Founders Backwoods Bastard

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

8.7% abv bottle by way of bgburdman9... pours a slightly hazed reddish brown with a cafe au lait head. small webs of lacing are left on the retreat. smells like brown sugar sweetened bourbon... oak, toffee, bitter and a mild sourness. moderate sweetness on the palate. the bourbon element is not hot at all, more of the pure flavor mixed with milk chocolate, caramel, golden raisins, soft vanilla oakiness, spice and a bit of alcohol (from the beer not the bourbon) on the finish. the medium body leaves a bit of stickiness on the lips but a rather watery mouth feel.

Crimson red edges surround a brown center. A small cashew-colored head sits on top of the beer but leaves little lacing in its wake. Nice syrupy nose with hints of molasses, caramel, vanilla and oak. Flavor includes both raisin and fig, along with toffee and alcohol. Not a bad beer but not on par with some of their other offerings.

i do not get it, to me this is really not beer, an ale, a scotch ale even like it. it is bourbon (really tasting more like cognac) and seltzer or something of the like. the usual comments regarding beer flavor just do not apply here as the aformentioned flavor completely takes charge. perhaps a bit clever but overall a redundant drink as cognac has been invented already. smooth and buttery with a touch of vanilla. over the top alcohol and acidy eehhh.

12 oz bottle. Pours a murky ruby brown coor with a creamy khaki colored head. Nose of vanilla, butter cream, bourbon, caramel and dark fruits. Mouthfeel is soft and velvety. Initial taste of vanilla and bourbon which dominate the mouth. Mid palate of caramel and nuts. Finishing with continuing bourbon, strong oakiness warming alcohol, and balancing bitter hops. Although the flavor was not very complex it was well rounded and robust making it very enjoyable. Palate duration is above average. Medium body. Good head retention and spot lacing of the glass.

Bottle: Dark mahogany pour with no head. Strong caramel malts, vanilla, oak/bourbon nose...some dark fruity esters. Medium-light body with a slight creaminess on the finish...flavors of dark malts, caramel, light brown sugar and a very mild, sweet bourbon oak tone. Pretty good.

Bottle sampled with Mad_indian. Pours copper/brown with a small off-white head. Aroma of bourbon and roasted malts. the flavor is sweet, vanilla, oak, bourbon, and a nice alcohol burn to boot.

Bottle. Bourbon, you say? Really? You don’t say. There is some scotch ale here, sure, and though the bourbon is dominant its not gross or overwhelming. But this beer is all whiskey. It works fairly well, and is surprisingly drinkable. It has a nice malt body as well. But I could do with less bourbon.

12 oz bottle courtesy of kmweaver. Pours a dark red brown with a small off-white head that holds at 1/4 inch. The aroma is rich with roasted malts, peat and whiskey. The flavor is loaded with more bourbon whiskey notes, with lightly toasted malts, vanilla and butter rounding out the sides. The mouthfeel was smooth and creamy. The finish is long and buttery with linger biter walnuts. Overall: A very bold bourbon flavored concoction, I love it.