(Grand Rapids, MI) – It happens with literally every Founders Brewing limited release. The brewery sends out a beer like Backwoods Bastard a couple weeks early asking that stores hold it until a certain date before making it available for sale. It is akin to buying a 12-year old a Nintendo Wii on Dec. 13 and asking him/her not to open it until Dec. 25 (well, close enough). There is an allure about all of these limited releases and being in the top 50 on the two big beer sites just makes it that much harder to get your hands on
Kentucky Breakfast Stout
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About this year’s release . . . the beer was not to hit the streets until the weekend of March 15 though at least a few stores made it available even before March 1. Most of the 1,400 cases are still at large though that small number means that virtually all stores will be getting a maximum of 1-3 cases, most on the lower end of that range. KBS will be available in ten states: MI, OH, IN, IL, WI, MA, NJ, PA, NC, and SC. If you live in one of them, you should consider contacting your local store to see if you can reserve a 4-pack. Oh, and you will notice that it now dons a new label (something about Kentucky and authenticity?).
Looking toward 2010, more will be made as the brewery has installed some new tanks. Other offerings like Breakfast Stout and Backwoods Bastard are more regularly available now than they used to be which bodes well for KBS fans in 2010.
Hmm I guess its appropriate to change the label considering its going to be distributed to more places. I just hope I am able to hit up a store near me that has no clue about beer and is able to sell me there whole case! A case should hold me over for a year… hopefully!
Actually, in states with the 3-tier system, the distributors *should be* holding the beer by the brewery’s request and not releasing for retail on the 15th. This would prevent early sales. Every brewery has reasons for a release date and we abide by that. What if the brew needs just a few more weeks in the bottle? There is no true benefit to selling this before everyone else. Allocations are still allocations, so what you get is what you sell.
Great point about keeping beer in the bottle for a good reason. Look at some of the Lost Abbey talk on the boards recently.
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KBS is also available in Kentucky. Founders just came to the market a few weeks ago.
I just received some of this last night from a local beer outlet. This is one of the best Stout’s I’ve had. Hats off to Founders for a great product.
i have two in front of me right now!
Drinking one now. 5 in the cellar. My favorite.
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