Founders KBS // Photo by Kevin Kramer, The Growler
One of the most sought-after barrel-aged beers in the world is hitting store shelves and draft lines this week.
Founders KBS is an imperial stout brewed with coffee and chocolate and aged in oak bourbon barrels in caves that were at one time gypsum mines beneath Grand Rapids, Michigan. The beer was the first Founders ever put in a barrel and was the inspiration for their newly-branded Barrel Aged Series.
“KBS is a reflection of who we are as a company and the mark we hope we’ve made with extreme brewing,” Co-Founder and President Dave Engbers said in a press release. “Fifteen years ago it debuted as an experiment with no agenda; a beer that no one asked for and initially, one that no-one wanted. The impact of KBS on brewing culture has always exceeded anything we imagined. It’s a perfect example of the innovation that people love about craft, and to labors of love like our Barrel-Aged series that have attained real recognition as a result of KBS.”
This is the first year KBS is being released in 750ml bottles in addition to its usual format of four-packs of 12oz. bottles, though the 750s are pretty limited, a local Founders rep tells us. Most liquor stores will break the four-packs up and sell the beer by the bottle, usually with a limit on the number of bottles each person can purchase. While KBS likely won’t last long on shelves, you’ll be able to find it wherever you usually spot Founders beer (or see below for more).
Among your first opportunities to find it on draft will be 5pm tonight, April 3, at Tamarack Tap Room in Woodbury, and 5pm on Thursday, April 6 at Pat’s Tap in Minneapolis. Most bars getting KBS on draft were only made aware of that last week, so keep an eye on social media for more tapping events in the coming weeks.
If you want to track down a bottle for your cellar and/or immediate enjoyment, below are the retail locations we’ve seen tweet about the beer (we’ll update this list as we see more—tweet us at @growlermag with tips):
KBS in the house!! Very limited- 1st come 1st serve (2 btls per person pls)
— 1st Grand Liquor (@1stGrandLiquor) April 4, 2017
Oops #KBS came early! Should I send it back? pic.twitter.com/veHWa90dbh
— Scott’s Liquor (@ScottsLiquor) April 4, 2017
https://t.co/uwSGwsTXH7
Coming Thursday!!! #beermadness @foundersbrewing— HaskellsBeerMPLS (@HaskellsBeerMSP) April 3, 2017
It’s here! @foundersbrewing KBS has arrived in MPLS. Limit 2 – 12oz bottles per person / per day. pic.twitter.com/3tAMJTsLjE
— Elevated BWS (@elevatedbws) April 3, 2017
KBS is here! Come & grab this 100 point rated gem of a bourbon barrel-aged stout brewed with coffee & chocolate. 4-packs are available now! pic.twitter.com/sh1DJDq9ya
— DBL Steve (@DBLINC) April 3, 2017
Founders Brewing Co. KBS is in!! #limited#barrelaged#bourbonbarrel#breakfaststout ???? https://t.co/KeBERHmDwD
— 1010WashingtonW&S (@1010WWS) April 3, 2017
Not a bad Monday when KBS shows up @foundersbrewing @hohensteins Limit 2 x 4pks pls! pic.twitter.com/nvDXMU4In2
— Lake Wine & Spirits (@lakewinespirits) April 3, 2017
@foundersbrewing KBS Now Available In Bottles! #OhhYeah
— Beer (@BuffaloTap) April 4, 2017
Our @foundersbrewing KBS won’t be here until tomorrow, but @indeedbrewing Lucy Session Sour has arrived! That should keep one busy! pic.twitter.com/miTuB3Wi7m
— The Ale Jail (@thealejail) April 4, 2017
Well would you look at that! Founders Brewing Co. KBS, limited quantities of 12 oz and bombers available now! https://t.co/oGtxNzHObo
— LiquorBarrel (@LiquorBarrelGV) April 3, 2017
HEY. THAT BEER CALLED KBS??! WE HAVE IT!**
**insert “will” before “HAVE” and “tomorrow” after “IT”#fineprint #nottoday #stopcalling
— Falls Liquor (@FallsBeer) April 3, 2017
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