Blackbeard's Breakfast Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter

Review Date 5/11/2024 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Imperial Porter   Brewery: Heavy Seas   Country: USA   State: Maryland   $ Per OZ: $.24 (B), $.64 (D)   ABV: 10%

What did Blackbeard have for breakfast? Anything he wanted is my guess. I mean, are you going to tell him what he can and can’t have? Not much future in that, methinks. On particularly challenging mornings, he might have had coffee laced with whiskey (or on REALLY bad ones, whiskey laced with coffee). Most likely, though, he never had coffee mixed with bourbon, the flavors of which you will find in Blackbeard’s Breakfast Bourbon Barrel Aged Coffee Porter from Heavy Seas Brewing of Halethorpe, Maryland.

That’s because Blackbeard lived from around 1680 to 1718. I didn’t know this, I had to research it on Wikipedia. I am the Brewguru, not the Pirateguru after all. Bourbon, on the other hand, was first distilled some time in the 18^th century, again according to Wikipedia, likely after Blackbeard died. Again, I had to research this on Wikipedia. I am the Brewguru, not the Bourbonguru after all. Since I am the Brewguru, though, I can tell you that Bleackbeard probably never had a porter, either, and certainly not an imperial porter.

Anyway, you don’t have to sail the seven seas (or even face your peril in heavy seas) to enjoy this wonderful beer. You can just belly up to the var like I did, in my case at Taco Mac, to enjoy it.

Heavy Seas on their website tells me it is a Barrel-Aged Imperial Porter (brewed with coffee), and a limited release brew. It is brewed with Target and UK Goldings hops and 2-Row, UK Amber, Vienna, Light Crystal, Dark Crystal, Chocolate, and Black malts. It’s refreshing to see a beer brewed with more malt varieties than hop varieties.

Blackbeard’s Breakfast Bourbon Barrel Aged Coffee Porter has an alcohol content of 10% by volume and I paid $7 for an 11-ounce glass at Taco Mac. Total Wine sold it for $16.99 the 6-pack of 12-ounce bottles, but they are out of stock.

My glass of Blackbeard’s Breakfast Bourbon Barrel Aged Coffee Porter arrived jet-black in color with a thin head of tan foam and a nose of roasted coffee and hints of bourbon. Taking a sip, the beer is full in body with again notes of coffee, powdery cocoa, roasted malt, a hint of licorice, boozy bourbon, and more roast and warming alcohol in the dry finish.

This was truly delicious, and a beer I will be seeking out. I want to drink it again. Blackbeard deserves no less.

Glad I tried it?  T