Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
I poured this into a 16 oz snifter... And in giving it a rather vigorous pour for the last 6 ozs or so, I manage to create a 2 finger head that settles to a murky and ominous cloud that hovers above a dark and stormy sea of Kentucky goodness. This thing is dark. I mean- driving down a country road with no headlights in a rain storm dark. I'm holding this up to the brightest light in my house, and I'm unable to see through it even at the edges. Upon swirling though, you do notice a deep mahogany/amber color that glints and shimmers with flashes of stunning beauty. The head is a light caramel color and seemingly composed of very tight and fine little bubbles. The lacing is spotty, but it seems to be the norm for these big bourbon barrel stouts. The smell is huge on chocolate and coffee, with notes of vanilla and oak. The bourbon is hiding amongst them, but isn't really jumping out at me. All of those smells translate to the tongue and create an intensely flavorful experience that isn't for the weak of heart. The bitter coffee and unsweetened cocoa notes hit first with an underlying sweetness that I can only attribute to the malts working together with the added vanilla. As this has warmed up, the bourbon has really moved into a much more noticeable position in terms of the smell and taste. It is much more pronounced, and quite delicious. The oaky vanilla notes have gained some ground too. Upon my first few sips with this, all I could think was how well balanced this was... How strong must the other flavors have been to hide the bourbon and boozy bite? Why can't I taste the slightest hint of alcohol yet? It seems that as the beer warms, the coffee and chocolate notes fade and the barrel aging kicks it into high gear. Wow. There's a nice alcohol bite hitting me now that is smooth and warming. I say this completely secure in my status as a heterosexual male that is nearing 30 years old-- This beer is utterly fabulous. The mouthfeel is fantastic. The body isn't nearly as thick or full as you'd expect. It is actually light and creamy smooth. The carbonation level is about perfect for being a barrel aged brew. Certainly no complaints here. The beer does clock in at over 11%, so one of these is plenty. As a matter of fact, it has taken me 31 minutes to... (last sip)... finish this beer. Fantastic. What an enjoyable half hour.