Jeff B.

All Day IPA B.

Great day for bad golf.

Mortal Bloom B.

Starts out tropical and hoppy but degrades toward an Alka-Seltzer taste that coats and lingers. There’s an odd saltiness that I didn’t care for. Not a pour out but not a buy again either.

Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) (2023) B.

Not as good as I remembered from 2017. It lacks the richness and sweet maple barrel notes. Rather disappointing after waiting six years for the rerelease.

KBS Spicy Chocolate (2023) B.

I didn’t think I’d like the pepper adjunct but it’s very subtle. Chocolate comes through far more noticeably. Turns out I like it. It’s been awhile since I could say that about a KBS variant. Too many crazy fruit mixtures lately.

World Wide Stout (2023) B.

I assumed that an $11 bottle would be something barrel aged. The joke’s on me. It’s a little boozy but lacks the refined qualities of bourbon barrel aging. Lots of coffee notes and not much sweetness. Good not great.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) (2016) 12.4% B.

A month shy of eight years old but still measures up. Perhaps a little more dark chocolate forward and subdued on the barrel notes.

Wake Up World Wide Stout (2022) B.

Still overpowering on the coffee, even after two years of aging. Still a nice sipper.

Panther Cub (2021) B.

Aging hasn’t improved it significantly. Vanilla is still strong but with an added bitterness that is reminiscent of straight vanilla extract. Barrel aging is nice.

Bottle Shop Series Highball Drifter B.

A gift from a friend. Didn’t think I’d like it but it’s okay. Barrel aging is subtle. If a beer that tastes like a mixed drink is your desire, try this.

Curmudgeon’s Better Half (2018) B.

Definitely boozy, even after five years. A nice winter treat.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) (2018) B.

Still holding up after five years. I can remember when we picked up our allotment at the brewery. That was back when you couldn’t buy it at every grocery store.

World Wide Stout (2019) B.

It tastes barrel aged even though it isn’t. Rich in dark chocolate notes and a bitter finish.

All Day West Coast B.

Maybe a little better than standard All Day. More piney with a little more malt backbone.

Unraveled IPA B.

Time for an update. In spite of my first impression in 2020, this is a go-to summer beer. Therefore, it is probably doomed to be discontinued by Founders, just like Mosaic Promise.

All Day Crimson Sky B.

Nice alternative to plain old All Day.

KBS Chocolate Cherry (2022) B.

More cherry aroma than flavor. The cherry notes come in on the finish. Barrel aging is good, as usual.

Sweet Repute B.

Tried it again. Now I kinda like it.

Sweet Repute B.

Tastes like a mixed drink to me. Boozy and sweet but not much else. I let it warm but no significant change.

Beer Geek Cocoa Shake B.

Chocolate forward and fairly sweet. Kind of a dessert stout but tastes pretty good if you just sip it.

KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa B.

Aged a year but still not a favorite.

KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge (2022) B.

I agree with Jon P. This is more coffee forward than last year. The syrupy maple comes through on the finish.

Iron Throne Wit B.

I needed one more to fill out a variety pack. Drinkable but not a style I care for.

KBS Espresso (2021) B.

It’s stout season! Time to start drinking those beers I’ve been cellaring for too many years.

Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) (2019) B.

Delayed check-in. This stuff keeps getting better. Happy to find it on draft at Fitzgerald’s in Eagle River. The peanut butter pie made it even better.

All Day IPA B.

Ultimate Oktoberfest B.

I hoped a little barrel aging would improve on a style that I don’t care that much for. It helps.

All Day Chill Day B.

Not a lot different than the original All Day. Light and crisp.

KBS Espresso (2021) B.

One of the better KBS variants. The coffee is forward; even edging out the barrel notes.

Blushing Claus B.

Not bad. Kinda like spiked Ocean Spray

Peachy Trouble B.

I’m afraid this gift horse is getting it’s mouth looked in. This is just plain bad. I’ve tasted better medicine. Thanks, Jon, for sharing it.

4 Giants Hazy IPA B.

Not an improvement on the original. Fairly juicy but the hop character is less pleasing.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) (2022) B.

New label, same great BBA stout. Perhaps a little more coffee and oak barrel notes in this release.

Frootwood (2022) B.

Not a fan of fruit infused beers. Not a fan of cherry either. That said, I enjoyed it. Barrel aging adds some interesting complexity.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) (2018) B.

Still mellowing after 4+ years. Gotta start drinking down the cellar inventory or get another shelf.

Utopias Barrel - Aged World Wide Stout (2021) B.

Called this one up from the cellar. Still boozy with a warming finish. No noticeable improvements from aging but it’s been less than a year.

Backwoods Bastard 2021 B.

Sweet and boozy with hints of oak. A nice winter sipper.

Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) (2019) B.

I read where some feel that CBS loses flavor quality during aging. I can’t say it’s any better but I don’t think this particular bottle is any worse. Maybe those that are aged on the Meijer shelf suffer a bit more. Still boozy after all these years🎼.

KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge B.

It’s been over a year since I last checked this in. Still a great dessert beer and a nice reminder of the Peterson wedding way back in 2020.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) (2018) B.

3.5 years of aging. The booziness is fading, giving way to more pronounced chocolate and coffee notes. The hoarder in me wants to keep these forever but ya gotta drink ‘em sooner or later.

Mosaic Promise B.

Brewed on 8/23/21. Perhaps a little stale but it’s the last one I had. What’s the deal? I managed to find one six pack this year. Very disappointing if Founders is limiting production and/or distribution.

Velvet Rush B.

Well balanced flavors and subdued barrel aging. Coffee comes through on the finish. Milk sugar is noticeable but doesn’t detract as much as with others.

Kentucky Bourbon Stout (KBS) (2021) B.

$3 for a generous 12oz pour so I had to get it. North Country Trail Run doesn’t skimp on beer. KBS is great but on a 90 degree day it’s difficult to take in every nuance. Another sampling will be required.

Burst B.

This is the definition of “pithy bitterness”. It’s refreshingly unsweet and the hops are allowed to do their thing.

Centennial IPA B.

Gotta say, I don’t like this as well as I used to. It’ll do in a pinch but this 15 pack will probably last a long time. Lots of better IPAs out there.

All Day Vacay B.

Tasting good after a little spring yard work. I would have loved it four years ago before getting hooked on IPAs. Slightly citrusy and noticeably wheaty. Glad they didn’t add Belgian yeast. I’ll get through the 15 pack but probably won’t buy more.

Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) (2019) B.

Probably my favorite Founders beer. Gotta ration them now but today seemed worth it.

Hazy-O! B.

Juicy to the point of making your mouth water. The fruitiness is a little too much for me as it seems artificial. Like most DH beers, it’s over done.

Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (2020) B.

Kept seeing it but didn’t think it could compare with KBS. Finally bought one and am pleasantly surprised. It’s robust with fairly strong coffee notes and some dark fruit. I’m hoping it will mellow with time. Gotta buy a few more for the cellar.

Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) (2018) B.

As good as ever. We’re passing it around the fire like a bottle of hooch. Hope Mary doesn’t Bogart it 😉.

Moon Rambler IPA B.

Nice aroma and a good hop combination. Perhaps a little sweeter with the milk sugar. Otherwise a fairly standard but good IPA.

KBS Espresso (2019) B.

Bottled 11/14/19 and hidden away in the back of the fridge. Not sure if a year of aging has improved it. Coffee notes are still prominent and a bit harsh. Booziness remains as well. Still very good but not the best of the KBS array.

KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge B.

Here’s to the beginning of another weekend in isolation and maybe the last campfire of the year. At least the beer supply is holding out. I’ll always associate this beer with Jon and Ashley’s wedding. Good stuff but an IPA is on deck.

Red's Rye IPA B.

In 2018 I said I didn’t need to try this again. So I tried it again. 🤔 Subtle rye notes that don’t overpower. Certainly worth another try in spite of my earlier check-in.

Marvelroast B.

A sweet vanilla taste dominates up front, followed by notes of caramel. Coffee doesn’t come through much for me. Not bad but not something I’d want every day.

Mosaic Promise B.

Fresh off the canning line for 2020. Always happy to see this released.

All Day IPA B.

Good selection here but I went with “old reliable”.