Founders DKML Returning To 2025 Barrel Aged Series In September / KBS Iced Latte

I brought you an early peek at this beer back in March 2025, and now these release details coming from Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, Michigan:

DKML is back! Here you have what could be the first malt liquor worthy of a glass. Typically a slighted style, we thought we would class it up with a stay in the barrel. Be warned: this one will kick you where you most expect it! Look for DKML on shelves this September!

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As a further update, I brought you a peek back in January 2025, so the June 2025 release in the series is KBS Iced Latte Imperial Golden Ale (yes it’s not a stout!)…stay tuned.

This 27 June 2025 update from Founders:

KBS Iced Latte is available in the taproom and it is delicious. But don’t take our word for it! Swing by the taproom and pick up a 4-pack to see for yourself!

KBS Iced Latte
Elegance, Aged and Chilled.
Get ready to chill with KBS Iced Latte, a Barrel-Aged Imperial Golden Ale that’s as smooth as your favorite café creation. Crafted with a blend of coffee and vanilla, for a creamy, and utterly indulgent experience. Aged to perfection in bourbon barrels, every sip consists of oak notes and a silky latte-like sweetness that’s impossible to resist.

Find KBS Iced Latte

ABV
11%
IBUs
40
Style
Barrel-Aged
Availability
July – August
Hops
Magnum, Willamette
Malts
Malted Barley, Wheat, Oats
Tasting Notes
Smooth notes of coffee, vanilla, and cocoa nibs, with a sweet warming finish.


[Editor’s Note:]

Here’s a complete list of Founders Brewing Barrel‑Aged Series beers and their official release dates (primarily from their official announcements and press coverage). Note that the series began in 2017, and 2019 saw a full lineup; CBS returned sporadically afterward.

2017 – Inaugural Barrel‑Aged Series
Launch year of the Barrel‑Aged Series
Frootwood (bourbon + maple syrup barrel‑aged cherry ale)
– Available in taprooms starting January 13, 2017, rolling out to markets in January–February
KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout, imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, brewed each spring) – returned in April 2017 as part of Series
Backwoods Bastard (Scotch ale aged in bourbon barrels) – part of the 2017 series, with its regular release in November 2017
Other releases (three additional barrel‑aged beers in 2017) were teased but not fully publicized in the Cadre announcements (Note: KCBS, Sumatra/Underground, CBS and Más Agave were not yet part of the 2017 rollout.)

2019 – Full Barrel‑Aged Series Lineup
Founders outlined the full 2019 Barrel‑Aged Series as five beers, including new variants
Más Agave (imperial gose aged in tequila barrels)
– First release of the series in 2019 (spring/summer,)
KBS (imperial stout with coffee & chocolate, bourbon‑barrel aged)
– Released nationally starting March 15, 2019 (early pickup March 8–10 in taprooms)
Backwoods Bastard (Scotch Ale, barrel aged)
– Available year‑round in 2019 but counted as the series’ third drop
Underground Mountain Brown (sumatra coffee imperial brown ale aged in bourbon barrels)
– Announced July 4, 2019; taproom release August 16, 2019, followed by broader distribution later that month
CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout) (imperial coffee‑chocolate stout aged in maple bourbon barrels)
– Final release of the 2019 series: general availability November 1, 2019 (taproom pickups late October)

2023–2025 – Selected Variants & Relaunches
KBS Espresso variant debuted in February 2020, alongside the return of standard KBS as a year‑round product
KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa (2021 variant) released October 2021, part of variant series on KBS base
KBS Hazelnut Fudge variant announced for February 2025, with another variant coming Summer 2025; two more mystery barrel‑aged beers scheduled for October and November 2025
CBS was brought back for a limited release in December 2023, marking its return to Barrel‑Aged Series after being discontinued post‑2019

Beer Name
Style
Release Date / Window

Frootwood
Cherry ale (bourbon/maple barrel aged)
Jan 13, 2017 (taproom); markets Jan–Feb 2017

KBS (annual)
Bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout
April 2017 (intro); March 15, 2019 (nationwide)

Backwoods Bastard
Bourbon barrel-aged Scotch ale
November 2017 (series); year-round in 2019

Más Agave
Imperial gose aged in tequila barrels
Spring–summer 2019

Underground Mountain Brown
Imperial brown ale with Sumatra coffee, bourbon barrel-aged
Taproom Aug 16, 2019; national Aug 2019

CBS (2019 final)
Maple-barrel-aged coffee chocolate stout
November 1, 2019 (broad release)

CBS (revived 2023)
Same as above

December 2023 limited relaunch

KBS Espresso variant
KBS + espresso beans aging
February 2020

KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa
KBS with spices + cocoa nibs
Circa October 2021

KBS Hazelnut Fudge variant
KBS variant with hazelnut fudge
February 2025

Other 2025 mystery barrel-aged beers
DKML, KBS & KBS Iced Latte
October & November 2025


Notes
KBS transitioned from being a limited annual release (pre‑2020) to year‑round production starting in 2020
The 2017 Series was the inaugural multi‑beer release, featuring six total beers, but Founders only publicly disclosed three (Frootwood, KBS, Backwoods Bastard); the rest remained under wraps until later years
CBS was discontinued after 2019 with the brewery citing no future brewing plans—but it returned in December 2023 for a limited season
The brewery’s 2025 calendar indicates upcoming KBS variants and two more barrel-aged releases later this year, DKML & KBS Iced Latte

About Founders Brewing:

We have been lucky to evolve into one of the highest-recognized breweries in the United States. We’ve been ranked among the top breweries in the world by Ratebeer.com since 2006, and we have several beers listed in the top 100 beers of the world on Beeradvocate.com. We’re now among the top ten largest craft breweries in the country.

We give credit to our staff for continuously working to reinvent what beer can be and thanks to our many customers for whom we work to provide world-class beers.
Born & Brewed In Michigan

For over 25 years Founders Brewing Company’s dedication to the state of Michigan has shown through in everything we do. Surrounded by the Great Lakes, we’re devoted to using our freshwater resources in a sustainable fashion to provide you with the highest quality beer possible – from All Day IPA to craft beer stalwarts like KBS, which celebrates 20 years of barrel-aged excellence this year. The mitten state has given us so much– and we’ve been fortunate enough to be able to give back, supporting local causes and businesses from our hometown of Grand Rapids, MI all the way across the Mackinac Bridge to the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula.

For these and other reasons too numerous to count, we’re proud to say that Founders Brewing Company is Born & Brewed in Michigan since 1997.

The Early Days
Co-Founders Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers open the doors to the 9,800 square foot brewery in downtown Grand Rapids, MI. with initial hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The first batches of beer are brewed. Mike and Dave bartend exclusively. Taproom sales are slow and the brand struggles to find its identity. Mike and Dave’s income comes only from bartending tips.

The brewery is on the verge of bankruptcy. Dave purchases a pair of bolt cutters when the landlord threatens to lock them out if they don’t pay their rent.

Craft Brewing Catches Fire
Mike and Dave begin brewing beers they want to drink, marking a turning point for the brewery in philosophy. Complex, flavorful ales are the result. Founders leads the extreme beer movement with DirtyBastard. Jeremy Kosmicki joins the brewing team and KBS makes its draft debut shortly thereafter. Founders pioneers the bourbon barrel-aging movement and begins bottling KBS. The popularity of the brewery starts to grow. Formulation of the All Day IPA recipe begins and Jeremy Kosmicki brews the first batch.

Founders Finds its Home
Founders moved to their current location at 235 Cesar E. Chavez SW which was a former run-down trucking depot. The grand opening takes place on November 20, 2007 after years of renovations. Shortly after Founders underwent an $8 million expansion to include a new brewhouse, fermenters and kegging/bottling line in 2011. Two years later a $26 million expansion includes a new cellar, expanded brewhouse, office space, retail space and the beer garden.

Growth Continues
Founders growth continues to skyrocket – almost doubling every year since 2007. Founders announces partnership with Spanish Brewer Mahou San Miguel. Founders completes phase one of two of its largest expansions to date. The brewery has over 340 employees dedicated to putting out the best beer possible. Founders completes phase 2 of its expansion, which includes the completion of the Barrel House, a 190,000-square-foot facility that focuses on brewing, warehousing and distributing. It also houses the bulk of the brewery’s industry-leading barrel-aging program. Founders celebrates 20 years of brewing beer.

Mahou USA
By 2019, Founders was home to more than 500 employees and reached full national distribution in all 50 US states. The brewery continued to innovate and add to its unique and ever-evolving portfolio – launching hard seltzers, along with other new flavorful beers and variants of its popular All Day and KBS brands that quickly became fan-favorites nationwide. The partnership with Mahou San Miguel continued and in 2023, Founders announced its formal integration with Boulder, Colorado-based Avery Brewing Company and Mahou Imports in Miami, Florida – creating Mahou USA.