Founders Bourbon Imperial Stout

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

On tap at the brewery. Opaque black with burnt brown head. Big bourbon aroma with roasted malt, big sweet chocolate, vanilla, only a minimal amount cherry, really brings you in. Flavor is upfront espresso, bourbon, dry chocolate and roasted malt, light vanilla and alc, but not hot, barrel forward but balanced at the same time. Medium body with light carb and some creamy. Really tasty, well balanced as it warmed up it had a little tootsie roll. Spot on guys!!

On tap at 8th annual black party. Huge over the top aroma jumps straight out of the glass, i was so excited to try this i forgot to tell the bartender my mug number. Huge sticky malt taste that clings to your glass, tongue and throat. A lot of different varying flavors of bourbon, chocolate, and coffee. I thought the palate was more cream and less sticky burning malts, could be from the espresso that was used. Very nicely done, another great one from Founders!

On tap at the Founders Black Party. Only ended up having one of these, too much beer, too little time. Pours very dark. Smells and tastes malty, and the higher alcohol is actually covered up quite nicely.

The best aroma of the entire Black Party. Literally ,just stuck my nose in and out of the glass for almost 5 minutes, the absolute perfect bourbon and malt aroma, full rich wood,vanilla,and excellent whiskey,blended with chocolate brownie ,with gooey frosting,taste smooth as chocolate and bourbon,this is what Greg Hall at Goose Island must have envisioned when he started this craze. An excellent barrel,with a great Imp Stout,aged for the perfect amount of time. Purer then the KBS because it laced the coffee distraction. One of the highlights of my year,worth alone the trip to Grand Rapids

I think this is the right beer. It was on the board at Founder’s as the Imperial Bourbon Barrel Stout so we’ll go with this. Strong bourbon aromas, dark and malty flavors, very little alcohol was noticable. Fairly light on the palate. Rich and well balanced.

This Imperial Stout pours a deep black color. Medium to small sized tan foamy head. The aroma is roasted malt, chocolate, vanilla and a hint of bourbon. Medium bodied Imperial Stout. The malts are chocolate, coffee and roasted malts with a hint of bourbon and oak. The hops are earthy. Very smooth taste. Nice balance. Hides the alcohol very well. Hints of vanilla and oak. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Penetrable ebony. Tan ring of head is well retained. Smoky java, dark chocolate, burnt butter toffee, toasted coconut, and metallic char assault the nostrils. Hints of chocolate mousse. Minimal fruitiness. Softly carbonated. Body carries a medium-weight slickness. Initially firmly roasty and minerally with a silken mousselike texture which softens the intensity of the brisk and snappy char. Well integrated. Barrel derivatives generate a tight clasp of tannins as well as inklings of caramelized sugars which echo the exceptionally bright, oily and explosive java inundation. Ashen char complements the gentle brush of oak. Much more coconut than vanilla. Whispers of nutty-malt blossom at room temperature and manage to withstand the nearly overbearing char. Forceful roastiness produces a wet-wool effect which is then cradled by a touch of oiliness and fruitiness. Malt-derived acidity imparts much-needed depth while keeping the roast and java intensity at bay. Finishes with succulent notes of smoky and earthy java and plums interlaced with burnt toffee and a dusting of oak and tannins. Coffee and toffee linger for what seems like an eternity. Well-structured, overall, but pretty straightforward. With, perhaps, the exception of the artfully integrated java, this doesn’t happen to be overly characterful or interesting. Pretty good. Hand-bottled by cquiroga. Cheers friend!

Date: 11/29/2006
Mode: Hand Bottled
Source: Tasting

Appearance: black, wispy tan head,
Aroma: strong roasted malt aroma that morphs into a note of sweet bourbon,
Body: creamy body,
Flavor: flavor has a lots of vanilla sweetness, nice roasted character, well blended bourbon with the roasted,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.9/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4