Robert Allen

Detroit Free Press

Arguably Michigan's most sought-after brew, Kentucky Breakfast Stout drops in metro Detroit this week – and at first taste, the 2017 vintage is one of the best.

Longtime fans will notice the annual Founders Brewing Co. release, an imperial stout with coffee and chocolate, cave-aged for months in bourbon barrels, is even more smooth and balanced than previous years. During a tapping event Monday at Craft Breww City in Farmington Hills, I immediately noticed less of the boozy heat than last year's release, with roasty coffee notes taking center stage.

Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki described 2017 KBS in an email:

"This year I noticed a particularly large percentage of older barrels – barrels that were filled (with bourbon) 10, 15, even 20 years ago. These barrels seem to have a deeper, richer, more balanced bourbon character, where the younger barrels have a more in-your-face bourbon quality," he said.

The same recipe is used every year, but large-scale barrel aging inevitably lends some variability. A variety of younger and older barrels, and differing bourbons – such as Heaven Hill, Jim Beam and Maker's Mark – age the stout before it's combined and bottled.

Caves of beer: How brewers age Founders KBS

This year's KBS is 11.8% alcohol by volume, while last year's was 12.4%. The beer is notorious for getting bought up quickly, in Michigan as well as in many other states where it's sold. More is made every year, but "we've also been opening new markets, so to the consumer it probably doesn't feel like there's more KBS out there," Kosmicki said.

Founders recently expanded its Grand Rapids-based operations with a Barrel House facility, where it can make more barrel-aged brews. When KBS was first released as an experiment in the early 2000s, the unusual brew went untouched, Kosmicki previously told the Free Press.

But as the craft beer boom developed and websites tracked ratings, a wave of discerning drinkers awarded high marks to KBS: It's now ranked 15th in the world on RateBeer and 28th on Beer Advocate. The beer is made with two kinds of Belgian chocolate, two types of locally roasted coffee, lots of oats, roasted grains and barley. It develops even more complexity with age, so many of the people who buy KBS will hide it away in a cellar for a year or more.

"KBS has been around for quite a few years now, and there are many highly sought-after beers out there these days, so it makes me proud to still see so much enthusiasm for the brand," Kosmicki said in the email.

9 best beers from Michigan's most extreme fest

Tapping events are a great way to try the brew fresh. Monday's event also offered 2016 KBS, so people could try the vintages side-by-side, along with a wide mix of other Founders selections.

At Ale Mary's on Saturday in Royal Oak, 2017 KBS – known fondly for breakfast-themed oats and coffee – will be released with a special brunch menu, along with brews such as oak-aged Curmudgeon (brewed with molasses), Nitro Pale Ale, Red's Rye IPA and others.

For bottles, 8 Degrees Plato's Detroit and Ferndale locations have scheduled releases planned Wednesday afternoon. KBS is released to stores that sell Founders, usually with more allocated to stores that sell more of the brewery's beers. If you're looking to find some at your local store, it can be helpful to call ahead.

A list of Kentucky Breakfast Stout tapping events and bottle releases is available on the Founders website. Here's a list of upcoming KBS events in southeast Michigan:

March 14: tapping at Sedona Taphouse Troy

March 15: tapping and bottle sales at 8 Degrees Plato in Detroit; tapping at The Fireplace in Fenton; tapping at Sidecar Slider Bar in Birmingham

March 16: tapping at Karl’s Cabin in Plymouth Township

March 17: St. Patrick’s Day tapping at Michigan On Main at the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth

Saturday: tapping at Ale Mary’s in Royal Oak; tapping at Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit; bottles at Discount Drinks Etc. in Wyandotte

March 21: tapping at Basement Burger Bar in Farmington

March 23: tapping at Whole Foods Market in W. Bloomfield Township

March 25: tapping at M-Brew in Ferndale

March 26: tapping at Lockhart’s BBQ in Royal Oak

April 19: tapping at Red Fox English Pub in Royal Oak

Update: A Founders Brewing Co. tapping scheduled for April 22 at 8 Degrees Plato in Detroit previously included in this list has been removed because Kentucky Breakfast Stout isn't among the beers to be served. The tap list for that event is Mango Magnifico con Calor 2016, Curmudgeon, BA ReDankulous, Comet IPA and 2014 Imperial Stout.

Spirits of Detroit columnist Robert Allen covers craft alcohol for the Free Press. He can be reached at rallen@freepress.com or on Untappd, raDetroit; Twitter @rallenMI, Facebook robertallen.news, and Periscope rallenMI