Day 75: 03.16.10 Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

Founders Brewing Co.

Grand Rapids, Michigan


Kentucky Breakfast Stout


Style: Double/Imperial Stout
Availability: Limited - Ides of March Release
Format: 12oz - 4pk
ABV: 11.2%
IBUs: 70
Batch: bottled Feb. 8th, 2010


Bottle text & Info:
What we’ve got here is an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year, to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. Make your taste buds squeal with delight.


Tasting Notes:
Hello KBS. I finally get a chance to try you. Not a lot of this around. we received 3 cases today at the store and that is considered a pretty high allocation so, get this while the gettin's good. Enough talk. Let's drink some beer. Pours a thick dense brown to black with a deep brown quarter inch head that quickly recedes to a ring around the top. An intense bouquet of malt notes burst forth. Some pretty significant coffee, cocoa nibs and flaked barley on the nose, followed by steel cut oatmeal, finishing with a touch of Bourbon. Silky smooth mouthfeel with some tingling hops and warming alcohol. Wow. I can definitely see why this is currently #4 on BeerAdvocates top 25 beers in the world. Worth the hype. A lot going on here. Bitter chocolate and coffee are most dominant on the front, fading away and leaving just straight bourbon. Think chocolate cake with grenache dipped in bourbon and you're in the ballpark. Unique thing with this guy is that its not necessarily real heavy on the barrel characteristics (I.e. butterscotch, vanilla). Don't get me wrong, you definitely get some subtle hints of both, but in real small amounts. This is a beer you definitely want to pay attention to because there is a lot going on and it changes at it warms. What a gem for aging. An unyielding explosion of big stout and bourbon flavor wrapped in a velvety mouthfeel. A scary 11%, you could get into real trouble with this. Another remarkable achievement in brewing from the boys at Founders, and a beer well worth the tag (up to $135 a case, $24 a 4pk) and the feverish hype.

Day 50: 02.19.10 Founder's Nemesis

Founder's Brewing Co.

Grand Rapids, Michigan


Nemesis: (2009) - Maple bourbon barrel aged wheat wine.




Style: Wheatwine
Availability: Limited - One Time Brew
Format: 12oz - 4pk
ABV: 12.0%
Batch: bottled Feb. 03, 2010


Bottle text & Info:
What you have here is a rarity. A special, one-of-a-kind ale that is only made once a year. Sometimes that’s all. Forever. No more. Nada. Limited-time only. You never know what you’re gonna get. But you can be sure that it’ll be damn tasty.


Tasting Notes: 
Pretty cool concept here. Mystery ale, varies every year in alcohol and style. this year is a maple bourbon aged wheat wine. I f'n love founders. I'm pretty excited about this. Pours dark orange to light red with little to no head. only lace around the side. Rising carbonation - bubbles racing to the top at various speeds throughout the ale. Amazingly aromatic. I could wear this beer. I really just wanna pour this all over my shirt and sleep with my clothes on. Expressly bourbon on the front followed by some sweet candied pear ending with whole stick cinnamon. Sweet American bourbon on the front of this guy. So amazingly drinkable! 12%!?!?!?! really!? Medium to light body with some carmel and fig like notes. I absolutely heart this. It's not too figgy, it's not too sweet, it's got some spice, prickly carbonation and is so incredibly smooth. What's frightening is that this is gonna improve with age. Looks like I know where my birthday cash is going. This is the best beer i've had this year. Another incredible, incredible release from Founders. At 20$ a four pack, this is worth every penny. and i'm a cheap ass.


I would like to take a minute and say happy 50 days to the beer blog!


On a sadder note, i'd like to have a moment of silence and request you give a toast of your favorite beer for backstock Matt's and fam's beloved dog Harley, who's left us. Rest in peace 'ole girl. You are loved and will be forever missed! This one's for you...