Founders Releases Popular Kentucky Breakfast Stout

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich) – It is a well-celebrated annual tradition – one that results in pilgrimages by die-hard craft beer lovers from throughout the Midwest – that is simply known as the release of Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS). Each March, Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Mich., releases its rich, barrel-aged brew in limited, high-demanded quantities.

Rated as an A / A+ by most major beer reviewers – and considered by some to be one of the Top 5 brews of its kind in the country – this Imperial Stout is well worth the wait. Only 1400 cases (33,600 bottles) will be sold in 2009, a slight increase over 2008.

“We are limited by the size of our brewing facility,” says Mike Stevens, Founders Brewing President. “By 2010, we plan to increase our production of Kentucky Breakfast…but it will still be significantly short of its demand.”

Kentucky Breakfast Stout is brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, before being aged a full year in oak bourbon barrels from Kentucky. These barrels are then stored 100 feet in the ground, in the caves of nearby gypsum mines, before returning to the tanks to be finished and bottled. KBS is a very labor intensive beer, requiring additional precision and devotion.

“While all of our beers are made with 100% pure deliciousness, I am personally drawn to the smell of the bourbon barrels,” says Alec Mull, Director of Brewing Operations. “The wood and bourbon flavors and aromas that surround the barrels become firmly entrenched in the fabric of the beer, and the chocolate and coffee find harmony with them. All of the characters are very distinct. While you can experience each independently, they also manage to work very well together and form a melded collage of flavor.”

Kentucky Breakfast Stout is available in limited quantities in 10 states and retails in 4-packs for $20.

“KBS is indeed an extraordinary beer,” Alec says. “We feel very lucky to be able to make this beer and are excited that everyone likes it so much.”

Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue SW in downtown Grand Rapids, is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild. www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

The PrimeTime Brewers and Founders Brewing Company Participate in Worldwide Day Dedicated to Teaching Homebrewing

Boulder, Colo. • — November 1, 2008 is the American Homebrewers Association’s (AHA) 10th Annual Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day. The PrimeTime Brewers Homebrew Club of Grand Rapids MI, along with Founders Brewing Company, are participating in this year’s celebration.

Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day is an international event celebrated each year on the first Saturday in November with the goal of introducing people to the homebrewing hobby and establishing relationships with local homebrew supply shops and homebrew clubs. The PrimeTime Brewers and Founders are happy to invite anyone who is interested in learning how to homebrew to stop by the site from 10 am to 4pm on Saturday, November 1.

Founders Brewing Company
235 Grandville Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
www.foundersbrewing.com

In 2007, over 1,900 participants brewed approximately 1,970 gallons on Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day at 152 sites worldwide (including sites in Canada, England, Denmark, and 33 states in the United States). This year, the AHA expects even greater participation.

"One of the great things about homebrewers is they are happy to share their knowledge and to pass on the joy that they find in homebrewing to others,” states Gary Glass, the director for AHA, “that's really what Teach A Friend To Homebrew Day is all about."

Homebrewing is a hobby that is increasing in popularity and something that almost anyone 21 years and older can enjoy. Homebrewing is a rewarding but easy hobby – anyone who has a kitchen can do it. The equipment and ingredients needed are less expensive than most people think.

For information on how to participate in this year’s Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day event and to view the registered sites, go to: www.beertown.org.

Based in Boulder, Colo., U.S.A., the Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade and education association for American craft brewers and the community of beer enthusiasts. Visit the website: www.beertown.org to learn more. The association’s activities include events and publishing: World Beer Cup®; Great American Beer Festival (sm); Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®; National Homebrewers Conference; National Homebrew Competition; American Craft Beer Week (May); Zymurgy magazine; The New Brewer magazine; and books on beer and brewing. The Brewers Association has an additional membership division of 15,000+ homebrewers: American Homebrewers Association.