But don’t just pop a bottle of Corona Light or Budweiser. If you’re going to drink beer in the morning, you need to make sure you’re drinking real breakfast beers. We got you covered on that end.
Note that some of these beers are not always readily available and are only out during specific seasons. So make it count when buying the seasonal beers (read: buy lots of them).
Start your day with a kick by consuming one of these 15 best breakfast beers! Just don’t overdo it, of course. Because, you know, health reasons.
Founders Brewing Co. Kentucky Breakfast Stout
A seasonal brew available during springtime, the Kentucky Breakfast Stout – labeled as “KBS” – from Founders Brewing Co. is an imperial stout brewed with massive amounts of coffee and chocolate, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year.
What sets KBS and other Founders beers from the competition is the unique storage condition. Air-conditioned caves from old gypsum mines provide consistent aging conditions contrary to the warm-cold polarity of other Kentucky storehouses. The choice of barrels coupled with the aging process results in excellent bourbon undertones coming through in the finish. ABV varies by batch, ranging from 11.2% to 12.4%.
Funky Buddha French Toast Double Brown Ale
In the mood for some French toast? With the French Toast Double Brown Ale from Funky Buddha, known for producing amusingly named beers, you can experience the signature breakfast meal without having to prepare the meal itself. Imagine the time you could save.
Coming in with 8.8% ABV which limits you to only a bottle or two every morning, this double brown ale delivers a ridiculous flavor that reminds you of a custardy French toast, fresh off the griddle, infused with cinnamon and vanilla, and served with warm maple syrup. Mouthwatering, we know. Now please excuse us while we go over to the nearest French toast joint in town.
Sixpoint C.R.E.A.M.
If you always start your day with coffee and cream but want to check out what all the breakfast beer craze is all about, then the C.R.E.A.M. from Sixpoint is for you. This blond ale pours out a tempting brew that’s blended with roasted coffee and has a touch of creamy sweetness.
Available in a pack of six, the C.R.E.A.M. from Sixpoint comes with a low acidity level, making it the ideal breakfast beer for those who have particularly sensitive stomachs. And at 7.2% ABV, this blond beer offers just the right amount of kick to get you up and running for whatever activity you have planned for the day.
Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast
You might want to replace your morning cup of joe with the Beer Geek Breakfast from Mikkeller. This Danish oatmeal stout is made with 25% oat-based ingredients and gourmet coffee. The blend creates an intensely flavored beer with an aroma of roasted coffee with hints of dark chocolate and roasted malt.
If you go past the dominant coffee bitterness, you can actually taste a bit of honey-like sweetness in this Danish stout. Many people consider this a classic, further affirming Mikkeller’s reputation for being one the best breweries in Denmark.
Dogfish Head Beer for Breakfast
Best paired with steak and eggs, sausage, or bacon, the Beer for Breakfast from Dogfish Head was originally released in 2014. And it didn’t take long for people to go head over heels for the flavorful experience it brings to the breakfast table.
With a full-bodied mouthfeel, this stout pours out an opaque black body with a brown head that has strong aromas of Guatemalan cold press coffee, maple syrup from Western Massachusetts, and actual scrapple, the Delaware breakfast specialty. This stout treats your mouth to all sorts of flavors, with hints of roasted coffee, smoked bacon, and subtle herbal notes. Next time you head over to Delaware, don’t forget to pair this stout with your Rapa Scrapple.
Funky Buddha Maple Bacon Coffee Porter
Bacon lovers say hello to the Maple Bacon Coffee Porter from Funky Buddha, a South Florida brewery with a passion for producing beers with bold flavors. Coming with 6.4% ABV, this porter delivers a dark brew that has aromas of maple syrup and coffee, with a creamy mouthfeel layered with sweet malt and smoky bacon.
It has a sticky and rich finish that deliciously stays in your mouth, with the aftertaste reminding you mornings kicked off with anything related to bacon is what life is all about. However, depending on when you read this list, the Maple Bacon Coffee Porter may no longer be available anywhere – Funky Buddha releases this porter only once every year.
Evil Twin Brewery Imperial Doughnut Break
Featuring a lineup that includes beers named the Talented Mr. Orangutan, Russian Roulette, Even More Jesus, and Joey F***ing Pepper, Evil Twin Brewery definitely has the upper hand on Funky Buddha when it comes to questionably named beers.
The Imperial Doughnut Break is actually one of the more modestly named beers offered by the Brooklyn-based brewery. Topped with insane amounts of doughnuts, this imperial porter pours a dark brew with layers of chocolate, almond, coffee, and a bit of vanilla. It has the right level of sweetness that appeals to those who love to start their day with a serving of sugar.
Dark Horse Brewery Tres Blueberry Stout
Chocolate chips and blueberry pancakes are what comes to mind with the Tres Blueberry Stout from Dark Horse Brewery, a microbrewery in Marshall, Michigan. The brand is popular among craft beer enthusiasts and gained even more popularity courtesy of their reality TV show on the History Channel called “Dark Horse Nation”.
A full-bodied stout, the Tres Blueberry Stout is made with all malted barley, then added with fresh blueberries after fermentation. The inky black brew comes with a brown head when poured, with the bitter and roasted flavors all rushing out with a bang. It finishes with delicious hints of blueberry. Coming in with 7.5% ABV, this breakfast beer is just the motivation you need to get out of bed during wintertime.
Funky Buddha Morning Wood Maple Bacon Coffee Porter
Now here’s a breakfast beer you probably won’t have trouble remembering despite the rather lengthy product name. The Morning Wood is the imperial porter version of the Maple Bacon Coffee Porter, with a 13% ABV that makes it not the kind of beer you shouldn’t have more than two servings of before jetting off to work.
Part of Funky Buddha’s Living Barrel Series, this imperial porter is aged in bourbon barrels for months, giving it a smooth and rich layer of maple syrup, freshly roasted coffee, and smoked bacon – the breakfast meal set that never fails to guarantee good mornings. For decency purposes, the next time you sleep over at a guy friend’s house, don’t simply say “got Morning Wood?” when asking whether he has a pack of this imperial porter in the fridge. Recite the entire goddamn product name.
Terrapin Beer Co. W-n-B Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout
Based in Athens, Georgia, Terrapin Beer Co. was founded by two people who felt they can make a mark in the brewing industry. And they did just that. Available during winter, the W-n-B Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout is one of the best breakfast beers around.
Born from a collaboration between Terrapin Beer Co. and Jittery Joe’s Coffee, another Athens-based business, this imperial stout pours out a dark brown brew with a quick-dissipating head. It spoils you with aromas of coffee, caramel, and a hint of chocolate and has a delightful taste that sits right in the middle between bitterness and sweetness. Coming in with 9.4% ABV, this imperial stout is best paired with parmesan or stilton cheese and grilled steak.
Great Notion Brewing Blueberry Muffin
If you love beers and blueberry muffins, especially those baked by your grandma, then the Great Notion Brewing Blueberry Muffin is for you. This American wild ale comes with a perfect-for-mornings ABV of 5.5%, allowing you to pop more than just one can without feeling a little dizzy. And make no mistake, this breakfast beer really makes it difficult to simply stop at one serving.
Boasting an incredibly drool-worthy blueberry muffin aroma – seriously, it really does smell like a freshly baked blueberry muffin from your grandma – this breakfast beer pours out a dark amber brew with a thin layer of foam that quickly dissipates. It tastes just like blueberries, with a sprinkle of sourness that blends nicely. In times when you can’t visit your grandma to enjoy a basket of blueberry muffins, take a sip of the Great Notion Brewing Blueberry Muffin.
Carton Brewing Regular Coffee
Step into a coffee place and order a regular coffee and you’ll get a non-decaf coffee. In New Jersey, doing so will get you a cup of coffee with milk and two sugars. It’s one of those things that people visiting New Jersey have to deal with grudgingly.
Carton Brewing takes it to another level with the Regular Coffee, an imperial cream ale infused with a coffee blend made of Ethiopian Sidamo and Mexican Chiapas, courtesy of Fair Mountain Coffee Roasters. This creamy golden ale takes care of your lust for both beer and coffee in the morning. Because manually mixing a bottle of regular beer and a cup of coffee is disgusting and totally not the best way to start your day.
Oskar Blues Brewery Death by Coconut
If during winter mornings you often find yourself wishing for coconut rums drank under the heat of the summer sun, then this breakfast beer is for you. Oskar Blues Brewery’s Death by Coconut will provide you with a winter alternative layered with sweet coconut and chocolatey goodness.
Made of dark chocolate and extra-dark caramel malt, with a delicious aroma of coconut, this Irish porter has flavors that get even more interesting the more you drink. Death by Coconut pours a deep black color, with the smell of cacao and coconuts instantly hitting your senses. With 6.5% ABV, you wouldn’t even feel the alcohol with this sweet treat.
Almanac Beer Co. Tropical Platypus
A taste of the tropics, the Tropical Platypus from Almanac Beer Co. is a dry-hopped sour ale aged in wine barrels and oak foeders with an array of tropical fruits such as kiwi, mango, lime, and passion fruit. In line with the origin of its name, Galaxy hops from Australia are added to complete the blend.
This limited edition tropical ale was drafted in honor of City Beer Store’s 10th anniversary, an institution in San Francisco that supported Almanac during its early years. With 6% ABV, this blend is perfect for mornings spent in white-sand beaches – or daydreaming of them.
Breckenridge Brewery Vanilla Porter
For a breakfast beer based on vanilla, check out the Vanilla Porter from Breckenridge Brewery, the third-oldest craft brewery in Colorado. Founded over 20 years ago, the brewery sends beer to 35 US states. One of those beers is the Vanilla Porter, a breakfast beer with a 5.4% ABV.
This porter pours out a cola-like brew with a thin brown head that has aromas of vanilla and toasted grain. It tastes different from most porters out there, with the vanilla flavor only making its presence felt in small waves. Made of real vanilla beans sourced from Madagascar, this porter comes with a balanced flavor that lacks the usual bitterness associated with a porter.