EWA - KBS??

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by Chelsea1905, Mar 21, 2017.

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  1. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm very much looking forward to trying this year's version as well, but am already wondering if this is going to be my reaction as well. I've been pretty underwhelmed by everything I've tried from Founder's of late, and the only explanation I can come up with, is that my expectations are just much higher now, after living in the NW for so long. I absolutely loved regular FBS when I lived on the East Coast, and would pretty much order it whenever I would see it on tap. Yet when I tried the beer on tap at Tin Bucket a couple weeks back, I was so unimpressed, I was having a hard time figuring out what I ever saw in the beer.

    KBS was one of the first BA stouts I ever tried, and to this day, it's always been a personal favorite. Last time I had it was a couple of years ago in Austin during a Thanksgiving trip, and I thought it was still a very fine beer then. So hopefully, my reaction to KBS now won't be similar to my current reaction to FBS.
     
    #21 John_M, Apr 5, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2017
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  2. SeaAle

    SeaAle Maven (1,381) Jun 24, 2012 Oregon

    I had it on draft also and didn't get much barrel taste either. The coffee dominates the taste so much that it does taste just like a regular coffee stout. Happy to finally try it, but I won't be seeking more of it.
     
    #22 SeaAle, Apr 5, 2017
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  3. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Daaamn.
     
    #23 distantmantra, Apr 5, 2017
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  4. stillill

    stillill Devotee (329) Mar 6, 2016 Washington

    I really don't get the love for this beer. I have tried many iterations of it and I still think it's below average. Although admittedly I haven't tried this year's
     
    #24 stillill, Apr 5, 2017
  5. bigmanlavos

    bigmanlavos Initiate (0) Feb 9, 2014 Washington
    Trader

    I think the beer is pretty solid and am always excited to try it as fresh as possible. Plus, you not liking it very much means there should be plenty of it up for grabs for everyone else! :wink:
     
    #25 bigmanlavos, Apr 5, 2017
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  6. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think it's a good beer with a lot of artificially created hype. And people buy into it.
     
    #26 distantmantra, Apr 6, 2017
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  7. DamienI

    DamienI Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2014 Washington

    It's solid, it's not Coffee BBADS (what else is really?) but it is almost half the price and a very enjoyable brew.
     
    #27 DamienI, Apr 6, 2017
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  8. MicroFanatic

    MicroFanatic Devotee (389) Mar 21, 2009 Washington

    Bought a 4 pack the other day. Found nothing too spectacular about it. Watery and thin tasting. Sleight barrel notes with coffee. Very average and in fact I think I prefer Lagunitas High Westified to KBS.
     
    #28 MicroFanatic, Apr 6, 2017
  9. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    1/2 the price?? I saw 24oz bottles at Belmont for $21. I think I paid $18 or $19 for a 22oz bottle of Coffee BBADS
     
    #29 derftron, Apr 6, 2017
  10. stillill

    stillill Devotee (329) Mar 6, 2016 Washington

    Correct.
     
    #30 stillill, Apr 6, 2017
  11. shnsajax

    shnsajax Initiate (0) Jul 2, 2013 Idaho

    I do wonder if expansion has hurt quality. The KBS fall off started to happen last year I thought. Thankfully Backwoods Bastard hasn't really experienced that as of yet which I would gladly take over KBS.
     
    #31 shnsajax, Apr 6, 2017
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  12. DamienI

    DamienI Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2014 Washington

    The bombers were a lot more expensive per ounce compared to the 12oz bottles, they were $6 a pop at my local.
     
    #32 DamienI, Apr 6, 2017
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  13. NWer

    NWer Pooh-Bah (2,145) Mar 10, 2009 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    Another example why I avoid 22oz or 750ml whenever possible. I'll only buy large format bottles when I want it bad enough & that's all there is.
     
    #33 NWer, Apr 6, 2017
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  14. DamienI

    DamienI Initiate (0) Jul 23, 2014 Washington

    That and it's a more "sensible" individual serving size for the bigger beers.
     
    #34 DamienI, Apr 6, 2017
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  15. rrock44

    rrock44 Pooh-Bah (2,137) Oct 27, 2009 Washington
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I agree with you in a sense. I haven't had KBS, but I recently had breakfast stout. Now it wasn't terrible, but it wouldn't be something I would necessarily seek out again. It seems this has been my experience with the founders beers I have tried. Just underwhelmed overall, nothing special. Just shows how good we have it in the PNW. The exception? Backwoods Bastard. I love this beer. I will buy it again (and again and again...)
     
    #35 rrock44, Apr 7, 2017
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  16. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Finally got to try this year's version on draft here in Portland Maine tonight. Sigh...

    Still a very enjoyable beer in IMHO, but nothing like the mind blowing experience I had with this beer in Philly when it first became available on tap 7 or 8 years ago. Also, the beer struck me as hugely overpriced for its quality (in excess of $10 for a 10 ounce glass, with tax), though that's a difficult assertion to make here on the East Coast, where everything seems to expensive and/or overpriced.

    Depending on availability and pricing, I may or may not order KBS again. It's still a pretty nice beer I think, and if it's priced around $5 or $6 for a 10 glass back home, I could see ordering it from time to time. It's still one of the better BA coffee stouts on the market I think (though I'll be the first to admit it can't hold a candle to the BA stouts from Fremont), but it's not the near religious experience I first had with this beer many years ago. Oh well...
     
    #36 John_M, Apr 7, 2017
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  17. Robomunky

    Robomunky Initiate (0) May 14, 2015 Washington
    Trader

    For those in my area, the Woodinville Haggen has 3 4-packs left for $22 a piece. Much better price than the $20+ the 750s are.
     
    #37 Robomunky, Apr 9, 2017
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  18. cherche

    cherche Pooh-Bah (2,476) Mar 27, 2013 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think breakfast stout is overrated but I think KBS is a very good beer. And I dont think comparing it to Coffee BBADS and High West is fair. im no expert but i think those two are very much BA coffee stouts whereas with KBS I always get vanilla/chocolate first and foremost. i would expect those that prefer coffee to prefer Coffee BBADS and High West and those that prefer vanilla/chocolate to prefer KBS...I like them all. Now, all that being said do I think KBS is the 28th best beer in the world? Probably not. Is it "below average"? Absolutely not.
     
    #38 cherche, Apr 10, 2017
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  19. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah


    Bought a couple 12oz bottles. I enjoyed them more than my draft experience, but still did not meet expectations I had from previous vintages.

    definitely a very good beer though
     
    #39 derftron, Apr 10, 2017
  20. JasonJYoung

    JasonJYoung Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2015 Washington
    Trader

    As @Robomunky mentioned, I saw plenty at Haggens this morning (04/12) . After drinking a couple, I passed on grabbing anymore. Never thought I'd admit this, but very disappointed. Definitely prefer a few others including Fremont and Reubens similar offerings.

    Watching people sleep in tents throughout the Midwest to snag some KBS, I still can't believe this is sitting on grocery shelves.
     
    #40 JasonJYoung, Apr 12, 2017
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