Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - Founders Brewing Company

BeerNotes

Ohio

5/5  rDev +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 -2.8%
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 -9.1%
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 +5.6%
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 -5.8%
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 -3.9%
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 +1.5%
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 -5.4%
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 +4.8%
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

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

4.39/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Gonna have to thank 2 people for this one: Shamrock071521 and Damian74Shensky:

2013 bottle

Into a regular pint glass (also had in a nonic, only difference is a slightly larger head in the reg pint glass by a finger):

[nonic and reg pint]
A: dark brown/almost black colored body, tan foamy head as it rises and falls slowly but nicely enough to leave some nice clingy slightly foamy lacing in the wake

[nonic and reg pint]
S: bourbon up front with coffee, chocolate and oak coming through to try and combine with the bourbon but still stays secondary, vanilla only comes out as it warms

[nonic and reg pint]
T: slightly sweet, but burnt/roasty/smokiness of sorts goin' on, vanilla comes out again but subdued, hmmm...yes a bourbon aftertaste and finish

[nonic and reg pint]
M: heavy, yet smooth and rich, not sessionable (nowhere close, not sure why I had two of these tonight, but I know I'm goin' to bed after this), boy oh boy that ABV is felt [the heat is there], carbonation is adequate

[nonic and reg pint]
O: ok, this is smooth, wow, what a nice mouthfeel, I can see why so many people absolutely love this, and it has so many complexities, however, almost think I need to have one more and let it age just a bit just to see how it does, other than that, this is one I'd have again, and is definitely worth the hype

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 01:50:56 | More by kangarooAdam59

jdkitchi

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured black with large brown head into a large snifter. There was good head retention and sticky lacing.

I mostly get wet coffee grounds on the nose along with some malt. There is a somewhat sweet coffee flavor up front. I get a little bit of cocoa and bourbon barrel after that. The mouth feel is medium.

About halfway through I'm getting more of a balance of the bourbon barrel flavor with the coffee. I started this at cellar temp of about 55F but I think it's a little better as it warms up from there.

I don't know if it is worth the $7 for a 12 oz bottle. Goose Island BCBS is much more intense. Central Waters BS has much more of the bourbon barrel notes. Overall, this is a very good imperial coffee stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 00:26:51 | More by jdkitchi

Fusion7777

Virginia

4.91/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I don't really have much more to contribute over what's already been said by more experienced palates, but KBS is absolutely phenomenal. Poured motor oil black into an oversized wine glass with a modest creamy mocha head. Hints of mahogany when held up to the light. Scintillating aroma with a lot going on; roasty and sweet. Taste is elegantly layered, like a dark chocolate coffee cake in liquid form, revealing hints of caramel, vanilla, and oak as it warms. Muted bourbon character that isn't overpowering but comes together well with the other flavors. Incredibly balanced and nuanced. Mouthfeel is moderately thick but thinner than other big stouts. Dangerously drinkable, luxuriously smooth, and not as hot as you would expect for the ABV. Definitely one to sip and savor. A real treat. A shame this is so much of a hassle to acquire.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 20:46:52 | More by Fusion7777

TTAmod

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Procured a 2013 bottle today. Poured into tulip. Let's see if it lives up to the hype.

A: Dark, dark brown...almost black. There's quite a bit of brown head and carbonation, too. It's about one finger thick and the retention is quite good.

S: Lots of chocolate, coffee, and alcohol come through. There's a touch of oak and bourbon going on in the nose, but not that much.

T: Taste is burnt cocoa nibs, coffee, touch of chocolate. The bourbon is there, but isn't as strong as something like BCBS. Ends with a taste like a chocolate cake and a bit of heat. The bottle says 70 IBUs? Haha...it doesn't taste anywhere near that. Is the bourbon covering it up? This brew doesn't taste bitter at all. And they're not lying when they say that this is a completely different beer than Breakfast Stout...doesn't taste anything like it.

M: Very, very smooth and quite easy to drink considering the high ABV. There's a bit of carbonation tingle, but this stuff is SMOOTH.

O: It's good, but not as good as BCBS and not the liquid gold that people claim it is. It's not a bad beer by any means, though. I think a bit more bourbon flavor and slightly less sweetness would do this beer some good.

I'd definitely buy some again, but not something I'd buy every day, especially considering the price.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 01:48:46 | More by TTAmod

fx20736

New York

4.79/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Given to me as a gift by a very generous BA on 4/16/13.

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a St Bernardus Chalice, served at room temp.

Appearance: Kentucky Coal Black with a 1 finger mocha head that has a cinnamon color to it. No lacing to speak of.

Aroma: deeply roasted malt and a hint of coffee get a mammoth bear hug of oaky, vanilla-ish Bourbon. Alcohol vapors.

Mouthfeel: silky, smooth. As delightful a mouthfeel as any beer.

Taste: rich, dark, chocolate, a touch of coffee and a good wallop of Bourbon with some molasses and vanilla in there somewhere. The oak from the barrels is noticeable as well.

notes: so this is KBS! I was afraid the beer couldn't possibly live up to the hype, thank God my fears were unfounded. Aroma, mouthfeel and taste are all perfect or nearly so. The only minor blemish is lack of lacing and head retention but that may just be a result of the barrel aging. The Bourbon flavor is blended in to the beer very well so it is not a hot mess. This is one of the best beers I have ever had. I hope to be able to get another bottle for Christmas!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 22:38:23 | More by fx20736

ktblue22

Vermont

4.84/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I just realized I forgot to ask if this was being served nitro or not - perhaps I can research and update later. We usually ask to sit at the bar, however, since it was extremely packed we grabbed a table (at the Whetstone Station in Brattleboro- you may have seen ads for it on this site!).

Waited 15 minutes for the beer to come so you can imagine how antsy I was to finally try it. I was with my partner and one of my best friends, we all were trying it for the first time and the anticipation was exciting and fun. We all took sips at the same time, and we all exclaimed simultaneously OH MY GOD.

Seriously smooth and velvety - vanilla and caramel and sweet sweet bourbon. The aftertaste is a sweet burn from the bourbon barrel. Delicious and very sippable - the intensity of this beer makes me recommend not chugging it! It is also incredibly rich. So happy to have been able to try it on tap, would love to compare it to the bottle!

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2013 19:55:20 | More by ktblue22

Doc_Hops

Pennsylvania

4.49/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A- Kentucky Breakfast Stout pours a jet, almost motor oil color with a creamy looking heady that is dark tan, if not light brown.

S- Rich coffee notes pop out first followed but nicely but some subtle chocolate and bourbon notes. There's a faint hint of vanilla too that is quite pleasant.

T- WOW! What pops out right away is the dominating malt character. Lot's of thick, roasted flavors going on. This is melding very interestingly with vanilla and chocolate sweetness. Quite a bit of bourbon as well; this is actually lingering quite a bit. I'm lovin' it!

M- Smooth like velvet. Full bodied, heavy bodied, whatever you want to call it, this beer is dense and delicious. Not a whole lot of booziness from the 11.2% ABV, which is actually a bit surprising. I'm sure this would mellow out even more with some aging.

O- Absolutely stellar beer. Rich and complex flavors are keeping me wanting another sip. I wish I had one more to age a while to see what it does. Nevertheless, I'm incredibly happy I got to try it. This beer definitely lived up to its reputation. Great stuff from Founders.

Serving Type- 12oz bottle poured into a large tulip

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 05:10:54 | More by Doc_Hops

ZymCity

Michigan

4.31/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2013 edition KBS
Poured from a 12 oz bottle to a snifter glass.

appearance - beer pours thick, oily, black with a relatively light, one-finger, rust-brown head. the head unfortunately dissipated relatively quickly.

smell - bourbony, boozy dominance with hints of licorice, coffee and notes of chocolate.

taste - thick mouthfeel, pleasantly boozy, moderate sweetness, roasty bitterness compliments the other flavors well

mouthfeel - thick bodied with low carbonation is appropriate for the style and allows a variety of flavors to come through as you make your way through the beer.

overall - sort of a bummer that the first time i saw this beer on the shelf this year was in mid-may. at this point, im ready to put any and all winter warmers behind me and transition to more "sessionable seasonals". i wonder why they wait until the spring to release this one. either way, the beer was wonderful and very much true to style. i like that the bourbon characteristics were obvious but not overwhelming. i've had bourbon-minded beers in which the boozy-bourbony elements were overpowering and ruined the experience as well as my palate....sometimes subtlety is a virtue. i'll probably age this one a bit and see where it goes.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 02:12:19 | More by ZymCity

mikeyv35

New York

4.4/5  rDev -5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Date: 04/15/2013
Type: 12oz. Bottle
Vintage: 2008
Glass: Southampton Tulip

*Excited to crack this 2008 vintage bottle with the scaled down 10% ABV and wild west Kentucky Breakfast Stout spelled out label.

Pours a midnight black in color w/ only a few dark brown bubbles that leave no lacing on the glass. Aromas of coffee, oak, bourbon, and vanilla. The flavor was of coffee up front, leading into very smooth oak/vanilla/bourbon, and finishes w/ ever so slight hop bite and char. Full bodied, but a bit thin due to the carbonation falling off a bit over 5 years in the bottle. Very easy to drink as the ABV is well hidden and the flavors are so well melded together.

Overall, this is the KBS I remember and it took me back to a better time in beer 5 years ago. When this beer was fresh and the carbonation was there this beer was a lush monster, this rich and lush monster is what built the reputation and high score for this beer. If the carbonation was there that once was this would get a much higher score. The KBS now is only a shadow.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 22:59:36 | More by mikeyv35

MaximalC

Illinois

4.54/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours ebony with a respectable mocha head. Aroma smells of chocolate, coffee, and bourbon, with perhaps a hint of dark fruit--not overpowering, but present enough to be appreciated. At first blush, taste is similar to that of the regular Breakfast Stout, but with a greater balance between the chocolate and coffee notes, which I find to be more heavily weighted on the coffee side in the breakfast stout. The balanced chocolate-coffee blend is offset by the addition of the bourbon, which lends a smooth, solid oaken sophistication that takes Breakfast Stout to the next level. This brew certainly doesn't want for flavor, and is best enjoyed sip by sip. The taste is smooth and never cloying, and the staying power is impeccable. The aftertaste is pleasant and prolonged, affording plenty to savor between sips. Alcohol is just present enough to lend some warmth without being overbearing, and certainly well masked--I never would have surmised the 11% ABV. It only improves with warming, and I found the experience of enjoying a bottle over the course of an hour to be wholly satisfying.

KBS takes the already delicious Founders Breakfast Stout to the next level. It's a smooth, luxurious blend of chocolate, bourbon, and coffee in equal measure, and pretty much on par with the reputation that precedes it.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 02:51:45 | More by MaximalC

alphaacid9000

Michigan

4.89/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle 2013

Once again, another outstanding year of KBS

Dark brown to black, bright clear with a thin light tan head.

Aroma is fantastic, could just smell this beer all day! Bourbon hits first followed by smooth coffee aroma. Notes of vanilla, chocolate, toffee, sweet malt and alcohol

Flavor is more chocolate but swiftly followed by the bourbon, sticky malt sugar and coffee. Bitterness is assertive and beautifully cuts the sweetness. Would have given a higher taste rating but I am detecting a slightly metallic or alkaline flavor that I have not remembered from past years - maybe just too young. Mouthfeel is very full bodied and delicate.

Overall - Many beers fall to the hype once the hype gets to a ridiculous level. KBS is not in that class. This beer stands on its own and speaks for itself.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:08:24 | More by alphaacid9000

tastymug

Ohio

4.76/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Pours a thick black, with a minimal dark-tan head with some retention around the edge of the glass; lots of lacing as you drink.

Smell: Nose is sweet and roasted with coffee, chocolate and a hint of vanilla and oak.

Taste: Lives up to the hype; roasted, chocolate, vanilla (which typically comes from being aged in bourbon barrels) with a little hint of sweet bitterness; can also pick up on the oak and bourbon.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a real creamy smoothness; coats the tongue and lingers.

Overall: This was my first encounter with the esteemed KBS, and I have to say, it didn’t disappoint. I was drinking several very good beers in a flight while waiting for KBS to be poured at a local establishment’s Beer-Fest KBS party, and when compared side-by-side to KBS, the other beers definitely fell a bit into its shadow. In a special class, KBS is well worth the effort of hunting it down. I’m sure I’ll be doing the same when it releases again next year!

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2013 17:24:26 | More by tastymug

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

4.83/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A: Poured at 57.4F into a Riedel stemless goblet. Pours dark mahogony brown with a relatively minor toffee head which subsides quickly with minimal lacing.

N: Hard to figure out where to begin. You have the milk chocolate, with vanilla, but all wrapped in a kind of buttery toffee smell. The bourbon is there when you first open it, but subsides after a while. Doesn't really smell boozy to me. 11.2%?? No way. But wow, the smell is delicious and just like many a FB relationship status: it's complicated.

T: This really really really is a well crafted stout. Artisinally produced. Evertyhing you get in the nose is there on the tongue, and each flavor on its own is quite bold and distinct, but it's all just sooo dang balanced. You get the very rich coffee and expresso but it's totally interwoven with the chocolate and the vanilla from the bourbon barrel. The bourbon flavors and booziness didn't really start to become prominent until this warmed to 60F or so. But completely and complexly delicious.

MF: So smooth and velvety. Very creamy and sticks to your mouth and palate. You can still get the oak and vanilla 10 seconds after your last swallow on the back of your tongue.

O: This is a truly EPIC stout in almost every way. Is it worth $5 / bottle, for 2 bottles once a year? Sure. Would I pay that much every day?, no way. Continuous battle of hype, expectation, scarcity and quality. But a great beer in any case.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 02:06:31 | More by JeffreyJDavis

douginromeo

Michigan

4.99/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2013 vintage aggressively poured into snifter at cellar temperature.

Appearance - dark, with just the slightest bit of light visible through it. Pours a 1/2 inch beige head that dissipates rather quickly

Smell - won-der-ful! Vanilla, bourbon, caramel sweetness. Just so pleasant to smell that it ALMOST seems a shame to drink

Taste - In a word, balance. Nothing overpowers anything else in this beer. The vanilla, bourbon, and dark malts play so well together that there can be no doubt of the craftsmanship that went into the making of this beer.

Mouthfeel - Thick, viscous, and silky, with the perfect amount of carbonation. This is what a barrel aged stout should be like

Overall - In my humble opinion, there is simply not much to improve upon. It is so well-balanced and well done that there won't be much that is better in this specific genre of beer. I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I'm vastly experienced with bb stouts, but I know a great beer when I drink one. This is a great beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 19:26:10 | More by douginromeo

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pored from a distance into a balloon glass to try and coax the head in this high ABV beer. Great success! Big, two-finger-thick, mocha-colored head that sits with some tight, some foamy bubbles on top. Some lacing too. Deep, black body that does not allow much light to pass through at all. Head dissipates to thin layer after several minutes.

Massive aroma that is pumped up with notes of coffee, vanilla, and dark malts. Coffee definitely dominates the aroma, but those layers of chocolate and bourbon-soaked wood help to add more complexity here. Smells delicious. Delivers what is says it is going to deliver.

Rich coffee/espresso and chocolate notes that are overlaid with notes of bourbon, oak and vanilla. A very supple taste that could easily hold up to some strong food pairings or cigars. As the beer warms the alcohol becomes much more prevalent and even a touch hot.

The beer's body is as thick as can be. Velvety and creamy carbonation. Smooth and rich, with a slick finish. This is a great body for such a big beer. Compliments the flavor and aroma very well.

Yet another great beer from Founders! It isn't something you could drink a lot of, but still remains a tasty beer. I don't think it's the best beer that Founders makes, but it's 100% worth trying and I would definitely drink this again. It exemplifies the signature barrel aged smoothness and bold character that I come to expect from their beers. A must try for barrel-aged beer lovers.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 17:52:45 | More by MusicaleMike

Trifecta1

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle at Dark Lord 2012.

A - Deep brown/black, decent head retention for the ABV. Head looks like chocolate milk.

S - Coffee, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, smoke, not much else, not very complex, but it does smell good.

T - Coffee, ashy chocolate, slight bourbon and vanilla. It's good, but not great.

M - Creamy, full-bodied, sticky. Coats the tongue in a single sip. Decent carbonation, not over or underwhelming.

O - Does not live up to the hype, plain and simple, partly because there IS so much hype. It is, however, a good stout, but would never pay over 5 dollars per 12oz bottle. That's just absurd.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 15:56:51 | More by Trifecta1