Kentucky Breakfast Stout
Also known as KBS, this is a decadent barrel-aged stout that I recommend putting high your list of beers to try. While it might not be one of the easiest to find, it’s worth the effort.
Continue reading to see why KBS is an all time favorite of mine.
Check Out This Article: Five Barrel-Aged Beers To Try
Review Of Founders Brewing KBS
It’s quite the opposite now as just about every brewery ages something in barrels. These are typically stouts but porters, sours and a few other styles are often used as well.
Being so unique, KBS helped Founders Brewing become a household name among craft beer enthusiasts. And the popularity grew quickly since customers could only find it once a year and in very limited amounts.
Kentucky Breakfast Stout is typically around 12% ABV and 70 IBUs. It is released in Michigan in March and finds its way to other states in early April. A four pack of 12oz bottles is $24 – $30 and still sells out very quickly in most areas of the country.
Here is how Founders Brewing describes it:
What we’ve got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Makes your taste buds squeal with delight.
Initial Thoughts
First off, you need to know that this beer is created by taking Founders Breakfast Stout and aging it in bourbon barrels. So Breakfast Stout plus barrel-aging equals KBS.
The name probably makes a lot of sense now.
If you’ve ever had Breakfast Stout then you will know it has big chocolate and coffee flavors as well as a heavy body. Which will give you hints as to what to expect from KBS.
Kentucky Breakfast Stout pours a heavy, deep black. It’s as opaque as a beer can get.
Depending on the vintage and the temperature of the beer, I normally get a very thin, dark tan head.
The aroma is boozy with bourbon notes with just a touch of coffee.
Tasting Notes
It’s viscous like oil but not syrupy. It’s exactly what I want from a high ABV barrel-aged stout.
The initial flavor I get from KBS is bourbon. There’s no denying it has been aged in bourbon barrels. But this is not a “hot” liquor taste. It has all the flavor of bourbon (oak, vanilla) without the harsh bite.
After that passes, chocolate and coffee present themselves as one flavor. And that is because they provide much of the same qualities to this beer, sweetness.
While these flavors can often add some bitterness, I don’t find that in this beer. Instead, the chocolate and coffee are make this a rich, decadent dessert beer.
Final Thoughts
Take your time when you drink this one. The flavors will change and develop as you work through the glass.
Most of this is caused by temperature change but I also think you’ll notice more of the deep, rich flavors as you slowly sip it.
I get more coffee and chocolate towards the end of the glass as the bourbon tends to fade just enough.
Conculsion
But if you are looking for the perfect moment, I highly recommend drinking it on a chilly night with dessert. Or just skip the dessert and make a glass of KBS your late night snack.
I rarely age my beer but this is one that I intentionally hold a few bottles back to ensure I can enjoy it any time I want throughout the year. There’s nothing quite like opening up your beer fridge knowing you’ve got a few of these hidden away.
If you haven’t had KBS, then get ready as their nationwide release is coming up in just a few weeks.