KBS - Spicy Chocolate
Founders Brewing Company

(review from February 2024) Another good KBS variant w/nice mouthfeel/balance; certainly a smooth fooler of a 12%er & a malty/choco/roasty/javaish/slightly capsaicin-peppery-spicy flavor & lingering aftertaste. Good starter imp stout for those pepperhead curious. Gets more chili/peppery as it warms up but the only quibble? Where's that up-yer-nose-in-yer-face-down-yer-throat bourbony-barrel-aging-whisky flavor from older KBS variants? Gets more peppery as it warms up but it's certainly not as boozy/bourbony as other KBS variants from the last few years. And definitely not as tasty neither!

Drinking out of a small goblet.
Pours a reddish black with a minimal head.
Smells strongly of chocolate.
Nice smooth, silky mouth feel.
Taste dominated by chocolate with spice on the tongue. Nice.

The chili flavor just barely accents the dark chocolate and coffee-ish core essence of this beer. It’s not sweet or chewy or thick, and although the ABV might make you think this is boozy, it doesn’t come across that way. Neither, however, does it come across as a uniquely tasty stout, varieties of which Founders seems to make in abundance. I commend them on trying something new, and next time, I may take others’ advice and let this warm up a bit more so that I can enjoy some of the hidden characteristics.

 

 

 

Pours dark black with a one finger foamy tan head with nice retention and lacing. Nice aroma with chocolate, vanilla, bourbon,coffee, and chilies. Tastes much like it smells. the chilies are not overwhelming but noticeable. Nice balance for me. Medium to full bodied with modest carbonation. One of my favorite chili beers. It is probably mild because it took me a while to get to this bottle.

Founders can do these stouts with their eyes closed, and so this is a worthy entrant into the KBS series.

Caveat: I am someone who hated the really spicy beers (Habanero Sculpin, here's looking at you!) but I could have used a little more heat with this one. I had grabbed some KBS singles from the brewery and I actually walked over to the recycle bin to check the empty and make sure I had poured the spicy one. So next time: gently raise the Scoville level. Gently.

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Levante snifter. Typical chocolate syrup KBS pour with a finger of creamy-looking mocha brown foam head. Smells of chocolate, leather, chewing tobacco and light bourbon on the nose. The peppers give off a smoky that when mixed with the coffee and possibly bourbon (totally guessing here) gives off a chewing tobacco aroma. And while this works on this nose - it really is quite pleasant even if challenging - it does not quite translate through to the taste. Although there is a bit of chocolate and coffee flavors up front in the taste the middle and finish are dominated by peppers. To my surprise, as this warms the chewing tobacco taste becomes more integrated and even balanced by the chocolate, coffee and bourbon. It's still not my favorite flavor profile but it's not terrible. Full mouthfeel as per usual with KBS. Far from my favorite KBS variant but it works for what it is. I dig that the peppers come off more with a leather and tobacco note than just pure spice. This could also perhaps be due to the age on this bottle. Definitely fun to try at least once.

On-tap 2/2/2025 at Rose Alley Ale House in New Bedford, MA, served in a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a deep black color, with a thin light brown head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains dark chocolate, roasted malts, black coffee and a touch of chili peppers.

T: The taste starts out with a strong roasted malt character that is quickly followed by flavors of dark chocolate and black coffee. Then some mild chili pepper flavor comes in as well as a slight peppery burn which tempers the alcohol sting. The hops presence is very mild as expected and there is a good balance. The after-taste is slightly roasty and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium-to-heavy body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, strong kick, very good representation of style, this is a very solid big stout, especially if you’re into the chili pepper twist to it.

12 oz bottle with a 26 December 2023 bottling date stamped on the back label.

This mole inspired KBS variant adds a mild touch of chilies and a moderate addition of chocolate to the excellent base stout. Surprisingly, I found this to be a bit more drinkable than the standard version.

 

 

 

Excellent beer. Not usually a fan of spicier beers, however, this one was delicious. Strong chocolate notes that were very warming due to the spice. Got better as it warmed. Immediately one of my favorite KBS variants now.

Black body with a pretty generous tan head. Very pretty aroma: chocolate, bourbon, coffee, vanilla & oak barrel. The implied sweetness is missing. Flavors: coffee up front with dark chocolate, a tiny bit of bourbon & some kind of bitter vegetable that I do not like. Mouthfeel may be a bit thin with a fair amount of stomach heat & some lingering mild heat in the mouth. Overall: not my favorite of the KBS series.

Draft at horseshoe pub
Creamy thick brownish 1/2 finger head with moderate retention, tons of lacing, jet black color

Nose typical KBS, roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate, baking spices, more bourbon barrel than I remember from recent batches, plenty of vanilla, layers of chocolate

Taste more KBS, layers of chocolate, dark, cocoa, ganache even, vanilla and mild toasted oak barrel, some bourbon, into baking spices and a bit of nougat, light roasted malt and coffee, creamy milk chocolate, a touch of pepper spice on the back end, sticky sweet finish, a bit pepper heat accentuated by the mild warming alcohol

Mouth is full bod, rich creamy thick, fair to mild warming alcohol

Overall pretty nice, more barrel character than recent batches, smooth and thick, plenty of chocolate and vanilla, pepper spice heat was a nice touch, I personally would have liked more but I'm glad that they went on the conservative side rather than overly spices. Would love to see this with a little cinnamon as well for horchata version

 

 

Poured into a wide mouth, grip shaped goblet: color is solid black, light brown head presents a scant top but dissipates quickly.

Smell is booze, light bourbon, earthy peppery spiceness, roast and chocolate.

Taste is more booze upfront with bourbon and barrel character, notes of vanilla, earthy peppery spice, smoke, roasted and chocolate malt.

Mouthfeel is low/moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate bitterness and drying character from the strength.

Overall a big, moderately boozy stout with a peppery chocolate profile that is really well done.