Einhorn and Finkle?
Finkle…..and……Einhorn
Einhorn…..and……Finkle
Finkle…..and……Einhorn. Einhorn…..and……Finkle?
Finkle…..and……Einhorn. Einhorn…..and……Finkle?
Finkle….and….Einhorn. Einhorn….and….Finkle?
Finkle….and….Einhorn. Einhorn….and….Finkle?
Finkle…and…Einhorn. Einhorn…and…Finkle?
Finkle…and…Einhorn. Einhorn…and…Finkle?
Finkle..and..Einhorn. Einhorn..and..Finkle?
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Finkle.and.Einhorn. Einhorn.and.Finkle?
FinkleandEinhorn. EinhornandFinkle?
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For those who do not recall this excessively repeatative solo dialogue, it comes from the classic Jim Carrey movie Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. If you haven’t seen this film, watching it, right now, in it’s entirety, before you continue reading, will give some insight about why this phrase was selected for the title.
In the movie, the main character is trying to determine the connection between the two excessively repeated names. Once his annoying, rapidly consecutive statements and interogatives cease, Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey) realizes that the two names he is repeating, and questioning, are, in fact, referring to the same person.
How does this relate to beer?
My thoughts, to have this comparison make sense, are to take two very highly sought after stouts, CBS, or Canadian Breakfast Stout, and KBS, or Kentucky Breakfast Stout, and compare the two, to see if there was any marked difference between them. Conveniently, and not so coincidentally, these are made by the same brewery, Founders Brewing Company, and start as the same base beer, an imperialized version of Founders Breakfast stout. The purported difference between these craft gems, are the barrel used to age the base beer. CBS is aged in bourbon barrels that previously held maple syrup, KBS is aged in traditional oak American bourbon barrels.
Is there a noticeable difference between the two? Which is better, and why? Are they both worthy of their considerable price tag, and rarity status in the craft beer community?
I am enlisting the assistance of my fellow craft beer enthusiast to rate and compare these two barrel-aged imperial coffee stouts.
For your consideration, here are our findings.
Evaluator A – This is, not surprisingly, a black-as-motor oil colored beer. When poured into the glass, a thick, creamy, mocha-colored head sits atop the beer, and lingers for a long time. The nose smells intensely of chocolate, and is accented with wispy tendrils of sweet bourbon. Then, light notes of maple syrup, toffee, caramel, tobacco, roasty malts, and a tinge of espresso come through. The body is rich and chewy, and bold with maple and hot bourbon. The coffee flavor kicks in afterwards, followed by accents of vanilla, and caramel. Overall, this is very smooth and creamy, reminding me of a maple- chocolate, latte, or chocolate beverage with maple and coffee accents. This is decadent and flavorful, and since it is packaged in 25oz bottles, probably best shared. 8/10
Evaluator B -When first poured, a Starbucks cappuccino comes to mind, with it’s frothy head that ever so slowly dissipates and after a few sips, leaves lasting appearances on the glass. Chocolate is heavy and all-consuming on the nose, leaving me with no other impressions except what can be distinguished through taste. Think red velvet cake, without the icing, and a lone sip of espresso on the side. While this stout is described to be both chocolate and coffee flavored, chocolate is the alpha flavor, leaving the coffee in the dust. 7/10.
Evaluator A – There was quite a bit of repetition at the beginning of this article, therefore, I will not state the appearance descriptors for KBS, as they precisely mimic that of CBS. The nose however, differs considerably from that of KBS. Where sweet chocolate was prominent in CBS, coffee takes the forefront, followed by hefty notes of bourbon, then the chocolate makes an appearance, followed by accents of musty leather, and fresh leaf tobacco. The sweet, dessert-like stout that was CBS, is now something different in KBS. It is much more bitter, likely due to the coffee prominence. The mouthfeel is thinner, and overall, this is a much more bourbon forward, boozy beer. Oddly enough, I prefer the heavy, sugary body and mouthfeel of the previously consumed CBS, but, to be fair, I also enjoy the bitter, sharp coffee notes, and bourbon forward heat of KBS. Were there a fusion of these brews, say, a KCBS, that might be the ultimate barrel aged stout. 7/10
Evaluator B – Similar to its relation, separated from initial batch and placed in a different type of barrel, the KBS has a thick, pronounced, foamy head with a dark coffee coloring, that, in contrast, diminishes faster with a minimal amount of consumption. The body is softer, and less robust, offering sweeter notes of toffee and hazelnut. Disappointingly, these flavors quickly fade and one is left wondering if these distinct flavors were even present at all, when the now overpowering, bitter taste of cold coffee that has sat on your desk over half the day overtakes these subtle pleasantries. This is a stout that would be easy to consume while in a rush, instead of appreciated and enjoy. 5/10.
Is Finkle, CBS?
Is Einhorn, KBS?
Is Einhorn, CBS?
Is Finkle, KBS?
Is CBS, KBS?
These are clearly not the same beers, despite their different pathways, or shall I say barrelways?
Each has it’s own impressive merits, though to my palates predispositions, I thought KBS would be the preferred beer. Instead, and with the validation of my esteemed co-evaluator, KBS was decidedly less enjoyable, when compared to the maple-accented barrel version of the same base.
It seems the important lesson to learn is,
“Laces out Dan!”
You don’t know what you will get sometimes, so, let your palate decide.
Humbly yours,
J