Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)

I've got to be hands down the laziest blogger ever - I am the Kansas of bloggers.  The band, not the state.  To my Kansas friends, I love you and you all work very hard.  Kansas the band, step up guys, you've released one album about every 20 years since you started.  I was hoping to have a few bottles of this, for pictures and for aging, but unfortunately due to last minute work scheduling issues (yes this isn't all I do, thank goodness), I missed out at my local beer stores!  Luckily I was able to pick up a glass on tap from my local Lizardville, so I can sit here a little buzzed minutes later and tell everyone about it!  Note however that I do have to apologize, I had a slight stuffy nose during my tasting, so my flavor and aromatic notes will be a little bit off.  It's allergy season, which is just awful for beer nerds who suffer from the plague of pollen and molds - I feel you guys!!!

Beer: KBS

Brewery: Founders
Style: Imperial Stout
ABV: 11.2%

Glass: Tulip

Appearance:  Pours a dark coffee black with a small but thick, dark tan head.  Deep and opaque.

Aroma:  Aromatics are just what one would expect from a bourbon barrel aged version of Founder's famous Breakfast stout - strong notes of bourbon with hints of coffee that creep into the nostrils and entice the drinker, promising an excellent beer experience.

Body & Texture:  Medium body with a thinly syrupy quality which likely comes from the original brew and is built up by the addition of bourbon aging, and just enough carbonation tingle to enhance the experience of the flavors.

Taste:  Absolutely divine!  Like a fine coffee aged in bourbon, with deeper caramel malt notes and hints of oatmeal, perhaps the suggestion of a light chocolate.  There is a definite alcohol warmth or burn, but without the heavy alcohol flavor that one might expect from a beer aged in a liquor barrel.

Overall: If you're a beer nerd, I don't know why you're sitting here reading my review - go find some, and go now before it's gone!  If you haven't had the chance to taste the regular Breakfast Stout from Founders, I suggest you try that first so that you have something to compare this to.  While this beer is absolutely fantastic, I feel as though my experience was significantly enhanced by the fact that I've had the opportunity to taste the pre-aged beer first.  That being said, even if you haven't had a chance to taste the regular run of the mill Founders Breakfast Stout, I am certainly not telling you to skip out on KBS season!  The warmth and depth of the bourbon blends so well with the deep, rich flavors of the initial brew that I would wager you folks that aren't big fans of the barrel aged beers will really get in to this one because of the smoothness and lack of sharp alcohol flavor.

What are you waiting for?  I know it's the first day of May, but there might be a few still hanging around, especially if you're living outside of Michigan where Founders is located - go out and find some!

Read about KBS at the Founders website, and check out their other awesome brews here - http://foundersbrewing.com/