A new stout from a Bradenton brewery represents more than a fresh take on a bottled beverage. It also showcases new synergies within Southwest Florida’s restaurant scene. The Coffee and Donuts breakfast stout brings the creative talent from Darwin Brewing Company together with beloved flavors from Perq Coffee Bar in Sarasota and Turner’s Donuts in Bradenton.

“These unique instances of collaboration arise out of thriving small business communities like Sarasota-Bradenton,” said Matt Cornelius, co-founder and general manager of Darwin Brewing Company. “All they take is a bit of thinking outside the box.”

Cornelius frequently spends his mornings at Turner’s Donuts and afternoons at Perq. He said it was an approach from Perq that led to a prior collaboration creating a brew using South American coffee beans. A coffee-infused IPA proved hugely successful at Perq’s fall social, Cornelius said, so another brew was conceived as well. Cornelius approached Turner’s about the next concoction. “Turner has the best doughnut holes period," Cornelius said. "I asked Turner's ownership, who is behind the counter everyday, whether we could make a beer with their doughnuts.”

Brewer Leslie Shore quickly got to work creating the breakfast stout. She said using the donut holes, as opposed to whole donuts, worked best for the brewing process. “It’s easier to incorporate those in the brew,” she said. A kick of sugar and some happy interaction with the yeast already used in the brewing process led to a sweet flavor that leaves the essence of the donut taste. Since the coffee from Perq is cold-brewed, it can go directly into the stout when it gets kegged, rather than having to go through a boil and risk getting burned. Shore said the ingredient maintains a roasted sweetness that interacts well with the mix.

Cornelius said the breakfast stout will be released this Friday at the Local Evolution Market at the Darwin Brewing Company brewery in Bradenton. The stout will be tapped at 5pm and will be served exclusively at the taproom.