KBS Appreciation Thread!

I love Kbs as well, love it fresh, it ages very well. I'd qualify that a bit saying I like Bcbcs a bit better, but that's not a slight at all. Kbs is a great beer and hard to get here.

 

I love it dearly. I think its just perfect as well. A lot of people talk about BC or SMS. They are good, there is just something special about the body and drinkablity of KBS for me. Also, it has a 100 score on here and is #22 on the top list. So I don't know if its as under appreciated as you might think.

 

KBS itself is absolutely first class! I can understand why some are annoyed about the hype and the difficulty in finding it but that doesn't detract from its quality. I try to balance my desire to purchase some each year with my disdain for lines and playing games. Without a great deal of effort, I can find enough bottles to enjoy throughout the year. The only thing I really object to is the price of single bottles.

 

I've enjoyed the bottle I've had this year, personally I think the most impressive thing is the incredible drinkability at 12%+, it's dangerous. That combined with the balance of coffee/bourbon/base stout flavors makes it a great brew IMO.

 

I love KBS and I think it's a world class beer. It has bourbon barrel, chocolate and coffee, three things I truly enjoy. Great thread because KBS is a world class beer regardless of those who hate it. I will also say that I am glad that I don't have to rely on other's perceptions in order to enjoy KBS!

 

I think it is a great beer for all the reasons you stated.

 

I just had the 2016, my first batch of KBS ever.. I loved it so much. I'm a stout fan, and enjoy many different styles but feel as if the barrel aspect made this one special for me. The ABV was on point!

 

Didn't get any this year, wouldn't know

 

Our 2016 here went fast. It was broke down and sold individually with a two bottle limit so more folks could get it. I did luck out and get a couple and its damn good. However back in February they released a bunch of 2015 to a lot of local shops so I was able to pick up another 4 pack of it. And it is still drinking very well. I agree it is just about as well balanced a BBA Stout as I have ever drank.

 

Definitely the best stout I've tried! I do have to say that I have not tried most of the other world class stouts out there, though.

 

Love it!

 

I'm not a barely age lover by any means. I buy bottle after bottle wanting to like them. I had an in on a bottle of KBS and bought it knowing that I would most likely not enjoy it. Happened to have my brother around and decided to pop it. Got that off gut feeling just pouring it knowing well I was subjecting myself to something I would not like.Wow, was I amazed! If he wasn't my brother I would have punched him in the mouth so he couldn't drink his half I poured him and drink it myself. Really enjoyed the bottle I had and fortunate I got it! Hats off to founders and KBS. Made me do a full 180!

 

Agree 100% regarding the drinkability and balance. I could deal with a bit more coffee, but that might mitigate what makes it great.

 

A solid example of the style. Nothing super wow about it, but maybe that's what makes it so good. If it were only easier to track down.

 

I find it a bit too boozy for my tastes (still enjoyable though, and I have a 2016 waiting for me in my fridge). And I typically prefer the regular old breakfast stout over it (or at least I used to based on an old review, been awhile since I've had the regular breakfast stout).

That aside, what haters are you speaking of? I assume it's anecodatally in the forums here in Beeradvocate, because in terms of ratings people seem to love it. Yes Bourbon County's Coffee Stout is rated higher, but not appreciably so. 4.59 to KBS' 4.56, and KBS has ~1800 more reviews, and nearly double the "hads".

 

Just search for the recent KBS release thread or any other thread where it comes up and you will find that at least a third of the writers are complaining about how it's an overrated hype beer and how X user's personal favorite BB coffee stout is way better.


Anyway, it's one of my top 10 beers for sure. My favorite thing about it that really makes it unique is when you get it cold - frankly a bit colder than a beer of that style should be - and it takes on this chalky, dry, tannic texture that feels so cool on your tongue, not unlike a dry French Bordeaux wine, but of course much tastier. First time I had KBS on tap, it was too cold but that tannic feeling had me thinking about that beer for weeks.

 

I'd add I've has SMS and I find Kbs to be superior, I didn't really care for the former, I found it boozy , bitter and finished poorly. Kbs all day long head to head here, not quite as creamy and viscous as Bcbcs, but it's a very close race. My only complaint is availability, it's just damn tough to get straight up here. Most places are bottle limits only one had a 4 pk limit, and I don't drag my wife around to scoop up beer.

 

KBS is indeed an excellent beer. But, just like any product or company that is highly popular, it becomes "cool" with a certain crowd to hate on it.
For all the complaints about how hard it is to get, because of it's distribution and price point, KBS is actually pretty accessible. All the other beers that people are offering up as comparisons to KBS either have a much smaller distribution, are much more expensive, or both. KBS's popularity is, in fact, partially driven by it's widespread availability.