Founders KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge Coming To 2026 Barrel Aged Series

This morning I have your first look at another intriguing addition to the 2026 Barrel-Aged Series from Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The latest KBS family member brings together some of Michigan’s most recognizable flavors: rich fudge, coffee, and maple syrup, with the deep, warming character of bourbon barrel aging.

This time around, Founders is bringing back KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge, an 11% ABV imperial stout that combines the legendary KBS foundation with Mackinac Fudge coffee, maple syrup and oak bourbon barrel aging. The result promises to be another intensely rich, dessert-inspired barrel-aged beer built for fans of big, bold imperial stouts.

The new release also continues the evolution of The Amazing Kosmicki’s KBS lineup, following the previously revealed KBS Select releases planned for 2026. Founders has already shown that the KBS name can serve as a foundation for increasingly creative coffee, chocolate and barrel-aged variations, and KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge adds another distinctly Michigan-inspired expression to that lineup.

Founders KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge 2026

According to the label, KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge pays tribute to Michigan’s long association with old-fashioned fudge, particularly the iconic fudge tradition associated with Mackinac Island. Founders describes the beer as amplifying the rich chocolate notes of KBS with Mackinac Fudge coffee, followed by the addition of maple syrup and aging in oak bourbon barrels.

That combination makes this a particularly compelling beer for drinkers who enjoy pastry-like imperial stouts, barrel-aged stouts, coffee beers and dessert-inspired craft beer.

The beer is listed at 11% ABV, putting it firmly into the heavyweight imperial stout category. The label also identifies it as a malt beverage with natural and artificial flavors.

The packaging shown here is a 12-ounce bottle, continuing the familiar bottle format associated with many Founders Barrel-Aged Series releases.

While the label provides the important beer specifications, Founders has not yet announced the 2026 release timing in the information available for this preview, so stay tuned for additional details, distribution information and tasting notes.

A Michigan-Inspired KBS

The Michigan connection is one of the most interesting elements of KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge. Founders isn’t simply adding maple and coffee to another imperial stout; the brewery is specifically connecting the beer to the state’s fudge-making tradition.

Mackinac Fudge coffee provides the coffee component, while maple syrup adds another layer of sweetness. Bourbon barrel aging then brings the oak, vanilla and spirit-driven character that has long been central to the KBS experience.

Founders’ standard KBS is itself a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout brewed with coffee and chocolate. The brewery describes KBS as a full-bodied beer with roasted coffee, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, oak and bourbon characteristics.

KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge takes that established flavor foundation and pushes it toward an even more indulgent profile.

Label Text:

“Michigan didn’t invent old-fashioned fudge, but it was perfected here. We pay tribute to this time-honored tradition with KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge. By amplifying the rich chocolate notes of KBS using Mackinac Fudge coffee, then adding maple syrup and aging it in oak bourbon barrels, we’ve created a bold new take on our barrel-aged classic – one that could only have originated in Michigan.”

KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge Joins a Growing 2026 Lineup

KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge is particularly interesting because it follows the earlier announcement of The Amazing Kosmicki’s KBS Select series and the 2026 KBS Iced Mocha release. MyBeerBuzz previously reported on KBS Iced Mocha, another 11% ABV 12-ounce bottled release planned for the 2026 Barrel-Aged Series.

The continued expansion of the KBS family demonstrates how Founders has transformed one of its signature beers into an entire platform for experimentation.

For longtime KBS fans, KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge should be one to watch. The combination of imperial stout, coffee, chocolate, maple syrup and bourbon barrel aging checks nearly every box for fans of rich, high-ABV barrel-aged craft beer.

Release timing, availability and final tasting details are still to come.

Stay tuned to MyBeerBuzz for the latest Founders Brewing release information, additional label reveals and tasting notes as they become available.

Related News About Founders from mybeerbuzz.com:
MyBeerBuzz has been following Founders Brewing’s barrel-aged program for years, from KBS Blueberry and KBS Hazelnut to Gilded Bock, KBS Iced Mocha and the newly announced KBS Select series. You can revisit our coverage of The Amazing Kosmicki’s KBS Select, KBS Iced Mocha, KBS Hazelnut, KBS Blueberry and Gilded Bock while watching for more news about KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge.”

About Founders Brewing Company:

Founders Brewing Company is one of Michigan’s best-known craft breweries and one of the American brewing industry’s most recognizable producers of bold, flavorful and barrel-aged beers. Founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Founders built its reputation by embracing complex beer styles, aggressive flavor profiles and brewing techniques that helped push American craft beer into new territory.

The brewery was founded by Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers, who began brewing professionally in Grand Rapids in 1997. What started as a small operation eventually grew into a nationally recognized brewery with a portfolio spanning IPAs, stouts, Scotch ales, lagers, barrel-aged beers and innovative specialty releases.

Founders’ identity has long been closely connected to its Michigan roots. The brewery’s Born & Brewed in Michigan philosophy emphasizes the importance of the state, its communities and its freshwater resources. Founders has repeatedly incorporated Michigan-inspired ingredients, flavors and traditions into its beer portfolio.

Among its most recognizable beers is KBS, originally known as Kentucky Breakfast Stout. KBS helped establish Founders as one of America’s leading producers of bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts. The beer combines coffee and chocolate with bourbon barrel aging, creating the rich, full-bodied flavor profile that became the foundation for numerous KBS variants.

The brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series has subsequently become one of the most anticipated specialty beer programs in American craft brewing. Over the years, Founders has experimented with coffee, chocolate, fruit, maple, spices and other ingredients to create limited and seasonal barrel-aged releases.

That spirit of experimentation continues in 2026.

The Amazing Kosmicki’s KBS Select series represents another evolution of the KBS concept, while KBS Iced Mocha brings coffee and cocoa into a dessert-inspired imperial golden ale. Founders has also entered the spirits category with KBS Bourbon, its first venture beyond beer and another extension of the KBS brand.

Now, KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge adds another Michigan-focused expression to the portfolio. The beer combines the familiar coffee and chocolate character of KBS with Mackinac Fudge coffee and maple syrup before spending time in oak bourbon barrels.

That combination perfectly fits Founders’ long-standing approach to barrel-aged beer: start with a substantial base beer, layer in complementary flavors and allow time in barrels to create additional complexity.

Founders’ brewing legacy, its Grand Rapids roots and its willingness to experiment have made the brewery an important part of Michigan’s craft beer story. Its KBS family remains particularly influential, helping establish bourbon barrel-aged imperial stouts as one of the defining categories of modern American craft beer.

With new KBS variants continuing to emerge, Founders remains committed to pushing the boundaries of coffee beer, imperial stout, barrel-aged beer and specialty craft brewing.

For beer enthusiasts looking for the next big Founders Brewing release, KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge could be one of the most interesting bottles in the 2026 Barrel-Aged Series.

Release date and distribution details are still pending. Stay tuned to MyBeerBuzz for updates.

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