Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
If you told me three months ago that I would review fifty different beers by June, I would have choked on my Busch Light. Its crazy, but thats just the way it happened. Anyway, I wanted to do something special for this one (even though, yes, I know that number fifty isnt all that big of a milestone). And, thanks to 1Adam12, Im now holding a bottle of Kentucky Breakfast Stout one of the most beloved American beers ever. Thanks again Adam! You made my first trading experience easy, rewarding, and generally awesome. But enough about us lets get to the beer: A: As soon as the first drops flowed into my tulip, all I could think of was thick. It poured very slowly, even more than a lot of beers of this style. In fact, it was so syrupy that my girlfriend asked me what I was drinking. Is that really beer? Its funny, because this is what a lot of dark beers should look like, in my opinion: deep brownish-black, thick as hell, with a small but resilient head. I love the bold first impression. S: A dark coffee aroma is striking at first, then it blends peacefully into sugary syrup notes. Theres chocolate, toffee, and a little bit of raspberry, even. The finish on the nose is, not surprisingly, bourbon. Oaky, spicy, smoky bourbon. Overall, a wonderful prelude. T: Oh wow. This is unbelievable. A killer upfront bitterness throttles everything I know about dark, aged beer. Its perfect for a hophead like me. The hops are solidly grounded in a combination of yeast so earthy that it gives the entire palate a rustic footing. Coffee and chocolate grow, as expected, from the dark expanse of the body, with some caramel in between. Great execution very well balanced. The best part, though, is when the bourbon comes in. I really cant think of any other word but fantastic. Its deep, warming, peppery, and woody. Its never artificial or out-of-place in the palate. The finish brings back that tart raspberry from the nose, coupling with the dryness of everything else to present a satisfying aftertaste that begs for more of the same. This is an experience that will be hard to match. Nothing short of incredible. M: Rich, creamy, thick. This works very well with the palate. However, there is some fizzy carbonation (which seems to be a trademark of Founders) that makes the body just a hair light on occasion. Everything else, though, is golden. O: Four words: This. Beer. Is. Epic. Im glad that I waited for review number fifty to check this one out, because now I can really appreciate how exceedingly complex and satisfying it is. Without a doubt, this has been one of my favorite beer experiences ever. Next year Im grabbing a case. Im so glad that Founders has such high standards. This is the kind of beer that gets me excited to go to the bottle shop. This is kind of beer that puts a smile on my face when I think of my future experiences. And this is the kind of beer that makes me proud to be a part of the craft community. Heres to fifty more like KBS!