Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
12oz bottle poured into a Dogfish Head Signature glass. 2011 vintage. A - Pours slowly and thickly into the glass, slowly filling it with an oily black fluid. A fairly hard pour yields only about a finger's worth of dark khaki head. Retention is decent for the alcohol, and a thick cap stays behind. Lacing is very good as well, leaving a thin film on the walls of the glass. The body is completely opaque and polished ebony in color and makes a nice makeshift mirror. S - The nose is brash and bold with flavors of coffee, vanilla and bourbon. I'm not sure if Founders uses any vanilla in the making of this beer, but the aroma of vanilla is some of the highest I've had from a bourbon barrel-aged stout. It's a bit boozy, but the coffee is fresh and aromatic and the bourbon actually goes a long way in cutting the alcohol with some sweetness. T - The taste brings even more balance and complexity, adding chocolate fudge to the mix. Again, the vanilla is huge here, and the combo between the coffee, chocolate, and vanilla is reminding me of a bourbon-aged Ballast Point Victory at Sea in the way everything comes together. These flavors are so big that they actually overshadow the bourbon, which adds a nice additional layer without being too alcoholic or overbearing. M - Mouthfeel is heavy-bodied with low carbonation. Damn smooth and creamy and it leaves a coating that keeps the flavors coming minutes after drinking. A bit thin for the style. D - Drinkability is high. I don't get any sense of 11.20% ABV in this beer and the flavors keep coming with more twists and turns as it warms. Very good beer, but unfortunately the hype-train behind this beer left me with only 2 bottles at a price of $8 each...