Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - Founders Brewing Company

sweemzander

Illinois

4.9/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottle poured into a snifter. Bottled on 02/15/10.

(A)- Pours thick & as dark as the blackest night. Produced a frothy & large 3+ finger almost dark brown head with some good retention behind it. The head actually became a tan color as it finally settled to a light layer of froth on the surface. Left some legs of foam on the sides of the glass.

(S)- Dense aromas of coffee grounds, brown sugar, vanilla, molasses, dark chocolate, and light bits of wood. Rich & decadent. I could really smell this all day; a combination of all my most favorite smells rolled into one.

(T)- Exactly like the smell. Wonderful combo of coffee & chocolate with vanilla & brown sugar. Sweet, but not overly so. Finishes up dry & slightly bitter. Let this warm up to cellar temp.

(M)- Great carbonation level & balance. Sweet, yet dry & bitter to smooth it all out. Very impressed with how smooth this years is; great alcohol integration. There is a warmth to it going down, but in no way harsh or overpowering whatsoever. I am really surprised how smooth it is this fresh already!

(D)- Everytime I have had this beer, it continually surprises me and amazes me at the same time. An amazing example of the style that never disappoints. Founders just knows how to do their stouts; KBS/CBS/BS are overall just fantastic & perhaps my most favorite lineup of beers.
This years release will not disappoint if you havent had it yet & are wondering the quality of the batch. In fact, it may just be better than last years. Simply a delight to drink & enjoy, I didnt want it to end.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 19:31:33 | More by sweemzander

vibhav

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-19-2013 04:32:53 | More by vibhav

SatlyMalty

Washington

5/5  rDev +7.8%

06-19-2013 04:26:49 | More by SatlyMalty

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-18-2013 23:02:46 | More by taylor714914

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

06-18-2013 20:53:24 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

Scalawags

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

06-18-2013 16:06:03 | More by Scalawags

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.95/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2013 Vintage. Poured from a bottle into mug, the beer is jet black, and pours heavy, with no head and only the slightest dark brown ring of film around the surface. It literally poured like motor oil, and it looks delicious. Aromas of wood and earth, with a backbone of rich chocolate and touches of smoke, highlighted by booze. Flavors are robust, with a smoky, woody forward flavor followed quickly by dark, bitter baker's chocolate and rich, full, roasted coffee. Wow, this one is layered, and it is unbelievably smooth. Smoke and roast fills the senses, as well as the palate, throughout each drink. Creamy vanilla highlights, with a warming sensation from the heightened ABV. This is tremendous. Smooth, full, and creamy in mouth, with an almost velvet feel. Roast and coffee on the aftertaste, with hints of booze. Dry, roasted finish, with a smoked and woody linger. This is a fantastic brew, and I can only imagine it would age very, very well.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 02:50:19 | More by GarthDanielson

phishbone23

New York

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-18-2013 02:19:57 | More by phishbone23

SawyerMI

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-18-2013 00:56:10 | More by SawyerMI

KyleMA

California

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-17-2013 23:49:40 | More by KyleMA

Danimal1101

New York

5/5  rDev +7.8%

06-17-2013 22:27:23 | More by Danimal1101

rlee1390

Indiana

4.65/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had side by side with Parabola, blind and Parabola won

A-Dark, dark black. Some lacing is left.

S-Coffee chocolate, molasses and roasted malt, strong bourbon notes as well. Coffee becomes more present as it warms

T-So sweet! Chocolate, roasted malt and coffee. Some molasses and vanilla are apparent as well. Some bitterness in the finish. Great balance. When compared to Parabola the sweetness was a tad much, the coffee is much stronger than in other Imperial Stouts.

M-Thick and syrupy. Very smooth.

O-Wow. Going to DLD was worth it for this beer. I can't believe how easy drinking as smooth this great tasting beer is.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 20:18:23 | More by rlee1390

bird22

California

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-17-2013 04:16:58 | More by bird22

dantsbeats

New York

3.25/5  rDev -30%

06-17-2013 00:41:05 | More by dantsbeats

MgoJohnStamos

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-16-2013 19:44:10 | More by MgoJohnStamos

Rocklobsterbrew

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -8.4%

06-16-2013 18:18:39 | More by Rocklobsterbrew

ChrisYager39

Indiana

5/5  rDev +7.8%

06-16-2013 17:36:41 | More by ChrisYager39

BradleyR

Oklahoma

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-16-2013 06:17:41 | More by BradleyR

IndyDad

New York

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-16-2013 02:22:39 | More by IndyDad

horsecorosous

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-16-2013 01:17:33 | More by horsecorosous

stogirelli

Florida

4/5  rDev -13.8%

06-16-2013 01:06:26 | More by stogirelli

Brenden

Ohio

4.86/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Finally.

KBS is black with that "motor oil" viscosity present in such a big stout. The brown head is surprising; it's not huge, but it's actually pretty large. It's also thick, creamy, dense and a bit craggy, and it's got some stick to it, making itself known by way of heavy patching in good quantities.
The nose is big. The nose is robust. The nose is massively malty. A huge blending of powdered, creamy milk, and bittersweet chocolate, cold-brewed coffee, roast, barley, vanilla, and oak, with expressive but not overpoweringly boozy bourbon make for what had to be exactly what this beer was going for. The bourbon, in fact, doesn't show off just ethanol; it's the good stuff, and it's the right level for this beer. Perfect.
This stuff is stupidly complex, big rich, and delicious. Everything from the nose is here, from milky and bittersweet chocolate to fresh coffee to wood to vanilla to bourbon, along with something like a hint of cherry. Then, as if it's not enough, there's even a dose of hops; and the hops still let the malts dominate. Roast gives way to the slightest bit of char. it's just so close to perfect...I almost wonder if just the faintest hint more bourbon would do it.
Big, thick, rich, robust, creamy to the point of being like the even smoother love child of velvet and silk, this is everything you want when an imperial stout is making love to your mouth. Somehow it's this big, this viscous and hearty, without being overly filling. I wouldn't have thought it possible.

Jump on the hype train, because there's a reason it left the station.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 23:05:07 | More by Brenden

jkurosaki

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-15-2013 22:50:18 | More by jkurosaki

RiseAbove

California

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%

06-15-2013 20:38:49 | More by RiseAbove

JustCamIt

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev -3%

06-15-2013 13:05:44 | More by JustCamIt