Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - Founders Brewing Company

david131

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A- One of the thickest, blackest beers I have ever seen. A very large, surprising amount of carbonation that leaves a beautiful dark brown/ orange head the entire time.

S- Coffee right off the bat, then some chocolate, and then the bourbon kicks in. Some oak and vanilla highlights are there as well.

T- A lot of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. The charred oak taste is great. The bourbon is a little heavy at first but after drinking this for awhile, it fades to the back a little bit and adds a great amount of complexity to it.

M- This thing is thick. Velvety smooth and heavy. This thing coats your mouth, but its not harsh or overwhelming at all. This is amazing.

D- The richness of this thing was a little much. I am sure this will be even better the second time around now that I have had one to tease my palate a bit.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2007 03:43:26 | More by david131

BillyB

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my kind of beer! Deep, rich dark, full bodied ass kicking high alcohol beer.

It tastes so damn good! I just want to start out with that. SO DAMN GOOD!

As the notes say it's not just a double stout aged in bourbon barrels. It's an entirely different beer

Appearance is black to opaque. Head is minimal.

Aromas of deep rich oak and alcohol. Slight coffe and cream with a big shot of whiskey.

Taste is creamy, chocolatey, oakey, coffee/caramel whiskey.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2007 23:51:51 | More by BillyB

SacoDeToro

California

4.8/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured a rich coal black with a small brown head.

The aroma was huge. It was bursting with roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, bourbon and vanilla. There was a little alcohol in the nose as well. No hops.

The flavor of the beer was richly malty with a ton of intense coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Vanilla was there to accent things. The bourbon flavor was very pronounced. I'm a big bourbon fan so this was a real treat for me. There was a nice creaminess to the beer and it also had some faint tangy notes. The hops were there to balance things out, but weren't too powerful.

The carbonation was perfect. I can't believe this beer is 10% - it's dangerously drinkable at that level. This beer is a superior example of complimentary flavors, most notably stout, chocolate, and coffee.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2007 16:08:43 | More by SacoDeToro

objectivemonkey

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Into a tulip glass, pours an oil thick jet black crazy crazy, no head until the glass is full and only then does a thin quarter inch of dark tan head grow from the abyss, sticks around for a few seconds, then fades away into a swirl of film and some stringy lacing. Pretty nice, but for the small glob of syrupy guppy goo floating on top (fished out, forgotten, on to drinking!!).

Aroma is deep, dark, and nasty, loads of coffee up in there, vanilla hints and dark chocolate, and just barely some licorice and brown sugar, very faint. The bourbon is nicely handled but a bit faintish, I think a good thing, letting everything else come through clean and clear, very satisfying.

Taste is complex, tasty, thick. Taking it slow with this one, potent, the boubon much more expressive up front, playing center stage with fresh coffee grounds, merging into nicely chocolaty toward the end, with coffee grounds faint and lending a bit of lingering strength through the finish, while the bourbon lingers in the background, and lingers, and sits around for a but longer. Adjusts itself, shifts to the other cheek, hangs around some more. Finally, after a few minutes, take another sip, repeat, fantastic.

The mouth is preffy full, could be a little thicker, but beautifully smooth and warm, just enough carbonation, pretty darn nice. Now, let me just say that I am no fan of bourbon, but here it melds perfectly into a stouty perfection that is just fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2007 06:00:05 | More by objectivemonkey

aforbes10

Iowa

4.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I opened this bottle from the 2006 bottling last night as i became worried it might not age very well and decided i didn't want to let it go to waste. Served at cellar temp. Poured perfectly black with a tawnt brown head and great lacing. Clumpy oily foam bits in the head. Odor is slightly oxidized bitter chocolate and copper. Chocolate bourbon odor becomes more prominent as the beer warms. This appears to have been the only part of the beer that has suffered from age. Taste remains fantastic. Can i give this a 6 out of 5 please? The chocolate and slight bitter malt combine smoothly with the warming alcohol to create almost a truffle-like deliciousness. hints of creamy vanilla more prominent on the finish. super thick and almost foamy mouthfeel. To sum up, it's changed slightly with a year's aging...mostly in the nose, but its still sensational and i'll be buying as much as i can when i see it next.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2007 14:43:34 | More by aforbes10

jopl

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Founders on 1/15/07. Served in brandy snifter.

Appearance: Was dark black with a ring of brown head around it. No lacing to speak of around the glass.

Smell: Amazing smell. Strong bourbon, coffee and stout smell. Kinda hits you in the face but at the same time, makes you want more.

Taste: Taste is the same way. Powerful complex flavors coming together perfectly. The bourbon, coffee and vanilla blend together to make an intense but delicious beer.

Mouthfeel: Well carbonated and surprising smooth considering the alcohol and percentage. Makes you wonder how they do it...

Drinkability: This is definately a sipper. Not to taken lightly and I don't think I could have more then two of these in a sitting.

Overall a delicious beer that deserves it's rank as #3 on BA. It's also pretty nice that I can just drive a few miles and get this whenever I want, if it's on tap that is. :)

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2007 17:53:42 | More by jopl

malty

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This was bottled about a year ago and it's been in the back of my beer fridge completely protected from any light whatsoever. Left to warm on the counter for an hour and consumed around 50F.

Pours black as night with a foamy khaki head that settles to 1/2". Nice lacework.

The scent is dusty and billowing with premium grinded coffee, vanilla, dark unsweetened bitter chocolate and a wonderful whisp of bourbon. You can smell this beer across the table. And I swear I can actually hear this beer singing to me. I think I hear Muddy Waters “I’m a Maaaannn…” You think I’m lying?!

Wow, everything I just smelled is translated exactly into blossoming, smooth and fresh flavors. There's a perfect balance of the dark and bitter chocolate paired with the acidic and bitey premium coffee punctuated with an ever-so-smooth backdrop of bourbon, oak and vanilla all encompassed in roasted and caramelized glorious malts. Falvors are masterfully balanced, dry, sweet & huge.

Mouthfeel is like cream. Velvety smooth and silky. Full bodied with a long and lush flavorful finish with a nice counterbalance of dryness and warmth.

Drinkability is through the roof considering the enormousness of this ale. A slow and steady course of sipping is what this beer is built for. Slow and steady lad, slow and steady.

This beer has already garnered iconic status, and deservedly so. I'm proud to know it's from a brewery 45 minutes from my house also. As I type this, a roundly balanced resonance of premium bourbon flavor is lining the inside of my cheeks. I'm so glad I stocked-up on this 'cause I can't see making my way through winter without it. Utterly superb! Merry Christmas!

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2006 16:34:27 | More by malty

rsyberg01

California

4.97/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

S - 12 oz. bottle. Again, Andy is the man.

A - Black with a brownish red breaking through at the very edge. Tan chocolate head, looks great.

S - Coffee, chocolate, vanilla, oak, bourbon with a slight alcohol burn on the tail of the whiff. What the hell is going on inside my glass, wow.

T - Chocolate, coffee, espresso, oak, vanilla, slight bourbon again with some alcohol warmth to it. I cant even express how I feel right now.

M - Viscous, but not too, perfect.

D - I wish I had an everlasting glass of this nectar of the gods.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2006 00:32:30 | More by rsyberg01

Dubbercody

Washington

4.72/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow about sums up this beer. I was very impressed with how well the taste of burbon was pulled off in this brew, very much there without hitting you over the head with it. I had this following the Breakfast Stout and I was quite amazed at how different they tasted, while both great beers this one has a bit more of a trp down the rabbit hole.

This is one amazing beer, it looks as great as the other reviews and if you are a stout drinker, it's a must try beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2006 21:05:56 | More by Dubbercody

amatuerbeerguy

Oklahoma

4.4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured out an opaque black. Aromas of wood, bourbon, hint of milk chocolate, with smoke.

Flavors of dark chocolate, malt, wood, roast, some metallic.

Mouth feel is huge body, creamy, milkshake like. Carbonation is low, no lacing but has legs.

Overall this is a nice well balanced, flavorful beer. Awesome.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2006 06:49:19 | More by amatuerbeerguy

EvilKeith

Alabama

4.33/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout poured into the glass viscous and nearly black in color. The head began as a half finger of reddish brown foam that fell to a thick collar and a wispy cap. The lacing was somewhat spotty, but was still clingy.
The smell was sweet roasted malts, strong coffee, ripe dark fruits, molasses, rum, and spicy alcohol.
The taste was initially espresso, a strong roasted character with moderate bitterness that got lost in the overt peppery and warming alcohol. There were flashes of sweetness throughout balanced against hop bitterness and a moderate dryness in the finish.
The body was thick and heavy, the carbonation was fairly light.

Wow! This is one fine American Double Stout! A couple of these for breakfast would certainly precipitate an early nap, with no complaints from me!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2006 17:54:21 | More by EvilKeith

froggyfrog

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A highly anticipated beer for me for sure. A huge thanks to hoppymeal for slipping me this bottle.

12 ounce brown bottle. Beer served in a clean glass snifter.

Liquid lamp black with a feeble sea foam head that etches an unyielding line of hardened foam on the glass. A very black beer, impenetrable to light.

Aroma is sweet Hershey's chocolate syrup and Jack Daniel's. A mouthwatering combination to sat the least. Also comprising the nose is brewed black coffee some toffee, vanilla and dark bittersweet chocolate. Wow!

The flavor: An expertly done smoky liquid bourbon oak and black coffee mix. Toasted oak and grain with a mild vanilla finish.

[Some have complained of the level of bourbon evident in this brew, calling it overpowering, but I dig it just the way it stands. The whiskey barrel brings depth and a strong flavor to this beer and that suits me just fine. I'm not a liquor drinker myself (to much alcohol burn getting in the way of my flavors), but I love the taste of good whiskey, etc. in my beer. That being said: this is not a hot alcohol beer or one overpowered by bourbon flavors. I call it just right. 5.0]

MF: Silky and smooth. Drinks like an oatmeal stout liquor if there was such a monster. Really, it floats across the tongue like so much hand whipped cream.

Drinkability: For all its strength and complexity this beer could be guzzled very easily.

The Verdict: An awesome beer, worthy of the hype. Derek: You're the man, I owe you one.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2006 04:33:21 | More by froggyfrog

blackie

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

appearance: The pour gives a mocha colored head that soon recedes to a ring around the snifter. The beer is nearly black in color.

smell: Espresso beans dripping with warm milk chocolate blended with rich, roasted grain syrups. Thick, sweet cream. Wonderfully woody bourbon fumes and an aged American hop aroma that melds just right with the other smells. Hardwood that has been exposed to sweet, moist pipe tobacco for quite some time. Practically perfect.

mouthfeel: The low, smooth carbonation and full, creamy body combine to create a silky mouthfeel. Almost spot on...just a touch more thickness for me.

taste: Sweet, medium roast coffee bean blended with milk chocolate and cream upfront. The flavor gradually turns from sweet to dry, with the roast taking over. The bourbon doesn't make itself known until after the swallow, when it plays around for a second with the espresso and chocolate. Low American hop flavor. A moderate bitterness comes out in the finish with a hint of ethanol, and lingers for quite awhile with dry coffee and roasted barley flavors. Just a touch more malt depth to the taste and it would be an easy 5

drinkability: a breeze

Shipped to NC by dirtylou sometime late last winter (please send more). Notched about 1/3 of the way across the top of the label...some dating code...whatever it means (February?)

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2006 03:23:40 | More by blackie

xav33

Michigan

4.88/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Founder's Kentucky Breakfast Bourbon Aged Stout
12 oz bottle
Bottled 11/05, served with Wheaties 11/06
Medium pour in a large tulip glass.

Poured inky black with an average light brown somewhat lasting head.

Smelt of strong bourbon, dark coffee, toasted oak.

Flavor was upfront bitter charred oak, dark coffee, with light sweet bourbon and bitter sour vegetal soy bean taste, followed by a moderately bitter earth and dark chocolate sweetness on a long oaken finish. Palate was full bodied, creamy, softly carbonated, moderate astringency and alcohol warmth.

Overall, the explosion of flavors begs for another sip, and another bottle...

JesseDaniels is a beer pimp and is owed undying gratitude by me for sharing this little bundle of liquid charcoal joy.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2006 05:39:00 | More by xav33

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.68/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Pours solid black with a thin creamy brown head that turned into a little oil slick floating on top of the beer. This one almost has legs in the glass like a bourbon itself. Very nice.

S - Bourbon, vanilla, oak and hints of chocolate.

T - Slight burnt coffee, bourbon, vanilla, oak and slight lactic milk quality.

M - Creamy but slightly on the thin side.

D - I originally thought this was bourbon barrel aged Breakfast Stout but the notes up top say different. The one I am reviewing is about a year old and the heavy coffee flavor I got when it was fresh has mellowed which is a good thing in my opinion not being a huge coffee fan. This one needs a little more mouthfeel but is exceptional otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2006 22:26:03 | More by brewcrew76

orfeu

New Mexico

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

Bottle received in trade last summer from nflmvp (big ups, Steve!). Poured into a 17-ounce snifter. Ridiculously black -- pitch, tar, etc. -- with a dark mocha foam cap that fizzles to a dedicated ring and a thin swirled mass in the center of the glass. Simply amazing aroma complex: striking scent of earthy wet hardwood, with unsweetened Mexican chocolate, vanilla, and coffee aromas rounding out the scent. And the taste is just unbelievable. Every sip is a mouthful of sweet dark chocolates filled with incredibly smooth whiskey and white pepper. The 10% alcohol by volume is unmistakably noticeable, but the way in which it has been so deftly melded with the rest of the flavors is beyond belief. There are also dark fruit flavors: dried Bing cherries, prune nectar, currants. The silkiness of the mouthfeel is otherworldly -- no alcoholic slickness, just pure zero-resistance smoothness. An earthy finish gives way to an aftertaste of all the above-mentioned flavors that aboslutely demands repetition of the entire experience.

God. Damn.

I had been sitting on this bottle for a few months now and only opened this one tonight because I recently received another one in trade (maximum respect to hoppymeal for that one!). I am so terribly glad that I did. This most certainly must be one of the most beautiful beers available in the world today. Nothing short of peerless.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2006 23:44:37 | More by orfeu

lpayette

Vermont

4.18/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Thanks for autumnaldave for supplying this to me via trade.

Details- 12 oz bottle. No apparent bottled on date. Paired with steak and twice baked mashed potatoes (unfortunately for dinner instead of breakfast).

Appearance- Very thick, jet black, small brown head composed of very small bubbles.

Smell- First thing that hits the nose is the bourbon. Bakers chocolate follows. Chocolate-covered cherries, ground coffee, and nuts. Very complex and interesting.

Taste- Bourbon, smooth chocolate, cherries, vanilla, raw coffee, nuts at times, and finally, alcohol.

Mouthfeel- Very much a full-bodied brew as expected. Gets creamier as it warms.

Drinkability- A very big and flavorful beer. Delicous and enjoyable, but this is definitely a sipping beer. The bourbon taste made it hard to quaff, but still damn good.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2006 23:19:26 | More by lpayette

CraftAle

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Smells and tastes bourbon with roasted malt. Very thick mouth feel, and dark black color. Largest serving available is only 8 ounces on tap, and served in sniffer. More like an after dinner cigar than a beverage. I appreciate the quality, but wouldn't buy this again, I didn't taste the hops.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2006 22:25:12 | More by CraftAle

kimcgolf

Georgia

4.93/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured to a used motor oil black with dark tan head, that lingered a while, then reduced to lkay lacing. This was the only thing about this beer that could have been better. Aroma was an excellent blend of sweet malt chocolate and toffee, with a nice bourbon-alcohol background. Flavor of this thick-bodied beer was also a perfect mixture of sweetness and bourbon. This all led to a long, smooth, warming finish, with a mild alcohol, similar to a shot of Maker’s Mark.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2006 18:51:22 | More by kimcgolf

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.85/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Tried this beer at a BA Gathering in Portland 23 Sept, 2006.

A: Pours a very dark brown, though when held to a light traces of red and auburn creep in. Almost no head and a hint of mocha-colored film. Rich and thick.

S: What is that? Oh my, what an incredibly appealing aroma! Huge espresso/coffee nose. Bittersweet chocolate. Woody smell, smoky and sweet - like the most savory barbeque. Notable bourbon barrel-tinged alcohol, too. What a nose full - could smell this all night...however...

T: ...could it possibly it taste as great as the smell? In a word: yes. Extremely rich and complex. Begins like a mildly sweet & toasty oatmeal stout. Packs a wallop of deeply roasted malts with heavy emphasis on chocolate and coffee. An oaky flavor of vanilla and mildly sweet spice then develops to a pleasantly dry finish, warmed with the 10% alcohol. An incredible taste.

M: Very smooth, the influence of barrel-aging really mellows this beer. Coats the mouth and lingers for quite a while. One to savor.

D: An incredible beer... a sipper in small portions and not for the faint of heart. I'm very glad to have tried this one and recommend to anyone who has a chance to get some. Won't be forgotten...

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2006 19:44:11 | More by msubulldog25

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance - opaque black, not even a little color on the edge. A thin layer of mocha bubbles on top. Some spotty lacing, rather random.

Aroma - very dark roasted malt, with definite scents of chocolate, espresso, and charred oak.

Taste - an intense play of the oak barrel with the chocolate. At times the char almost tastes peppery like chipotle. Not much else gets through besides the alcohol on the swallow. The burnt, charred flavor is more intense at first and mellows with temperature. It's basically a chocolate and bourbon experience, but it is so over the top that it's a bit of a chore to enjoy. Some intensities of flavor I like, but this bourbon influence tends to take over the profile making it hard to pick out and enjoy any other flavors.

Mouthfeel - not as heavy as I expected but still silky smooth. Good amount of carbonation and still lays down a serious layer on the palate.

Drinkability - this is a very intense beer, and while I like some of the bourbon barrel styles, this one is a little too wound up for me.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2006 19:18:20 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Dilly Deli at the Founders tasting. Pours a pitch black with a thin tan foamy head. Head disappears quickly. Aromas of chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, and coconut. Deep rich chocolate flaovr, coffee, a bit oaky, with vanilla as well. Bourbon is subtle, not overwhelming. Medium body, maybe even a bit thin for a beer of this magnitude. A lot of great flavors going on here. Somewhat warming, but the alcohol is not overbearing. Very nice. Thanks to Founders for bringing this treat on tap!

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2006 02:31:31 | More by Bierguy5

badbeer

Iowa

4.65/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared courtesy of MABZ, thanks for the opportunity.

Poured a nice black color, with hues of red when held to the light. Tan colored head with a tid bit of lacing. Smell was very nice, fresh roasted coffee with a hint of vanilla and some nice wood and bourbon notes as well. Taste was even better. The coffee started out but quickly I noticed a nice wooden and bourbon flavor, paired with vanilla and hints of cocoa. Mouthfeel had low carbonation and was on the lighter side of full bodied, but still relatively thick. I'd love to have more of this and look forward to getting some when it's released again. If you see any of this on the shelves, run, don't walk and grab all that you can.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2006 03:30:08 | More by badbeer

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I've been sitting on this bottle for about 2 months, since buying the last stock from Holiday market in Detroit. The first notable thing is the low carbonation, evidenced by almost no pffft sound when I opened the bottle. Also there was no head, just a thin ring of tan bubbles where the beer meets the glass.

But the smell and taste are the most important dimensions, and both were really good. It smelled STRONG, like whiskey and roasted malt. The flavor was heavily malted and had decent currents of chocolate and whiskey. No coffee that I could smell or taste. Or maybe on reflection just a hint of coffee.

The mouthfeel was thick and chewy, really nice. Overall I'm glad I tried it, but it's too big to drink too often so it's no problem that it's brewed like once a year.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2006 23:51:21 | More by TurdFurgison

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Total darkness - a pitch black body with nary a highlight, topped by a three-finger light tan head, excellent lacing. Head drops very quickly. Great label, too. Surprised it got approved.

Big aroma of bourbon/vanilla/oak, with deep roast coffee and chocolate undercurrents.

Taste starts with coffee, adds a dark Hershey kiss, a healthy dollop of vanilla, some oak, and a dash of earthy hops at the finish. Bit of late belly warming as it slides down the throat.

Smooth, silky mouthfeel coats everything in the mouth. For such a big beer, wonderous drinkability.

Might not want to start my day with this, but its a damn fine way to end it.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2006 03:52:46 | More by RonfromJersey