KBS a good "beginner stout"?

Good beginner Stout would be something between 4-6% ABV. 11-12% bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout, not so much. Try some Milk/Sweet Stouts (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/82/), American Stouts (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/158/), English Stouts (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/13/) and Oatmeal Stouts (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/69/)

 

Wait, Guinness Extra is "chalky and thin?" The stuff I've been getting must be mislabeled.

 

Hahaha I was really tempted to dig my teeth into that one but life is too short and as the ancient adage goes, "tastes are subjective"

 

As a beginner i found out the hard way that i dont like barrel aged stuff. I bought a big bottle of Sucaba and my taste buds were not ready for it. I thought it tasted like whiskey and i really dont like the taste of hard liquor. Had alot going on, pretty complex flavored. It was too sweet and boozy for me. I had to pour it out. Even after that i would still like to taste KBS. I really like the Founders breakfast stout with the baby on it and i think a BA stout would be more my style than a BA barley wine. I wouldn't mind buying a single 12 oz. of KBS. Go for it. And report back with your opinion.

 

You are dead to me.

 

Oh yeah, I'm not saying it's impossible by any means. All I'm saying is that it is a risk investing $8.50+ on a bottle of a beer style that he said he doesn't like while on a student budget (I need to emphasize this). My point was that he should spend his money elsewhere and see where his preferences lie when it comes to stouts before investing in a big beer like KBS. Give it a sample on tap if you see it. I mean, yeah sure, if you have the $8 to burn for a bottle then what do you have to lose? He said he is on a budget so that is why I advised against it.

It would be like saying "I don't really like IPAs and I don't have a lot of money to spend on beer but I saw a bottle of Pliny sitting on the shelf for $12. Should I try it?". My answer would be the same. No. Try Deschutes Inverted, SN Torpedo or another IPA and gauge your tastes before diving into the big stuff. There is no point in going straight for the "elite beers" just because they are elite-- especially if you've never really played around with the above average ones. This is all just my opinion though. He can do whatever he pleases!

Side thought: the practice of going straight into high class beers without trying the "common" stuff seems to be a growing trend. I see lots of people online who are cutting their beer teeth on Other Half, Trillium, Tired Hands, Tree House, etc. without ever really trying a "normal distro" beer. I don't know if it is the hype or maybe it is the modern culture we live in where everything needs to be big, fast, impressive, on-demand, "all out or get out" type mentality. Maybe they want to show off to everyone on Instragram. I have no idea. I'm not a sociologist. I just feel like there is a new generation of beer drinkers with a completely different set of standards for how beer is perceived now.

Apologies for the rant!

 

There's that classic sense of entitlement that Millennials tend to have in spades. Why have something "normal" when I can have the best? And because I have had the best, I obviously know all about beer. Wrong.

 

Yeah it's pretty fucking embarrassing. I'm 30, born in '86 so technically I am a mellenial and every time I hear the term "millennial" I think of it as an insult. We are a pathetic excuse for a generation. My father says it's totally normal to hate your own generation but I don't think it can get much worse than being lumped in with the millennials

 

Yeah, you seem like a solid enough fella, but your generation is full of *****.

 

Ha! Whoever said that the biggest is the best anyway? Besides the echo chamber, that is...

 

Wat.


Could you elaborate on calling me "Hannity"? Was it your attempt at an insult? A joke? I'm not seeing it. Whatever.

You can question me all you like. I can question you. Doesn't make you right and it doesn't make you wrong. This wouldn't be the the first time two BAs haven't agreed on a beer and it sure as hell won't be the last...Have a beer and chill. Or don't. That's your prerogative

 

Any great stout is a good beginner stout, no training wheels needed. The worst thing you can do is drink crappy beer, KBS is not a crappy beer and it's not a quirky beer it's pretty straight forward A bit of coffee, a bit of bourbon makes it a great stout for anyone anytime.

 

Lol...who are you to draw the line of what is "common beer" and "high class beer"... Some people consider Corona and Heineken to be high class, who are you to say it isn't? There are also people who live near breweries that you think are "elite" but they drink them everyday so its common to them. Someone who lives near tree house and trillium and whatever other breweries you mentioned, they shouldn't start out drinking bud miller coors just because you think those other breweries are "elite". Just because you started out drinking crap beer doesn't mean everybody else should. That would be like saying someone doesn't deserve to go to a steak house because they should just go to McDonalds for a couple years first. What is wrong with this new generation thinking they can just go around eating steak... Lol.

 

The same beer that I Think is the "best" is also "normal" beer to me and i am entitled to think this. Would it make you happy if everyone drank mediocre beer or would you still be salty? Is it really so serious that you have to call people *****? Come on man... Its just beer.

 

If you're going right to KBS as a beginner stout, then why not BCBS, Uncle Jacob's, Dragon's Milk Triple Mash, or World Wide Stout? GO FOR IT!

 

I'd start with something not barrel aged. Maybe like a Ten Fidy or Old Rasputin. Both relatively cheap and top notch. If you want something with barrel KBS is a great beer. If you want to start with something more common go with dragons milk. But you really can't go wrong with KBS. But reading earlier posts I'm not sure if you will like it. If you can't stand Guinness then your in for a up hill battle.

 

KBS is brilliant, but as others have stressed, NOT a beginner stout.

It's a shame you don't like Guinness. I consider that a beginner stout (and still a love of mine). Perhaps try the Draught instead of Extra Stout?

I respect that you're trying to expand your tastes. But ease yourself into porters and stouts. You have many good recommendations in this thread. I'll add Young's Double Chocolate Milk Stout (or any milk stout), and Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout. For porters, if you can find Yard's George Washington Tavern Porter, go for it.

Don't spend top dollar on something from a style you already have trouble with. But by all means, try it if someone offers it to you.

 

In my opinion, the only thing that makes KBS "not a beginner stout" is the price tag and the availability. The stuff is expensive. It's worth it if you like barrel aged imperial stouts.

If you are wanting to test the waters with Imperial stouts, try Narwhal, Ten Fidy, Old Rasputin, B.O.R.I.S the crusher, etc. All of which are much more affordable and attainable.

 

Who am I to draw the line? Who am I to say it isn't? Why all the rhetorical questions? I'm just some guy who drinks beer and bullshits on the internet like you. I'm pretty sure everyone here has their own personal set of standards on what is and what is "high class beer" and what isn't. Those standards vary person to person. It's my opinion and you don't have to agree with it just like I don't have to agree with yours. Does not make it any less valid of one. My high class brew just might be your low class brew. and vice versa. I enjoy, for an example, Olympia Beer but you might consider it total shit. The point is, who cares as long as you the consumer are enjoying it?

Yeah, get what you are saying but I disagree. I'm MA born and raised and my family lives about a half hour from Trillium, an hour from Tree House so I'm usually up there pretty often. I bet if you were to poll all the folks waiting in lines the vast majority would think Trillium/TH are world class or, at the very least, a special breweries (otherwise why would people be lining up every day?). I'd also be willing to bet it isn't "common" beer to most of them just because they can easily get it. I love a lot of our local stuff. Jack's Abby, Bog Iron, etc just to name a few. When I'm up there I do not buy and consume Trillium or Tree House and drink it like it's an every day beer even if I have the ability to do so. In my opinion it would be like eating birthday cake or [insert rich/flavorful food here] for lunch every day. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I enjoy variety therefore I drink whatever I'm in the mood for. I'll have a Narragansett while out on Buzzards Bay before a Julius if the situation calls for it. I'll have a Golden Flounder out on Horseneck Beach over a Fort Point. Hopefully you get my opinion. You don't have to agree with it.

Who are you to draw the line on what is crap beer and what isn't? Haha sorry I just had to throw your rhetoric back at you. Also...you know what they say about assumptions (actually I did drink some crap back in high school/college....who didn't?? But I also had some good stuff too). Now let me assume....you are a fellow millenial who sips only the finest beers out of his ruby chalice....in his parents basement (totally kidding about that last part. you can't have millennial jokes without dropping the "parents basement" cliche!)

Can't disagree with you on the McDonald's vs Steakhouse thing. In that imaginary money-less world of yours I'd totally agree with you. Actually I think I'd go French cuisine. Anyway, money-less imaginary worlds are just that. Imaginary. If I'm on a tight budget then McDonalds is it. Make that In-N-Out if I'm out west.You know what, In-N-Out over Steakhouse all day every day. Maybe a Whataburger Green Chile Double too.....or a carne asada burrito from Filibertos. All of those over fancy steakhouse. Even if I'm a millionaire (damn I'm hungry)


The OP said he is paying off student loans and therefore has a tight budget. He even mentioned he isn't a big fan out stouts. Do you think he should go to McDonalds ($2 generic stout) or the steakhouse ($8.50 KBS)? Just remember this isn't a money-less world though

 

This is a great call. If you're curious about KBS, buy a bottle and hold it. Then, get yourself a FBS and see if you like it. It's less intense than KBS but plenty rich with similar flavor profiles (sans the barrel, of course) and shouldn't run you more than $3-4 a bottle. If you hate FBS, you won't likely enjoy KBS. In which case, I'm sure you'e got a friend or family member who would love the KBS as a gift. Enjoy!