Chocolate

New Variant: Founders KBS Chocolate Espresso

Founders KBS Chocolate Espresso is a bold and invigorating addition to Founders’ Kentucky Breakfast Stout lineup, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout debuting in spring 2024.

Infused with rich chocolate and espresso, this variant amplifies the classic KBS profile of coffee, dark Continue Reading →

Posted in Don't Miss This, Founders Brewing, New Releases

Founders KBS Iced Latte goes golden instead of stout

Founders KBS Iced Latte expands the Michigan-based brewery’s ongoing KBS series this July.

Founders KBS Iced Latte is a cold coffee departure from the the traditional Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS), has joined the Barrel-Aged Series in summer 2025.

Crafted with coffee, cocoa nibs, milk sugar, and vanilla extract, this variant delivers a creamy, café-inspired experience with prominent coffee and vanilla flavors, complemented by oak and a silky latte-like sweetness from bourbon barrel aging. Expect a rich coffee aroma with hints of vanilla and toasted malt, paired with a smooth, medium-bodied mouthfeel. A refreshing yet indulgent twist for KBS fans, especially dropping a beer so big during the current “Heat Dome” that most of America is dealing with currently.

MORE: FOUNDERS KBS SERIES

Get ready to chill with KBS Iced Latte, a barrel-aged imperial golden ale that’s as smooth as your favorite café creation. Crafted with a blend of coffee and vanilla for a creamy, utterly indulgent experience. Aged to perfection in bourbon barrels, every sip consists of oak notes and a silky latte-like sweetness that’s impossible to resist.

Founders KBS Iced Latte is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft for a limited time.

Style: Imperial Golden Ale (w/ Coffee. Cocoa Nibs. Lactose. Vanilla. Barrel-Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: Summer 2025

11% ABV

Complete List of KBS Variants

Going back from the beginning, a list of all the variants to up until summer 2025.

  1. KBS (Original) – Release: 2011
  2. KBS Espresso – Release: 2019
  3. KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge – Release: 2020
  4. KBS Nitro – Release: 2020 (Draft-only)
  5. KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa – Release: 2021
  6. KBS Hazelnut – Release: 2021
  7. KBS Chocolate Cherry – Release: 2022
  8. KBS Blueberry – Release: 2023
  9. KBS Spicy Chocolate – Release: 2023
  10. KBS Chocolate Espresso – Release: 2024
  11. KBS Double Oaked – Release: 2024
  12. KBS Hazelnut Fudge – Release: 2024
  13. KBS Iced Latte – Release: 2025
by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, Headlines, New Releases

New Variant: Founders KBS Chocolate Espresso

Founders KBS Chocolate Espresso is a bold and invigorating addition to Founders’ Kentucky Breakfast Stout lineup, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout debuting in spring 2024.

Infused with rich chocolate and espresso, this variant amplifies the classic KBS profile of coffee, dark chocolate, and bourbon with intense roasted coffee and cocoa flavors. Expect a robust aroma of espresso beans and dark chocolate, paired with a velvety, full-bodied mouthfeel and notes of oak, vanilla, and warm bourbon. A sophisticated, coffee-forward stout for KBS enthusiasts.

For decades, chocolate, coffee, and bourbon barrels have created delicious masterpieces. Immerse yourself with KBS Chocolate Espresso, our latest creation highlighting our favorite ingredients that have set the barrel-aging standard. The symphony of rich chocolate and bold espresso flavors harmonizes with notes of oak and a touch of vanilla for an unrivaled sensory experience.

Founders KBS Chocolate Espresso is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft for a limited time.

Style: Style: Imperial Stout  (w/ Chocolate. Coffee. Barrel Aged. Bourbon
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: Spring 2024

12% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, Headlines, New Releases

Founders KBS Spicy Chocolate brings the heat this fall

Founders KBS Spicy Chocolate is a bold and fiery addition to Founders’ Kentucky Breakfast Stout lineup, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout debuting in fall 2023.

Inspired by mole, this variant infuses coffee, dried chili peppers with both chocolate and chocolate syrup into the classic KBS profile of coffee, dark chocolate, and bourbon, delivering a complex interplay of subtle heat, cocoa depth, and roasted malt. Expect an enticing aroma of chili-spiced chocolate and coffee, with a full-bodied, velvety mouthfeel and lingering warmth from the peppers, balanced by oak and vanilla notes. A daring, indulgent stout for adventurous palates.

KBS Spicy Chocolate blends sweet and spicy flavors in a sensory symphony. Crafted with dried chilies and chocolate, this KBS batch delivers a rich, mole-inspired punch. Expect dark chocolate and dried pepper notes with hints of smoke and a spicy finish that lingers just long enough to be cooled by your next sip. A unique and unexpected twist on our KBS.

Founders KBS Spicy Chocolate is available in 12-ounce bottles and draft for a limited time.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee. Chili Peppers. Chocolate. Barrel-Aged. Bourbon)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.

Debut: Fall 2023

12% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hi Wire Brewing, Seasonal Return

Mardi Gras Stout: Hi-Wire King Cake 10W-40 Imperial Stout

Hi-Wire King Cake 10W-40, a Mardi Gras-themed imperial stout returns as February winds down. 

2022 seems to be flying by already. It’s Mardi Gras, Lent starts on Wednesday, and you can almost see summer from here. While Hi-Wire Brewing’s 10W-40 Imperial Stout evolves constantly throughout the year, a few favorites to make seasonal appearances – namely the King Cake 10W-40 Imperial Stout.

Stating the obvious, the imperial stout mimics the famous New Orleans King Cake – basically, a coffee cake blended with a cinnamon roll, covered in Mardi Gras colors. The stout is specifically brewed with lactose, vanilla beans, cinnamon, coffee, and chocolate. 

MORE: HI-WIRE 10W-40 IMPERIAL STOUT SERIES

Hi-Wire King Cake 10W-40 Imperial Stout is available for a limited time in 16-ounce cans and draft. 

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee. Chocolate. Vanilla Beans. Cinnamon. Lactose.)
Availability: 16oz Cans, Draft. Limited Seasonal Release. 

Latest Return: Late February 2022

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Guinness, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Guinness releases barrel-aged Mint Chocolate Stout

Baltimore, Maryland-based Guinness Open Gate Brewery has a new seasonal imperial stout ahead of the holidays – Guinness Mint Chocolate Stout. 

The imperial stout is brewed with dried mint leaves, then conditioned on pure cacao (chocolate), then aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels.

“Chocolate and mint are a classic flavor combination, and the way those flavors interact with the bourbon character leads to something really special. It’s the perfect beer to sip on after a solid meal with family and friends over the holidays,” says Open Gate head brewer Sean Brennan. 

Guinness Mint Chocolate Stout also compliments recently returning Gingerbread Stout, also brewed in the Baltimore brewery. 

Mint Chocolate Stout is available in 11.2-ounce bottles for a limited time. 

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Mint. Chocolate. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 11.2 oz/4pk Bottles. Limited Release. 
Debut: November 2021 

10.8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Creature Comforts, Seasonal Return

Cool weather favorite Creature Comforts Koko Buni returns

Creature Comforts Koko Buni, the brewery’s coveted milk porter, returns to cans again in November 2021. 

One of the first seasonals by the Athens, Georgia based brewery, Creature Comforts Koko Buni is a milk porter, aged on toasted coconut and cocoa nibs  Condor Chocolates and coffee from nearby 1000 Faces. This late fall season has been overwhelmingly popular since its debut a few years ago. We’ve seen fistfights over Koko cans at retailers.

In 2018, production expanded after the brewery brought their new production facility online, so finally there was a little more “Buni” to go around.

“We decided not to be traditional with the beer and add some ingredients that play well with the already roasty and chocolatey flavors of darker beers.” -Co-Founder and Head Brewer David Stein.

Coffee lovers will find a home here. Koko Buni starts heavy on the 1000 Faces coffee, and turns chocolatey mid-sip, finishing with a wisp of coconut. The beer is wonderfully creamy and decadent, stopping short of being sweet or heavy. 

Creature Comforts Koko Buni is a seasonal draft and 12-ounce can offering, available at the brewery and across the brewery’s distribution footprint again in November 2021. 

Style: Milk Porter (w/ Cocoa Nibs, Coffee, Toasted Coconut, Lactose.)
Availability: Draft, 12oz Cans
Distribution: Athens & Atlanta, Georgia (Very Limited)
Latest Return: November 2021

6.8% ABV

Koko means coconut in Papiamento, a common language in parts of the Carribean, while Buni means coffee in Swahili, a common language in southeastern Africa.

Image: Beer Street Journal 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Founders Brewing, Don't Miss This

Founders KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa coming in November

Founders KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa a new variant of the brewery’s famed Kentucky Breakfast Stout debuts in November.

For years, the ‘Ides of March’ brought the seasonal release of Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout, aka KBS. Like everything in beer brewing, things change. Founders shifted KBS to year-round status and started releasing variants of the venerable stout.

To date, variants have included KBS Espresso and KBS Mackinac Fudge. This November a third variant will debut – KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa.

…the sumptuous, deep coffee and chocolate flavors of KBS rise to the next level with a swirl of cinnamon and a hint of vanilla to create a sweet-but-not-too-sweet barrel-aged drinking experience. It’s a whole new spin on KBS that’s sure to sweeten your spirits.

Joining Founders KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa will also be the return of KBS Espresso. Both will be available in 12-ounce bottles and draft across the brewery’s distribution starting in November 2021.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Vanilla. Chocolate. Cinnamon. Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: November 2021

12% ABV

PIC: Beer Street Journal

by Reid Ramsay