Not All Scotsmen are Bastards

Posted by Jim on Feb 1st, 2012
2012
Feb 1

Founders Backwoods Bastard
4.38/5
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A bottle that’s been stored in my chilly basement is poured into a pint glass.

The beer is translucent and colored a dark, dull shade of ruby. It is nearly brown. A light brown foam head rests on top. It’s a thin head but it clings to the walls of the glass rather well.

There is a good amount of bourbon in the aroma. This scent compliments the peat, oak and roasted malts in the base beer. It is rounded out by s light sweetness. The bourbon may be a bit heavy, but overall its an appealing aroma.

Where the bourbon in the nose was strong, its more subtle when I taste the beer. Typical Wee Heavy flavors dominate. Toffee and plum provide some sweetness. Oak and peat are strong flavors. As I swallow, alcohol and bourbon are present, but it doesn’t burn. In fact, it isn’t even as warming as I expected the beer to be. Impressive.

This is a big beer with decent carbonation, but it isn’t very sticky. I can feel a slight film at the corners of my mouth, but that’s it for the lips. There isn’t so much of a coat in my mouth, more like a memory of the flavors.

This is a well done strong Scotch ale. Aging in bourbon barrels just makes it more impressive. Highly recommended to fans of the style or bourbon barrel aging…and everyone else.