6 Favorite Breakfast Beers

Today is Saturday. That means it's beer for breakfast day (although I certainly endorse beer for breakfast whenever it's delightful). This very morning I was over at my awesome Mexican neighbor's house, enjoying some Bud Lights with him. He and his friends made the Bud Lights delicious, but I thought I might make a list of beers that can be enjoyed with or without Mexican neighbors, on any given morning.

Behold my recommended breakfast beers.

Guinness Draught (ABV 4.2%). I don't have to tell you what Guinness is like. It is pure and clean and good. And it has a low ABV, so go ahead and have a big breakfast. This is not the best breakfast beer on this list, but it might be my favorite. Will you allow that distinction?

Deschutes Black Butte Porter (ABV 5.2%) is a little lighter of body than some porters, but has a nice salty and toasted malt flavor with a slightly chocolaty finish. It's the sort of porter where the smokiness/toastiness sometimes transitions into a smoked ham note. Which isn't always nice. But that tendency will serve you very well when it accompanies some scrambled eggs, skillet-fried ham, and toast.

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon (ABV 7.25%) is a triple-hopped IPA of might flavor and body. It's got a big coaty mouthfeel, a floral aroma, and a very present but very balanced fruity-floral-forest flavor. It's got more of a juicy (but not sweet) than bitter finish. On a morning where you might have sliced open a grapefruit, pop one of these instead.

Oskar Blues Old Chub (ABV 8%) is a winey (like wine) and malty Scotch ale. It is slightly sweet with a finish that includes a pleasant little alcohol burn. This one's a sipper, and would be especially nice with some steak and eggs.

Duck Rabbit Bourbon Barrel Milk Stout (ABV 5.8%). I can recommend Duck Rabbit's regular ol' Milk Stout as a fine breakfast beer, but it pales in comparison to this. Laced with vanilla, oak, and bourbon notes, with a creamy sip and a bitter finish, this makes for a nice breakfast all on its own.

Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Stout (ABV 11.2%) is riquísimo. Where some of the beers on this list are great with breakfast, this beer is your breakfast. It's a heavy syrupy mouthfeel (without being super-sweet) Imperial stout that just coats your mouth past the epiglottis into your delighted esophagus and stomach. It has added coffee and vanilla, with a present but not overpowering chocolate note. And it's aged in bourbon barrels, which, with the Imperial ABV of this thing, can make you feel like you're drinking a coffee liqueur. I could go on and on about this beer. I have the adjectives lined up. But I'll stop. Just buy it and have one for breakfast.