The Brü Revü - Founders KBS

I was finally able to score one of the vaunted Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout or KBS that is there legendary stout brewed with coffee and chocolate and then aged in oak bourbon barrels.  I was in an area of Austin that I don’t frequent and a I popped into a small HEB on a whim, and score! Thank you HEB! Onward with the review: The beer poured a deep dark brown with an unexpectedly large tan head.  The aroma of chocolate popped out of the glass immediately and was the dominate flavor on the nose along with some slight roasted malts and a bit of the bourbon notes emerged as it warmed.  The first taste was pure bliss.  Loads of chocolate and bits of coffee floated on the deep bourbon barrel flavors that all mingled and melded into beer manna.  It became slightly boozy as it warmed while hints of vanilla and molasses joined the gathering and made for a brew that easily met and exceeded its accolades.  This bourbon barrel aged masterpiece was exquisitely balanced so that the flavor melded into a perfect whole rather than one or two bold notes fighting for attention.  What a beer and what a pleasure to drink.

Founders KBS

The Brü Revü – Armadillo Ale Works Brunch Money

The Armadillo Ale Works Brunch Money is a Golden Stout or a Blonde Porter, whatever it is it’s a very unique and tasty brew.  Inspired by brunch Armadillo Ale Works adds maple syrup, cocoa nibs, vanilla, coffee and lactose sugar to the base golden ale that has flaked barley and oats and a hint of honey and caramel malts.  This all adds up to a dynamic drinking experience that is truly Brunch in a bottle.  The beer poured a light copper with a small tan head that disappeared quickly.  The aroma has a vanilla and maple sweetness intertwined with coffee that can trick you into thinking stout.  The taste hits you with an initial coffee roast followed immediately by the sweet vanilla and maple sugar that is boosted by the lactose sugar. The cocoa lingers on the back end and coats your palate with a pleasant bitterness. This beer truly takes your taste buds on a ride.  It may seem like a lot but the parts equal a tantalizing whole that was surprisingly drinkable given the high ABV.  While the Brunch Money may fool you into thinking its a stout it is altogether unique and a perfect brunch treat.

Armadillo Ale Works Brunch Money

The Brü Revü – Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout

I'm finally having a Bourbon County Brand Stout beer and the Coffee nonetheless.  I have heard nothing but greatness about these beers and having Goose Island in Texas is paying off.  Of course this was the first year of Bourbon County in Texas so it was obviously difficult to procure.  I got one Coffee thanks to a buddy of mine as I never saw it myself.  Hopefully this year things will be different as this was a phenomenal beer.  It poured a deep brown to black with a slight to no tan head.  The aroma hit me straight out of the bottle of coffee, heavy stout and bourbon.  The taste was otherworldly.  A perfect blend of the base stout that exuded bittersweet chocolate and a deep roasty flavor with the coffee and the bourbon barrel characteristics.  As it warmed the bourbon booziness came out as well as a stronger coffee tone that was akin to espresso.  Hints of vanilla and charred oak emerged and really capped off a world class beer.  This was a perfect introduction to Bourbon County Brand Stouts and I only hope I can get my hands on more this year!

Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout

The Brü Revü – Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout

The Espresso version of Stone’s Imperial Russian Stout is part of their odd beer for odd years series where they put a unique spin on their seasonal beers.  This is obviously a riff on their already stellar Imperial Russian Stout where they introduce some Espresso into the mix.  The Espresso IRS takes that beer and kicks it up to a completely new level.  The beer poured an opaque dark brown to black with little to no tan head.  The aroma held coffee with the strong IRS notes of dark chocolate and even some dark fruits as well.  The taste was perfect with just enough espresso to compliment the IRS while not overpowering it.  The strong bitter espresso played off the Stone IRS flavors of chocolate, dark roasted bitterness and a hint of anise.  It was a beautiful symphony of deep dark Russian Stout flavors that kept rolling through crescendo after crescendo with every sip.  The flavors left a lingering bitterness on my palate along with a subtle dark fruit sweetness.  The Espresso Imperial Russian Stout was an exceptional beer and a perfect addition to the odd beer for odd years family.  If only it would become a regular in Stone’s seasonal rotation!

Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout

The Brü Revü – New Belgium Lips of Faith Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout

I love a good coffee stout.  Add some chocolate and you will suck me right in.  This is how I found myself with New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout.  Why I neglected this decadent delight for 7 months I have no idea but enjoy I did.  This sucker poured a pitch black with a decent tan head that immediately exuded coffee, chocolate and roasted malt aromas.  The taste was very rich and deep with dark chocolate and a roasted malt that had a slight hint of bitterness on the tail.  The coffee flavors may have faded a bit over the months, but they were still present with a good dark roast kick that really balanced this deep dark and rich brew.  The coffee aromas and flavors asserted themselves as it warmed and made for a complete coffee confection.  Is this for breakfast or dessert?  It’s hard to tell, either way you will be happy.

New Belgium Lips of Faith Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout

The Brü Revü – Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout

Lagunitas continually produces great beers and I have been really diggin the coffee stouts this season so the Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout was an easy decision.  Lagunitas has made their name on their hoppy beers, but I have enjoyed pretty much every beer of theirs I have tried and now that includes the Cappuccino Stout. It poured a deep brown almost black with creamy tan head.  The aroma held sweet malts and the punch of coffee that was a good sign of things to come.  The taste had everything I was looking for in a coffee stout.  It was big and bold with a good coffee flavor and a deep bittersweet chocolate malt on a full creamy body that was full and satisfying.  Lagunitas made another great beer and exactly what I wanted in a satisfying coffee stout.

Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout

The Brü Revü – Sixpoint 3Beans

The Sixpoint 3Beans is an imperial porter that uses Romano, Cacao and Coffee beans to form a triumvirate of fantastic flavors.  This beer is simply great.  The Romano beans gave the beer a wonderful texture to allow the coffee and cacao beans to meld and mutate into something that wasn’t your typical coffee stout/porter.  3Beans poured a deep brown almost black with a substantial khaki head. The aroma was a perfect buttery chocolate with a hint of coffee to round it out.  Let this brew warm because it holds a tang when it’s too cold, but releases into a roasted dark chocolate coffee wonderland when it warms.  One of the best Imperial porters I have had and definitely a tantalizing trinity of tastes!

Sixpoint 3Beans

The Brü Revü – Santa Fe Imperial Java Stout

I always love a good coffee stout and I have heard nothing but great things about the Imperial Java Stout by Santa Fe Brewing Company.  There is something about the coffee flavors melded with a rich and roasty stout that makes me happy.  The Sante Fe Java Stout poured pitch black with a thick tan head and the heavy coffee aroma wafted from the glass and perked my senses.  The rich coffee aroma lead into an enormous coffee flavor that enhanced the sweet malty stout with a hint of burnt roasty nuttiness on the follow through.  The Java Stout had a rich and creamy mouthfeel that made for a fantastic brew that was deceptively drinkable considering its high alcohol content.  A perfect breakfast beer!

Santa Fe Imperial Java Stout