96 Rating – Founders Brewing Co. – KBS

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe? 
Founders began brewing a chocolate and coffee-infused oatmeal stout back in the early 2000s that was known as Breakfast Stout. It was based on a homebrew concept that then Head Brewer Nate Walser and myself had worked on prior to our professional brewing careers. It was the first beer we tried aging in bourbon barrels, and though it came out great, the body seemed a bit thin and the chocolate and coffee flavors had become muted due the extended time spent in the bourbon barrel. So the grain bill was increased and the chocolate and coffee amounts were doubled. That recipe has never changed since.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
I personally love the balance of flavors in this beer. There is so much going on, but they all play very nicely together. I like the way the coffee and bourbon jump out in the aroma and first sip, then the chocolate and oak finish up in the aftertaste.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The beer was originally called Kentucky Breakfast Stout, since it was basically an imperial version of our Breakfast Stout and Kentucky is home of the best bourbons. I believe there were some legal issues though, something about the beer not being made in Kentucky, so we just went with KBS. It’s what everyone was calling it for short anyways.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
No way! If I’m on a desert island I’ll need something pale, hoppy and sessionable. It’s more like my “weekend transition from breakfast to afternoon when I’m feeling fancy” beer.

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