KBS
Founders Brewing Company

Poured from 12oz. bottle kept overnight in fridge to a KBS snifter. Its appearance is a stout lover’s dream – pours the darkest black with an apparent thickness in its body that you know to fit this style well. Halfway through the pour, thousands of bubbles start a carbonated explosion that culminates in the birth of a heavy, two inch tall head that looks like the crema in a finely crafted espresso – aromas of chocolate and bourbon invade the air around the glass as the head forms. Ultimately the short-lived foamy head sinks into the absorbing darkness of the beer below, leaving an elegant ring to remind you of its once majestic existence.

Its aromas boast dark dried fruit that brink back plum & rum-soaked raisins, medium roast espresso coffee (although not as much as expected), chocolate ice cream , sweet bourbon, molasses with faint notes of oak. Upon taking the first few sips my immediate impression is obvious, KBS’ taste mimics its aroma. After savoring the first few sips and soaking my palate I can tell that its taste stronger in the coffee & chocolate than its nose, the coffee tasting more dark roast and the chocolate tasting like cacao. There are also vanilla notes which complement its coffee and chocolate forwardness very well. The oaky bourbon presence, both in its warming heat and taste, surrounds the vast array of flavors and seems to aid well their transition. There is a warm yet mildly bitter finish to the beer which I consider very inviting. Its mouthfeel is great although from the appearance of the pour I imagined it to be slightly more viscous and chewy – which I believe would make its flavor profile even more enjoyable.

Overall – in this BA’s humble opinion - KBS definitely lives up to the hype. I wouldn’t say its my all-time favorite, but I would happily trade for it again or go out of my way to get it when travelling.

 

2023 vintage

A moderate through-the-head pour yielded a finger of creamy tan foam with average retention, a small ring and a broken film persist. Very old motor oil black shows reddish brown in bright light.

Roasted malt and booze greet the nose with sweet smells of caramel, baked brown sugar and baked pitted and stone fruits.

Semi-sweet with high bitterness, a blend of booze and roasted malt astringentcy is harsh at the first sip (expected and acceptable for the style and ABV). After a few sips cherry and rich chocolate flavors rise with roasted malt (not bready), overall sweetness rises a little and moderates the bitterness and astringentcy. A mix of baked fruit rises with cherry flavor still on top. The finish is loooong; drawn out by the lasting battle of sweet fruit, roasted malt and the waning astringentcy. The aftertaste is all of the tastes clinging on.

Full bodied with lasting carbonation and a malty rich oily/syrupy feel. This warms exceptional well, the booze/astringentcy fades, sweetness rises without being cloying, and the booze becomes warming.

 

Anyone who is into, Bourbon barrel stouts, has likely already tried this., my grievance with it is that there are so many better options solely due to the funky aftertaste. This is most likely the best smelling beer I’ve ever had, the aroma is strong of bourbon. I use this to cook clams in sometimes, as the complex flavors are top-tier when the alcohol flavor is boiled out. I can’t describe the aftertaste, but it’s almost like the cardboard on a milk carton at school. Besides that this is the standard for a reason. Very good.

 

A triumph. This beer is scrumptious and has depth and complex flavor while being pleasant. The body could be a little more weighty but other than that this deserves to be among the top Imperial Stouts.

 

(review from April 2017) Java, choc nose hits as you sip, lite on bourbon tinge. Well-balanced of a fooler 11.8%. Way back before the buyout this was an excellent, bourbony brew but for the last few years, not so much.

It is jet black, tastes very sweet but not terribly overpowering. If Starbucks mocha was a beer this is it. It's world class but not god tier. This is a gold standard beer in the stout categories. Nothing to write home about but enough to make me get jiggy with it.

 

Wish I was more into this one - unfortunately found it a little too sweet an syrupy. Pours like motor oil with a thin, hazelnut-colored head. The nose gives heavy dark chocolate, coffee, toffee, and caramel notes. The taste is super sweet with hints of chocolate, vanilla, maple, praline, maple, and heavy port aftertaste. Extremely rich but does hide the booze well for the ABV. Just not exactly for me.

 

Dark and smooth, with strong flavors of coffee and chocolate. Does a good job of hiding its ABV. A bit heavy on the coffee for my tastes, but still a very good imperial stout.

Heaven

Pours a beautiful smooth very dark brown, slightly tan head rapidly fills the glass. Very dense head, leaves plenty of lacing

Smell is rich coffee, chocolate, bourbon. Nothing to crazy, was hoping for a bit more.

Taste is the same.

Feel is somewhat syrupy, but not too heavy.

Good beer, but not exactly the absolute killer I was expecting

 

 

RB transfer