Last year at about this time, I came across a new beer from 21st Amendment (a brewpub out in San Francisco, CA) that I loved. I bought it by the sixpack regularly but then one day, on a day that came far too soon, I was told it was gone. Sold out. “Sorry, it’s a seasonal and the season is done!” OK, so that last part isn’t a direct quote, but that was the gist. I was amazed. It wasn’t even Spring yet, and this deliciously crisp session beer was off the market?! Well this year I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m going to buy even more. [Editor's Note: Since writing this, 21st Amendment has announced that this beer is now year round.] Why don’t I tell you a little bit about it:

Bitter American does not pour like what many think of as “American beer.” That is, if you think of American beers as represented by the likes of light, corn/rice filled lagers that are best consumed out of cups sitting on a ping-pong table or during a super hot summer day after mowing the lawn. This brew pours a crystal clear deep orangey golden...almost a burnt sienna, if I wanted to pick a fancy sounding word.The head is white with just the slightest hint of brown to it, and it puffs right up before falling down to a good, solid half finger that just lounges at the top of your glass.

Now if you’re one of those people who think session beer is weak and flavorless well...well, you’re probably new to this site, actually, come to think of it...and this beer will certainly turn your mind around! The smell is nothing but American hops! Citrusy, a little piney and fruity, this beer smells like a crisp hop-bomb that needs to be drank, like, right now.

Oh yeah! Lately I’ve been a little sick of over-resiny hoppy beers and this is exactly what I’m looking for. It’s got some major fruity hop flavor, just like it smells. The bitterness is assertive, but it keeps a respectful distance at the same time; it’s just very well balanced for the minimal malt in this beer. Speaking of malt, it’s definitely there and you can taste it, but the only word I can think of to describe it is clean. It provides a nice, mild character to the beer, but it’s not overdone. I guess that would be how I sum up this whole beer. It’s got assertive hops, good bitterness and some tasty clean malt to it, but not of it is overdone.

[Editor's Note: This was written before 21st Amendment announced that this beer was going year-round...so please consume the rest of this article with that in mind.]

I wish this was a year-round beer from 21st Amendment because this would be a staple in my fridge at all times. It’s a great beer for relaxing with in the winter, but I bet it would be an even better beer for hanging out with in the summer! Plus, the fact that it comes in cans means it’s perfect for barbecues, the beach and any other place that glass can’t go. The fact that it’s only available from January to March seems like a crime given how well it would work for summer.

In fact, you know what? Why don’t you email Nico and Shaun, the founders of 21st Amendment, and let them know that this should be a year-round beer. Here’s the contact information from their website:

Nico Freccia - Co-Founder/Businesss Operations - email: Nico AT 21st-Amendment.com

Shaun O'Sullivan -- Co-Founder/Brewmaster/Media Relations - email: Shaun AT 21st-Amendment.com

I picked up a six-pack of this craft beer at Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont.

[Editors' Note: We're happy to welcome our newest, and first, regional correspondent, Johanna. Johanna is a native of Michigan, one of our favorite states for craft beer, and will be writing about beer made in and distributed to the Great Lakes region. She discovered craft beer at the Keweenaw Brewing Company brewpub in Houghton, MI...but we'll let her tell you the story of how she got into craft beer in a future article. We met Johanna over Twitter (her handle is @Hufr0, say hello). She asked us about the "Drink Craft Beer Meeting" we had one night and how one gets into the club. After several emails back and forth, here we are! So, Johanna, welcome to the club! We're incredibly glad to have you as a member of the Drink Craft Beer team!

Are you a good writer? Do you like interacting with people? Do you love craft beer? Do you think you fit in with the mission of Drink Craft Beer? Do you want to be our next regional Drink Craft Beer correspondent? Get in touch with us and let's talk.]

Founders Breakfast Stout is an oatmeal coffee stout with both Sumatra and Kona beans. Much like coffee the stout smells sweeter than it tastes.  It's 8.3% ABV and surely is a bit of a jolt like a morning coffee can be. Maybe that’s how it got its name. But I think they named it Breakfast Stout because sometimes you wake up thinking about it. You drift back to the last time you had some. The dark molasses beer stirring in your glass a bit, the deep burnt caramel head dancing at the top leaving a rusty film on the glass as you drain it. It doesn’t remind you of any other stout you’ve had. It’s too rich and powerful to be a memory of an oatmeal stout. It’s hoppier than you expected it to be, biting back at you. The chocolate doesn’t hit you at first, masked by all that coffee. The more you drink the sweeter it tastes and you begin to sense the chocolate. It leaves a remarkably smooth, deep, dark and rich flavor on your lips.

Sometimes you gulp it like a rushed morning coffee. Normally you wouldn’t do such a thing with a craft beer but with Breakfast Stout you can’t always help it. You can taste the higher alcohol content when you do, almost like a coffee wine.  Somehow it doesn’t ruin the experience. There is almost wildness to the sweet. It reminds you of a molasses; almost a gamey sugar. You can taste it as you lay there in bed. And while you fight the fact you have to go to the bathroom you look at the alarm clock and wonder,

"How early can I have some Breakfast Stout without being a social pariah?"

If it were a holiday it might be acceptable, even now, to have some. Still refusing to kick off the covers (it's cold out there) you pick your brain for a holiday from any religion or country that could possibly be this day. You got nothin’. You twist in the sheets battling facts and social norms,

"Fine. I’ll just make up a holiday. Support Michigan Made Products Day. Yeah that’s it. How can you appreciate it if you have to wait until afternoon to have some?"

You smile. Now you can get out of bed and start your day, knowing you’ve won.

But you never do drink that morning stout. I’ve been saying for some time that one day I will get up and have Breakfast Stout for breakfast. A double chocolate, coffee and oatmeal breakfast sounds good to me and that’s just the beer. I’ll pair it with some good food and it will be fantastic. With 60 IBU’s (International Bittering Units) I’m thinking either something sweet or something greasy like steak and eggs.  I have yet to do so, (when I finally do this I will tell you every last drop of detail) but every now and then I find myself wakeful with the thought of my last Breakfast Stout experience dancing in my head. I haven’t found another stout that has been nearly as memorable. Most times I find myself thinking about it when trying other stouts. So far it is my favorite. The only criticism I have is that the Breakfast Stout is available September – January only and not all year round. So go find some while you can and prepare for a summer of dreaming about it.