KBS - Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa
Founders Brewing Company

KBS - Cinnamon Vanilla CocoaKBS - Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Founders Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,156
ABV:
12%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,296
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 8.11%
Reviews:
143
Ratings:
369
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 21, 2024
Added:
May 10, 2021
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  12
Here’s one for the cocoa lovers: KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa – the sumptuous, deep coffee and chocolate flavors of KBS rise to the next level with a swirl of cinnamon and a hint of vanilla to create a sweet-but-not-too-sweet barrel-aged drinking experience. It’s a whole new spin on KBS that’s sure to sweeten your spirits.

Bourbon barrel aged coffee stout with cinnamon, vanilla, and cocoa.
IBU: 45
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sethmeister:
Photo of sethmeister
Reviewed by sethmeister from New Hampshire

4.27/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From 12 oz bottle marked bottled 09/02/21 2106 6

Pours into my tulip glass a high viscosity fully opaque near black with a creamy brown head. Great retention and fluffy lace.

Scent is bourbon, raisins, chocolate, vanilla, mocha java and a hint on cinnamon. I think I also get toasted coconut.

Taste is chocolate, bourbon, raisins and dark fruit. The cinnamon comes across more strongly on the taste than the nose but is not overwhelming. Vanilla. Rich dark roast coffee. Chocolate covered cherries. Dark cocoa. A hint of char and roast. Sweet but not overly sweet.

Mouth is oily and weighty.

Drinkability is good for a 12% brew. Alcohol is not noticeable and my glass emptied quickly enough that I could imagine having a second.

Typical of the KBS series this is a fantastic Imperial Stout featuring rich chocolate coffee and bourbon notes. The cinnamon doesn't really add much and I think I prefer the other variations in the line but either way this is a great stout.
Mar 27, 2022
More User Ratings:
Photo of jngrizzaffi
Reviewed by jngrizzaffi from Texas

4.34/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled Oct 2021. Pours a pitch black color with a half finger width foamy head. Head retention is good as is the lacing. Nice cinnamon aroma. May overpower the chocolate and vanilla but still great. On the taste, I get a hint of chocolate followed by a creamy vanilla, and ending in a big cinnamon flavor. Medium to heavy bodied with mild to moderate carbonation.
Mar 21, 2024
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.26/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a very dark brown - maybe black - with scant dark mocha head that returns briefly with vigorous swirl.
Aroma is quite cinnamon forward but with vanilla notes and a big kick of chocolate - milder hints of roasty coffee.
Sweet and chocolatey on the palate, vanilla, a bit of bourbon booziness and a definite kick of cinnamon spice - again a hint of sweetened coffee.
Creamy full mouthfeel - sweet but not at all cloying - nicely carbonated. Excellent KBS variation.
Jan 28, 2024
 
Rated: 4.4 by drstalker from Illinois

Jan 20, 2024
Photo of The_Snow_Bird
Reviewed by The_Snow_Bird from Michigan

4.16/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours very dark with a dark brown head that stays for awhile. Gives off a chocolate barrel smell. Taste is of straight cinnamon with a hint of barrel, no vanilla present.
Jan 08, 2024
Photo of Bluerabbitbell
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12/23/2023, a very merry Christmas to us!

Completely blackout dark! No head, just a fine ring of miniscule bubbles ringing the glass. Pours thick!

Amazing aromas of cocoa, like a freshly opened Hershey bar! Also getting toast and an ever so slight vanilla sweetness, and booze.

Very toasty. Very chocolatey and finishes with a slight ending of cinnamon...like after having cooked down cinnamon sticks during the holidays, there's just a hint of the aroma left in the stick.... that's the flavor you get.

Towards the end this beer gets as little too much... Slightly medicinal. Thick and syrupy, though drying on the finish. Really enjoy this sipper.
Dec 23, 2023
Photo of Lanoke12
Reviewed by Lanoke12 from Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look is dark black. Smell is of sweet cinnamon and spice. Taste is sweet spice, dark roast malt, and bourbon. Feel is thick and full bodied. Overall, a good take on the KBS family and solid dessert beer.
Dec 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.55 by RickS95 from Indiana

Dec 02, 2023
Photo of Wattie83
Reviewed by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania

4.27/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from 12oz bottle to a tulip/snifter glass. Pours pitch black with a small brown head that falls to a cap and then reduces to a ring. Some lacing left behind in the glass as you sip. Smell is cinnamon bun, vanilla, oak, a bit of cocoa. Taste is cinnamon up front, cocoa, pepper, caramel in the middle, and vanilla cream, cocoa in the end. As the beer warms, you get a bit more vanilla and bourbon. Feel is medium to full bodied with some light carbonation. Beer leaves a bit of a coating on the tongue. Overall, this is a decent variety. Worth buying again. Definitely improves as it warms.
Nov 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.32 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

Nov 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by AngusOg from North Carolina

Oct 14, 2023
Photo of LXIXME
Reviewed by LXIXME from New Mexico

4.54/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Well done, nice balance. Not to be confused with a light beer. Very dark color, lasting lacing, aroma that stays on this beer. Leaves a trail on the side of the glass. I ask, what has happened to the beers that resemble beer, a lot of the new hyped beers resemble fruit drinks, wines, or I don't even know what. Thank you Founders for reminding me of what beer should be, whether its heavy like this or whatever. I miss beers that remind me of BEER.
Aug 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.34 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Aug 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.49 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Jul 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.14 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Jul 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.23 by mdaschaf from Indiana

Jun 18, 2023
Photo of Orca
Reviewed by Orca from Washington

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep rich brownish black with a substantial mocha head. Looks great.

Aroma is as advertised. Definitely rich dry cocoa and cinnamon, vanilla might be a little more subtle but it’s there. Smells like Mexican chocolate tastes with some nice lively spice.

Taste is likewise a dessert-like blend of rich bitter chocolate, espresso, cinnamon, and spice. Really delicious, I’m going to savor this as it warms. More bourbon and oak now and the vanilla starts to shine.

Mouthfeel is smooth and slick, nicely balanced, medium to heavy body.

Overall an outstanding imperial stout, a nice blend of flavors with none dominant.
Apr 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.05 by BarrelAgedG from California

Apr 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.24 by Argail from Louisiana

Mar 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4.23 by cbcrunch from Wyoming

Mar 02, 2023
KBS - Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 369 ratings