Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout 4Pk

Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout 4Pk is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout brewed at 11.7% ABV, sold here as a four-pack of 12 oz bottles. It holds a perfect 100 score on BeerAdvocate across thousands of ratings, placing it among the most acclaimed American craft beers ever produced.
Quick Facts: ABV: 11.7%  |  Origin: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA  |  Style: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout  |  Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
Production & Heritage
Founders Brewing Company, established in 1997 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, created CBS when brewers stumbled upon bourbon barrels that had previously been used to house maple syrup. The base beer is an imperialized version of their flagship Breakfast Stout — the same recipe used for KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) — brewed with chocolate and Sumatra and Kona coffee, then aged in those dual-purpose bourbon-maple barrels. That secondary maple character is what separates CBS from its KBS sibling and from nearly every other barrel-aged stout on the market.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Roasted coffee and rich chocolate lead immediately, followed by waves of maple syrup, vanilla, and warm bourbon. The nose is dense and layered, with a faint tobacco-like earthiness lingering underneath.
Taste: The first sip delivers roasted malt and cocoa, joined quickly by pronounced maple sugar sweetness. Mid-palate, bourbon warmth and vanilla from the barrel integrate with the coffee bitterness, creating a complex dessert-like profile. Molasses and dark chocolate round out the peak, with the maple threading through every layer without dominating.
Finish: Remarkably smooth for a beer approaching 12% ABV — the alcohol is present but well-integrated with gentle carbonation that balances the syrupy body. Lingering notes of maple, roasted coffee, and toasted oak persist through a long, warming close.
How to Drink CBS
CBS is best served at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a tulip glass or snifter that concentrates its complex aromatics. Pouring too cold will mute the maple and bourbon barrel character. This is a sipping beer — treat it the way you would a fine digestif. While not a cocktail ingredient in the traditional sense, CBS pairs exceptionally with a float of vanilla ice cream for a decadent beer float, works alongside an espresso as a boilermaker-style pairing, and complements a dram of bourbon on the side for those who want to explore the barrel connection.
Best For
Gifting a serious craft beer collector who values limited-release bottles
After-dinner sipping on cold winter evenings as a dessert replacement
Side-by-side tastings comparing CBS against KBS and Breakfast Stout
Celebrating a milestone with a beer that carries a perfect BeerAdvocate rating
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CBS taste like? Founders CBS delivers rich roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and bourbon vanilla layered with a distinctive maple syrup sweetness that sets it apart from other barrel-aged imperial stouts. The mouthfeel is full-bodied and smooth despite its 11.7% ABV.
How does CBS compare to KBS? Both CBS and KBS share the same imperialized Breakfast Stout base and are aged in bourbon barrels, but CBS uses barrels that previously held maple syrup, adding a prominent maple sweetness that KBS lacks. KBS leans more heavily into chocolate and coffee with straightforward bourbon character, while CBS adds that additional layer of complexity.
Is CBS good for sipping neat? CBS is ideal for slow, contemplative sipping at cellar temperature — its layered maple, bourbon, coffee, and chocolate profile reveals new nuances as it warms slightly in the glass. It is not a session beer and is best enjoyed as a standalone experience.
Where is CBS made? CBS is brewed by Founders Brewing Company at their facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founders was established in 1997 and has grown into one of the most respected craft breweries in the United States.
What foods pair well with CBS? Maple-glazed bacon highlights the barrel’s maple character; dark chocolate truffles complement the roasted malt and cocoa notes; vanilla bean cheesecake mirrors the bourbon barrel’s vanilla; smoked brisket stands up to the beer’s intensity; and pecan pie echoes the nutty, caramel sweetness in the finish.
What sizes does CBS come in? CBS is available in this four-pack of 12 oz bottles; individual 12 oz and 750 ml bottle formats have also been released in prior years depending on the vintage.
Is CBS worth the price? CBS positions as an ultra-premium craft beer release, and its perfect BeerAdvocate score, limited annual availability, and unique bourbon-maple barrel aging process place it at the top tier of American barrel-aged stouts in both reputation and value.
Why CBS?
The defining detail behind Canadian Breakfast Stout is an accident of discovery — bourbon barrels that once held maple syrup, giving the beer a flavor profile no competitor can replicate through recipe alone. A perfect 100 on BeerAdvocate, earned across nearly 7,000 ratings, is not a marketing claim but a consensus from one of the largest beer-rating communities in the world. CBS remains a limited annual release, and its cult following means bottles rarely sit on shelves for long. For anyone serious about barrel-aged imperial stouts, this is the benchmark against which the category is measured.