Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) - Founders Brewing Company

ZymCity

Michigan

4.31/5  rDev -7.1%
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 -5.2%
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 -2.2%
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 +5.4%
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 +2.6%
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 +4.1%
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 +7.5%
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 -4.5%
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 -9.9%
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

PattyMelt

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2013 KBS.

A- Dark dark brown, almost black, with a dark tan, creamy head that minimalized pretty quick.
S- Heavy malty, dark chocolate smell, with a strong coffee base. Bourbon is evident in the smell, but not over-bearing. It really smells like a decadent piece of chocolate.
T- Bourbon hits at the front and lingers throughout. Other tastes are the same as on the nose. Very malty, chocolate and coffee. The coffee flavor lingers awhile. Very strong taste.
M- Creamy and smooth. Pretty easy to drink despite the liquor and the heaviness of it. Full bodied.

Overall, a great drink. I'm not sure it quite lives up to the hype, but that is a lot of hype to live up to. ;) It is amazing though, and a definite try!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 13:29:41 | More by PattyMelt

jbierling

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - Dark with minimal head. Not fizzy by any means. Pours extremely thick. Wish it had more to the pour.

S - Chocolate, Chocolate. Wasn't able to pick up much Bourbon.

T - Chocolate, chocolate, and chocolate. Did I mention it has a strong taste of chocolate?

M - Carbonated well. Not much head, but good mouthfeel all the same.

O - A high quality beer well worth the asking price, and quite possibly the most chocolatey beer I've ever had. Its hard to imagine anything with more dark chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 02:28:34 | More by jbierling

Ahappyhiker2

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage poured into stemless Heady Topper snifter. I typically like KBS with a year on it, so it's time to see how it's aging.

A- Jet black pour, no visible light through it. Small tan head that dissipates rather quickly. Definitely has lost visible carbonation from last year.

S- Roasted coffee upfront, very traditional for KBS. Some caramel, dark chocolate, molasses. There's a hint of bourbon and vanilla at the end but not much at all compared to other BA stouts. The aroma is bitter and sweet at the same time, very well balanced.

T- The first thing I always notice about KBS is how smooth it is. It has so many distinct, bold flavors but they're subtle when they need to be. There's still a lot of coffee and roasty flavors in there, and as always KBS has much more chocolate to it than vanilla. It's bitter at the end, but not a hoppy bitter, more of a dark coffee or dark chocolate bitter. Like I said, every flavor in KBS is incredibly bold.

M- Thick, chewy, what I've come to expect from Founders' stouts. Carbonation has died down since last year but with the thick mouthfeel it's kinda perfect.

O- KBS is a solid BA stout. It says on the bottom of the label, "Is good for everything a stout ought to be good for" and it certainly is. I typically like my stouts with more of a vanilla characteristic to them (something KBS and CBS certainly lack) but it's a fantastic beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 01:19:52 | More by Ahappyhiker2

mahak213

New York

4.31/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2013 Vintage into HF tulip-

Appearance- Deep, dark, black. Viscous looking pour, with a minimal brown head that faded to a thin ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell- Big roasty coffee and chocolate, with a mild vanilla presence from the barrel.

Taste- Very coffee forward, followed up with fudgey dark chocolate. The bourbon takes a back seat in this, but has a mild vanilla sweetness on the finish. I love the big coffee presence, but wish there was a bigger bourbon presence.

Mouthfeel- Full and coating.

Overall- Seriously good stuff, worth seeking out, but not worth going too crazy for.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 21:46:18 | More by mahak213

AdamF625

Massachusetts

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

A- dark brown to black with a thin brown head.

S- sweet bourbon with strong oak and roasted coffee.

T- strong bourbon flavor, booze, oak, some semi-sweet chocolate.

M- medium body stout, not as thick and syrupy as one would expect.

O- This one was as fresh as it gets so it was a bit boozy, but you can't go wrong here.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 02:18:28 | More by AdamF625

brewtus

Ohio

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

Poured 2013 vintage into snifter. Served at clear temp.
A- pours jet black with a dense thin beige head. Dark as they come
S- tons of dark chocolate, lots of dark roast coffee, lots of oak, bourbon, some vanilla, boozy, good amount of alcohol scent
T/M- first you get the taste of FBS, slams your mouth with dark chocolate and perfectly balanced coffee. The barrel aging kicks in just after, lots of whiskey, lots of oak but neither are over the top. Leaves your mouth with a perfect flavor of chocolate, coffee, and bourbon barrels. The texture is creamy and not bitter at all
O- this beer is amazing. The flavors compliment each other perfectly and there is a lot going on at one time. Along with the obvious listed flavors, you get subtle cinnamon, marshmallow, lactose, hint of smoke, some boozieness. Can't wait to do a side by side with my 2012. This is a perfect example of the style. Make sure to drink this just under room temp to make sure you get to enjoy every aspect of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 01:43:41 | More by brewtus

heffaythegreat

Michigan

4.66/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Black with hints of dark ruby around bottom and top of glass. Dark tan head about a finger width. Can see the alcohol along the top of the glass.

S. Coming through the strongest is the coffee, then chocolate, almost giving it a mocha smell. slight hint of vanilla and bourbon in the background

T. Right off the bat you get chocolate and coffee, finishing off with a slight bourbon and vanilla taste. A slight alcohol burn at the end and almost like a dark fruit taste like raisin.

M. Medium mouth feel. slightly syrupy.

O. This is the best stout I have tasted. Its unfortunate that it is so limited. If I could get regularly, this would be my go to beer. I will be cellaring two of them and trying in a couple years.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 22:46:39 | More by heffaythegreat

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.44/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft pour is a black body with a finger of mocha colored head that retains very well.
Sweet chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and bourbon on the nose.
Great taste of chocolate, vanilla, roasty coffee, slight bourbon, alcohol warmth, and oak barrel.
Drinks full with slight carbonation. Gets dry at the end.
A great beer that shines on all fronts allowing all the components to come out.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2013 02:25:17 | More by MattSweatshirt

Bauzen

New York

4.93/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

It's dark as night. Hardly any head to speak of, and very lightly carbonated.

Smells of coffee and chocolate... Sweet and candy like. Almost like a Riesen candy, if you've ever had one.

The flavor mimics the aroma identically, but intensifies what you're smelling by immersing your pallet. Absolutely no surprises outside of how easy-to-drink this beer is for an 11.2% ABV. While this is a very full-bodied stout, it drinks like light beer. Before you know it, the experience is over and you feel every ounce of the potency.

I've heard all the hype... And after finally sampling two bottles, I suppose it's well justified. This is an amazing stout. Didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as did, and now I'm sad it's over. Hopefully next April I'll be able to snatch up some more and hang onto it.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 00:26:07 | More by Bauzen

DMarlinJ

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I hoped this would live up to it's hype. I love the smell and taste. The head is weak and faded quickly. There is a lot going on in the smell. Wood and bourbon barrel, chocolate and alcohol. It is rich and deep. I keep getting different notes as it warms. Long lasting in smell, stronger than most other beers.

My first impression of taste was milk chocolaty creamy goodness. Then the strong bourbon and oak comes in. Coffee is not as present to me as what I expected from others comments. Nice lingering flavors, nothing off putting. I would rate it higher but I think age can improve it by smoothing out some of bite. So I look forward to next year. I'll save 2 of my 4 for that.

The feel is perfect for me. Creamy, smooth full and rich. Frothy carbonation that is not biting or harsh. A bit sticky lasting coating but I like it. I like how the flavors come out just holding a full mouth it and slowly swallowing.

Overall I think the hype is bigger than the beer but it still is a great beer. So much to offer in complexity. There are a few beers I may like better for wow factor in flavor and drinkabilty but this is hard to beat. For the price it is definitely worth it.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 03:17:32 | More by DMarlinJ

tito42

Missouri

4.88/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Served on-tap in a snifter at Waldo Pizza on 4/5/2013.

A: Thick and very dark brown with just a hint of cherry color.

S: Bourbon barrels, coffee, chocolate, vanilla. Wonderful.

T: Amazing blend of coffee, cocoa nibs, roasted malt, and bourbon-aged oak.

M: Very full bodied and smooth. Leaves a warm bourbon sensation in the throat without the bite of booze.

O: Just about as perfect as I can imagine a beer being. Glad I finally had a chance to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2013 02:29:17 | More by tito42

mattkoon

South Carolina

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

i was able to get one bottle of this by chance and the graces of the dude @ the beer store. i didnt even know what it was. i know what it is now. kbs is one of the best stouts i have ever had. it pours an opaque black and is pretty thick.the smell is not to strong. i get a little creaminess in the nose. the flavor is rich and complex with a nice bitter that maintains from start to finish as the of background flavors move from coffee- to chocolate by the end. now im pretty sad b/c this isnt around for me to buy all the time.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 22:19:51 | More by mattkoon

JohnQVD

New York

4.93/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

2012 release.

Pours a beautiful deep brown with a foamy medium brown head that leaves chunks of lacing on the glass. Smell is sweet chocolate and bourbon with a touch of coffee. Taste is mostly chocolate with some coffee with the bourbon all in the finish. This has a heavy body, but is not boozy though there is a pleasant warming from the alcohol. Overall this is the best bourbon aged beer I've had and was well worth the trouble it took to hunt it down.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 03:37:14 | More by JohnQVD

ironchefmiyagi13

New York

4.94/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

One word...SMOOTH. Everything layers into the other. The bourbon, coffee and chocolate all mold into a mellow bouquet of flavors. Seriously a world class stout and a world class beer to boot. Well worth the wait and so glad I have 4 left t enjoy over the course of the year.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 02:56:50 | More by ironchefmiyagi13

Jonada

New Jersey

4.51/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2013 batch. Served in a Founders snifter

Appearance: Pours motor oil black with a finger and a half of dark tan, almost brown head which dissipated to a relatively thick collar. Leaves some spotty lacing.

Smell: Coffee, vanilla, dark chocolate, roasted malt, bourbon, hint of dark fruit. The bourbon is less prominent than I was expecting.

Taste: Follows the nose closely. Roasted coffee, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, burnt malt, mild oak tannin/astringency.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with a thick, viscous, velvety smooth mouthfeel. Carbonation is medium

Overall: I don't know that any beer can live up to the hype that surrounds this or the work that it can take to obtain a bottle. With that being said, it's still a world class beer and worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 00:21:01 | More by Jonada

Rope

Illinois

4.74/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It was my extreme luck to get this bottle, someone had it on hold and never showed up. The fool.

Appearance-
Black, black oil spilling into the glass. A thin burnt yellow head appeared, and disappeared. A delightful dance of hop oils before the last couple drops went into the cup.

Smell-
Coffee first, coffee ice cream second, and a sweet alcohol finish.

Taste-
I can see what the hype is about. The coffee bitter combines well with the hop bitter to make this not too sweet like many bourbon barrel aged beers. Like the smell, it leaves a sweet alcohol presence.

Mouthfeel-
Microbubbles surrounded by the oil. Heavy, could keep you warm all winter long. Luckily though, it doesn't hover on your palate unpleasantly long.

Overall-
A giant in the category, the best I have had so far. I am curious to see how Dark Lord tastes in comparison.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 21:56:16 | More by Rope