Blackbeard's Breakfast - Heavy Seas Beer - 94 Rating

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?  
I did.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?  
The complexity - several layers of flavor keep the beer interesting and novel from start to finish. Chocolate, vanilla, coffee (obviously), bourbon, oak, char, fortified wine, earthiness, caramel, pear, apple, blueberry (from the coffee) - it just keeps going.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?  Pirate, coffee, alliteration - blackbeard, breakfast.  
We came up with it fairly quickly and with little discussion.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?"
Goodness no. 10% ABV Imperial Porter, (possibly) with some caffeine - I'd be dehydrated and hyper, which doesn't sound like much fun on a desert island. Now, put me on a dessert island, and this beer will rock it all day.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Ambitious, raucous, powerful, complex, challenging, exciting sipper.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?  
We worked with a local company, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company (CBRC), on the coffee portion of this beer. They suggested, quite correctly, a Sumatra blend with a bit of fruitiness. It gives the beer a fruity (berry) dimension that the English yeast doesn't quite provide. We gave CBRC a couple of the bourbon barrels in which we aged the beer. They turned around and aged some of their beans in the barrels! We sell that coffee here at the brewery. So, we went full circle on collaboration with this beer which is really cool.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
Tiramisu, ice cream and grilled beef.