Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS)

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

12 oz. bottle. Originally sampled this at the World Beer Festival with alexanderj and kleyland back in 2007. Glad to finally get a proper rating. Dark black pour with a thin, light tan head. Small amount of lacing. Aroma of coffee, dark chocolate, bourbon, and vanilla. Smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Flavor is really nice and balanced. The roasted malts, coffee, and bourbon notes blend together perfectly. Finish is charred oak, with a nice boozy hint. Really nice beer for a cold evening.

ab fab appearance. dark dark brown with mocha ice cream colored head. head is thick and creamy that’s long lasting. aroma is burnt dark roast espresso and thick dark chocolate syrup. kinda smells like java chip starbucks ice cream if you’ve had it. flavor is very bourbon-y with dark espresso and dark and semi-sweet chocolates. the mouthfeel is unbelievably smooth considering the harshness of the aroma. like a bourbon flavored frappaccino with whipped cream and nutty roastedness. yummy.

What a joy, after so many mediocre to average beers I’ve been drinking lately, to retry this spectacular brew. Perfect pour---black and huge brown rocky head. The nose alone would be enough to satisfy most coffee fanatics. The flavors of coffee, espresso, chocolate, molasses, brown sugar and toffee intermingle subtly. The bourbon tastes are also subtle and incredibly well integrated. Top of the line...it doesn’t get any better than this.

really great smell of chocolate cake, hmm a really chocolate taste with some light roasted coffee and an end of vanilia i really like...hmm no i LOVE this great beer yummy

12 oz bottle from good ol’ MrBunn. This is the last of the "monster" trade we recently pulled off. Pours a rich, deep black with minimal head. Aroma is all dark chocolate and roasty coffee beans. Taste is all coffee and STRONG, lovely vanilla. So much that I want 5 more! This is great stuff. The bourbon undertones are definitely there, but so well balanced as to make this ridiculously smooth for the ABV and style. Lovely... just, so damn lovely.

Bottle (thanks Ughsmash). Finally got around to opening this much anticated beer. Pours a amazingly thick deep, deep dark brown with a average-sized tan head. Coffee dominates the aroma, with some bourbon notes, some wood hints and a dash of vanilla. Flavors are much the same - lots & lots of sweet coffee, roasted malts and a little of the booze. I thoroughly enjoyed this brew! Would love to get some more.

Now, I must admit, I dont get this whole barrel aged fad, where everyone seems to get a 4.5+. But I was fairly impressed with this one. Perhaps it is because they started with a great brew to begin with. I digress. Dark midnight black, some sediment, nice and opaque. Decent amount of tannish head. Smells of chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, irish creme, yum yum. Taste is a lot of dark cocoa powder and a hint of good bourbon. Vanilla comes into play, with a nice malty finish. The bourbon is not overpowering, like others. Solid.

On tap at Great Taste of the Midwest. Pours deep brown/black with a thin brown head. Smells like deliciosity in a glass. Coffee, oak, and generalized sweetness. The taste that jumped out was that of a very good stout: roasted malts and smooth, hidden alcohol. I’ve never tried Founders Breakfast Stout, but I’d imagine the primary difference of course is the presence here of the oak bourbon taste. The gentleman serving this beer at the Founders tent served it near room temperature, which really brought out the wide array of tastes available in this masterpiece.