The Beeronaut
Beer Preview: Founders KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge

I’ve been catching up with as many Black Friday (and Wednesday) events as I could. I was also able to work in another video this week, and now I’m posting it here.


Founders KBS varietals for 2020.
The folks at Founders Brewing Co. have dropped a box of their latest Kentucky Breakfast Stout. I already reviewed their original KBS, a barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout brewed with chocolate. There are two more variants appearing in stores for 2020, both made with coffee: an Espresso KBS, and the topic of today, Maple Mackinac Fudge KBS.
I opened the Maple Mackinac first, because I thought this would have been brewed with actual fudge. But, no, it’s made with maple syrup and Mackinac Fudge flavored coffee. As long as it’s not the oddly off-flavored Gloria Jean’s coffee, I’ll give it a whirl.
The name is a little misleading. It’s not made with fudge, but with fudge flavored coffee. Never caring for the flavored coffee from Gloria Jean’s, I approached this a little more carefully. But no, I’m pleasantly surprised.


Founders Maple Mackinac Fudge KBS
I got a rich chocolate fudge nose when I started to pour. It offered up a big head of really dark brown foam. Fudge flavor is foremost as I taste it, too. It takes a while for any other tastes to come through, but I started to get a little bit of maple to it.
The coffee flavor is a warm mocha note. There is almost too much fudge flavor to allow the bourbon barrel flavor out, but I finally pick it once the beer has gotten all over my palate. Thick mouthfeel and plenty of fudgey flavor. Toward the end, I found some of the maple, smoothed by a whiff of bourbon barrel oak.
Having had this just a few weeks after the 2020 Bourbon County Stout flight, I can see the different points of view that go into these brews. BCS goes more for bourbon flavors, while the KBS gets its distinction from the adjuncts that each varietal features. Each is worth picking up and considering, by themselves, or side by side.
Filed under:
Beer Review
Tags:
Founders KBS, Kentucky Breakfast Stoout, Maple Mackinac Fudge KBS
-
Advertisement:
-
Advertisement:
-
Welcome to ChicagoNow.
-
Subscribe by Email
Fresh Beer Events, occasional bacon, but always spam free, opt out any time.
Meet The Blogger
Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
More Events, blogs and podcasts
I’ve been named one of the Top Chicago-based Bloggers to Follow by Flipkey.com, the vacation rental division of TripAdvisor.com!
Recent posts
-
Beer Preview: Founders KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge »
Mark McDermott on The BeeronautPosted Thursday at 11:38 pm -
Dixie Highway Holiday Beer Fest In a Box »
Mark McDermott on The BeeronautPosted Wednesday at 6:06 pm -
Craft Beer Preview: Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca »
Mark McDermott on The BeeronautPosted Monday at 11:26 pm -
Chicago Black Friday Beer Weekend, November 27-29 »
Mark McDermott on The BeeronautPosted November 22, 2020 at 11:20 pm -
Chicago Thanksgiving Craft Beer Week, November 23-26 »
Mark McDermott on The BeeronautPosted November 20, 2020 at 11:59 pm
Categories
- Beer Calendar (766)
- Beer Review (273)
- Beer Business (79)
- Beer News (68)
- Beer Festivals (68)
- Popular Beers Available in Chicago (37)
- Beer Pairing (21)
- Beer Competition (20)
- Miscellaneous (11)
- Brewpub/Bar Review (9)
Tags
- Bourbon County Stout (164)
- Beer review (84)
- Oktoberfest (78)
- Lagunitas (55)
- Goose Island (52)
- Craft Beer Review (40)
- Kentucky Breakfast Stout (39)
- Chicago Craft Beer Week (39)
- Revolution Brewing (35)
- Two Brothers (32)
Blogroll
- Good Beer Hunting
The überbiersite, with news, podcasts, and movies! - My 3,400+ beers reviewed at RateBeer.com
Since 2003, I’ve tracked every new beer I’ve had here! - Beer Download
A podcast pitting beers in head-to-head competition! - Guys Drinking Beer
Chicago beer guys with news and reviews.
Latest on ChicagoNow
-
Beer Preview: Founders KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge
from The Beeronaut by Mark McDermott
posted Thursday at 11:38 pm -
2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD Review
from Girls Go Racing by vettegal
posted Thursday at 1:42 pm -
One example of how a wealthy suburban school system is ruining kids
from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor by Dennis Byrne
posted Thursday at 12:33 pm -
The Renaissance in You
from Pros and Cons by Kelly Tarrant
posted Thursday at 11:28 am -
Devout Catholic Joe Biden doesn’t know how to pronounce “Psalmist”
from Life is a TV Dinner by Richard Davis
posted Thursday at 8:58 am
Posts from related blogs
-
Just N
Most recent post: Raheem DeVaughn Discusses New Album “What A Time To Be In Love”
-
Show Me Chicago
Most recent post: Best Black Friday Deals
-
Candid Candace
Most recent post: Chicago Star Media’s inaugural Streeterville Week set to lift spirits and support local businesses
More from Entertainment: Nightlife
Read these ChicagoNow blogs
-
Cubs Den
Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends -
Pets in need of homes
Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area -
The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor
Chicago writer, editor and author blogs about today’s political and public policy issues.
Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers
-
Candace Jordan
from Candid Candace: -
Mark Andel
from Hot Dog Diaries: -
Weather Girl
from Chicago Weather Watch:
- About ChicagoNow
- •
- FAQs
- •
- Advertise
- •
- Recent posts RSS
- •
- Privacy policy (Updated)
- •
- Comment policy
- •
- Terms of service
- •
- Chicago Tribune Archives
- •
- Chicago Internet Marketing Services
- •
- Do not sell my personal info
©2020 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team
Leave a comment