Founders Bourbon Imperial Stout

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

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

Pours a dark brown with a small spare tan head. Aroma of bourbon, oak, lightly smoke sausage, and vanilla extract. Flavor of roastiness, malt, cocoa, and bourbon with a dry finish.

Ypsilanti sample. Pitch black pour, elevating a foamy tan head that lasts surprisingly well. Beany, fennel reminiscent roasty and vegetal nose offers a lot to think on. Light yet sufficient carbonation, full bodied, well done in that regard as barrel-aged impies tend to be pretty thinned out. Pleasant and obviously well brewed, yet frankly, I’d rather have the regular imperial stout. This tastes pretty much as the commercial description puts it, in other words, I don’t see what sets it apart from another bourbon impy, oily and sweet with great doses of hampering roastiness, ponctuated by woody vanilla suggestions. While the malt appears well extracted, but coffee imparts a rather raw vegetal feel and and at the same time enhances the cheap alcohol feel which is really too bad as the "barreling" was not overdone.

On tap at the 2005 Great Taste of the Midwest: Pours a rich opaque black with a dark tan/light brown head. Aroma is rich and bourbony with dry roasty, sweet dark chocolate. Body starts sweet malty and full with lots of bourbon and roasted malt balance. Nicely complex and very enjoyable. Another great Founders brew!

Draft at Founders. Poured black color with a moderate frothy brown head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Moderate roasted malt, chocolate, woody cherry and small alcohol aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium to heavy roasted sweet woody flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet smooth finish of moderate to long duration. Another standout brew.

Thick chocolate with vinous bourbon, vanilla and oak in the alcoholic aroma. Opaque black body is topped by a dense tan head that lasts well and laces. Roastiness in the flavour with liquorice notes that are somewhat overwhelmed by the alcoholic, bourbon barrel character with oak and vanilla also apparent. Thick, rich mouthfeel with fairly low carbonation. Sampled on tap at the Michigan brewers Guild Summer Festival 2005.

MiBG Fest 2005: Now we find out it was the Bourbon Stout so I have moved my rating...

One of the must have beers and it didn’t disappoint. Those coffee and mocha characteristics still shine through the nose. The barrel aging is done nicely, adding to the beer and not overpowering the orignal flavors and aroma. A touch of vanilla and oak add to the rich coffee and chocolate flavors with a minor undertone of crisp bitters. The feel is oily and lush, not heavy at all. A knockout once again, beergeek worthy indeed!

Thanks to Cquiroga for sharing this beer. Poured black with a brown edge and a small brown head. Pleasant aroma of vanilla ash, coffee, smooth mild bourbon, and some chocolate to round it out. Vanilla appeared to start off the flavor . Notes of coconut and chocolate. Moderately bitter and dry finish. The body seemed a little light to me.