Founders CBS Imperial Stout - Founders Brewing Company

writerLJBerg

Oregon

3.88/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750mL bottle courtesy of JMRSN. Thanks!

A: Pure black. 1/2" mocha head which stays fluffy throughout. Nice legs on the glass. No reason to dock points here.

S: Chocolate, smoke, brown sugar, molasses, and espresso. Also quite enjoyable.

T: Milk chocolate, maple syrup, vanilla, and caramel. Coconut is probably the dominant flavor, but it clashes with the maple syrup. Complex, but not my cup of beer.

M: Full and excellent. No complaints here.

O: I can see why people really enjoy this, but it doesn't really go beyond that level for me. Then again, I'm no fan of FBS, and I'm not a huge fan of KBS, so I was expecting to be nonplussed. So it was nice this is a very good beer, but it's not something I imagine I'd seek again. Founder's RIS reigns supreme, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 21:48:37 | More by writerLJBerg

dafla67

Pennsylvania

4.98/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2011 Vintage.

A: dark black; thin brown head with good lacing.

S: toasted malts; coffee and toffee; sweetness of maple syrup

T: begins with toffee & caramel then the coffee; followed by intervals of bourbon and maple syrup.

M: thick and decedant; a warming, linger taste of bourbon.

O: incredible BA stout; worthy of the hype (though there are other BA stouts worthy of equal hype).

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 03:03:04 | More by dafla67

BruceBruce

Texas

4.73/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Extra dark beautiful color with a tan thin head

Smell: At first it was a bit cold and I could barely get the smell out of it, but the more I let it warm up the stronger and stronger the bourbon scent becomes. You get a hint of coffee and chocolate as well, but once it is room temp it has one of the best smells ever.

Taste: First is the maple, very strong and forward, then coffee, then you get a great, much more subtle bourbon then the KBS I had today (should have tried them on diff days since was both first time for each) and then a bit of sweet again at the end. After it warmed up a bunch had a much stronger chocolate taste.

Mouthfeel: Very thick and creamy almost like a white russian, great for this beer

Overall: An amazing beer with amazing flavors, I would for sure get this one again. Glad I only shared it with my gf and gave her baby pours so I could have most of it :)

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 00:31:35 | More by BruceBruce

bobbypaulson

Minnesota

4.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

this beer is GREAT!!!! In fact it is one of my wife's favorite beer (and that says a lot. Pouring from the bottle into a snifter it is black and viscous with a very thin carmel brown color head. The smell is of bourbon and maple syrup with some coffee and roast to it. Taste in incredible, so much going on. Good thing I only split this with my wife because I love being able to have 2 big glasses of this one!!!! The taste is so smooth and the bourbon is not hot the sweetness of the coffee and maple syrup really round out the beer. This is a world class beer through and through!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 22:29:58 | More by bobbypaulson

JackieTH

Minnesota

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

The last time I had CBS was a couple of years ago on tap, I recall it was excellent, but a smidge overpowering on the maple.

However this 750 mL bottle I managed to acquire and have been holding for a few months now..this is an example of a phenomenal beer, and what an outstanding imperial stout. Sadly it was damn near impossible to get, lucky I suppose because I'd drink it like water.

It poured thick. Opaque brown-black maple syrup, very dark with a heavy rich brown head.

Smell is melding of bourbon wood, maple, faint sweetness, chocolate, and roasted malt.

Taste is outstanding in every way. So well balanced, yet big and bold. Bourbon, vanilla, maple, cocoa nibs, roasted dark malt, subtle undertones of roasted coffee and chocolate malt. Some warmth. A dash of sweetness. Subtle coffee and hop bitterness is hinted at and lingers in the background.

Mouthfeel is rich, robust, full-bodied, creamy.

Fanastic. You can set your bar for imperial stouts right here. Founder's knows how to brew a stouts...KBS..breakfast stout..imperial stout.. there is simply no argument here. In the CBS, maple and bourbon elements add layers of complexity to the already outstanding Founder's stout recipe without being overly sweet. Black gold. Holy grail. More please.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 04:43:28 | More by JackieTH

GameFreac

Georgia

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

2010 vintage on tap at the Brick Store Pub for the Breakfast Yard Sale - May 19, 2012. 8 oz pour.

Appearance: Pours a midnight black with a brownish small khaki head.

Smell: Smells of chocolate, maple syrup, slight alcohol, and sweetness.

Taste - Taste mirrors the nose - maple syrup, hershey's chocolate syrup. Delicious.

Mouthfeel: Thick and perfect for this beer.

Overall: This is better than FBS and is now the best beer I've ever had by far.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 23:45:15 | More by GameFreac

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pours a dark black with a good sized tan head that forms into a beautiful 1 mm or less thick lacing.

S: very earthy with coffee (faded a bit), maple, and a slight amount of alcohol.

T: again with the coffee, some bourbon and maple barrel flavor, beautiful roasted malt flavor. Nice bourbon burn on the back end with a big coffee stout flavor too. It does have a sweet tasted, but it's balanced with bitterness.

M: well carbonated and fantasticly smooth still. Heavy body.

O: not a super crazy beer by today's standards, but a well balanced beer. The coffee is certainly faded, so it's probably not going to age - I should have drank it already.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 00:05:42 | More by Holland

rodkin

Missouri

4.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour is like a stout. Thick, black, oily, small tan head.

Smell is really nice. Chocolate, maple, coffee, a little caramel-y smell. It's rich and sweet.

Taste is like the smell, but really emphasizing the sweet. The chocolate is really strong. The coffee and maple definitely seem faded. I tried this out of bottles in October, and it was much better balanced then. Maple has definitely faded. Giving a 4.5, but fresh it was probably a 5.

Mouthfeel is nice. Medium thick, really smooth, very light carbonation.

This is a really great beer. Very flavorful and rich, and at its best it had a lot of great complexity and balance. Now, it is still delicious, but I wish the coffee and maple were as strong as they were fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 03:42:23 | More by rodkin

Casedogg43

Indiana

4.73/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Held on to this 22 oz bottle of CBS for 7 months. Opened it at "the right time". 7:30 am in line at DLD 2112, while pulling my eggs and steak off the grill! Yes, we tailgated DLD and did it right!

This is THE Breakfast Stout! And we drank it accordingly.

Appearance: Looks damn near black. Looks oily when poured.

Smell: Large on coffee and chocolate to make up a sweet smell.

Taste: Sweet of syrup, but not too much. Coffee was creamy and blending in perfectly with the Chocolate. And smooth, yeas very smooth. Warmed the belly to help digest the Breakfast.

Mouthfeel: Silky smooth, mid carbonation. We let it sit for 15-20 mins to warm a bit and let the taste cry for us to sip!

Overall: Every last bit of what I was hoping for and have heard about. I will look forward to this beer again! Might make this a tradition. DLD and CBS! Does it get any better!

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 14:45:51 | More by Casedogg43

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Jon for sharing this one. I've had it on tap several times, but never from the bottle.

Beer pours black with an off-white head and very nice lacing. Smell is a great mix of coffee and maple with some oak as well. Bourbon really takes a back seat to the other smells, but it's really not missed. The flavor here has incredible balance - there's some bourbon, oak, chocolate, roast and maple all coming together fantastically. Compared to KBS, which I had earlier in the night, it's not quite as bourbon-y, but the maple comes through in a fantastic way. Mouthfeel is full-bodied and very smooth. Overall this beer is damn good. I swear it's tasted a bit different every time I've had it, but it's been great every time. This particular one has more maple than most.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 04:02:25 | More by starrdogg

Veristic

Tennessee

4.23/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

CBS bomber served @ 45* into a stemmed pokal, consumed on 5/9/12. Oct. 2011 release. Side-by-side with KBS & regular Breakfast Stout.

A- Thin light tan sheet of head, dissipates quickly to a thin crown. Dark brown body, nearly black. No real lacing to speak of. Swirling gets nothing more than a crown.

S- Out the neck, tiny bit of oak, a little boozy, BIG chocolate. Once poured, slightly sweet, oak, bourbon. Also, a weird spicy/earthy aroma I can't describe. A little chocolate once warm.

T- Chocolate, oak, bourbon. Coffee & dark roasted grains linger in the aftertaste. Slightly sweet but can't really get any maple. A little boozy but pleasingly.

M- Warming, awesome mouthfeel. Creaminess builds in the mouth, coats well. Full mouthfeel. Medium carbonation.

O- Everything is pretty well in balance. Didn't smell as good as KBS but CBS wins on mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 05:05:45 | More by Veristic

mjshearer1

Michigan

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

Had this on tap at Founders' 2012 Black Party.

A - Oily, black, and thick. Just how I like my imperials.

S - Huge coffee, chocolate, bourbon, and a sweetness that had to be the maple syrup.

T - Everything I've ever wanted it to be. I've been trying to track this stuff down for a while now, wasn't able to get it in the bottles, but held out hope that it'd make an appearance at the Black Party, and it didn't disappoint. This is basically a sweeter KBS on account of the maple syrup, with all that smooth, warm, choco-coffee goodness we've all come to know and love.

M - Smooth and silky to the point of danger.

O - One of the best beers I've ever had. It certainly lives up to it's hype.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2012 20:21:26 | More by mjshearer1

fvernon

Indiana

4.6/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Portsmouth snifter. It's a dark mahogany with about two inches of coffee-malt head. The aroma is chocolate, coffee, and an irish cream/maple/bourbon background. Chocolate malt, coffee, and a faint bourbon dominant the taste; it's smooth with just a bit of the maple/oak qualities at the end of the sip. A nice, thick mouthfeel with hints of alcohol burn on the edges of my tongue.

Ok, it's good. It's very good. I managed to snag one bottle when it was released and I'm content to sitting here and enjoying every last drop, but I'm not sure I'd be as happy if I'd gone through all the hoopla of trading my first born for it.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 22:51:03 | More by fvernon

kevanb

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Ben, who was working the bottle line at DLD '12 for sharing this, hope you enjoyed the Eclipse! (reviewed from notes)

Pours a great viscous jet black color, hues of burgundy and mocha brown, nice head, fine retention, not a ton of lacing to speak off, could have been the glass. The aroma is fantastic, chocolate, oak, nice subtle maple, big coffee element, mild vanilla and only the faintest hint of bourbon. Wonderful flavors, nice vanilla presence pairs well with the chocolate and coffee, the maple isn't very apparent, but the bourbon catches up a bit from the nose, some alcohol is present but is in no way hot or abrasive. The body is great, coats the mouth very well, smooth, full, chewy, about everything you can ask for in a stout, nice warming as it goes down.

Verdict: Incredible stuff, definitely lives up to the reputation as one of the best stouts, and finest beers around. I'll have to track down a bottle of this for myself now!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 16:07:51 | More by kevanb

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Dark brown body, thin tracing of tan head. Room temp, into a giant CBS baloon.

Smell drips with coffee, a trace of maple, and the faintest hint of shoe leather.

Big rich maple-oak flavor, buckets of malt. Sweet but not overly so, and creamy coffee. Really everything you could ask from the description. Truly impressive.

Mouthfeel is impossibly smooth, but has body and texture to match.

Definitely lives up to the reputation, if not the hype. Don't chill this at all. It's actually really drinkable as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 23:42:59 | More by zaphodchak

hopstermonster1

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I finally had this coveted Founders beer. Being a huge imperial stout snob, I was so thrilled to receive a bottle of this stout as a Christmas gift. The appearance is very black, but when held to the light it appears a dark cocoa brown. When I sniffed, I immediately smelled dark chocolate and bourbon...which I expected. What I didn't expect was how smooth the taste was. I have had Founders KBS before and the bourbon taste/smell was very overwhelming...in a good way though. This tasted more like chocolate than anything else. I would highly recommend this stout to chocolate beer lovers and those who love their high quality stouts. Maybe for those more adventorous than I...enjoy it with some maple syrup covered bacon or sausage for breakfast.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 23:28:10 | More by hopstermonster1

haazer

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review #200!! The coveted CBS.

A- Glugging out a bold black motor oil of a beer. The normal billowing head that develops in a Founders stout. This head can be described as a carbonated chocolate milk. Tons of webbed lacing all over the glass.

S- Insane nose. Chocolate, cocoa nibs and vanilla, ever so subtle bourbon, and sweet maple syrup. The syrup is really on display. It adds a layer of sweetness even to the roasted malts. I cannot stop sniffing this. You could make an argument for coffee but it doesn't matter. The maple, chocolate vanilla and bourbon get me salivating profusely.

T- DISCLAIMER: Let this beer become room temperature. In drinking it cold it had an off putting anise/black licorice flavor(unless you're into that). The flavor is coffee, chocolate, burnt malt, bourbon and sweet sweet maple syrup. The anise flavor dissipates quite a bit but still has a minor presence. There is a wooden presence from the barrel that seeps into the flavor profile as well.

M- Mouth is milky smooth, with mid to high carbonation. For 10.6% abv there should be a lot more heat to this but hardly any. It drinks like a 6% beer.

O- This beer is a prime example of how flavor can change based on temp. I change my review midway through and had this beer written off as a dissappinent first, thought I may have had a bad bottle even. Would love to try on tap. IMHO though, after having this, though awesome, KBS is better.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 04:00:45 | More by haazer

JDizzle

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I drank this bomber on New Years Eve. I had been holding on to this gem for a little while. I was about to be let down....

Poured into a Snifter that looked quite well. Really dark with browish hints and a big mocha colored head. Looks mighty tasty! I was about to jump out of my skin from the hype train to try this beer!

Uhh... I thought this was aged in maple bourbon barrels?? I have had all the other maple BB aged beers at the brewpub and know what wonderful flavor comes from them, on lesser beer!! This was not even close. The only aroma I got after almost snorting this thing is MOCHA! Basically a mix of light coffee and chocolate. Not cool

The taste was the biggest let down. It was all over the place. Just a blended mess of chocolate, coffee, extreme sweetness, and a hint of wood and vanilla. I could not get any of the maple I got from all the other killer beers they have released before this one. It tasted like Mokah from Souther Tier, which is good-but easy as hell to find.

Mouthfeel was solid and the carbonation was spot on for a stout.

Overall I was really disapointed from a beer I had been dying to try for years. I still have not had it on tap and can't wait to try. I adore Founders and will seek this out on tap to see if it changes my mind.

Edit-had it on tap and it was the same. Really wanted to like this, but O'well!!!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 03:25:04 | More by JDizzle

steve8robin

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Comparing this back to back with a 2011 KBS. Let's see where the differences lie...

A: So good! Pitch black with a super dark mocha colored head that fades at a decent pace. Yes!

S: Scent seems somewhat lighter than KBS. A mild creamy roastiness with some coffee blended in. Some vanillla and molasses towards the back. Decent.

T: Wow! This is KBS will an even better drinkability. You get a super creamy, sweet version of KBS. I get some sweet maple upfront with a phenomenal blend of vanilla, coffee, roastiness. Holy great stout! So much smoother than KBS.

M: Full bodied with a perfect carbonation. A sweet creamy finish. Very good.

O: All in all, this is a smoother version of KBS, as smooth as KBS is. Picture KBS with a heavier sweetness to it and a little more subdued on the roasty / coffee notes. Definitely try this if you love KBS, or just love sweet stouts.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 02:56:38 | More by steve8robin

champ103

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes. Many thanks to whoever brought this to one of our BA tastings a while back.

A: Pitch black, glupy, and resinous liquid pours into my snifter. At first a two finger rocky, bubbly head forms and recedes in a second. No lace, no retention. Pretty standard for a huge stout.
S: Bourbon, wood, charcoal, maple syrupy. Burnt acrid coffee. Milk chocolate. lots going on in the nose.
T: Again, lots going on here. Big bourbon and boozy flavors. Charred wood, burnt coffee, sticky sweet maple syrupy. A lot to get my head around.
M/D: A full body that is thick and resinous. Low carbonation and very sticky. Lots of alcohol for sure, and lots going on. One I have to take slow. Though overall a nice sipper.

I do like this, like everything else from Founders. Ultra complex, but ultimatly that seems like the downfall for me. To much going on for me to really sit back and enjoy. Very much in the realm of Black Tuesday and even Utopias. Like those beers, one I don't really crave that much.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 14:14:59 | More by champ103

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.68/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into New Belgium Globe

A: Thick and frothy dark mocha head that retains nicely, deep dark brown colors around the rim and dark brown to black color, nice carbonation and lacing for being an Imperial Stout over 10%

S: Coffee, chocolate, bourbon, caramel, barrel. Very nicely blended together

T: Gets the whole tongue involved with flavors of sweet caramel/maple, vanilla, bourbon, maple, and a touch of a boozy finish

M: Smooth and velvety, warming, full-bodied, not really any carbonation bubbles, but very creamy smooth from beginning to finish

O: Another great beer by Founders

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 07:10:06 | More by derkfromwi

BrohamidAli

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a 750 bottle

A: poured a thick dark coffee black into a founders snifter. A little finger of a mocha colored head to it.

S: Getting that coffee that reminds me so much of kbs. a little sweetness not so much maple though

T/M: right up front I get that coffee taste that I love. The flavors seem a little more mellow that kbs. I get some of that oaky qualities but i'm really stretching and I get none of the maple. It does have a lot smother finish and more mouthfeel than kbs and is more rounded.

O: I think I had this beer a little to late. It's a good beer but I wish I could of had it fresh off the tap when founders released it. I just don't see how it is the number 3 beer on here. It did not blow me away and It doesn't seem to hold up after time. This is one of those beers you need to have fresh or not at all.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 08:42:25 | More by BrohamidAli

Beerdregs

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the happy gnome during mind erasing, founders spectacular.

A: Black, opaque with minimal mocha brown head.

S: Aroma is of mainly chocolate and oak. As the beer warms I start to pick up maple syrup.

T: Deep, dark rich chocolate with hints of maple syrup as it begins to warm.

M: Velvety and rich with slight alcohol burn

O: This was such a treat. I've wanted to try this beer for quite awhile. I didn't think I'd ever get a chance to procure a bottle much less have it on tap. Excellent stout!

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2012 02:08:41 | More by Beerdregs

deebo

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a couple 6 oz pours from a freshly tapped kegged at Tilia in Minneapolis.

A-Appearance is black with a creamy tan layered filmy head that laces the glass.

S-Toasted barley malt, coffee, with a definite maple like sweetness. A rich aroam but not overpowering. Some vapory alcohol in the nose.

T-Reminds me of Breakfast stout with a lot more added flavors and sweetness. The added quality of a lingering maple sweet finish is very noticeable.

M-Just a hint of alcohol warming in the finish. Heavy bodied, lightly carbonated, quite creamy.

D-Not appropriate for more than sipping and savoring all that is going on in this beer.

O-Great complexity with a long non-bittering finish. This feels like a breakfast beer, would go great with a hearty breakfast or pairs well with dessert. This was a fun beer to try.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2012 00:40:41 | More by deebo

patm1986

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

big bottle. beer craze of 2011.
30 december 2011.

big ol' dark brown pour. beautiful dark tan head. full lace and a nice ring rim around the glass. looks very inviting. some swirls and she's foamed up. very delicate.

a conflation of bourbon, honey, not-so-rich maple syrup, molasses-y sugars, wood, vanilla, chocolate, coffee. it's a very pleasant aroma. i thought it might be bigger, but this is very pleasant.

now, i like the flavors involved, but i thought they'd be all mashed together. NOPE. truly, truly impressive. there is a subtle progression from chocolate to coffee to vanilla to bourbon to maple syrup. this is so nice, so subtle. booze is well hidden, more than well hidden actually, and none of the major flavors overpower each other. the nuances are excellent.

this is what makes this beer TRULY SPECIAL. the texture and consistency are otherworldly. it's velvety, silky even. it's smoother than any beer that i can think of. this is the experience of the beer. its subtlety is incomparable. i cannot get over this texture. it's half-and-half-like: thick, creamy, rich, fatty.

the impression of this beer is in its restraint, subtly. this could've been huge. most barrel aged imperial stouts tend to be huge and congested with flavors from the barrel and any combination of chocolate/coffee/oatmeal/vanilla. this beer not only contributes those flavors, but it features them rather than forcing them. but what makes this elite is the smoothness; it is unparalleled.
cheers.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 15:23:51 | More by patm1986