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

I picked up this 2008 bottle of Schlafly’s Reserve Imperial Stout about 3-4 months ago and have been drooling over the change to get into it ever since. This was definitely the most decadent brew I enjoyed over the holiday break, so it’s a good one to end this series of reviews on.

This is not only a special brew, it’s my first from a brewery I’ve heard a great deal about, but have never encountered in the wild. In the end, this was one hell of a way get the relationship started.

Appearance

This barrel aged imperial stout pours a bit lighter in color than most beers of this style I’ve had in the past. It’s more of a medium to dark brown. The head was thick, creamy and light tan in color.

Aroma

My notes on this one lead off with “amazing.” The aroma is boozy with a light bourbon character, plenty of oakiness and a good deal of vanilla. It’s a little sweet with roasted malt and not much alcohol to speak of.

Taste

Schlafly has crafted a nicely balanced imperial stout. It’s got nice oak and vanilla notes mixed with sweet, roasted, chocolate malt. The bourbon is a bit more evident in the finish as is the 10.5% ABV. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, yet a little on the light side.

Overall

I enjoyed this brew thoroughly. I might have to make a road trip to the store that I bought it at to see if they still have it. I’ll gladly put out the money for a a couple of bottles to put away for special occasions. My favorite aspect of the beer is the nicely balanced bourbon notes — smooth, lingering and tasty. My only disappointment with the beer would be the mouthfeel. It’s a bit thin for my liking, but not nearly enough to detract from an overall pleasant drinking experience.

Rating: 4.4/5

Using their Rapadou Porter (which I have not yet had) as the base, this brew was aged in oak barrels for about two months. That really doesn’t seem that long of a period to truly get the affects that barrel aging adds to a beer, but you never know.

Appearance

I poured the beer into a simple snifter which filled smoothly with the near black liquid. The toffee colored head was fairly sizable initially, but faded rather quickly to a thin lace.

Aroma

As this one was poured at cellar temperature, the aromas were quite apparent. The nose is packed with black coffee, subtle chocolates, vanilla, a surprising amount of oakiness and a massive alcohol heat.

Taste

Perhaps I should have let this one chill a bit before opening. The alcohol is a bit harsh initially, almost overwhelming the rest of the beer’s character. It has that pseudo bourbon flavor that oak aging tends to give to beer, but it’s not like cracking open an Allagash Curieux which truly is aged in bourbon barrels. This porter is a bit thin for my liking, but it’s got a good flavor that I found quite enjoyable. The finish is a mixture of bittersweet chocolate and slightly bitter coffee character.

Overall

I was honestly surprised at the amount of alcohol heat that this one packed. At about 9% ABV it’s certainly not the strongest beer in the house, but it still hits pretty hard. I think I’ll let the other bottle sit for a while to help tone down the punch of alcohol. It should prove to turn out a tastier brew I think.

Rating: 3.5/5