Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - Founders Brewing Company

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

4.59/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into a tulip.

A - Pours black as hell, and with a hard pour generates almost no head at all, just a thin but dense layer and thick brown foam. Decent head retention with sticky spots of lacing.

S - Sweet vanilla, bourbon, oak, coffe roast. Roasted malt, tons of sweet aroma, with a big roasty coffee character. Bittersweet chocolate, as well as milk chocolate, with some molasses and maple notes. Just tons of roast, and tons of sweetness, with a big bourbon quality. A very big aroma overall.

T - Follows the nose closely, with tons of vanilla, bourbon, wood, coffee and chocolate. Big base of roasted malt, with a huge bourbon barrel character, with oak and sweet vanilla abound. Finishes with tons of bittersweet chocolate and coffee roast, with a subtle earthy character, and a twang of alcoholic warmth.

M - Thick, creamy and smooth. The carbonation is a little more lively than most stouts this size. Sticky on the lips, with a touch of warmth in the finish and a lingering roasty bitterness.

D - A huge stout with about as much flavor as you can possibly pack into one brew, but I'm not so sure it was worth the hype. It certainly had a massive bourbon and coffee flavor, but I think in the end it lacked a bit of complexity and depth. Great beer, and I couldn't be happier to have tried it, but probably not worth all the hype, in my honest opinion.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:51:16 | More by Converge

macher0

Kentucky

4.76/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

2013 Vintage. Fresh. Tulip glass.

A: Jet black. Opaque. Viscous. Small head that quickly retreats to virtually no film and frothy, but faint rim. Excellent lacing that are nearly permanent on tulip glass. As the glass is swirled, the viscosity results in a carmel-colored layer on the sides of the glass.

S: WOW! Initially sweet milk chocolate with a hint of bourbon/oak. As the beer opens, coffee and grain notes become noticeable, the bourbon/oak becomes stronger, and the chocolate turns to bitter-dark.

T: Layers of chocolate/coffee/bourbon-oak/nuts/grains. The finish is bitter coffee.

M: Multi-layered. Powerful. Thick. Full-bodied. Very smooth. This is my favorite aspect of this beer.

O: This beer delivers and lives up to the hype. The layers of flavor are incredible. Each note appears, then gives way to the next. This beer defiantly opens up, so be patient . This is a one-and-done beer for me. I usually like to begin a session with a KBS. It is difficult to cellar this ale because it is just that good.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:19:41 | More by macher0

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.39/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2013 Vintage. Having this one for the first time. Pulled out of the fridge and let warm for 30 minutes.

Appearance: Pitch black with visible streams of effervescence along the edges of the tulip glass. Modest half finger cap of dark brown foam. Got some good lacing as well.

Aroma: Lots of chocolate notes, both sweet and semi-sweet. Just a hint of vanilla and a touch of alcohol giving a nice bourbon aroma. Really not much in the nose but what's there is enjoyable.

Taste: A lot to digest here with a complexity that keeps shifting long after each sip. Starts with a lot of milk chocolate and a good charred malt backbone to keep it from getting too sweet. About halfway through you get a bit of a hop bitterness that sort of masks itself in the mocha liqueur-like flavor that the alcohol brings out. At 11.2% ABV it is possible to hide that flavor but it really works wonders in adding to the experience of this beer. The flavor and complexity hits a high note during and right after the finish. The palate is drowned in charred malt, hints of coffee, vanilla, and alcohol. This combination brings the bourbon to mind without it being forthright. The aftertaste lingers for a seemingly endless amount of time with black coffee bitterness, burnt chocolate, and a nice heat in the back of the throat. The oak-aging of this beer doesn't add very much oak flavor but it is probably the reason that all the flavors have matured and blended so well. One of those great beers where every sip is better than the last.

Mouthfeel: Just under full in body. Not really thin for what it is just not as thick as expected. Average carbonation for a BA beer but a vigorous pour is probably a good idea. A nice ease of drinkability.

Final Thoughts: I was very lucky to snag a bottle of this year's release and thoroughly enjoyed KBS. Founder's proves time and again that their seasonals are some of the best beers available. While KBS probably won't break my top 10, it is still a phenomenal beer that every beer geek should get the opportunity to try. Would I drink it again? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 01:52:46 | More by JamesMN

Burkbom23

Connecticut

4.59/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pitch black, dark as you will find. Un inspiring dark brown head that fades pretty quickly to almost nothing. Lots of tiny bubbles of lacing with every sip that clings to the glass in small circles. Lots of coffee and dark chocolate in the nose. Some roasted notes and slight toffee also. Oak woodiness in the background. Alchol is definitly present. The taste is expresso, and rich, delicious, dark chocolate. Toasted flavors are there. Becomes boozy as it warms. There is an oak backbone all the way through. The delicious chocolate and coffee flavors linger into the aftertaste. Velvety mouthfeel on a full body. This is a very good breakfast stout. Makes you lick your lips with every sip.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:47:50 | More by Burkbom23

CMoPink

Michigan

4.79/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Absolutely love this beer. Got it on tap at the Founder's release party and it was just as delicious as it was talked up to be. I also have one bottle I am saving for a special occasion (I lied to someone and told them it was my birthday to get the bottle).

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2013 15:49:41 | More by CMoPink

RacerX5k

Pennsylvania

4.84/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had one single last year and one single bottle this year and was not impressed at all. Thin, black licorice, with an unpleasant aftertaste. That review would be a generous 3.0 very average. This is not that review. When I saw the draft pop up on my list at an out of the way bar I purchased a good bit of Heady at last year, I thought, well, if I dont like it its only 7 bucks, and if I dont go after work Ill never know. So off I went. And what a pleasant surprise.

Walked in there is only 2 people in the bar and thats good. My 8 oz pour listed at $7 was only $5 and thats better. Beer looks real good, smells just ok (which does get better as you go), hints of chocolate, coffee, bourbon. First taste blows me away, nothing like the bottle. Big chocolate, coffee flavors mixing with a beautiful bourbon barrel in perfect harmony. Finishes dry, stout like dark fruits. Really impressive balance of flavor, thick and rich. 3 pours later I had my 24 oz bomber equivalent for $15 now thats what Im talking about. Something to chew on and contemplate this rainy, quiet, Monday afternoon. Founders you have finally impressed this Bourbon County lover. I will never care to have just one bottle, but this was a real treat.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2013 11:26:30 | More by RacerX5k

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.64/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

The beer pours black like motor oil, black and almost sludge-like. The beer pours with a small khaki head that fizzles away to just a ring around the glass. The head leaves a lacing of thin dry velvety bubbles in root-like tendrils. The beer is properly impenetrable to the eye, like the infinite blackness of space. On the nose, the beer smells of meaty roasted coffee, creamy dark chocolate, a little touch of charred oak, and even a hint of sea salt chocolate. Bourbon is pretty weak in the nose, which is not a bad thing. What does seem to be there, from the bourbon scent is blended beneath the thick roasted coffee notes, but does show a touch of booze. On the tongue, the beer tastes smoothly sweet and then bitter with a slight savory touch, a lasting wetness from acid, and a final light burn of boozy alcohol. In flavor, the beer begins as sweet roasted coffee with touches of creamy dark chocolate, and boozy bourbon hiccups that add a sticky sweetness to the beer. A dry roasted bitter from the coffee flavors sits through the second half of the taste and into the aftertaste along with touches of tannic oak barrel. The finish is sweet with bourbon and smooth milk chocolate and the aftertaste is slightly bitter but sweet with chocolate and bourbon lingering. In the mouth, the beer feels like heaven. Thick and creamy with a carbonation of velvet softness that caresses the tongue beautifully. This is the best feeling stout that has ever sat within my mouth. It leaves the mouth slightly dry and sticky with lingering sweetness from the booze and malts. Overall this beer lives up to its hype. It feels amazing in the mouth, and carries the perfect amount of sweet bourbon and oak characters. The coffee and chocolate flavors are much more prevalent in the flavors. This beer is excellent, and by far the best bourbon stout I’ve tried to date. I only wish I could actually get a 4 pack of it in my area…

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 00:19:09 | More by Maxwell

BobaFret

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2013 batch.

A - Same appearance as FBS: black as motor oil with a quickly dissipating light tan/coffee head.

S - The bourbon barrel character is very strong; a slight hint of chocolate is there.

T - The bourbon barrel character is perfectly balanced. Unlike with the smell you can definitely taste the coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt with a slight bitterness. This is an amazingly well-crafted stout/beer.

M - Extremely smooth. Not too thick, not too thin; just right.

O - Perfection. Beg, borrow, or steal to get this beer; it lives up to the hype.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 03:21:26 | More by BobaFret

Ellis_the_Executive

Kentucky

4.81/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

4 bottles split up between 3 of my friends and I. Each bottle was poured into a snifter.

A: Black, coal black, poured with fingers worth of dark khaki head. Lacing is exceptional.

S: The nose on this beer is everything a person could ask for. Dark chocolate, fresh espresso, top-shelf bourbon, oak, hints of vanilla and malt just take your breath away. The balance on the nose is fantastic, as well, not one scent dominates the rest.

T: This beer is ridiculously rich. The chocolate and coffee notes come through first and absolutely fill your mouth before the bourbon, vanilla, and oak characters come through and wash it away. This beer warms your body the whole way down. It also gets better as it warms. The chocolate and coffee notes mellow out and the beer becomes far more balanced as it gets warmer.

M: Thick. Life drinking alcoholic mocha. Creamy, full, and smooth.

O: This is the best bourbon barrel her I've ever had. The rich coffee and bourbon notes linger with you and it absolutely gives you something to remember. Founder's has absolutely killed it with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 01:22:42 | More by Ellis_the_Executive

ubenumber2

Arkansas

4.74/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Nice hard pour from bottle into the glass. Pitch black beer with a 3 finger deep tan head and lacing that just covers the sides of the glass

The smell is a sticky sweet dark malt with the bourbon at the end and taking over, everything hits the nose great and makes my mouth just water

The mouth on this beer is awesome , a full body with just the right amount of carbonation

The flavor of this stout is very complex but well rounded for its style. The sweet , dark , rich malt starts off nicely , its just bitter enough to let you know it fits the imperial stout style then the bourbon comes along and takes you along for the rest of the ride. As this stout warms up the bourbon becomes more robust and tastes even better

Overall I really didn't think this beer would meet the hype , I was wrong , it met it and beat it. For 18 bucks a 4 pack this is the best beer I have had in this price range. If you can get some , I recommend strongly you get it , do not pass it up. I am not one of the huge stout fans in this world , but this just became my new favorite beer

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 18:07:45 | More by ubenumber2

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

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

A: Pour is dark black with no light coming through when held up to a window. Small head around the rim of the glass. And surprisingly a bit of lacing.

S: Bourban, vanilla, dark malt, some alcohol on nose.

T: Really nice flavor with bourbon dominant up front and sweeter vanilla and chocolate notes on the back. Slight presence of coffee late.

O: Expected to be overrated but is not. Consistent with very high ratings and definitely one to try.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2013 16:13:06 | More by Oakenator

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.36/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle poured into HF glass. This review is a combination of four bottles split between three of us, two of the bottles were '12 KBS and two were '13 KBS. Beer was consumed on 4/19 right after CBS and review is written from notes. I've had this beer a few times in the past but this is my first time reviewing it.

A- Pours a dark black, light mocha head that leaves some spotty lacing, decent carbonation, and overall great appearance.

S- Coffee, light chocolate, extremely nicely balanced bourbon that isn't too abrasive, some slight oak. Fairly aromatic, especially in the '13 where the coffee hasn't faded as much.

T- Coffee, lightly bitter dark chocolate, extremely nicely balanced bourbon. Finishes with more coffee some chocolate and a slight vanilla oak. Coffee and chocolate lingers as an aftertaste. Overall the beer is very nicely balanced and at 70 IBUs the bitterness definitely stands out a little bit for a stout especially in the '12 where the coffee has faded a bit. Overall extremely nicely balanced with some great flavors coming out.

M- Smooth, extremely drinkable for an imperial stout, decent carbonation for a barrel-aged stout.

O- KBS is easily one of my favorite barrel-aged stouts, the only slight complaint that I have about it is that it is a little bit on the bitter side for a stout. Other then that though this beer is very good and the barrel-aging on it is almost a perfected art. I wouldn't highly suggest aging it as the coffee fades letting the bitterness from the chocolate come out. The '13 was definitely better then the '12 which had a little over a year on it, I can say what further aging would do. If you haven't had this before it's definitely worth seeking out, I just wish it was as readily available as the regular Breakfast Stout instead of a once a year release.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 21:10:22 | More by jaasen64

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.99/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Finally had the opportunity to experience this over at Newberry's Yard Of Ale in East Stroudsburg PA! We had a few 8 oz pours. Right off the bat I will confidently state that this was one of the most satisfying high end beers ever to grace my taste buds. It's obsidian appearance is opaque, and topped with a nice layering of foam that resembles chocolate mousse. It's about .5 to 1 inch tall. There's copious amounts of lacing adorning the glass also.

The aroma is luxurious, with top shelf whiskey notes, Toblerone, and light vanilla cream. It's quite vibrant! Upon tasting, the word 'exquisite' immediately came to mind. Lavazza espresso, gourmet dark chocolate, new oak, caramel, subtlety floral hops, and Haagen-Dazs ice cream...the multitude of perceived ingredients are all blended quite smoothly. The velvety liquid is dangerously drinkable with its moderately light body. It's almost too hard to believe the alcohol level is 11%.

It bears repeating that its degree of balance is astounding. Each sip is like a soft journey through it's flavorful layers. Going forward I will take whatever steps are necessary to have this beer each year, however inconvenient. Find it and enjoy as much as possible!

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2013 15:53:49 | More by Neorebel

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.79/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

This highly acclaimed stout pours a smooth, pitch black color with very little head. The aroma is rich with chocolate, coffee, and bourbon. The taste is explosive and delicious. Deep robust flavors erupt on your taste buds as the alcohol warms your stomach. It finishes with a oak, bourbon flavor. This is smooth, delicious, and just as good as expected.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 05:06:26 | More by Lemke10

Ilafan

Minnesota

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

AS GOOD AS IT GETS for me! I sought out this beer at a local Founders Festival and was thrilled at the result. My expectations were high; my expectations were met!

Pour: Black as coal with a great soft-brown foamy head.

Smell: Rich coffee and chalky chocolate

Taste: RICH, RICH, and MORE RICH! The roasted coffee and chocolate was so thick I could practically chew it. It is a heavy beer and a meal unto itself. LOVES IT!

Overall: The best beer I have ever had (so far)!

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2013 18:45:14 | More by Ilafan

AndyP612

Illinois

4.99/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

(2013) Bottle poured into Darkness tulip.

A- Thick murdered out black with no light let through with a fingers worth of khaki brown head. I was kind of expecting a little thicker head otherwise looks very inviting.

S- Chocolate and coffee dominant nose with hints of vanilla and bourbon booze prize towards the end. Very inviting proven by the fact that I'm salivating before the first sip.

T- Wow. Follows the nose very, very closely. Big Chocolate and coffee punch to start with the dryness and the alcohol(not overpowering) from the Ol' Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. A lingering taste of bourbon stays with you between sips along with rich chocolate. Burps taste like whiskey. Delicious. So many layers.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Not too thick but so rich and luscious. Velvety while milky.

O- Worth it. KBS definitely opens up as the temperature levels off. Upon first sip, I was seeing many similarities between this and Founders Breakfast Stout, however, as the layers become more apparent, the differences become less subtle. I want more. Is it 2014 yet?

Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 22:58:13 | More by AndyP612

BeerNotes

Ohio

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

A: Black as oil with a thin khaki head.

S: Lots of cocoa and sweetness, balanced with just a touch of coffee roast.

T: Miraculous. Can I say miraculous? Chocolate, coffee, bourbon, roasty malts. Oak at just the right times. Vanilla undertones throughout, but not extremely noticeable. Not boozy in the mouth, but a little in the stomach. Really masks that 11.2% ABV.

M: Thick and smooth. Really full body.

O: Absolutely lives up to the hype. A remarkable beer. Full-bodied without being overpowering. Complex without being muddled. High ABV without tasting like booze. It’s just delicious. Everything you could ever want in a stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 18:00:05 | More by BeerNotes

Dools9

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle to Founders branded snifter.

A: Black as hell, head was about a finger of chocolate colored head that receded to a skim layer. Looks decadent.

S: sweet vanilla and bourbon combined with loads of dark chocolate, some black coffee and a light whiff of booze.

T: Sweet bourbon, vanilla, very dark chocolate, espresso coffee.

M: Smooth, full, creamy ,lush.

O: Absolutely phenomenal. Drinks like liquid luxury, alcohol is so well masked with the exception of a welcoming warmth going down. Wish i had a few more bottles, but thankful to be able to have tried this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 03:42:49 | More by Dools9

Casedogg43

Indiana

4.21/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2013 out of the bottle, poured into the world famous "Raise your Pints" glass.

Looks quite tasty nice head dark milk chocolate Stout color.
Nose is Coffee and chocolate and sweet bourbon!

I let it warm for approximately 30 minutes, It's slightly chilled over room temperature.
Taste is very coffee forward followed by nice silky chocolate with Bourbon allover the middle and backend. A hint of Vanilla touches the buds too.
The bourbon and coffee linger in your mouth and pallet.

I will say, for as hard as is to get, it didn't live up to expectations. I've previously had bottles of the CBS, And in my opinion KBS isn't at that level.
But that does not mean it's not an absolutely terrific stout! As it is absolutely wonderful!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 02:15:50 | More by Casedogg43

JMurphy41

Illinois

4.89/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

(2013) 12 oz bottle poured into a snifter. Thanks to the guys at Eastgate Liquors in Lakeview for this one. They hooked me up big time.

Appearance: She's a beaut after just a mild pour. Jet black with a khaki-colored one finger head. Leaves some nice lacing on the side of the glass as you put more into your gut. Head shrinks to just a small layer that stays with you throughout the experience.

Smell: Bourbon for days. Vanilla follows, and a bit of coffee is also present.

Taste: Omph. This brew was(is) worth the trouble. Vanilla is actually much more present in the taste than it is in the smell. Coffee is big too. The bourbon and alcohol elements are mellow but definitely appreciable. Coffee taste is what is most prevalent between sips. I'd say that the vanilla is more prevalent when the brew is cooler, and as it warms, the coffee mixes in more with the vanilla. Not too hot at all at any point.

Mouthfeel: This and the taste are what really make this beer shine. It is extra, silky smooth. Almost like milk, and I mean that in the best way possible... Coats the mouth with a welcome layer of velvety goodness.

Overall: Well worth all the hype, honestly. This was my second bottle this year and I enjoyed this one exponentially more than my first (which is why I held off on reviewing it until I had this one). It is a must try for all of you fine people. At about $5/4 pack more expensive compared to BCBS, I'd have to say it's worth the hike in price. I love BCBS, but this beer justifies the extra $1.25/12oz IMO.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 22:40:40 | More by JMurphy41

joshbhs04

California

4.36/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Jet Black, very little head. What head that is there is tan and frothy.

S- Holy bourbon batman, followed by a whiff of coffee

T- Bourbon up front, coffee at the end. Some serious alcohol heat as well

M- Silky smooth mouthfell with some vanilla and alcohol on the end

O- A great stout and im glad to be able to get a few thanks to a trade. I would drink this daily and keep it for special events. Think a few months may lower the heat a lil and create an even better brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 03:34:55 | More by joshbhs04

pmoney

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2013 vintage reviewed on 4/21/13.

Appearance: It pours a thick inky black color. After a vigorous pour, a half-inch head forms and then dissipates within the first minute leaving behind a cream-colored rim. The head-retention is a bit underwhelming, but that is typical of high ABV beers. This year's KBS comes in at 11.2%. I intentionally let the beer sit and warm up to about 50 degrees before enjoying it.

Aroma: Faint aromas of bourbon, chocolate, coffee, and oak. The aroma has improved as it has warmed, but it is still less than I would have expected. Bourbon and chocolate are the more prevalent smells.

Taste: Huge flavors of bourbon, chocolate, vanilla, roasted grains, and a little coffee. There is an excellent balance of all of these components! Bourbon is in the forefront, but definitely isn't overpowering. The coffee kicks in a little more in the back end.

Mouthfeel: Very thick, chewy, and silky-smooth. Everything a barrel-aged imperial stout should be! The carbonation is a little less than average, which is perfect for this beer.

Overall: The best aspects of this beer are the perfect mouthfeel and the wonderful balance of all the flavors. The only things lacking are the coffee flavor and the overall aroma. This year's KBS is a lot more chocolate-forward than years past, and definitely less boozy (especially considering it was bottled only a few weeks ago). It is typical for people to age barrel-aged imperial stouts, but this one is drinking great right out of the gate! I would recommend drinking it at cellar temperature (around 50-55 degrees), and consider pairing it with a piece of plain cheesecake. Overall this was a great beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 13:53:58 | More by pmoney

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

4.7/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A - Thirty weight black in color, with a dark tan velvety half finger of a head

S - coffee and chocolate aromas of course, but its alcohol that dominates the aroma. big on the bourbon in the whiff. Plus that great vanilla oakiness from barrel aging. Ends with a kick of dark fruits, especially plums. Quite an amalgamation of aromas.

T - holy bourbon! big roasted sweet vanilla oaky bourbon flavors. The coffee and chocolate follow up the bourbon elements nicely.

M&D&O - hype met. KBS is an incredible experience and I am very glad it finally made it to New England. I hope some local watering holes got some logs of it as well. It tastes like it would be even more amazing on tap. Rich, thick, layered, complex and utterly flavorful. Try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 01:18:56 | More by sinstaineddemon

mfnmbvp

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, bottled on 03/04/2013. Thanks to the generosity of my local beer store dudes, I was able to snag their very last bottle. Exponentially hyped to be able to try this, although that probably goes without saying.

For lack of a snifter, I am pouring this into a St. Bernardus Watou chalice.

A - Pours a rich, thick, opaque black colored body with about a centimeter of mocha colored foam that dies out within seconds. Looks very enticing. Bit of alcohol lacing on the sides.

S - Nose is comprised of the usual suspects: iced brewed coffee, coffee beans, dark chocolate, and a lovely vanilla / bourbon barrel aroma.

T - Wow, this is a lovingly complex beer with layers of goodness. Silky chocolate body with bitter roasted coffee beans. Finishes with creamy delicious vanilla from the bourbon barrels and a hint of bourbon & some alcohol heat. Perfect carbonation.

M - Sleek, creamy feel, with just a hint of alcohol warmth. Bitter coffee beans & vanilla goodness lingering on the palate.

Overall, it lived up to the hype surrounding it fairly well. Although, I wouldn't trample innocent women & children to have another go at a bottle of this. I have to say, while it is still fresh in my mind from yesterday, that I think the Pipeworks Abduction Coffee Break was a better beer, albeit not aged in bourbon barrels. However, if this beer was more readily available than it is, I could see it as a mainstay in my fridge.

Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) ---4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 20:39:54 | More by mfnmbvp

MacQ32

South Carolina

4.85/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

2013 Keg @ Smokey Oak Taproom in Charleston, SC

A - Pours a near black with a very very thin outer ring of brown head, ok lacing.

S - Roasted coffee & chocolate, lots of vanilla and oak and maybe some caramel malt. Simple sounding but amazing smell.

T - Lots of roasty coffee flavors and bourbon up front, sweet chocolate, vanilla and alcohol astringency follows. A nice rather bitter/alcoholic finish. There may be some dark fruits as well. The roasted bitter flavors, bourbon/alcohol and sweet vanilla dominate.

M - Fullish bodied, a bit of a sipper as the bourbon is pretty noticeable. Mildly (appropriately) carbonated. Very smooth

O - Pretty much met all of the hype, bourbon/alcohol and vanilla sweetness really dominated this one for me. The dark fruits were very much in your face initially, the warmth brought forth more vanilla boozyness.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 03:44:18 | More by MacQ32