Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

My Quarry

Beer:  Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS)

Brewery:  Founders

Date: February 21st, 2014

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV: 11.2%

Similar To:  Founders Breakfast Stout (shockingly enough), Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti 

Description:
It would be fair to say that I've been hunting for this one for a long time.  Thankfully, I've got a good friend in Michigan who's eagle-eyed when it comes to tracking them down.  When he visited Chicago earlier this year, we hit a couple of South Side mainstays, one in Flossmoor and one in Blue Island, both of which provided me with some excellent fodder for my musings.  Overshadowed by the beers which we enjoyed that evening was the ostensible purpose for his visit, to swap beers on our wish lists, the most ballyhooed of which was Founders KBS, their acclaimed Imperial Stout released each April to much fanfare. 

First Impression:
Pours dark brown with a thin dark brown head, dissipating almost immediately.

Smell:
Coffee, bourbon, vanilla (but not very sweet), and roasted malt.  Pleasantly smoky.  Even without knowing the ABV off the top of my head, this smells powerful.

Taste:
There is a *lot* going on here.  Strong, bitter coffee and bourbon right up front, followed by chocolate, vanilla, and a smoky, bitter finish.  Comes on like a Breakfast Stout's big brother who spends his nights lifting and blowing through boxes of cigars in the garage.  I had to taste this one several times to pick out all of the subtle nuances.  About halfway through, I picked up some maple and port notes, and the alcohol finish became more pronounced.

On the Palate:
Medium bodied, not as thick as I would have expected for something with so much kick.  Quite warming going down.

Why You'll like It:
An imperial stout lover's dream.  After appreciating the bourbon and mocha, you'll want to savor this one and all of its subtleties.

...and why You won't:
This is a rewarding but very challenging beer.  Its robust flavors and bitterness may drive off anyone who's not a fan of the style.

In Closing...:
When you hype up a beer in your mind for so long, it's almost impossible for that beer to be anything other than disappointing when you finally try it.  Not so, here.  KBS was exceptional, though I'd prefer not to wait another 6 years to have my next one.  My only regret is that I probably won't get to try one from this batch after cellaring for another 9-12 months.  Would have loved to see how that broad spectrum of flavors matured.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars (out of 5)

Spiteful G.F.Y. Stout

Beer:  G.F.Y. Stout (GFY)

Brewery:  Spiteful Brewing

Date:  January 25th, 2014

Style: Imperial Stout

ABV:  8.0%

Similar To:  Central Waters Brewhouse Coffee Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin

Description:
As long as I've been enjoying beer, I've had a soft spot for stouts.  From Guinness Extra Stout, one of the first beers I tried, to the almost innumerable varieties of barrel-aged stouts I've tried more recently, the style evokes a great sentimentality in me and reminds me of why I enjoy beer so much.  It's with this long, fond history that I tend to be rather critical of any stout that I try, which is why I feel quite excited to share my enthusiasm about one that I enjoyed.  In Part II of my recap from January's Spiteful Tasting extravaganza (read Part I here), I review Spiteful's take on the Imperial Stout, G.F.Y.

First Impression:
As with all of Spiteful's beers, the label art catches your eye.  I've never embraced product mascots, but I admit harboring a soft spot for GFY's none-too-cuddlesome figurehead, Abrasive Bear, pictured above.  The beer itself pours black with a lingering finger-thick mocha head.

Smell:
Dark, bittersweet chocolate, lots of roasted, almost smoky, malt, and also some coffee in the background.

Taste:
Compelling blend of chocolate and roasted grain, with a good hop finish, despite not being a prominent part of the aroma.  Also some hints of coffee and caramel.  Very nicely balanced, a good combination of flavors without any single overwhelming characteristic.

On the Palate:
Medium thickness, somewhat thinner than I expected for a stout, with little carbonation.  Surprisingly smooth and little alcohol finish for 8% ABV.

Why You'll like It:
A solid, non gimmicky example of what a stout should taste like.  The balance gives it a broad appeal to anyone who enjoys this style. 

...and why You won't:
Doesn't try to complete with all of the specialist stouts currently on the market.  If you're looking for a beer that's strongly weighted towards one end of the taste spectrum or the other, for example a strong coffee or sweet chocolate stout, there are choices that will probably make you happier.

In Closing...:
GFY was the second Spiteful stout that I tried that evening, and though both had their merits, I felt that this was the more well-executed of the two.  Would definitley enjoy it again. 

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars (out of 5)

Most of the evening's lineup, prior to their demise.  GFY is 3rd from the left.

Great Lakes Blackout Stout

Who are you and what are you
doing on my porch?

Beer:  Great Lakes Blackout Stout (GBS)

Brewery:  Great Lakes

Date:  January 6th, 2013

Style:  (Russian) Imperial Stout

ABV:  9.0%

Similar To:  Founders Breakfast Stout, New Holland Dragon's Milk

Description:
Picture noon on the coldest day of the year, and a desolate, snow-covered street.  A man comes into view trudging alone through drifts piled high against parked cars and spilling from the doorways of shuttered businesses.  The wind tugs at his tightly wrapped scarf as he struggles forward through the swirling eddies of white powder.  He advances slowly, block by block until he reaches his destination, a grim bastion of humanity, holding on tenuously against nature's fury.  The interior of this establishment reveals it to be grim indeed; a low, smoke filled tap room inhabited by equally grim and desperate-looking inebriates, huddled in twos and threes against the cold around rickety tables, clutching rough earthenware pots of sour smelling ale, while spitting their wads of tobacco upon the dirt floor.

Now picture pretty much the same thing except without most of the gritty urban squalor.  More accurately, picture two people hoofing it through the snow for lunch on one of the coldest January days on record (and to relieve a little of their cabin fever while working from home).  Their destination:  a local biker bar we'll call "Miko's" for the sake of artistic license.  Their beer of choice on this frigid day?  Great Lakes' Blackout Stout.

First Impression:
Pours a very dark body with a thin mocha head which dissipates quickly.

Smell:
Arrived in a 6 oz "aromatic beer glass" (basically a stemless snifter) which was full almost to the top.  I may have missed out on some of what this beer had to offer because there was no room for the various aromas to gather and concentrate in the glass, but I was still able to pick out coffee, caramel, possibly vanilla, and some fruity aromas.

Taste:
Pleasantly bitter coffee taste, with a background of caramel, vanilla, and licorice.  Definitely some plum or raisin in there, explaining the fruit which I smelled originally.  Surprisingly little alcohol bite.

On the Palate:
Low carbonation, thick but not syrupy.

Why You'll like It:
If you enjoy Imperial Stouts but have trouble handling their 10%+ ABVs and strong alcohol tastes, you'll want to give this a try.

...and why You won't:
If Imperial Stouts aren't your style, or if you're looking for something really new in the genre, then this may not impress you (though what it does, it does quite well).

In Closing...:
An enjoyable take on the ever-popular style.  Solid, but not quite at the level of the really outstanding beers in this category, such as Evil Twin's Imperial Biscotti Break, Founders Breakfast Stout, Founders Imperial Stout, and Three Floyds' Dark Lord.  A good introductory beer for those unfamiliar with Imperial Stouts, as it's milder than many of its counterparts, though still fully representative of the style.  "Miko's" carries a lot of outstanding beers, and I suspect we'll be returning soon to sample more.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)

Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break

Cookies, meet Beer.

Beer:  Imperial Biscotti Break (IBB)

Brewery:  Evil Twin Brewing

Date:  December 31st, 2013

Style:  Imperial Stout

ABV:  13.0%

Similar To:  Founders Breakfast Stout, Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout 



Description:
Though this one came highly recommended, I admit to feeling reluctant to crack it open, due in no small part to the name.  I'm a bit of an anti-foppishness snob, and the concept of biscotti beer, set my teeth on edge.  I can't imagine who exactly would take the time for a "biscotti break" but I'm pretty sure that they'd annoy the crap out of me while doing it.  Initial trepidation notwithstanding, I was very happy that I set aside my preconceptions, because the payoff was superb (read on).  I'm convinced that there's a lesson to be learned somewhere in all of this, but I'm almost equally sure that it would be lost on me.

First Impression:
Deep brown color to the point of being black.  Formed a thin medium brown lacing which dissipated quickly.

Smell:
I can't remember the last time I savored the aroma of a beer for so long before tasting it.  Swirling it in a tulip glass brought forth wave after wave of warm vanilla, bourbon, malt, and even a hint of almond (now I see the biscotti connection) or something similarly sweet hovering around the periphery.  While these were all great accompaniments, the dominant scents for IBB are, without a doubt, coffee and chocolate.

Taste:
Not to be outdone by the fragrant previews, IBB is a double-barreled epic with coffee and chocolate taking top billing.  A strong supporting cast includes vanilla, caramel, malt, and that additional elusive sweetness.  Also present are a strong alcohol taste and a welcome warming sensation going down.

On the Palate:
Thick and rich with almost no carbonation.  Surprisingly smooth, despite the high ABV.

Why You'll like It: 
Coffee, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, why wouldn't you like it?  In all seriousness, though, IBB will appeal to fans of imperial and coffee stouts.  Those adventurous enough to try IBB are unlikely to be disappointed.

...and why You won't:
Despite its complexity and depth of character, this is still one strong beer.  If lager and pale ale is your thing, you may be better served by sticking with those styles.  Similarly, if coffee doesn't appeal to you, then this is definitely one to pass on.

In Closing...:
What a way to end a year!  Along with Founders Backwoods Bastard, this may be my favorite beer of 2013.  Highly recommended, if you can find it, I look forward to trying more from Evil Twin very soon.  Nice to see that the Danes have expanded spectacularly beyond Carlsberg (and especially CSB, a stereotypical favorite of adolescent English boys and tramps for decades).

Rating (Out of 5): 

Founders Breakfast Stout

Ah, childhood...

Beer:  Founders Breakfast Stout (FBS)

Brewery:  Founders

Date:  December 27th, 2013

Style:  Imperial Stout

ABV: 8.3%

Similar To:  Bells Expedition Stout, Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break.



Description:
I'd been searching for this one for a while and found it unexpectedly when Mrs. B and I met for a drink after work at a nearby wine bar.  She  chose a flight of what turned out to be superb white French varietals and I was leaning toward some South American reds when I noticed this post's  titular beer in a cooler perched above the rows of chardonnays and chirazes behind the bar.

First Impression:
As with so many of Founders' beers, I loved the label art (see above).   Pours a deep brown color with a very thin medium brown lacing around the sides of the glass.

Smell:
Inhale deeply:  lots of coffee and chocolate, with an underlying maltiness.  

Taste:
Strong, rich coffee and chocolate taste, with a smokiness lingering on the edges.  Makes me think of a real French "pain au chocolat".  Bittersweet and buttery rich rather than overly sugary. While the name obviously points to early morning beverages, I can't help thinking that this would make a delicious shake, malted, or frappe.  Beer and ice cream for breakfast, hmmm...

On the Palate:
Rich and smooth.  Has the light background carbonation present in many of Founders' higher ABV beers, which add much to their character.

Why You'll like It:
If you enjoy bitter, strong porters, and imperial stouts.  All of the complex flavors of a Bourbon County Stout with a much lower ABV and alcohol taste.

...and why You won't:
Tea drinkers stay away.  While milder than some of its counterparts, this is still more likely to appeal to the scotch and cigar crowd, rather than to lovers of craft cocktails and less hearty offerings.

In Closing...:
Highly recommended for its (slightly) milder, yet full-flavored take on coffee and chocolate, FBS is a superior addition to an already crowded field of Imperial Stouts.

Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 2013

Mmmm, Beer in a Jar.

Beer:  Bourbon County Stout - 2013 (BCS)

Brewery:  Goose Island

Date:  December 13th, 2013

Style:  Imperial Stout

ABV:  14.5%

Similar To:  New Holland Dragon's Milk, Founders Breakfast Stout


Author's Note:
In the interest of full disclosure, my sense of smell and taste are still feeling the lingering effects of my recent illness, and may not be as reliable or at least as consistent as usual.  I reserve every right to update this (or any other) review at a later date, based on subsequent tastings.

Description:
What started out as a Friday lunch date with coworkers, planned weeks ahead of time, gradually turned into lunch with one coworker, and finally ended up as lunch by myself.  Hardly a reason for self-pity, rather an unexpected simplification of the whole process. Sticking to my original plan of visiting one of my favorite BBQ spots, I hopped on what passes in Chicago for mass transit and little more than 20 minutes later I was staring down my quarry:  Goose Island's 2013 rendition of their Bourbon County Stout.

The crowd was sparse when I came in but soon picked up. A young man of Arabic or possibly Indian descent and his father(?) were engaged in a lively conversation at the table directly ahead of me.  To my far right, a late 20 something couple, she - pretty, if somewhat severe, he - annoyingly unkempt in his Jerseylicious hat and scraggly, close cropped beard.  The back tables were occupied by a group of clean cut, casual male coworkers, conversing animatedly while chowing down on sandwiches and fries covered in a sweet and tangy "dirt" rub.  To my immediate right, four 30 something women ordered drinks while browsing the menu. Snippets of talk about wedding showers and gossip about absent friends drifted over to me carried along on the background hum of conversation.  They were truly a made-for-Hollywood quartet, two white (one blonde), one Hispanic, one Indian, all with strong Midwestern accents.

First Impression:
Dark, dark brown body with with minimal brown head around the edges.  Very appealing for a cold (2 degree) winter lunchtime.

Smell:
Bourbon or single malt scotch very prevalent. Slight sweetness but a strong hint of something herbal in the background. Licorice?  

An all too infrequent Sight these Days

Taste:
Big and aggressive, greets you at the door with a hearty handshake and a slap on the back. Powerful bourbon and brown sugar with a prominent alcohol taste.

On the Palate:
Heavy but not viscous.  Light carbonation after sitting on the tongue for a moment.

Why You'll like It:
If bold Imperial Stouts are your thing, this one is unlikely to disappoint.  A very effective winter warmer, even in a 6 oz pour.

...and why You won't:
If powerful, complex tastes and high ABVs are not your thing, you may want to politely decline this one.


In Closing...:
My lunch plans having gone belly up, I made the trip out specifically in the hopes of finding the BCS on tap today, since its popularity makes it almost impossible to find in bottles at the moment.  I was a bit disappointed in the final result, but that may be a combination of my still-limited senses and its my anticipation due to its current elusiveness.  A very flavorful and complex beer that encourages further study.


Rating: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)