Do people still go crazy for KBS?

It flew off the shelves here in Dallas. Didn't get a chance to buy this year's (yet), but I also wasn't actively following its release. I think it's a good beer, and I'd definitely buy a few bottles. That said, there are many similar beers that I prefer due to it not having a very thick body.

 

I got a bottle, and I liked it, but it really wasn't worth it.

I had to buy a 4 pack of another Founders beer just so I could pay $7.99 for one bottle of KBS so the whole thing cost me $17

I'm not the biggest booze bomb Imperial Stout fan to begin with, and KBS is not as good as Backwoods Bastard IMO.

 

As a fan of bourbon barrel aged stouts I have to call it a great beer. At 5 bucks a bottle I cannot find fault with it. Over rated is totally subjective. At 20.00 a four pack I consider it a treat. Anything that comes close is either impossible to find ( at least for me) or just as if not more expensive.

 

I'm hoisting one now for the first time and am glad I was able to snag 4 more, thanks to people here alerting me to about when it would be available and contacts I have at a grocery store and suds shop. I'll gradually age the remaining four.

 

i'm drinking one right now! is it the worst (highly praised stout) I've ever had? no, is it the best, no, it's somewhere in between! just enjoy it! cheers

 

Drinking one right now, and it is just perfect. Everything blending perfectly together. Super impressed by this batch.

 

I'm drinking one right now also. And thinking the hunt I had to do for it and the price is just not worth it at all. Sunday Morning Stout to me is a better beer and about half the cost... chastize me if u will. It's just my opinion...

 

I have no idea how it sold in stores around here. All I know is that one of the smaller bars I frequent got 2 kegs of KBS last week and they will be going on tap at some point this week. If I get a couple pours that's fine by me, and if not I'm not going to worry about it.

 

I was at the right place at the right time and was able to get a 4 pk. I've had the beer before and really enjoyed it... Haven't had any of this year's yet but I expect to enjoy it again... I haven't had many of the beers named here so I won't be able to say whether it's better or worse... Sounds like some like it and others like it but are pissed that they paid too much...

 

I'm visiting my son in WA a bar down the way has it on tap, never had one on tap.

 

They get held on a named basis every year in my store but I said fuck that. First come first serve and I sold all the reserved in my store because fuck that you had all week to pick them up and I'm not turning away good people because they didn't make a phone call to a "friend"

It's still popular.

 

Damn straight

 

Yes, this is still very sought after in West Michigan and sells out same day most places. I feel it is a great balanced BA coffee stout and still a decent price, at least for 12oz bottles.

I do not understand why people are comparing it to beer that is not even similar, like Backwoods, Abyss, BCBS, or others. That's style preference and not apples to apples. For SMS I can see where people would compare price points, for me the taste is not comparable, I get a green pepper taste from SMS. I see where people may like it, especially at the price point. I do enjoy High West quite a bit.

KBS is a great value (12oz) and a great well balanced BA coffee stout. If people don't want to chase, understood, but to say it's not a high quality stout in its category seems off.

It is also one of the few coffee stouts where the coffee holds up over the long haul so it's good for aging, doing verticals, etc. Had a '14 the other day and it was still great.

 

Great post, but I gotta disagree with you on the SMS. Green pepper??? Wtf... it is as good if not better than KBS at about half the price. Everyone has there own opinions. I appreciate yours. Cheers!!!

 

Maybe it was just the first batch. Tried it right when it came out and didn't enjoy it, couldn't put my finger on it until another BA said something about the green pepper taste. Have not tried it since. Could have been my pallet at the time, who knows, I just didn't enjoy it like others do.

 

I think it all about what you like. If you love this beer you will always get it. I feel that there are so many good beers out there for way cheaper and easier to get that for me anyway I don't worry about it. If I get my hands on some I will sip a bottle but I don't worry about missing it anymore.

 

It has been flying off of the shelves here in the Philly area.

My thoughts as well.

 

Yeah, ATL seemed to get a decent amount but it went quickly. I managed to get a 4 pack ($24) so not too bad, then 2 singles at another store for $6 a piece. Only hit two stores, due to I didn't feel like putting out much more effort. More luck here than when I lived in BFE Virginia.

Last time I actually managed a four pack besides this year was 3 years ago? And I drove an hour to Greensboro NC because the guy at whole foods held me one.

 

I was able to get a bottle from a friend who bought a 4pk. It is still hyped a ton here in NY, but for me personally I'm done chasing this beer. Its still a great imperial stout but two factors keep me out of the chase. There are many other barrel aged stouts now that are also very good and not nearly as hard to purchase. Second, I've been fortunate to have tried KBS just about every year. So if I see it on tap or in a store I'm still going to buy it. I'm just not putting in extra effort to do so anymore.

 

Very well said. I got the same green pepper thing from the first two years of SMS. It made me question both the rave reviews and my palate. I also agree that the "over-priced" sentiment is off-base. It maybe over-hyped, and that the challenge of getting some is not worth it to many. But, as you pointed out, the ~$6/bottle is relatively reasonable. I think many inferior brews are priced similarly.