Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Serve in Snifter

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

UPDATED: MAR 21, 2008 2007 bottle sampled on 3/21/08: Similar to previous vintages with a rich silky smooth and dark caramel and chocolate sweetness. Good oatmeal bourbon flavor with some mild coffee notes. Always complex and enjoyable.

First bottled release sampled on 5/4/06: Pours a viscous opaque with a brownish, thin-lacing head. Aroma boasts lots of fresh, dry roasty coffee and a good light oaky bourbon balance with some dark fruits and brown sugar. Body starts with a light caramel malty sweetness revealing some earthy bourbon and coffee complexity before a warming, lightly roasted mocha finish. It seems a little hot right now, but should improve with some age.

Sampled at the 2005 EBF: Rich oily black opaque body with a beautiful thick dark brown head. Aroma is a nice balance of sweet caramel and coffee with good oaky bourbon complexity. Body starts full and sweet with dry oaky flavor and a roasty mocha coffee finish with very little detectable alcohol. A great beer to start with and well balanced with the bourbon flavor. Founders is going to be giving Bells and Three Floyds a run for their money in the midwest.

I had a vertical of this in late April. The older ones have gone a little stale. The most recent Pours a pitch black with a lot of bourbon, vanilla and coffee in the nose with similar flavors on the taste with some chocolate added in. I love this beer and I want more of it.

Dark pour with a big espresso head. Creamy mouth with big roast notes. Bourbon is very pronounced. Vanilla and hints of warmth in this. Very boozy and lots of chocolate. Once of the finer Bourbon Barrel stouts I’ve had.

Bottle, aged 5 months. This is a very bourbon’ed beer. You’ll also find a big vanilla presence, delivered in a smooth, big bodied, and creamy-rich texture. Personally, I really enjoyed it, but I’m pretty sure it’s NOT a beer that most people would expect and be happy to drink past the first sip. It definitely has one foot past the line of what does and does not taste like beer. Instead tastes more like a southerner’s dessert liquor. It would have been nice to see the other flavors come out more, rather than sitting in the bourbon’s shadow. Next time I’ll age it the full year and see what happens.

On tap at the Glass Nickel during Craft Beer Week in Madison. Pours inky black, with a mocha-colored head that dissipates to spotty foam. Thick, luxurious lacing. Nose is a perfect melange of dark roasted coffee, chocolate, and sweet bourbon. Taste follows: big, big coffee, with more well-crafted barrel notes, both dark and milk chocolates. Prominent vanilla tones from the barrel. My first time trying it. Lived up to the hype.

A truly great stout! Thanks to my uncle for scoring me 10 bottles of this beautiful concoction. It reminds me of Central Waters Bourbon Barrel stout, with a little less vanilla touch to it, but a better mouthfeel and bourbon lingering to it. The complexity is amazing, I taste something new in it almost every taste as it slowly warms. Wow!

Poured a 2010 bottle into my bruery tulip. Dark black with a 1finger mocha head that dissipates quickly. Nice lacing that clings to the glass like its glue. Aroma is coffee malt and light bourbon. I thought coffee fades out of beers quickly, I guess the coffee in KBS doesn’t follow the rules. Man this beer tastes smooth, it follows the nose but is more balanced with a year on it, less hot and booze. I like it fresh but I love it with a year on it. Fantastic brew!

UPDATED: MAY 21, 2012 The hype that surrounds this brew does not equal up to my standards. Nonetheless it is a wonderful stout. If youre not a fan of bourbon good luck with falling in love with the KBS.The bourbon "smell" and the after taste are heavy. Because of that much of the other ingredients are weakened.

pours thick nearly black. whatever bourbon these barrels came from is some harsh stuff. this is very biting. i’ve had smoother shots.

Pours near solid black/brown. Small light brown head that gets to a ring. Smell is dominated by coffee grounds. Smells charred and roasty with a touch of malt sweetness. Taste is a mix of charred coffee, sweet malt, licorice and alcohol bite. Medium/ full body with light carbonation.

Pours thick and dark with a creamy head. Very boozy, strong caramel bourbon flavours.