Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - Founders Brewing Company

soupyman10

District of Columbia

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I will start by acknowledging that I might be a touch biased with this review. After buying one of these and hiding it away for a couple months before my big going away party (joining a beerless nation for the Peace Corps), my dad threw it down, not even thinking. After racing all over the state to find another one, I finally had it, with a couple hours to spare. So basically, there was no way I was going to dislike this one. And I didn't. Pours a perfect pitch black color, with two fingers of tan head on top that slowly dissolves down to a delicious looking film. Aroma is crazy strong coffee, alcohol, spiciness, and some breadiness. Tons of roasted malt. Excellent aromas. Flavor is fantastic. Alcohol spice works in perfectly with the roasted malt on the back of the tongue. Definite but subtle bourbon flavors. Nice sweet dried fruit and brown sugar on the tip of the tongue. A nice hint of chocolate as well. As it warms, a nice zap of winey liquor at the end. Truly an incredible flavor. Body is creamy and full, with perfect carbonation. Can't say enough about this one. The best beer I've ever tasted, bar-none, and a great farewell to beer drinking, at least for a little while.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2007 02:18:38 | More by soupyman10

sinistrsam

Maryland

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Let me preface this by saying I've never given a 5 before in my life, and a always skeptical about so-called "perfcet" or "unbelievable" beers. That havign been said, I now, humbly admit that I understand and agree with the comments posted before; this is one of the best beers I have ever tasted.
Poured a dark almost ruby-brown with a huge tan head which had excellent retention. The aroma was wonderful and complex; dark and sweet roasted malts, chocolate and hints of wood and charcoal. Vanilla and toffee round out the smell as well as a beautiful, creamy taste that is as perfectly balanced as you can get. I agree with bort about the butterscotch; something I wouldn't have picked up on but a good call. The molasses-type taste isnt overpowering and neither is the bourbon; it is smooth and sweet and just the right ammount of bitter.
The feel is full-bodied and goes through several iterations of feel, from sweet to bitter and creamy. I loved this beer and despite the 10%abv, I could drink these until I ran out. As I said, I admit that this lives up to it's hype, and then some.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2007 22:41:35 | More by sinistrsam

twokansamm

Ohio

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appears black with a very thin dark tan head.

Aroma is fresh roasted coffee, bourbon, vanilla, chocolate, caramel burnt/roasted malt. You know just from the initial smell this is going to awesome.

Initial taste is a quick hint of vanilla followed immediately by a coffee/chocolate taste then a kick bourbon. Then the tastes seem to reverse in the finish followed by a lingering bourbon roasted malt flavor. Wonderful.

The feel in the mouth is heavy and rich. Very rich.

This thing is highly drinkable. I probably couldn't do more than 2 in a night, but I could enjoy those 2 over a couple of hours and be treated to pure heaven in a glass.

Way to go Founders. Thanks!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2008 01:53:03 | More by twokansamm

adams82

Michigan

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours black, opaque, with a 2 finger tan head. Smells of dark roasted coffee, bourbon, chocolate and tastes very much the same.

The flavour is intense. Coffee and chocolate dominate, then a kick of bourbon, a little alcohol, vanilla, hazelnut, more bourbon, coffee and chocolate. Heavily roasted flavors dominate this beer with the mellow chocolate and bourbon offering balance while the vanilla and hazelnut round everything out. Very complex, very tasty, very delicious and very, very worthy of a perfect 5.

Easy drinking for such an intense and flavorful beer and this really begs to be made available all year long. The bourbon character is present, but not dominating like most oaked or bourbon beers I have had. It complements the other flavors and helps round everything out, making this quite possibly, the best beer I have ever had in my entire life.

There is no hype surrounding this beer... It has earned it's legendary status.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2008 03:03:21 | More by adams82

Tilley4

Tennessee

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have to start by giving a big Thanks! to antzman for holding this 4 pack for me. You're awesome!

On a whim, I decided to crack the first of these open tonight and share with the wifey. It oozes out of the bottle deep space black with a very small caramel head. This looks very deep and dark and foreboding...

The heavenly aroma of coffee and chocolate rush my sense of smell as I inhale deeply. I've smelled great stouts before but this one is special...different somehow. Touches of bourbon intermingle with the chocolate and coffee giving this the best aroma of any beer ever..

I can't really expound on the hundreds of descriptions given to this legendary brew and I won't even try. It's fantastic...simply fantastic. Loads of coffee, chocolate, bourbon, and even hints of vanilla assault the tastebuds as this one goes down and the wife and I instantly know we are in rare company.

I was expecting this to be good but not this good. I've heard the hype about this one for a while and couldn't believe that it could be that good. I was wrong. This is, without a doubt, the best Imperial Stout that I've ever had. Not because it's harder to get, not because of the hype. It just tastes, smells, looks, and feels better than the rest. The remaining 3 will be shared by the wife and I and maybe a few close friends as I don't expect to ever have my hands on this brew again. Thanks again, antzman, for making this happen..

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2008 05:55:49 | More by Tilley4

J0EL

Michigan

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

WOW...I bought 8 bottles of this beer before I even tasted it and I'm glad I did! Pours great, smells great (bourbon, vanilla, coffee, caramel), tastes great. I like to take a little swig of this beer and let it just sit in my mouth for a minute or two before I swallow. It's like an orgy of flavor all over my tongue!

Can't wait to taste it on tap at the brewery

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2008 22:56:04 | More by J0EL

HopHobo

Michigan

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-pours a deep brown/black with a 3 fingers head.

S-Smells of chocolate, vanilla and coffee...a very deep complex smell, many layers here.

T-Wowzer, this beer is amazing probably the best stout I've had to this point in my life. Taste is like the smell very complex, strong coffee and vanilla flavor with hints of bourban and chocolate. The alcohol is well hidden in the beer.

M-Has a nice mouthfeel very thick and creamy...this is how a stout should be.

D-So I've had this beer before on tap and in bottle I love this beer so much I would like to freeze it into ice cubes and skate on it. I could drink it all day/night long. Probably not a good hot weather beer...but here in the cold North its perfect!!!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2008 15:18:56 | More by HopHobo

bassmantin

Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I'm drinking the 2008 vintage about a month after its release. I recently had a vertical with the 2007, and in my opinion, this beer does not age well. I think it loses a lot of the great coffee taste. Most stouts age well because they mellow, but the greatness of the KBS is its strong, harsh, coffee malts, and those fade over time. Drink it fresh. Now to the review.

The color is a very dark brown with a nice little tan head. The smell is overpowering. It has that strong coffee flavor of the BS, but the added bourbon aroma is delicious. The taste lives up to everything the smell promises. The bourbon is so delicious... strong oak notes, vanilla, and general bourbon overtones. Oh my, what a unique beer.

The alcohol is also quite well-concealed given that this is a 10% beer. This greatly helps the drinkability.

I swear, I think this beer is perfect. You must try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2008 01:58:57 | More by bassmantin

jessecarr

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On Tap at Andy's Corner with my dudes-- hopflop and JM.

This was the first beer I had on the Founder's tap night at Andy's Corner. I was trying to think of a metaphor for this beer, something to compare the complexity, luxury, and beauty of this beer. It's a true wonder. I told my fellow-Geeks that this was one of the best beers I've ever tasted--not necessarily because it's the "best" stout or the "best" whatever other category. This beer is it's own genre.

If this sounds like it's a bit gushing, well... it should be. The Kentucky Bourbon Stout has the appearance of other breakfast stouts--a tan-ish head and dark brown body--but the comparisons sort of stop there. The smell is truly wonderful. I kept smelling the glass over and over to catch the prominent bourbon scent. The bourbon is not overly-aggressive, and it fuses with the mocha and caramel scents as well. the head is minimal, the lacing is there, but the taste is what knocks this beer into its own stratosphere.

Upon the first sip, I was blown away--almost surprised. I expected something quite different, and I had to quickly take another sip. It has a prominent bourbon taste at first while the pour was still a bit cold. The hints of bourbon subside, however, once the glass warms. Then the nuances of caramel and stout emerge.

It is extremely balanced. The alcohol is not pungent or off-putting at all. It really is something to try and comprehend.

It takes a while to find the proper way to describe it. I still haven't figured out how. And that's a wonderful thing.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2008 18:21:56 | More by jessecarr

unholy2

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I poured this dark oil into a corsendonk goblet.It produced no head at all with very little carb.I have had alot of stouts but this is the first one I had that taste and smell like coffee I mean it has no hints of anything else.Now I did have this at room temp so I don't know if that would really effect it but man when they say breakfast stout they were'nt kidding.This would go great with some bacon and egges.The next time I drink this it will be at breakfast

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2008 19:18:13 | More by unholy2

DHGranstrand

Washington

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Special thanks to tprokop7 for the KBS!!

Poured aggressively into a pounder produced a great 2" creamy light brown head.

Incredible nose of milk chocolate, espresso, bourbon and malt.

Tastes of bitter chocolate, strong coffee and licorice followed by bourbon and alcohol.

Velvety liquid with a myriad of complex flavors swirling around.

I had to give this stout the highest ratings possible. There is nothing you could do to improve on this beer short of having more of them! Simply incredible! No hype here, just incredibly well-balanced and full flavored.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2008 22:07:28 | More by DHGranstrand

Jerzdevil1116

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at Founders Brewery. Stopped there as part of my Dark Lord Day road trip. Served in a snifter.

A: Black opaque body. No head. Little to no carbonation visible.

S: Earthy, oaky, and full of coffee. Hints of bourbon and dark fruits (raisons).

T: Strong coffee presence. Slightly bitter. Nice notes of oak and boubon.

M: Full bodied. Slightly syrupy. Very smoothe.

D: Not a session beer by any means, but I could sip it from a snifter all night like a fine bourbon. I've had it in it's bottle form and wasn't thrilled. Enjoying it on tap opened my eyes to how good this beer really is.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2008 02:50:40 | More by Jerzdevil1116

hopflop

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

WOW! this beauty is unbelievable. Had on tap at andy's corner with fellow BA's jessecarr and jmscott.

This beer is amazing. poured into a over sized wine glass. With a nice thick chewy tan head.

It starts out with a great bourbon wood and coffee smell that is pungent and amazing. And the great smell remains in the glass well after the beer is gone.

The taste of bourbon, wood and slight coffee hit the pallet and as this brew warms the taste of coffee and chocolate start to take over. So tasty and amazing.

This beer is just outright awesome. by far one of the best beers I've gotten the pleasure to try so far. I would love to have this available all the time. If you haven't tried this puppy yet do what you can to get some of this.

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2008 23:54:18 | More by hopflop

stumac

Texas

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I just wanna say up front that I had no idea before I tried this beer that this was gonna be my favorite Oatmeal Stout of all time...

pours up black as night with a big brown head. great lacing! the nose is composed of bourbon, dark malts, oak. taste is oh soooo good! magnificent bourbon, delicious chocolate, secret oak, tastey vanilla, warming oatmeal, a little alcohol spice. full as hell body! perfectly aged! drinking this beer with Tara Reid would be a perfect monday. I just don't want this beer to ever end!

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2008 05:20:02 | More by stumac

RocPorterFanatic

Ohio

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This amazing beer pours opaque brown into the awaiting pint glass. No light penetrates through the inky stout. The initial scent is coffee, no qualms about it. Following the dissolving coffee is an underlying cocoa aroma. The taste is so complex its almost perplexing. Again, coffee is in the forefront. Next, in come the chocolate. Its not hidden, its like a punch in the face, almost syrup-like. The alcohol is well hidden. Its only appearance is at the back of the tongue, just before swallowing. This beer cannot be a session beer by definition, unless your session is one or two drinks. I've been looking for Kentucky Breakfast Stout for quite a while. I am so happy to have found this. This is one of the most amazing beers I have ever tasted. Its so absolutely amazing, words can do it no justice.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2008 22:18:01 | More by RocPorterFanatic

corby112

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Serving type: bottle at the South Philadelphia Taproom, Founders Event, Philly Beer Week 2007.

Bottle brought out as a surprise during Founders event at South Philadelphia Taproom. And what a surprise it was! Pours pitch black with thin coffee colored head. Excellent aroma which is dominated by bourbon and oak but not too much so that you cant't detect the chocolate and roasted coffee. I smelled this beer for several minutes before sampling it. This beer is very smooth considering it's complexity and ABV. Lots of bourbon and oak flavor, roasted coffee maltiness, vanilla, chocolate candi sugar and caramel. Excellent!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 17:49:09 | More by corby112

CoalCellar

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bottle into my sifter....
A: Pours midnight black, a dense chocolate head erupts, and after settling, becomes even darker.
S: Deep, dark chocolate, and rich coffee. I could smell this beer for ages.
T: Huge dark chocolate and coffe up front, subtle vanilla melts over the palate and is complemented by faint sweet bourbon and oak flavors, finishes with more coffee and chocolate.
M: Thick and syrupy, oh so good.
D: I could drink this stuff all night, and thats pretty impressive for a 10% stout. Nothing else even comes close.

This beer absolutely floored me, it lives up to the hype. An outstanding beer with all my favorite flavors. Do not pass up a chance to try this treat.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 16:53:18 | More by CoalCellar

teamizm

California

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow. I love the complexity of FKBS.

A - Dark, coffee black appearance with little to no foam at all

S - Coffee, chocolate, and delicious bourbon

T - Intiail hit of coffee and vanilla, with a alcohol and a bit of chocolate aftertaste.

M - Little to no carbonation. Good body on it. Get a little bit of acidity on the initial sip

D - at 10%, definitely a once in awhile beer. The ABV actually feels higher than 10% though

There's some debate between this beer and the GI BCS, I think this one is the winner for me. Too bad I can't get this in California.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2008 01:14:44 | More by teamizm

alyankus

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I'm forgoing the usual format to simply say that this is exquisite. If there is such a thing as "perfect" this is it. What else could I possibly add to the legions who think of this as one of the greatest achievements in beerdom? Simply amazing.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 01:45:25 | More by alyankus

abaculy

Michigan

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is for the 2009 release of what is now officially KBS, and 11.2% ABV

After hearing the (deserved) "hype," I decided I must have this beer as soon as possible. I found out it was brewed once per year rather than semi-ann or quarterly, and that the release was going to be over my spring break's ending weekend. Calling! I tried their amazing Breakfast Stout the previous summer and it was nothing short of amazing.. it is the one that I sipped once, and then again, while thinking "I think I want to learn to like stouts!" I added the color stout to my palate.

KBS:
It is not as think as one might expect, especially compared to the Old Curmudgeon I had at school the following night(sticky! but in foam) It did pour an almost black brown into my glass. The aroma of bourbon was prominent, also containing chocolate and coffee notes.

The taste was sort of 3 parts. It seemed to start with chocolate and a little coffee, then more chocolate and other ingredients(incl. oatmeal). Then you get hit with chocolate, oatmeal, and bourbon. Finally, the finish gives you some chocolate but the bourbon is sort of in your nose, too, providing somewhat stronger noted than before.

This beer was incredible. Just as you are ready to say that it is tied with regular Breakfast Stout, just different, you realise how delicious the bourbon flavor really is, and how much it adds by being obviously present in the aroma and taste, but without the alcohol taste to spoil it. And KBS is ridiculously drinkable. Definitely could creep up on you. Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 10:55:25 | More by abaculy

nicnut45

Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I will tell you the truth. With all the hype surrounding this beer I was sure this was going to be a HUGE let down. As I was not too impressed with the regular breakfest stout. Now I have this to say, I dont think the Lord our God would let a beer get any better.

Appearance: Thick, as black as the night, not too far from used 5w30. A thin brown head that collects around the sides of the glass. This head looks like a cloudy sattelite photo of the earth.

Smell: Oh man, like those sweet vanilla cigars old men smoke, like a fresh bottle of vanilla, leather, good coffee, a pleasent alcohol sweetness with nothing offensive detected.

Taste: I drank this at room temp. Who could do this beer justice and describe its taste? This is like creamy vanilla ice cream and port wine. Its not too sweet though I would say on a scale of 1-10 its about a 6. But once you get that initial sweetness the hops come in to keep it in check.

Mouthfeel: Its thick. Like vitamin D milk. Subtle carbonation, I love its touch and how it sets my mind at ease. No fizziness.

Drinkability: When it comes to high alcohol beers you expect them to be a bit harsh and kind of tough to get down. This is an exception, its super smooth. I would like to drink this all the time.

This is the best beer I have had thus far. For me it has surpassed the hype. I imagine only the Saints in Heaven are drinking anything better.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 22:45:22 | More by nicnut45

Evan87

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 2009 bottle to a snifter. I was never a big bourbon fan, but now I find myself thinking about this beer alot. It has converted me.

Pours a thick black syrup. Chocolate, coffee and bourbon flavors are perfectly balanced. Alcohol falls just short of overpowering. I doubt my craving for this beer will ever stop. Reminds me of when I had my "aha" moment with an IPA. I went on a hop binge for years. I think I maybe on the verge of a similiar bourbon stout binge.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 01:50:55 | More by Evan87

duke1258

Michigan

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Great vanilla aromas up front with a bit more forward hops this year, but still the warm malty end taste. Just as smooth as always, and more complex than the standard Breakfast Stout. There is a depth to this beer beyond just the Barrel aging. Definitely more bold Whiskey than other aged beers and yet very subtle alcohol.

I had this on tap once again at Founders and was offered a sample of the Canadian Breakfast Stout, aged in Maple Syrup Barrels, and found it to be a great twist on the KBS, though a bit sweeter. Still the best beer in the world, KBS is progressively becoming even better.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2009 13:13:18 | More by duke1258

abriggs1

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I almost don't want to write this review since it will break the 666 number of reviews. There's a reason why this beer seems to be advocated by satan. This is the kind of stuff people leave their families for. My buddy and I accidently stumbled on it in Weymouth, MA after looking for the stuff for weeks. It did not disappoint. It pours like crude oil and has a very warm and inviting smell. The complexity of this beer is through the roof. The bourbon barrels give it a beautiful vanilla taste that's mixed with coffee and chocolate. Although it's thicker than the regular breakfast stout, somehow it's smoother and has a mellow but lingering aftertaste. It's really amazing how this beer can be so mellow and subtle, yet so bold at the same time. I only hope I can find more of this stuff. The ABV was 11.3%, not 10%

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2009 21:23:54 | More by abriggs1

Backer2004

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

wow, everything I thought it would be and more. no need to go into the fine details, you can read that amongst the other reviewers. buy this beer if you get the chance. i thought $5.95 a 12 ounce bottle was a bit steep and though I will not buying cases anytime soon, worth every drop. buy for a special occassion. not sure if i will be able to keep my second one for another 6 months. drink up

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2009 01:28:09 | More by Backer2004