Not generally considered a coffee destination, Michigan is nonetheless home to an extraordinarily drinkable coffee stout – Founders Brewing’s Breakfast Stout. Brewed with chocolate and coffee, as well as the more traditional beer ingredients, and tipping the scales at close to 8.5 percent ABV, this brew straddles the line between potent potable and morning pick-me- up. Not unexpectedly, dense coffee and espresso notes are front in center in the nose, yet some sweet Crystal malt character manages to peek through. Nick and Rick both thought the big coffee punch was nicely balanced by a refined treacle sweetness, but Nick detected the merest soupçon of sulfur that he felt contributed to the overall complexity. Tom, on the other hand, noted that the dark, somewhat acrid roasted barley character overshadowed the actual coffee aromas. Inky black and capped by a creamy tan-colored head, this beer shows traces of ruby red at the very edge the glass, yet precious little light manages to escape. Unapologetically roasty, this brew retains its “beer character,” balancing coffee with substantial grainy and caramel-like malt notes. Lee enjoyed the beautifully harmonized stout-like and coffee flavors, opining that this is a beer first and a coffee beer second. The black malt character struck Tim as a bit high compared to the coffee component, but praised the brewer’s restrained hand on the hops that allowed the malt and coffee flavors to shine through. Though not recommended as a breakfast tipple, this is one brew that could easily supplant any beer lover’s afternoon cuppa.