The Amazing Kosmicki's Highly Acclaimed 2011 KBS

Just last Thursday, Jay and I were visiting with the amazing Kosmicki at Founders tap room. Because he is just that kind of guy, the kind of guy who stops to chat with you about your favorite Founders Ale. I told him that KBS was just too over the top with coffee for me. I used to like it a couple of years ago when it seemed more balanced. I asked if they had changed the recipe, but he assured me that it has always remained the same. So maybe it's all in my head, but it seems to me that the 2011 KBS is the best in three years. The past two years just hit me with a huge coffee taste that overpowered every other aspect of the ale. But not this year, this year is perfect, it's that nice equal-lateral balance of malt and bourbon with a smooth balanced coffee character. Unfortunately this year KBS was extremely hard to find unless you happened to pre-order it from a retailer, which I had not. So in the end I found some, but not without some effort.