Arbor Ales Breakfast Stout bottle Arbor Ales Breakfast Stout glass

Arbor Ales Breakfast Stout Review

Arbor Ales

Oatmeal Stout • 7.4% ABV • England

Would I drink it for free?

Got anything else perhaps?

Would I pay for it again?

Nope

Notes

Picked this one up at Waitrose, once again happy to see a new face and excited to try something new. Yes, I’m the idiot who gets drawn into trying new beers and food.

SPOILER ALERT:
The excitement didn’t last long…

It pours jet black with a substantial amount of head and what I’d call medium carbonation. Smells like a stout — nothing interesting, nothing scary. With a name like Breakfast Stout, I expected some coffee, chocolate, or at least a bit of creaminess, but none of that showed up. Just bitterness.

And not a complex bitterness either — more of a sharp, lingering one.

The most disappointing part is the mouthfeel, which is quite watery.

Tried it twice, on different days. Didn’t enjoy or finish either.

PS: Why is this beer not even listed on Arbor Ales’ website? Is it a Waitrose‑exclusive thing?