Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
As I mentioned the other day, I’m pretty sure I made out better than my wife at her birthday dinner with a bottle of Saison du Buff. Well, my luck hadn’t run out with one of the last two bottles in the place.
I’m a big fan of Founders Breakfast Stout, but their Kentucky variety has eluded me for quite some time — that is until this past Monday night. Was my agony of so many close calls with the brew in the past washed away with this single bottle? You’re damned right it was. In fact, I’m going to give this bad boy the first (I think) perfect score on the site.
Appearance
KBS pours black as night and thick. There wasn’t a hint of a head after the pour, but I was able to rouse a little foam with a quick swirl of the glass — even then it was a thin layer of brown.
Aroma
I think I just died and have gone to heaven. This beer smells amazing. The bourbon (a result of the beer aging for a year in retired barrels) is the first thing that hits your nose, but it’s not aggressive as in, say, Allagash’s Curieux. It’s gentlemanly (if you will), smooth and backed by dark chocolates, espresso, roasted malt, a little vanilla and a touch of molasses.
Taste
The beer starts off with plenty of dark coffee, dark chocolates and a nice roast that’s all quickly followed by the smooth bourbon character. Again, it’s not just slapped in there. The bourbon notes are complimentary to everything that’s going on within the dark abyss in my glass. KBS has a thick, viscous mouthfeel and a warming (11% ABV), lingering finish that leaves a lasting bourbon afterglow. There’s a light bitterness in the mix as well that helps compliment the sweeter aspect of the beer.
Overall
This is without a doubt the most well balanced bourbon barrel aged anything I’ve ever had. It’s super rich, smooth and so well constructed that the flavors come together like a well practiced symphony of deliciousness. I know that sounds grandiose, but I’m hard pressed to describe just how well everything comes together through the short lifespan this beer had in my hands. I am satiated, albeit temporarily, in my quest to find this beer, but I will continue the search for it among beer shelves. I must have more.
Rating: 5/5