Founders Backwoods Bastard

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Pours a dark, clear brown with orange tints, small head. Aroma smells excellent; notes of bourbon, maple syrup, peat, honey, caramel, molasses, smoke, and some cashew and almond. Flavor isn’t as aggressively sweet as I would have expected from the aroma. Notes of whiskey, wood, peat, smoke, caramel, and molassses are still prevalent, however. Palate is a bit disappointing; would have liked something more rich and silky sweet, but still not bad; the finish is somewhat of a redemption in that category. Still a damn tasty brew.

Bottle - Pours deep brown with a huge rosy tan head that’s gone right away. Smells is graham crackers, butterscotch, and nice, sweet booze. Taste is caramelly sweetness with butterscotch and a nice boozy touch. Bitter finish--smooth and malty. Big and chewy with nice boozy warmth. It’s not bourbon-forward like I was expecting, but that’s okay. It’s also not terribly complex, but a nice dessert beer that is pleasant to sip on for a half hour or so.

Bottle 355 ml
Appearance: pours as amber brown brew with mid plus creamy , slightly tanned top. Good lace presented.
Nose: Creamy wrap on oak aged brew , quiet caskey.
Flavor/Palate : mid , full bodied. Oak wood of barrel never lets you forget its presence, soft texture mellows things out. Alcohol is actually quiet dry here and considering other elements this is a good thing. Walls are laced with chewy caramel. Interesting blend.

What a fine scotch ale this is! Pours a deep, muddy reddish brown with a thin cream-colored head. Aroma is pungent, and has a strong french oak tone, much like Glenlivet 15. Vanilla and caramel sweetness also climb up your nostrils. By this point, your tongue is well-prepared for the strong flavors of oak and whisky, and that powerful caramel malt sweetness that balances the alcohol. Semi-creamy mouthfeel, just light enough to welcome the next sip. Potent flavors and double-digit ABV don’t overwhelm, as they’re somehow smoothed by other components. Simply fantastic - better than Breakfast Stout, and right up there with CBS as my favorite offering from Founders.

Pours dark brown with a thick off-white head that settles quickly. Aroma is of bourbon. Taste is great strong tast of bourbon but not over whelming. Warms as it goes down. Usually you give up some taste with a 10.2% ABV but not with this one. Very unique flavor. Quite tasty. Highly recommend.

The most unique Ale I have tasted to date. For the Bourbon lover in all of us. Would rate higher if it had a bigger, longer lasting head, but makes up with a long after taste. Would like to do a blind tasting with a real bourbon and see that happens!

Pours cloudy dark brown/ruby with almost no head. Strong scotch aroma, the alcohol is noticeable, also notes of caramel and spice. Nice smooth and full bodied palate, with a little bit of stickiness that helps the flavor linger. The scotch flavor sticks out the most, and you can taste a little bit of smoke from the bourbon barrels. The finish has a bit of the sweet caramel and some earthy spices. Excellent beer.

Woodsy deep brown in the glass, with a disappearing head. Aromas of bourbon, oak, vanilla, and cherry. Long, lush palate really shows off the bourbon flavors without indicating too much alcohol. Slightly sweet at first, then a slight alcohol burn at the finish, but bright flavors throughout of oak, charcoal, cherry, white chocolate and leaves.