Founders CBS Imperial Stout - Founders Brewing Company

bound4er

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Something special for Superbowl Sunday.

From a 750 ml bottle.

I've had this beer twice prior to writing this review - once on tap and once from a 750 that I shared with coworkers. I must admit that I was underwhelmed on both occasions. We'll see what a closer look reveals.

A. Black as a starless night with a nice dark tan to light brown head of three fingers. The head never totally disappears even with only a sip left in my glass.

S. Bourbon barrel notes, cola (lots of it too), licorice (Good & Plenty candy comes to mind) and maple if I really take a deep sniff. Pretty sweet smelling but in a very nice way.

T. Wow, what a mouthful of complex flavors. Licorice and bourbon flavors start things off. Secondary flavors of vanilla, dark roasted coffee and maple follow. There is some nice bitterness on the back end - herbal in nature - to help clean things up and provide a lingering aftertaste. Pretty amazing stuff.

M. Really coats the mouth in a thick, almost syrupy fashion. These heavy, full bodied beers are fun to drink at first but get tiring quickly to enjoy other than in small amounts. CBS is no different in this category.

O. Having this beer on a clean palate has given me a better understanding of it and I must say I am impressed. It is massive in both flavor and mouthfeel. That said, a small amount (5 or 6 ounces) is plenty for me in one sitting. Is it worth the $15 I paid for it? Yup, but I really have no need to revisit this beer anytime soon. Glad to have tried it but now please, pass me a FBS or FIS.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 22:34:21 | More by bound4er

kevrice88

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -14.3%

06-17-2013 11:55:01 | More by kevrice88

goblin7704

Ohio

3/5  rDev -35.8%

06-11-2013 17:15:55 | More by goblin7704

superfriend

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-11-2013 15:10:56 | More by superfriend

BrandonDZ

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +1.7%

06-11-2013 13:57:11 | More by BrandonDZ

Dirtinabottle

New York

4.5/5  rDev -3.6%

06-10-2013 03:33:46 | More by Dirtinabottle

DanGeo

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +1.7%

06-10-2013 01:16:25 | More by DanGeo

deniserat

California

5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-07-2013 20:08:33 | More by deniserat

savagepm

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +1.7%

06-06-2013 00:38:04 | More by savagepm

PlinyElderTouchesYounger

New York

4.75/5  rDev +1.7%

06-05-2013 17:47:05 | More by PlinyElderTouchesYounger

riemster

Ohio

5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-04-2013 04:45:59 | More by riemster

OleDixie

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-04-2013 02:06:38 | More by OleDixie

BeerSnob1022

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-03-2013 13:44:16 | More by BeerSnob1022

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +1.7%

06-03-2013 02:02:50 | More by mportnoy

cpuglisi

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +1.7%

06-02-2013 20:35:05 | More by cpuglisi

montrealbcr89

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -19.7%

06-02-2013 17:25:30 | More by montrealbcr89

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -14.3%

06-02-2013 14:23:53 | More by oldp0rt

uncccegr

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +7.1%

06-02-2013 04:09:04 | More by uncccegr

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +1.7%

06-01-2013 01:19:17 | More by mikeincharleston

gmendez1122

Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.1%

05-29-2013 04:18:15 | More by gmendez1122

tipfortap

New York

4.19/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

5 words to describe it: Tobacco, Barrel, Bourbon, Licorice, Coffee

Paired it with: KBS

Should have paired it with: A crazy creamy brie; dark chocolate

Drink it if you like: Imperial anything, Baltic Porters, checking big boxes off your life to do list

A few other thoughts: It tasted basically nothing like what I expected it to, and I think it has peaked. Many people talk about the maple flavor really falling off after a couple of months, and I think that was the case here. It was so much funkier than I imagined— I got a lot of the oak of the barrel, as well as sort of anise and licorice flavors. As it warmed up, it got much more interesting— too cold out of the tap, it was hops, booze, and tobacco in one big slam. I keep thinking about how distinctive it was, but I am not sure that means I loved it. Basically like reading the Iliad.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2013 19:32:21 | More by tipfortap

Bigtwin

Michigan

5/5  rDev +7.1%

05-22-2013 16:33:31 | More by Bigtwin

John11486

California

4.25/5  rDev -9%

05-22-2013 02:21:53 | More by John11486

dcloeren

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +1.7%

05-21-2013 21:32:18 | More by dcloeren

CraftEyeDoc

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev -3.6%

05-21-2013 02:34:22 | More by CraftEyeDoc