From Founders:
It’s time to share the finalists from our Trip to the Mothership contest! We received hundreds of submissions (600 to be exact) and, after reading through all of your stories, we knew we had to share more than just the two winners’ entries. In the coming weeks, we’ll be sending out a little something to the finalists as a token of our appreciation for sharing such personal and heartfelt stories – keep an eye on your email if you see your submission below.
Cheers again to our two winners, Jody Sharp and Paul Hoffer, and thanks again to all who submitted!
In no particular order here are the finalists!
Juan Sanchez
New Jersey
I would have my last KBS with my Dad. He died 10 years ago basically from complications from cancer. I didn’t have much of a relationship with him. My mom and dad divorced when I was very young and my mom had custody of the 3 children. While I saw him on a pretty regular basis, I just didn’t seem to get along with him. With me being the youngest, I was always the one that had to go with him, so it felt more like an obligation than just quality time with my father. I didn’t enjoy the things I did with him. I just didn’t realize what it meant to him. Other than him being a doctor, I didn’t know much about my Dad. Basically, life and circumstances made our “emotional distance” from each other increase (even though we didn’t live far from each other). It is kind of surprising considering that we share the same birthday. I am even named after him. Yet, I had this silly resentment in me towards him. We had different interests/passions.
He lived a mostly humble life. He made a good living being a doctor, but he was far from extravagant. He once bought a Cadillac. Once. That was it. He always gave simple gifts. He didn’t grow up with a lot of money. Without it being obvious he showed us the value of money. He could have bought me my first car, but didn’t. I had to work for it and it was the best thing he did. It showed me how hard work pays off and the value it provides.
When his 2nd wife passed, I remember holding his hand during the wake as he struggled to get through it. It was touching seeing how much he cared. It was a side I didn’t really see from him. It was more a side I didn’t notice because I chose to not notice. Even though I knew he cared about everyone in his life.
When he got diagnosed with cancer, things started to change in our relationship as my siblings and I had to take turns helping take care of him. Taking him to the hospital/doctor for care. Setting up his house for wheelchair access (as it weakened him considerably). It helped us get a bit closer. Then, all of the sudden, he passed. It was unexpected as he was doing OK with his treatment and we thought he was getting better. Apparently, a blood clot formed and dislodged and traveled to his brain.
With his passing, we had to take care of his estate. He left something for all of us. He even left something for my mom, the woman he divorced over 30 years ago. It enabled my mom to finally retire after struggling to take care of 3 kids and make a life for herself. I was able to go through all of his pictures and learn a bit more about him.
In emptying out the house, we found probably a hundred (maybe two hundred) beer cans and bottles in the basement. They were all different. He saved them like many of us craft beer fans do these days. This was way before the craft beer craze was in full swing. Cans so old they had those pull tabs that came off! It was a side I never really saw in my dad. And probably one that I can really connect with these days, due to my obsession with craft beer.
So, in the end, I would share my last KBS with my dad. I would talk to him about how delicious the beer is, the chocolate, the coffee, the bourbon and how amazing a barrel changes a beer, and how beer has changed since he or I started drinking with so many different styles and options. And, more importantly, I would ask and learn more about his life. I would ask him things I didn’t know about him…which is, unfortunately, a lot. I would go through those pictures with him and be able to know the story behind each one. I would likely have to have more than one bottle with him….but, he deserves it…and Founders has some other great beers we can share.
Thanks Dad…
Jenny Ford
Kansas
I’m trying to think of a motivational mentor who taught me life lessons or a beloved family member who helped shape my values and the woman I am today, but I gotta be real, and I gotta be honest: I’d share my last KBS beer with Des Linden. Besides being the winner of the 2018 Boston Marathon, Des Linden is one of the best in the sport who embodies strong compassion, humility, and grit, showing every runner that if you work hard enough your goals are possible. Even though I don’t know her personally, she is an inspirational figure who shares my running values and ignites my passion for athletic competition.
I first learned about Des reading an interview before the Boston marathon years ago. I don’t follow elite runners much but was instantly drawn to her and felt this connection. She’s an elite but she’s not like other elites – she is completely relatable, and I am convinced she is my running spirit animal. The running community has called her Queen of the Gritty Bitches – can’t stop, won’t stop. She’s lived and trained in Michigan for years. Having lived all but two years of my life in the Midwest, I know the weather struggle is real for runners, and there’s a certain work ethic and resilience you develop grinding out the miles in all the conditions. Usually all the conditions in the same week. She loves a great beer and bourbon – also my two favorite libations of choice. We are both music junkies and love to rock wearing black, especially an all-black ensemble for race day. She is sponsored by my favorite running brand, Brooks. I love Brooks because of their Run Happy motto, their inclusion of the everyday runner in their marketing, and their contributions to their local Seattle community. I think Des and I would have a very intriguing conversation over the KBS while wearing matching Brooks half zips and running shorts because we also both hate tiny racing buns. We’d “collabeerate” on creating a perfect running playlist, exchange whiskey library notes, and share pics of our adorkable doggies.
Besides both Des and the KBS hailing from Michigan, I think there are a couple of other reasons why the KBS would be appropriate to share with her. They are both strong, have an affection for coffee, and give it to you straight. Des has a no BS approach to her training and her interviews – there is no secret formula, athletes are just people, the trick, she says, is to keep showing up. Be consistent and it will add up to something great over time. She’s worked hard to build and improve her running craft. Does this not also sound like the story of the KBS over the years? A dark horse riding on the fringes, emerging into the mainstream victorious and strong.
Analogies aside, I would definitely share my last KBS with Des Linden in a heartbeat. She’s taught me perseverance, the value of being humble, and that the reward after a hard work day’s work of running is enjoying a beer or bourbon. Or a beer aged in bourbon. Also, that quote about “keep showing up” resounds in my head almost every day. It applies to running, it applies to life, and it definitely applies to the liquor store during KBS release week.
Joe O’Connell
Michigan
When I first read the question asking who I would share my last KBS with, I didn’t even have to think about it: I’d share my last KBS with my dad. KBS reminds me of my dad because he aged well (although he took a few more years to peak). In all seriousness, though, to have even another few seconds with my dad, I’d give anything. On October 4th of this year, I lost my dad. To share a KBS with him would make it even better because, not only is it my favorite beer, it takes a lot longer than a few seconds to finish one, which would mean more time with him. My dad also enjoyed KBS. Not quite as much as I do, but he certainly liked it a lot and he appreciated it as much for its complex flavor as he did for what I went through getting my hands on it.
Snagging a rare beer doesn’t hold a candle to what my dad went through raising me, though, along with his five other children. Much like Jeremy Kosmicki says about brewing KBS, I could be a pain in the ass, like when I crashed my sister’s car trying to do donuts in an icy parking lot I wasn’t supposed to be in in the first place. And as much as he might want to, my dad probably wouldn’t describe me that way because he wasn’t one to miss the forest for the trees. As any good parent would say, he’d say that the struggles are more than worth it and my dad never lost sight of his primary goal to raise his children to become fundamentally good people. Sure, he taught us to strive to do our best, to follow our dreams, and to generally maximize our potential, but none of that mattered to him if we weren’t fundamentally good people first.
I’ve had my own share of pains-in-the-ass, as well, with some of them being self-inflicted. One started about a year and a half prior to my dad’s passing when, on a whim, I decided that I wanted to build my dad’s casket. You see, a few years earlier, my dad had suffered an aortic dissection that nearly killed him. But thanks to the help and intuition of some wonderful doctors who saved his life, he stayed with us for five and a half more years. During that time, however, his health slowly declined and we all had to come to grips with the inevitable. Sometime well after my dad had accepted his situation, I asked him if I could build his casket. He was very touched and he gave me a heartfelt “yes”. The problem was that I had next to no woodworking experience. I had built garage shelving and workbenches, but nothing that needed to be perfect or pretty. But I figured, I’ve seen “This Old House”, so how hard could it be?
Well, as it turned out, ridiculously hard. Talk about biting off more than I could chew! From purchasing the wood and different tools along the way to watching countless YouTube videos, I made painstakingly slow progress over the next year. Making long, compound miter cuts, I found out, isn’t quite as easy as screwing a benchtop to a pair of wooden legs. To make matters worse, it got to the point one day when my dad’s health suddenly took a turn and we knew that he wouldn’t be with us for much longer. When I finally hit a dead end where I was just stuck and I had no idea how to proceed, I made a desperate plea for help by contacting the local woodworkers guild – an organization full of people who didn’t know me from Adam. But despite my being a stranger, a few guys there stepped up and volunteered their time and talents to bring me across the finish line. After countless hours of work, my dad’s casket was finally ready for him – three days before his funeral. Much like KBS, it was an unexpected success as it not only far exceeded my own expectations but those of others, as well. And while the result was beautiful, I didn’t fully appreciate how much it meant to my family – especially to my mom – until I saw their eyes well up with tears upon seeing it. They couldn’t believe how beautiful it had turned out, and neither could I. My only wish is that my dad had gotten the chance to see it. To help me – a complete stranger – in such a profound way will forever be one of the most touching acts of kindness that I have ever experienced, and I will be forever grateful.
That kind of giving – volunteering your time and talents – was at the core of who my dad was. Some of my most cherished memories of my dad are the many hours we spent doing volunteer work together at a YMCA camp up north. Not only were those experiences quality father-son bonding time, but through them my dad taught me the important life lesson of practicing what you preach. He taught me that talking a good game only counts when your actions are consistent with what you say. While my dad’s character was already clear to me, it was underscored at my dad’s wake by all of the kind words people had to say about him during the service. I felt overwhelmed by how closely they resembled the same feelings I’d always had about him because hearing it from other people outside of our family took it to a whole different level.
I can only hope that I come close to living up to the example that my dad set for me. So, given the opportunity, I’d jump at the chance to enjoy my last beer, of any kind, with my dad. To have my last KBS with my dad would be the icing on the cake.
Matthew Overman
Indiana
*I am not eligible to win.* Why then? Why “waste” time on a dreary Tuesday morning, with the day full ahead of me and the night too soon departed from my slumber… why do I write? Knowing these few soft words must go unrequited – gentle thoughts a whisper in the torrential winds of fervent hope by those deserving – soon departed, quickly forgotten. Why write poet, why?
Sitting slumped and silent over clicking keys and cooling coffee, this pallid poet pecks away a short refrain in the office of a loving shoppe of beer that keeps him from his prize. A small price to pay to pursue his passion. Then Why? Passion, of course.
A devotion, strong emotion – to the craft that keeps us. A love not only of the art, but the community and pride we share and share alike. Be it in a throng of revelers at events or a quite share between a few good friends. That shared passion – to the craft that keeps us. And it is that shared passion that answers your seemingly simple question. With a single bottle sitting between us, it is one of your own I would share it with. A man who’s passion exceeds even my own, and who has served you faithfully here in our little corner of the world.
I would tip my last six ounces, with shared smiles and glasses raised, to a friend named Adam Lepper. A gentle giant leprechaun who’s own passion for the Craft, the Community, and to Founders goes unrivaled. Like a pauper’s last penny in the collection plate willingly – with a man who may have more. I would toast happily with him, most deserving. So, forget me. Forget these few fallow words – worthless to your quest of ‘those deserving.’
But remember him. Who holds your call most hallow. And in these words he trusts. Not brewed for you… nor brewed for me. Forever #BrewedForUs.
Eric Oliver
Illinois
KBS is a yearly tradition for me. It’s the beer that pulled me into craft beer, and the one I seek out with drive and great enthusiasm. When March finally arrives and the warmth of spring inches closer, KBS brings a smile to my face and a general merriment to my release day. And if I had to pick a person I’d share my last KBS with, it would be the first beer-drinker I met in my life, my dad.
My dad, unfortunately, passed when I was 18, before I ever heard of Founders, much less KBS. A beer enthusiast, he was just starting to turn from ABI to craft beer when he received his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. He lived the last months of his life, making the most of it, and I believe those months were some of the most fundament in my life. Growing up in a Miller household, he was introduced to craft beer from the then independently-owned Goose Island. The flavor and quality of the beer drove him to want more, diving deep into styles, before he eventually found the richness and boldness of stouts.
I believe KBS’ distinct combination of chocolate, coffee and most importantly bourbon would’ve resonated with him, and if I only had one more KBS, I’d share a glass with him in a moment.
People say every negative life event has a silver lining and his passing is no different. My dad was born into a family of four. He has three brothers and a sister. His sister had six children. When he did pass, my cousins took me in to watch over me and ensure I go to college and do something I’d enjoy in life.
And college was where I found beer. Tips from Starbucks fueled my beer consumption. Starting with the old standby Keystone and moving on, my first craft beer is the pride of Wisconsin, Spotted Cow. I was never sold. I explored the space and tried a variety of brewers, but it wasn’t until my cousin told me about KBS that I was sold.
I had my first KBS in 2016. I waited outside Ray’s Liquor in Milwaukee in the freezing-cold with my best friend for the release. My first-time waiting for a beer I was woefully, underdressed and incredibly cold when they opened the doors. I purchased my four pack — shocked at the time of the price tag — then went up to the Growler Gallery where they had it on tap. That first sip was all I needed to justify the price tag. I still have a bottle from the first four-pack I ever purchased and to this day, I make the drive from Chicago and go up to Ray’s with that same friend for their annual release.
That’s why I’d share my last KBS with Dad, because although he isn’t here anymore, that time in my life brought me closer to my family, started an annual tradition with one of my best friends and made me a craft beer drinker for life. So if I had the opportunity to give him something that brings me joy, I’d do it with a glass clink.
Shawn Dardas
New Hampshire
I’d share my last KBS with my son, Karsten.
He is no longer with us. Do to unfortunate events, a situation which was out of my control, and the fact that he was an angel that God decided had a more important purpose above.
With all that being said, my last KBS would be with him. I am very passionate about my brews. Not so much a hobby more of a learning experience. I love great brews, I enjoy the time, and effort put into flavor profiles, I appreciate a “beautiful pour”. I’m a big nerd when it comes to the science of brewing. It’s not just about serving up the same old styles, it’s about adapting and moving forward, setting that bar higher with every release, never settling, what else can I say?… I LOVE IT! I love “Founders” for always taking it to the next level.
I would love to sit down with my son and have a glass of KBS. Share one of my passions with him. Every father wants to have a beer with his son. I’ve toasted his name and memory many times.
Thank you for your time, keep up the great work. I look forward to another amazing year of “Founders”
Van Linn
Florida
I would share my last KBS with my grandfather, Young Kilpatrick Lewis. He was a man I never met, but his legacy lives strong within me. He was a simple man from a simpler time. He was born from humble beginnings in a tiny rural county of Alabama known as Marengo County in the Blackbelt area. One of twelve children, he spent his early years farming cotton and corn in the black soil of southwest Alabama. Little did he know what lasting impressions he would one day leave upon me. His work ethic. His servants heart. His foresight into planning for the future. His love for others no matter who they were.
Daddy Young, as he was often called, served in the army in Europe during World War I. I have often thought how I would love to hear his stories of his time spent there. It must have been life changing to leave a rural farming community and serve so far away. I have often wondered if seeing war might have changed him. Did it cause him to live with a heart of gratitude? I would ask him that if I could. After the war, he came back to Marengo County, Alabama and served the people of the community as a tax assessor. While Daddy Young continued his farming and growing timber, he also became a merchant and part owner of W.S. Lewis and Brothers store and worked at Linden Warehouse and Gin Company until his death.
He passed away 12 years before I was born. As a child I remember family members telling me stories about Daddy Young. He truly became larger than life for me, but the one thing that has always stuck with me is how he lived his life selflessly. He would give of his time and money to those less fortunate. As a child stories would abound at family gatherings about how Daddy Young cared for others. One instance told often was when he took in a young orphan named Charlie. He adopted Charlie as one of his own and paid his way through college. I knew Charlie. Charlie loved Daddy Young like a father. He often remarked how just one person can change the direction of a life and Daddy Young was that one person who changed his. Even though I never had the privilege of meeting my grandfather, his legacy lives on within me today. If I could, I would sit by a fire pit with Daddy Young, because that just seems like something he would enjoy doing. I would pass him a bottle of KBS and thank him for the legacy that he has left behind. I would say that in some small measure I hope to leave an impression for future generations. An impression of gratitude, service, hard work, but most of all giving back and leaving something for future generations to share in.
Tim Herrernan
Indiana
I’d share my last KBS with my wife Laura because we have shared the Founders experience together. As dedicated and discerning IPA drinkers a decade ago we were moving from one go-to IPA to another. We had been drinking Bells Two Hearted for about year as the one beer always in our fridge. Until we tried Centennial. It immediately took over that position as out go to IPA. But that was only the beginning of our Founders journey. Reds Rye became a staple in our home. Shortly thereafter we tasted Breakfast Stout and this opened out eyes to how much flavor a beer could present. With three favorites from one brewery, we began trying more Founders beers. it took a while before we tasted KBS and it took a little time before we fully appreciated this masterpiece, 2015 fully immersed us in the Founders experience. Dark Penance blew us away, followed by Blushing Monk. We were late to board the Dirty Bastard train and came to it in reverse. At a KBS tapping event the local Founders Rep was drinking a Backwoods Bastard. So we asked for a taste and were knocked out by the rich flavor. Now we had to try every new release of a style we liked. And we awaited each new barrel aged release. Now our fridge is full of Founders beers. CBS, Backwoods, DKML, Centennial, All Day, Dirty Bastard, Rubaeus, Better Half and I’m sure I’m forgetting one or two. We drink beers from other craft breweries, but Founders is more than just our favorite brewery. It has been something that my wife and I have shared from that first Centennial. So how could I share my last KBS with anyone but my loving wife.
Ryan McManus
Pennsylvania
If my days were numbered I would reserve many “lasts” for the people who mean the most to me; my wife, my daughters, my parents, my brothers, my family, and friends, but my last KBS would honestly be with Mike Stevens, Dave Engbers, and “The Amazing” Jeremy Kosmicki. I also wouldn’t mind having some of my closest craft beer friends there but the reason I’d insist we include the boys from Founders is so I could cheers these fine gentlemen one last time and thank them for introducing me to craft beer, creating my favorite brewery, and brewing my favorite beer, KBS!! My name is Ryan, I am a HUGE Founders fan and here is my Founders Story.
THE BEER: The first time I tried craft beer I was at a work happy hour in 2008 and I remember thinking “this is a professional outing, I can’t default to my normal 10 pints of Miller Lite, I’m only gonna have two beers so I have to make them count”. I scanned the beer list ABV column and the haphazard selection I made would change the way I viewed beer forever…..It was a Backwoods Bastard, it was so different and so delicious!! I remember thinking “what the XXXX is this”. I loved it and I went back to that bar 3 days a week for 3 weeks until the Backwoods was gone. It wasn’t long before I was introduced to Breakfast Stout and it wasn’t long after that until I heard of the infamous and, at that time, untouchable KBS. I would then spend about a year dreaming of this beer, that I imagined to be the perfect blend of Backwoods and Breakfast Stout, until I had my first opportunity to try it. I finally found a tapping in 2010 about an hour from my house and after waiting for another hour about 3 rows back from the bar, I was served one KBS and one Breakfast Stout and KBS has been my favorite beer ever since. In the 4 years that followed, I became somewhat obsessed with KBS, Founders beer, and the Founders story. In late 2014, a friend told me about KBS Week and after some research, I started planning a guy’s trip to check it out. Back in 2014, KBS was still extremely difficult to get in the Philadelphia area so I was excited to have guaranteed access to at least a few pours a night.
THE BREWERY: In March 2015, two friends and I woke up on a Thursday morning at 5am, drove 11 hours from Philadelphia to Grand Rapids, and arrived at the first tapping about an hour early. When the bartender heard our story she thought we were nuts and promised us two pours each, which in itself made the entire trip worth it. During that first trip, I met Dave, Mike, and Jeremy, all of who were celebrity status in my mind, and I was instantly taken back by the amount or time they spent talking with us and how grateful they were that we traveled to GR for KBS Week. During that first trip we definitely drank our fair share of KBS and CBS (which we were ecstatic to learn was on tap at the Founder’s taproom). The accessibility to these beers made us giddy but what we took from that first trip was more than just the beer, the cool bars, and the great food, we really fell in love with the city, the people, and the entire Founder’s experience. We’ve since traveled to Grand Rapids four additional times, the last three KBS Weeks and in October-17 for the 20 year anniversary party. It’s like Dave always says, beer brings people together and our trips out to Founders couldn’t have been better examples of that. Throughout these trips, we’ve had countless laughs, we’ve enjoyed the company of countless locals, and have gotten the opportunity to get to know Mike, Dave, and many other members of the Founder’s family. The Founder’s story genuinely resonates with me simply based on the desire to be who I want to be, no compromises, no excuses.
THE PEOPLE: Throughout my five trips to Grand Rapids, the occasional email or text, the YouTube videos, and yes, I’ll admit, maybe a google search here or there, I feel like I’ve gotten to know Dave and Mike and while they don’t know me that well, I consider them friends as that’s the way they’ve always treated me. Despite their success and the crowds of fans just trying to steal a moment of their time, they’ve always taken the time to shoot the shit and answer my endless questions about Founders. It’s a story that I can relate to about two guys who faced adversity, worked hard, stayed true to who they were, and eventually found success. I’ve also enjoyed picking the brain of Jeremy, who’s story is equally as intriguing to me as he started as a dishwasher and eventually became Founder’s Brewmaster. It’s these times and stories that drove me to pick these guys to share my last KBS with.
As I mentioned before, Founder’s introduced me to craft beer and I’ve had a blast sharing craft beers with others. Whether it’s a tasting with friends, or just enjoying an All Day outback watching the kids in the pool, craft beer often brings us together, usually triggers some interesting conversation, and always generated tons of laughs and good times. In closing, having the opportunity to again travel to Founders and be able to brew KBS and finally see the caves I’ve read so much about, would be a once in a life time dream come true for me. I love craft beer, I love Founders, I love KBS. Thank you for reading this and regardless of the outcome, keep doing what you’re doing. – Ryan from Philly
Sherry Curry
Michigan
The answer to this question required almost no thought on my part. There is no doubt in my mind, that I would share my last KBS with my big brother, Mike. There are a multitude of reasons that he would be my one and only choice for that honor.
You see, I am a craft beer girl, and KBS is my favorite.
I was born into your typical Southeast Michigan family. My dad drove a truck for Chrysler, and my mom was a housewife. They had 3 sons. Their family seemed complete. And then 8 years after their youngest son was born, they got a big surprise. Me. It came as quite a shock to everyone. The youngest son was pretty jealous. After all, he had been the baby of the family for 8 years. The middle son was mad. He was 12, and wanted nothing to do with another baby. But the oldest son? He was 14. And he loved his little sister from day one. And boy, did I love him. Mike was my big brother. My hero. I followed him around like a puppy, and he never seemed to mind. We were inseparable. But then everything changed. Mike graduated from high school, and decided that higher education was not his road. He joined the United States Air Force at the age of 19. He went off to serve our country when I was 5 years old. I was too young to understand the honor in his choice. All I knew, was that he was gone, and I missed him terribly.
Mike was stationed in California. He came home to visit when he could. He even had his motorcycle shipped home one time, and he took me for rides around the neighborhood! He told us about his adventures in the Air Force. But mostly he talked of his love for that part of the country. We went out to visit him when I was 8, and it was clear that he had made his life out there. He eventually finished his time in the Air Force, and got a job and settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
As I said earlier, I am a craft beer girl. This did not come by me naturally. My dad liked his beer. Blatz. Schlitz. I remember tasting his beer and thinking “Yuck!” As I got to be a teenager, I didn’t mind the taste of beer, but it wasn’t my favorite. Then Mike came home for a visit, and changed my mind. He brought home a case of beer from out west that I had never tried. Coors. I thought it was pretty good! Not long after that, he came for a visit with another beer I had never tried, or even heard of. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I thought it was nasty! Bitter! I remember Mike telling me, “This is the good stuff. This is what you should be drinking. This is craft beer.”
Through the years on Mike’s visits home, he continued to teach me about craft beer. He taught me about the different profiles and styles. I have to admit, that it would be years before I developed a palate for IPA’s. I liked ambers and reds. Malty beers. We discovered that we both shared a love for stouts as well. We bonded over beer, through the miles and the years.
In 1990, I got engaged. The wedding was planned for October 1991. I hoped that my big brother would be able to make it home for the wedding, but his work obligations made it look unlikely. Then tragedy occurred in our family. Our dad had been sick with cancer for several years. We were hoping he would make it through the year, and make it to the wedding. In January of 1991, just days before my 25th birthday, he passed away, quietly, while I was saying my goodbyes over the phone to him. It was the saddest day of my life.
About a week later, the thought occurred to me, “Who is going to walk me down the aisle at my wedding?” My dad could never be replaced, but in my mind there was one clear choice for that honor. I called my big brother Mike, out in New Mexico and asked if he would be the one to walk me down the aisle. He didn’t hesitate to say “Of course”.
Mike has been a constant source of support in my life. And the man taught me everything I know about beer! I started attending Michigan Brewers Guild festivals in my 30’s, and I would call Mike and talk about all the beers that we loved. 9 years ago, I tried a beer at the Detroit Fall Beer Festival that rocked my world. KBS. That first sip started a love affair. I sought it out, stood in lines, and bought tickets to try to get another sip whenever I could. My love of craft beer blossomed into a career with the Michigan Brewers Guild in 2014. I have tried thousands of beers over the years, but KBS remains my favorite. A few years ago, Mike discovered a few Founders beers in New Mexico. I told him, “If you ever see KBS, grab it. You will love it!”
Both of my big brothers are craft beer enthusiasts, and they were super proud of their little sister when she got a job in the industry. 2 years ago, they surprised me, and Mike came home for the Detroit Fall Beer Festival. It was there, that I gave him his first sip of KBS. And I was right! Just like me, it was love at first sip! I was so proud to have come full circle, after he taught me everything I know, and to be able to teach him about a wonderful beer!
So now you see, there is no other choice in the world as to who I would share my last KBS with!
Jeff Polk
Kentucky
I would share my last KBS with my father. He wasn’t one to drink very often, but he would occasionally have a beer or a small glass of bourbon with a splash of water. He was a hardworking man who was up every morning by 5 AM so he could get to work by 6. He never missed a day of work and never complained about it. He loved his family more than anything and was proud to provide for us. He had married my mom when they were both young, (only 20), and they had been married for over 25 years when my mom died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. I was only 10 years old at the time. My dad never remarried, never even dated again. He said he didn’t want to, my mom was his one and only love. Instead he dedicated his life to raising his 3 kids, (myself as well as my older brother and sister). He knew he wouldn’t be around forever, so he taught us how to care for ourselves and showed us how to do everything he knew how to do. He instilled in us a sense of determination to work our hardest to get the job done, pride in what we have accomplished, and the selflessness to care for those around us.
I always loved my dad and respected the hell out of him for the sacrifices he made to raise us kids. But nonetheless, I went through a rebellious teen phase that led well into my twenties. At the time I was still living at home because I had foolishly decided to skip out on a college education. I was really only concerned with keeping myself entertained in the moment rather than my future. So I had a job, but it didn’t pay enough for me to afford my own place. During that time I didn’t really communicate with my father much. We didn’t really have much in common other than a love of sports, particularly basketball and football. It was in my early twenties when I discovered craft beer. And it is among some of my fondest memories sharing some of these amazing different beers I was discovering for the first time with my dad while watching basketball and football on tv together. And he was discovering craft beer with me, him having been an American lager drinker his whole life. It gave us that common ground to talk to each other. To have something to discuss and bond over. Moments that at the time I definitely took for granted.
It wasn’t long after we began discovering craft beer that my dad was diagnosed with melanoma. They were able to treat it initially, even declaring him cancer free at one point, and he was doing great for a short period of time. But then came the stroke. While recovering from the stroke they found that the cancer was not only back, but had spread throughout his body. Given his age, (he had just turned 65), and the severity of the cancer, ultimately there wasn’t much that could be done. He had the option of chemotherapy, but at best that would have bought him a few months. So he decided not to pursue it, that it was time for him to go be with my mom. And within a week, he was gone.
A year later I met my wife and my life completely turned around. I now have 2 kids of my own, a successful career, and a home of my own. At the time I didn’t realize it, but as a father now myself I am seeing all of the amazing life lessons my dad taught me. And I am working to teach my children these lessons and instill in them the values that my dad taught me.
So given the option, I would definitely share my last KBS with my dad. Hell, I would share all of them with him! Any additional time I could have had bonded with him would have been well worth it. KBS is not one of the beers we were able to share during his lifetime, I’m not even sure if you all were making it back then and I don’t think Founders was distributing in Kentucky at that time. But being a craft beer and a bourbon fan, I’m certain he would have loved it. Even though he taught me a lot, there are still a million more questions I wish I would have asked him. Perhaps if we would have had a slow sipper like KBS, it would have bought me a little more time with him to ask them.
Over the past few years I’ve managed to bond with my older brother over craft beer as well! I’ve always had love for my brother and have always looked up to him, (and still do). However, like my dad, we lost common ground over the years. A few years ago he was introduced into the world of craft beer and woken from his Bud Lite induced haze. Now he and I have reconnected over our love of craft beer and enjoy going to breweries, craft beer bars, and yes watching basketball and football on tv together while enjoying a few good beers. I’m proud to call him my best friend now. And while it’s unfortunately impossible to share my last KBS with my dad, I have shared several KBS’ with my brother, including the last one I had as of this writing. And should I win this contest, he is most certainly the person I will ask to come with me.
My older sister? Not so much a beer fan, but I’m still working on her!
Michael Hall
Illinois
I would share my last KBS with my mom. Sadly, my mom passed away on February 1st, 2018. She was only fifty seven and passed away unexpectedly. My mom loved Founders and even traveled from Arizona to attend the Black Party. I was fortunate enough to share a bottle of CBS with my mom last Christmas. That was the last beer that we shared together and it was amazing. When she tasted the CBS, she finally understood what I had been raving about CBS for two years!
My mom left our family beautiful memories and her love is our continual guide. She will always be with each of us. While enjoying my last KBS, with my mom, I would ask her questions we never had a chance to discuss. I would ask her how to be a good husband, how to raise my kids the right way, how she managed to love others (even when they were difficult), how to be selfless, and her secrets to living a full life. I would also ask how she made those amazing Christmas cookies that no one in the family has been able to replicate.
Troy VandenBosch
Michigan
Easy answer. I’d share my last KBS with my best friend, Jerame.
I met Jerame 16 years ago in college when I joined his business fraternity. The guy just draws you in with his personality and sure enough after all these years later, he’s still got me hooked.
Let me tell you about Jerame. Not only is he a good friend to me, but to everyone in his life. He’s a great dad to his three little girls. He’s a great husband who loves his wife. He has a very successful career because he cares about his customers. He also happens to be fun as hell, and a guy you just want to drink beer with. Oh, and he’s also the one who introduced me to KBS.
Long story short, this guy is my idol, which is kind of funny given he’s less than a year older than me. We don’t get to see each other as much as we’d like since we’re not neighbors, and we both live busy lives with our careers and families of three children each. But when we do get together, we drink beer and talk – really talk. We talk about our families, our goals, our fears. He inspires me to be a better me.
It’s definitely one of the simpler things in life, but sharing a beer with Jerame is right up there for me. So if I had to share my last KBS with anyone, it would be with him.
Justin Cuevas
Arizona
I would share my last KBS with Jeremy W. Burris. We served in the US Marine Corps together and he was Infantry while I was the mechanic attached to his company. He had a laughter that was contagious and guitar skills that eased our minds after long patrols in Iraq. I had trained him and others how to repair and drive our heavy equipment while they shared their Infantry knowledge. On our last week in Iraq, we had to train incoming units on the area of operations. I was tasked with driving the lead vehicle of the high value convoy. Plans changed, as they do often, I was tasked to stay behind instead of drive. Jeremy volunteered to take my vehicle even though it was his off day, we joked and laughed about the “new” guys and what to expect. We hugged and told me to have his guitar ready for him when he got back. Unfortunately, an hour after they left, we got the call that the convoy struck an IED. He was killed after stepping on a secondary after exiting the vehicle, the passengers were ejected. I was sent out on the recovery mission and will never forget his sacrifice or laughter. The compound was never the same after that.
John Long
Michigan
If I had to choose someone to share my last KBS with, it would be my cousin, Luke.
Luke and I grew up together and have been close since we were born. We’re related through our moms being sisters and my mom used to drop me off at his house during the summer so my aunt and uncle used to watch us. The lucky thing was that it wasn’t just us, it was a group of 5 of us all hanging out and group up together. My sister, Shannon, and my cousins, Tyler, Luke, and Jake. We were all best friends and nearly inseparable.
In elementary school, Luke and I were diagnosed with Dyslexia around the same time. We both struggled with school and we both began to fall behind the learning curve. We became closer overtime when we start going to the same tutor for over 8 years and we were able to help each other out along the way. It was a struggle be we always had the other to rely on if we felt lost.
During High School, we saw less of each other but I went over to Luke’s house every so often because his brother, Jake, was in my grade. We would still hang out and talk every now and then but school and sports were getting in the way.
College brought the same trend. Luke decided that after a year of college that it wasn’t for him and started to pursue a career in the trades industry, while I stayed in college.
In 2014, Luke turned 21 and both of our families took a trip down to Myrtle Beach. It was there that Luke and I sat down and reconnected. We talked about where our lives were heading, where we hoped to end up, and what’s been going on in our lives. It was here that Luke told me his new obsession, Craft Beer. He told me he liked a nice IPA but was trying a ton of different styles. He also shared that his boss shared with him one of his home brews, which was an IPA. It was a few months before my 21 birthday and I told him we have to go to some local breweries and also get a home brew kit so we can make our own. We both agreed that this had to happen and we made plans to ensure it.
We saw each other at a family members wedding the next month and reconfirmed our plans and talked about how everything was going. Luke told me he tried a stout and was a huge fan of it and was hoping to get his hands on a barrel aged stout to try. I told him that I was counting down the days till I was 21 so I could join him in trying all these beers.
This was the last time I saw Luke.
Luke was involved in a fatal car accident on the morning of September 28th, 2014. In a second, mine, my sisters, Luke’s brothers, our whole family, were put into a whirlwind of grief and at a loss for words. The following days were a blur. We all felt lost, with no sense of how to handle the situation, let alone how to cope. It took a long time to get back to what felt like normal, even though we couldn’t really get back to things being normal.
I still feel the lose, even today. It hits me weird times and I catch myself always giving a toast to Luke ever time I try a new beer, because I know if he was still here, he’d be right next to me, trying a beer with me.
The picture attached was the cousins that grew up together, the last picture of all of us together. From left to right, it’s Me, Luke, Shannon, Jake, and Tyler.
So when you ask me who I’d share my last KBS with, It’d be Luke. But instead of just KBS, would it be OK if I shared a flight instead? The one I never got to share with Luke.
Mark Curtis
Michigan
My brother Tim would absolutely be the person I would share my last KBS with. Tim, unfortunately isn’t with us anymore, as he passed away from brain cancer in September of 2002, well before the craft beer scene developed into what it is today. My brother was nearly 16 years older than I am, and I pretty much grew up in his shadow, as opposed to my father. I wanted to be just like my big brother. He had a passion for Architecture, so I did, too. He liked hard rock music so I did, too. He also let me sneak a beer here and there while I was growing up.
Tim graduated from Lawerence Tech with a B.A. in Architecture. But, because it was so hard to get a good job with an architecture firm, he need to be able to support himself. So he leaned back on his experience in high school as a Jr. ROTC cadet. Tim enlisted and spent close to 6 years in the U.S. Army during peace time, mostly as an M.P. (Military Police) guarding nuclear weapons, and later took on a different MOS (military occupational specialty) doing graphic design and sign making. He was stationed in Germany and absolutely loved traveling to all the different breweries, trying everything that he could get his hands on. It wasn’t until I moved here (Grand Rapids) with my family from the Detroit, in 2001 before I even knew or had an affinity for craft beer. I know for a fact that my brother would share my passion for craft beer, especially bourbon barrel aged stouts as Tim liked his whiskey/bourbon. Even after his time in the service, Tim did a lot to support me in my endeavors, and I wouldn’t be the man I am today with him.
My stepson, Joshua, who is now 26, was raised by me (and my wife) to understand and appreciate the finer points of craft beer, and when he turned 21, insisted we have his birthday party at Founders, because it is his favorite place to go, and loves himself some Dirty Bastard! He also decided to join the Michigan Army National Guard to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather Jim, and Step-Uncle Tim. In fact, if we are fortunate enough to get picked to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity, I would bring my stepson with me as my guest. Which would be amazing, because he’ll be deploying for the first time a few month afterwards, and this would be a great memory for us to share. Either way, Josh and I will travel to Ft. Custer National Cemetery to share a KBS at Tim’s gravesite and toast to his memory before he heads off for deployment.
Corey Charland
Michigan
I’ve gone through a lot of changes over the past couple years. I married my beautiful wife Jessica, graduated from Wayne State, and bought my first home. I’m also currently waiting on my first child to enter this world in the beginning of March. One last event that ties deeply to this contest also happened recently. The passing of my grandfather, Gordon “Gordy” Uhl.
Over the years since its release I have carried with me a final bottle of 2015 KBS which happened to be the very first bottle I decided to attempt to age. Staring at it from time to time I’ve always convinced myself that it wasn’t the opportune moment to enjoy it and that I’d know when the moment was right. For some reason I have never been able to bring myself to open that KBS as its presence in my life has turned somewhat sentimental. Truth be told, I’m not even sure if it’s still good to be drank but I carry it regardless. I haven’t really ever decided when I will drink it or even if I ever will. But one things for certain. If I had one last afternoon with Gordy, that 2015 KBS bottle would be opened without hesitation.
Gordy bottled his own wine, enjoyed vodka on the rocks, and attempted an occasional stab at a craft beer. He was a man of few words but was always wise when he spoke. He was someone that people gravitated to, the patriarch of our family that displayed an unwavering genuine acceptance of us all as we all were. This was always a quality that inspired me about him and something I still try to think about to remind me of the good that there is in this world. When it came to seeing Gordy, who also lived with my aunt and uncle, I would always make sure that my arrivals were unannounced. I would enter his house with whatever 6 pack I decided to bring at the time. He would always be in his recliner watching TV as I turned the corner that led to his living room with a deliberately loud approach done as to not startle him. “COR!” he would belt as I finally grabbed his attention. It always made me smile to hear that loud proclamation of my name in surprise and excitement. We would then catch up about events that happened through the time that past since our last meeting and if I was ever absent minded enough to not bring my own beer, he made sure to have a couple cold ones waiting in his fridge just for me. I always saw his interest in Founders and other Michigan beers I brought over as an opportunity to turn him into full-fledged fan. There were times I really thought I would be able to get him hooked. Now thinking back I sometimes wonder if he was just fanning my flame as the passion for craft beer I displayed was all to apparent. Either way, those moments are now timeless memories and will travel with me forever.
To me, a bottle such as my 2015 KBS encapsulates far more than just delicious liquid. It holds in stories, feelings of nostalgia, highs and lows, just because’s, a way to recall memories and a way to forget. I would love to meet the people of Founders and aid in the brewing of KBS with Jeremy Kosmicki in honor and remembrance of Gordy. Founders may be “Brewed for Us”, but let’s make this batch “Brewed for Him”.
Tom Huber
Michigan
Robert Behrens is no doubt the person with whom I would share my last KBS. Don’t tell my other friends and family! However, Robert is the most deserving person because he introduced me to craft beer, dark beer and brewing beer. He is my yoda and the reason I have shelves of beer aging in my basement.
I met Robert during each of our first years as high school teachers at an alternative high school. He is passionate about education, special needs students, soccer, backpacking and beer. I found that last part out rather quickly when he slowly worked my preferences away from Blue Lights towards Founders products. I soon realized Founders Porter would be my favorite go-to beer for any time and any place. From there, Robert introduced me to Founders Imperial Stout; we shared the last of a cellared vertical of this recently thinking it could be last of its kind we would get to enjoy. (Side note, glad it’s back on calendar for 2019.) It is easily the most underrated beer on the planet.
Then, magic happened one day many years ago on the back deck of my house when Robert and his family came over for a BBQ. He brought out a beer I had never heard of until that moment. All the label said was KBS, and all he said was “You have to try this now. You are ready.” That evening, I experienced the greatest beer I had tasted (only surpassed by my first CBS on draft in 2017). KBS became the beer I had to have every year. I have made the pilgrimage to the brewery for KBS Day every year since and go out of my way to get as many as I can each release. I put my family and friends on lookout as well. And I always find time to share one with Robert.
He also brews his own beer and had me assist on an occasion which is great fun. We would do it more often if not for busy lives. Being able to brew KBS with him would be a small step to repaying him developing my beer tastes and introducing me to the best beer made every year. I would be honored to bring Robert with me on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If there was only one bottle of KBS left, he would deserve at least half of it. Thank you for your consideration.
Cheers to our two winners and thanks again to all who submitted! Stay tuned for future Trip to the Mothership contests.
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