Not just for breakfast anymore
Written: Jun 03 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cool, coffee-brewed stout from an even cooler Midwest brewery.
Cons: Sorry, for Midwesterners in Wisconsin and northern Illinois only.
The Bottom Line: Saying "coffee flavored stout" seems almost silly considering that the flavor of coffee is inherently characteristic of stout. But saying "a stout brewed with coffee" is entirely another matter.
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| sleestakk's Full Review: Lakefront Fuel Cafe Coffee Flavored Stout |
I must remember that of the few foods that do not go so well with stout, fish is one of them. At least that's how it is for me. Last time I complimented my glass of stout with a fish entree, I ruined the taste of both. So what was I thinking when I cracked open a bottle of Lakefront Brewery's Fuel Cafe Coffee Flavored Stout while I was preparing my breaded fillets of cod, a really fishy-tasting kind of fish? As soon as my culinary faux pas became apparent, I quickly set up my steamer full of green beans.
The green beans nullified the fishy flavor and allowed me to enjoy my Fuel Cafe Stout as long as I remembered to drink after chomping on my still crisp green beans and not after a fork-full of fish. I suppose the best way to get the most out of a glass of this full-bodied black brew is to drink one alone. And this I've done as well. Better yet, have one served fresh from the tap at Lakefront Brewery in downtown Milwaukee; something I still must do.
Brewed specifically for the Fuel Cafe in Milwaukee employing their Alterra coffee blend, originally I had thought that this stout was somehow associated with the Fuel Bar & Grill in Chicago's Wrigleyville but such is not the case. Then I just figured that this stout was called "fuel" because it's brewed with coffee drawing from its obvious morning pick-me-up attributes. Although that explanation sounded good to me, it really didn't matter as I marveled at the tall, dark and handsome glass of stout sitting in front of me. What matters is that Lakefront has produced a more than solid performer in this category.
Powered by coffee
The black, viscous beer pours like a chilled bottle of dirty motor oil with a thin, cocoa brown head of foam. There's a distinct smokiness in the nose with a touch of hickory. Reminds me of all those backcountry campfires when I was a regular backpacking enthusiast. Sadly those days are long gone (for now). I am surprised that there's not more of a malty or coffee aroma, which is so common in stout and especially when this one touts coffee as being one of the main ingredients. However, the smoky character is pretty good on its own.
Where the maltiness and coffee are lost in the nose, they make up for it in the mouthfeel. The robust cold cappuccino flavor is excellent. I didn't expect the strong hoppy sensation that counters but it's a good balance reminiscent of a strong porter. After the brew as a chance to warm slightly, the hoppiness leaves and a wonderfully creamy note remains in its place. This, as some might say, is the bomb.
Aided by that awesome creaminess, the Fuel Cafe Stout finishes very smooth. For a rich, hearty brew, the swallow is pleasantly clean with only minor bitterness. Compared to Red Hook Double Black Stout, also made with coffee - Starbucks® even, Fuel Cafe Stout is somewhat mellower and doesn't quite attack like the Double Black. Personally I favor Lakefront's entry over Red Hook's.
I must sound like a broken record when it comes to discussing the limited distribution of all the Midwestern beers I normally drink. So it goes without saying that Fuel Cafe Coffee Flavored Stout is only available regionally in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. This applies to Lakefront's entire bottled portfolio. Six-packs range from six to seven bucks depending on which store has it in stock. I say that because it seems that of all the Lakefront products on the shelves, the Fuel always seems to be the one out of stock or in short supply. Mine was the last six on the shelf at Sam's Wine & Spirits when I picked it up.
Generally I'm such a stout lover that I'll drink it with anything but I've learned that fishy fish isn't always the best, in most cases. Yet when I was at Nevin's Irish Pub in Evanston yesterday, my meal of quality fish & chips didn't prevent me from enjoying healthy doses Guinness and Murphy's nor was the flavor lost. I guess it's up to your own personal preference but with a name like Fuel and its coffee-brewed claim, you might just want yours for breakfast.
Cheers!
Recommended:
Yes
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sleestakk
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Member: Jay Stakk
Location: Chicago
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