Founders Brewing Company Announces New Release

Longtime Founders Brewing Company Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki with a pour of the company’s new KBS variant–KBS Chocolate Cherry, a decadent new twist on a classic barrel-aged beer flavor that is available nationwide.

Founders Brewing Company, a Michigan-born brewery that has grown to become one of the country’s largest breweries since its founding in 1997, has released its latest barrel-aged beer flavor, KBS Chocolate Cherry.  Out in time for Valentine’s Day, Founders describes the new KBS variant as a perfectly balanced and decadent drinking experience of KBS meeting the classic taste of chocolate cherry.

Taking the bourbon barrel-aged stout to a new level, KBS Chocolate Cherry allows the existing premium coffee and chocolate notes to soar to new heights when accented by the rich sweetness of cherry, Founders Brewing Company Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki said.

“It’s something new, a twist on a classic,” Kosmicki noted. “We’ve been going down the variant road the last few years.  “It’s inspired by cherry cordials, with both sweetness and tartness from the cherries balanced against layers of rich chocolate. “These flavors are really complimentary to the coffee and bourbon notes you’d expect from KBS.”

The just-released chocolate cherry delight is quickly earning rave reviews.

Staying to true to the integrity of the original KBS and its 11.6 percent ABV, this chocolate cherry delight is out just in time for Valentine’s Day.

“It’s just a perfectly balanced beer,” said Maddie Gunderson. “The KBS line is so unique, from the Maple Mackinac Fudge to Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa and now Chocolate Cherry. Always balanced and just a decadent drinking experience.”

The newest flavor with its rich sweetness of chocolate and slight coffee bitterness will stay true to the original KBS as it comes at 11.6 ABV.

“We like to experiment and innovate without compromising integrity,” said Kosmicki. “Sometimes we work in subtle ways, sometimes not. We’re happy where this KBS landed in our portfolio.”

“These flavors are really complimentary to the coffee and bourbon notes that you’d expect from KBS,” said Kristen Veverka. “It works well together.”

Kosmicki this year is celebrating 22 years with Founders, beginning his career in 2000 in an entry level packaging position before being promoted two years later to assistant brewer.

“That was a big thing in my life then,” he said. “I really wanted to get into the industry and now I was getting a regular check. It’s been a wild ride.”

These days, Kosmicki, with a brewing manager handling a team of brewers, has been able to step away from the day to day operations to focus on research & development and innovating.

“What’s new, what do consumers need?” said Kosmicki. “KBS stands alone but we’re a big company . Light beer, sipping beer, specialized brews, we have it all. From a volume standpoint All Day IPA is our workhorse. It’s all the rage.”

Founders Brewing Company is part of Mahou USA, a combination of brands from Avery Brewing, Founders Brewing and Mahou Imports. Its brands have received numerous awards from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, and RateBeer and BeerAdvocate users often rate its beer among the best in the world.

KBS Chocolate Cherry is available on draft in Founders’ taprooms in Grand Rapids and Detroit is sold in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles in company stores and across Mahou’s 50-state distribution footprint. For instance, Meijer has the beer on its shelves, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Pricing in the Founders Brewing Co. taprooms are $24 per 4-pack; prices will vary by market.