Founders Brewing announces KBS Week 2015

LOOK! It’s Kentucky Bourbon Stout. Let’s get it (early).

How popular is Kentucky Breakfast Stout? Well, for starters, it has its own week in Grand Rapids, Mich., not to mention a special place in that beer-fueled organ we call a heart. In fact, Founders Brewing Co. just announced its second annual KBS Week, in honor of the release of Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) this year. The beer will be available starting March 30 across the brewery’s distribution footprint, but visitors to and residents of Grand Rapids will be able to enjoy it March 9-14. Road trip, anyone? I’ve got gas money and mix tapes.

“It’s a blast working with our wholesaler and retailer partners to turn the release of KBS into something that celebrates the entire West Michigan beer community,” said Co-Founder and President Dave Engbers. “We wouldn’t be where we are today — and KBS wouldn’t have the same notoriety — if it weren’t for our incredible local partners and their support over the years. We have wholesaler sales teams, bar owners, knowledgeable bartenders, skilled chefs and many more to thank. This week is a celebration for all of us. Last year was fun, and we think this year will be even better.”

KBS is an imperial stout brewed with coffee and chocolates that ages in oak bourbon barrels for a year in the caves beneath Grand Rapids. RateBeer.com users have ranked it the best beer in the world. Bottles of KBS available for pickup in the Founders taproom will be released using a pre-ticketed reservation process on EventBrite. Bottles can be reserved beginning on Feb. 14, at 11 a.m. EST, and they will be available for pickup March 10-14. Ticket proceeds will go to Grand Rapids Whitewater.

For the initial KBS Week 2014, Founders decided to open up the release so that people coming to Grand Rapids for KBS could enjoy all of Beer City USA — and it was a success. Once again this year, 15 Founders-supporting craft-beer-centric bars and restaurants in the Grand Rapids area will each tap a keg of KBS on a day and time of their choosing between March 9 and 13. KBS Week will culminate with the Founders taproom release party, where KBS will be poured all day on March 14.

A handful of area hotels will be offering KBS week packages — including discounted room rates, limited edition gear in rooms and more — with information available on the Experience Grand Rapids website. About 100 people reserved these packages last year, an exciting sign that craft beer has the power to bring visitors to West Michigan. KBS will be available throughout Michigan beginning on Monday, March 16, and throughout the rest of Founders’ footprint beginning on Monday, March 30.

For full KBS Week details, head to kbsweek.com.