Founders KBS Hazelnut 4Pk

Founders KBS Hazelnut 4Pk is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout brewed with chocolate and hazelnut coffee, bottled at 12.0% ABV in a four-pack of 12 oz bottles. This variant of the legendary Kentucky Breakfast Stout earned a 96 score on BeerAdvocate from 275 ratings, placing it among the most acclaimed adjunct stouts in American craft beer.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.0%  |  Origin: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA  |  Style: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Founders Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Founders Brewing Company, established in 1997 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, built its reputation on bold, uncompromising beers — and KBS stands as the brewery's flagship barrel-aged release. The base imperial stout is brewed with coffee and chocolate, then aged in oak bourbon barrels to develop deep layers of vanilla, caramel, and woody warmth. For the Hazelnut expression, Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki introduced a hazelnut infusion into the coffee component, describing it as adding "another amazing layer of depth to an already perfectly balanced and complex beer." The logic is sound: hazelnut and coffee are natural partners, and folding that pairing into an already richly structured barrel-aged stout creates something genuinely distinctive within the KBS lineup.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Chocolate and roasted coffee lead immediately, followed by warm bourbon, toasted hazelnut, vanilla, and a subtle oakiness. The hazelnut reads as authentic and nutty rather than artificially sweet.

Taste: A large, chewy malt base anchors the palate, carrying waves of fudge, dark chocolate, and roasted coffee into a pronounced hazelnut mid-palate that recalls quality nut butter — toasty, roasty, and rich. Bourbon barrel character weaves throughout, balancing sweetness with moderate bitterness and a gentle heat from the 12% ABV.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering dark chocolate bitterness, oak tannins, and a final echo of toasted hazelnut. The bourbon influence persists without overpowering, leaving a dry, nutty close.

How to Drink KBS Hazelnut

Pour into a snifter or tulip glass at 45–50°F to let the complex aromatics open fully; this beer rewards patience as it warms slightly in the glass. KBS Hazelnut is designed for slow, contemplative drinking — neat and unadorned is the ideal approach. For a beer float, pair it with vanilla bean ice cream, where the hazelnut and bourbon notes create a decadent dessert experience. It also works beautifully in a Black Velvet riff, layered gently with dry champagne for a textural contrast. As a culinary ingredient, use it to deglaze a pan for braised short ribs, where its roasted coffee and chocolate depth enrich the sauce.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates barrel-aged stouts
• After-dinner sipping alongside rich desserts on a cold evening
• Building a vertical tasting flight alongside other KBS variants
• Cellaring for one to two years to see how barrel and hazelnut character evolves

Frequently Asked Questions

What does KBS Hazelnut taste like? KBS Hazelnut delivers a rich, layered profile of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and toasted hazelnut supported by bourbon barrel warmth, vanilla, and oak. The hazelnut character is prominent but well-integrated, recalling quality nut butter rather than artificial flavoring.

How does KBS Hazelnut compare to the original KBS? The original KBS focuses squarely on coffee, chocolate, and bourbon barrel interplay, while KBS Hazelnut adds a distinct toasted nut dimension that shifts the balance toward a sweeter, more dessert-like profile. Both share the same robust imperial stout base and 12% ABV, but the hazelnut infusion gives this variant a nuttier, more layered aromatic complexity.

Is KBS Hazelnut good for sipping neat? KBS Hazelnut is built for slow, undiluted sipping — its 12% ABV and dense flavor structure reward small pours at a relaxed pace, ideally from a snifter or tulip glass that concentrates the aromatics.

Where is KBS Hazelnut made? KBS Hazelnut is brewed by Founders Brewing Company at their Grand Rapids, Michigan facility, where all KBS variants are produced and barrel-aged on site.

What foods pair well with KBS Hazelnut? Dark chocolate truffles amplify the beer's cocoa character. Nutella-filled crêpes mirror the hazelnut notes directly. Blue cheese provides a salty, pungent counterpoint to the sweetness. Espresso-rubbed steak matches the roasted coffee backbone. Pecan pie complements the barrel-aged warmth and nutty profile.

What sizes does KBS Hazelnut come in? KBS Hazelnut is commonly available in a four-pack of 12 oz bottles, which is the standard retail format for Founders' KBS variant releases.

Is KBS Hazelnut worth the price? KBS Hazelnut positions as a premium seasonal release within the barrel-aged imperial stout category, and its 96 BeerAdvocate score and complex production process — bourbon barrel aging with specialty coffee and hazelnut infusion — support its higher price point relative to standard craft stouts.

Why KBS Hazelnut?

A 96 on BeerAdvocate from 275 reviews is not a score handed out casually — it places KBS Hazelnut in rarefied territory among American barrel-aged stouts. What separates it from the crowded field of adjunct imperial stouts is the precision of its hazelnut integration: rather than masking the base beer, the nut character amplifies the existing coffee and chocolate framework the way hazelnut elevates a well-made espresso drink. Founders has been refining the KBS platform since its original release became one of the most sought-after beers in the country, and this variant demonstrates the brewery's ability to add complexity without sacrificing balance. For anyone serious about barrel-aged stouts, KBS Hazelnut represents one of the more thoughtful and well-executed flavor extensions in the category.