Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

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

Serve in Snifter

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12 oz bottle 8/17/07: Very little CO2 released upon pouring... Very thick and syrupy looking. A thing ring of bubbles forms around the top of the beer along the glass. Blackish brown liquid. The sparse head that forms is remeniscent of a Rorschach ink blot! Aromas start as burnt and acrid when chilled on the first whiff. Not quite like burnt coffee and even less pleasant; Chocolate, caramel, chocolate chip cookie dough, toasted nuts hid behind the burnt aromas, but peak out as it warms. Faint perfumey alcohol, moderate bourbon and lightly oaked wood notes. Vanilla gets stronger as it warms and I think I’ve also gotten some faint herbal hops. Flavor starts out acrid, burnt, and bitter the same as it does in the aroma, but thankfully not quite as intense. Chocolate and coffee are more evenly balanced as it warmed. Caramel, toasted malts, vanilla, light bourbon all present and accounted. Some doughy malt aftertaste. Semi dry finish, and the aftertaste is lightly bitter from grains & hops with a lightly burnt coffee flavor. Smooth, creamy texture, well hidden alcohol, fuller body, and lower level of CO2. I was not impressed by the first whiff, but as it warmed it became quite pleasing! I think this will age well if you can somehow hang onto more bottles, but nice now even when young!

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.