beef with a rich red wine gravy and roast vegetables.

New Belgium Honey Orange Tripel

Total Score: 7.3/10

Honey: Sold. Oran… sold! Tripel: *ding-ding* double sold! Well this was an Instabuy of a brew that New Belgium has come up with – all three of the things in the name I love and would buy if any one of those things were mentioned in a beers name (well not so much orange, I’m getting a bit of fatigue from all these orange-flavoured beers – I’m looking at you Sidecar!). Regardless I’ve been liking pretty much everything New Belgium that I can get my hands on [not Citradelic – that was a step too far (red car)] so of course I’m going to give this Honey Orange Tripel a review. Question is will they succeed with the Belgian yeast as previous American-brewed Tripels I’ve had have been ordinary with their yeast regime, let’s find out!

Poured from a 355ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Presents a hazed golden-amber body with a rather boisterous 3 centimetre cream-coloured head that slowly dissolves leaving lashings of generous lace and a thin blanket of bubbles forming on top. This is one of the best brews I’ve seen in a while, top-shelf stuff. 9/10.

S: Aroma is upfront with spices: clove, cardamom, coriander seed and a touch of nutmeg. Following this is orange-peel and a touch of honey with a lingering bubble-gum character. So far spot-on a Tripel aroma, though there’s more than a hint of booze on the nose and that’s no surprise being on the higher end of the Tripel spectrum at 10% ABV. 8/10.

T: Woah! All aboard the sugar train, next stop candi-rock mountain! Yep, it’s a sugar-bomb, with waaaay too much sweetness coming through in a cavalcade of honey, candi sugar and bubble-gum that will make you book in your next dentist appointment asap. The spice profile does pretty well too – adding in the above noted spices (clove, cardamom, coriander seed and nutmeg) with that orange-peel notably absent. Touch of booze noticed in the background though nothing OTT. Apart from this being overly sweet there’s a decent Tripel in there. 7/10.

M: Medium bodied with a thin but dense carbonation which, TBH, just makes it cloy a bit like an unstoppable sugar train. 7/10.

D: Still this is one of the better US Tripels I’ve tried, because let’s face it: Belgian beers are tough to brew. Case in point with this brew: just a bit less sugar might make it better, but it’ll also make the alcohol more noticeable – it’s a fine line to walk. New Belgium didn’t nail it, but they also didn’t fail it. 7/10.

Food match: Let’s go Belgian and say moules-frites (mussels with chips) then.