A number of my friends are very into the craft beer movement. I talk with them daily about the beer they’re drinking, the beer they’re looking forward to drinking, and the beer they’ve drunk (drank, drinketh?) in the past. From one hophead to another, geeking out about beer is something we can all get into. I mention this because several of my friends have recently discussed their love for Founders Brewing’s KBS barrel-aged stout.
As you can probably imagine, I do a lot of research on the internet about trends in beer, and KBS keeps getting mentioned over and over again in the web spaces I travel. So it was apparent to me this beer needed to be placed into a duel as soon as possible. When I came across KBS at the liquor store the other day, it seemed like fate. Obviously, I grabbed a few and I’m glad to finally be able to put a duel together with this much-loved brew.
Up against the KBS, I grabbed a Deschutes Obsidian Stout. I’ve known and appreciated Deschutes Brewery for a long time, but they have their work cut out for them in this one. Will the KBS live up to the hype, or does it wilt when the pressure is on? Let’s find out…
HopDuel Survey
| Better label | Founders Brewing KBS |
| Better aroma | Founders Brewing KBS |
| Better taste | Founders Brewing KBS |
| Better finish | Founders Brewing KBS |
| Winner | Founders Brewing KBS |
Tell us about it
I almost feel bad for the Deschutes Obsidian here. It wasn’t a bad beer. I actually enjoyed every aspect of it. So this review isn’t meant to bash the Obsidian as much as it’s meant to praise the KBS.
Good lord, the Founders KBS was amazing! If this doesn’t rank as the top Stout, I don’t know what will. Every bit of praise I’ve read about this beer turned out to be absolutely true. The aroma filled my nostrils with bourbon barrel, a testament to the aging process. The taste and finish are a pleasant blend of chocolate, coffee and a hint of oak from the barrels. It’s been described as a “boozy” beer, and for this reviewer, that booziness worked wonders. I will be hard-pressed to find a better Stout out there, but I’m definitely looking forward to trying.
HopDuel 