Founders Deca

Formerly brewed at Founders Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

22oz bomber courtesy of 2277jf poured into a snifter. Pours a dark, clear reddish cola brown with hints of amber when held up to the light. There is a small bubbly head that recedes to a thin ring and leaves no lacing. The aroma is dominated by candied fruits and caramel malts but there is definitely a slight spice burn, especially as it warms. When it does, there is plenty of pepper, cinnamon and maybe some ginger. The taste has a big full sweetness up front dominated by dark fruits, especially raisins and plums. This is complemented by a huge caramel malt base before the spices really take off in the finish, leaving the tongue burning a bit with some pepper and other unidentifiable spices. The mouthfeel is on the fuller side of things and almost thick on the palate with tons of sweetness coating the mouth with only the softest of carbonation complementing things. A very sweet barleywine with only the faintest of hop presence but with a massive spice profile that really mixes things up, especially in the taste. Big thanks to Josh for the opportunity to try this one.

Nice. Pours a dark reddish brown with a thin head and minimal lacing. Aroma is strong malt and candy, lots of carmel and toffee and sugar plums. Flavor is everything you’d expect from the aroma, but with lots of mellowed out hops, cream, and more malt. Very spicey on the backend. Big and bold all around. Similar to what Behemoth is with age on it. Tasty.

Pours dark ruby brown in color. There is a bit of a frothy ring of head around the perimeter of the glass. Smell is huge and robust. Plenty of toffee and caramel malts. Just the way a barleywine should be. Taste is more of the abundance of toffee and malt. Just a hint of hops in the end. Perfect balance to round out the beer. Huge and viscous mouthfeel. This has all the qualities of a world class barleywine. Everything that I look for in a barleywine. The ABV is so well hidden that I can not believe it. My only complaint is that this was an anniversary beer and not a regular offering. Founders seriously needs to consider making this at least as a seasonal.

<b>7/28/2007</b>: Founder’s Deca is very dark amber in color with ruby-colored highlights. It has a dense, frothy, ivory head. The aroma is caramel and citrus and reminds me of many of the Lagunitas beers. But back to this beer... The flavor is very vegetable-like at first with allspice in it. It is strong, sweet, and malty with caramlized malt domination. It has a medium-full body. I was expecting something totally different from this beer, but it is still very interesting. A sample of this was fine with me and a glass would have been the limit. I’m not too sure about drinking an entire bomber myself though...

<i>Sample from 22 fl. oz. bottle (13% Alc/Vol) shared at the "Columbus Tasting: Ate, now with gramatical errors" event. Thanks! Rating #130 for this beer...</i>

Bottle and on draft at founders. Dark brown body with off white head. Dark fruit raisin, bready yeast, lots of spices cinnamon and clove. Good beer.

Poured a murky mahogany brown with fizzy/frothy off-white head. Spicy aroma of cinnamon, dark fruits, caramel. Taste is of predominantly honey wheat bread, some cinnamon spiciness, a touch of fruit to it as well, finishing a slight bit of dryness. The alcohol here is barely perceptible, an amazing feat at 13%. Though not clubbing me with spiciness and not the deepest beer I’ve had for its size, still a good drink that should in all fairness be a regular offering in some shape or form.

Bottle shared at tasting. Poured a murky brown color with orange highlights. The head was light tan with an orange tint. Lots of fruit in the nose including mango, pineapple, and orange. There was also plenty of caramel, nuts, and alcohol. Full bodied and slightly sweet with caramel, toffee, and pineapple flavors. Kind of like a big malty/fruity double IPA without any hop bitterness.

Pours a murky dark reddish brown with a big thick fluffy beige froth on top, looks awesome! Big oily floral hop aroma, cardamom with lots of rich oxidized toasted caramel malt and some light spices. First taste is burnt bitter followed by sugary sweetness, light brown sugar and lots of vegetable. Lots of sugar that covers the alcohol well but doesn’t really add anything itself. Burnt vegetable aftertaste. Heavy body, syrupy with soft carbonation. This is a BIG beer.