2012 KBS thoughts

Every year someone says something negative about previous KBS
Every year is good
I don't disrespect your opinion but I have never had a below average KBS

 

And I shouldnt say you said something negative about KBS because you really didn't
It's all just opinion.
I loved 09 but others thought it was a bad year
I thought 2011 was great

 

Every KBS you've ever had has been exactly the same? That is the only way it's possible that none have been below average.

On topic, I think that memories of how things tasted are incredibly unreliable. (Sidebar: memories are incredibly unreliable in general. I had a friend in high school who SWORE I was in his high 9th grade history class. I was not. I knew I wasn't, and we got several mutual friends and the teacher to tell him that. He never believed us. In his mind we really worked together on poster projects, when reality I couldn't pick him out of a crowd that year). I really liked KBS the first time I had it, but it was also the first BBA stout I tried. Subsequently it's been overwhelmed. I tried an '11 the other night and thought it was pretty bad, tasted like stale coffee. But I've had an '08 earlier and liked it fine. So who knows.

 

When I cracked my first bottle, it was way too cold, and the bourbon dominated the beer. As it warmed, it had great balance, and the other notes started to come through.

All in all, KBS is just a great beer that has year-to-year variability like most barrel-aged beers do. I will always seek it out, and it will always be a favorite.

 

I'm drinking my first KBS. It's from 2011. It's got a nice, smooth balance of flavors, but I think I've come to realize that I like the taste of barrel over the taste of bourbon itself.

 

I am enjoying my very first KBS as I type. What a simply amazing and perfect stout! I have enjoyed everything Founders has produced, and think their stouts are the best, but KBS is special. Only problem I have with with it, is the fact I only have one, and its 1/3 gone!

 

can't wait to try it, had it back in 09 and thought it was incrediable! have a few from '12 and will be enjoying them in a few weeks.

 

I never had it before this year, but it is incredible. There's really no dominant flavor among the main ones (chocolate, coffee, oak, bourbon, roasted malts, etc.) which is amazing. It comes together so perfectly it's just delicious.

 

I had my first KBS this year. While I really enjoyed it, I honestly don't think it even competes with Bourbon County Stout.

Again I really did like the KBS, but I'm glad I didn't drive 3 1/2 hours and stand in line for it...

BCBS>KBS (even if AB-I owns GI)...

 

Will I be called crazy and ostracized if I say I didn't like it? Maybe it was too cold?

I got the dark stout flavor out of it, but mostly just tasted bourbon and alcohol, and honestly I don't like the taste of bourbon, or liquor in general for that matter. No coffee or chocolate really, every now and then Id get a hint but that's about it. I've tried one other bourbon barrel aged beer and didn't like that either because of the seemingly overpowering bourbon taste. Now its probably not overpowering in reality, I'm just probably just sensitive to the taste of it.

So was I doing something wrong or maybe I just don't like it. I know everyone's different.

 

I plan to do a vertical tasting of 2010, 2011, & 2012 KBS sometime in the next two weeks (I will post the results in the Cellaring/Aging forum).

I know (obviously) the aging process should have a significant impact along with yearly batch variation but I'm still looking forward to tasting the differences.

 

You're probably just sensitive to that, because I only got a hint of it and it was very balanced with all the flavors. I also could barely taste the ABV. Strange that you could, since I have a low tolerance for the taste of alcohol. If it's in there, I'll usually find it and dislike it if it's too noticeable.

 

Must be something. I've had High gravity beers, tons of big IPAs, and I love them. Hardly ever pick up the alcohol in them. But this its just way in my face for whatever reason. I've only had one bottle, so I may try another one just to be sure. Otherwise its tradebait for me.

 

You'll definitely get some stuff in return at least. It's a shame though, hopefully you like the next bottle. How many did you get?

 

Just to add to the subjectivity of it all, I had my first KBS on Saturday. I couldn't for the life of me smell or taste any bourbon or barrel in this beer. Tasted like a mellowed out version of their Breakfast Stout to me - just tons of coffee, and a little bitter.
But then, I love BCBS and similar "bourbon forward" barrel aged stouts.

 

It wasn't nearly as bourbony as I was expecting. I did get some vanilla and oak though. It was MUCH smoother than I was anticipating at 11.2%abv.

I think I was just expecting to be punched in the face with bourbon scent like Allagash Curieux or something.

 

Founders originated BBA for stouts, KBS is the original, this year has the perfect touch of bourbon with great notes of vanilla, oak, burnt toast, fudge...awesome, just awesome.

 

that's why you should like it, KBS is the standard bearer for BBA stout not BCBS