Founders Backwoods Bastard - Founders Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
96
world-class
-
3,096 Ratings

THE BROS
90
outstanding
-
read more »

rAvg: 4.32
pDev: 11.34%
Reviews: 1254
Hads: 1842

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Brewed by:
Founders Brewing Company

Michigan, United States

Style | ABV
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy | 10.20% ABV

Availability: Fall. bottle (1148), on-tap (97), growler (8), cask (1).

Notes:
Scotch Ale aged in bourbon barrels.

View: Beers (67) | Reviews (221) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by davey101:

davey101

Connecticut

4.65/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage putting this bottle at about 8/9 months old. 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass. Wasn't a fan of this fresh so I decided to age a bottle. Reviewed on 07-10-2012.

A - Dark red/brown clear body. One finger high light khaki head settles down to a patchy cap and thick edging. Swirling produces a huge and tight head. Decent lacing and retention but massive alcoholic legs. 4.0/5

S - Bourbon soaked figs and raisins, roasted malts, vanilla, brown sugar, and toffee. Really decadent and rich with the perfect balance between the bourbon and dark fruit. 4.5/5

T - Bourbon soaked dark fruits and loads of scotch ale notes. Vanilla, toffee, and brown sugar. The finish is pretty abrupt with a light lingering sweetness. There's also an odd bitterness after each sip that really goes against the sweet flavors. 3.5/5

M - Alcohol is well incorporated but it does warm the mouth at cellar temperature. Light to medium mouth feel with silky carbonation. 4.0/5

O - Age had does wonders on this beer. Crazy smooth and tasty. Not a fan of the bitterness in the aftertaste though. 3.88/5

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2012 vintage, bottled on 10/12/12. 12 oz bottle into a Founders 15th Anniversary glass. Giving this a proper re-review since I now love this beer and style.

A - Pours a dark red/brown body that almost appears purple. This particular bottle is chill hazed with some floating protein particles. I've had many bottles of this batch that were crystal clear though. Three fingers worth of tan foam fades away into a patchy cap with attractive silky bubbles. Sticky lacing with modest retention.

S - Such an amazing and inviting aroma. Gobs of rich and sweet english toffee with layers of vanilla, butterscotch, and oak. Brown sugar drenched raisins. Such a fantastic bourbon presence.

T - Sweet toffee malts. Rich brown sugar and dates. Smooth bourbon with a noticeable but pleasant alcohol burn. Finishes with some butterscotch, vanilla oak and a touch of peat. Excellent.

M - Thin to medium with silky carbonation. Drinks wonderfully and the alcohol is complimentary but never over the top.

O - This has quickly become one of my favorite beers. Just bourbon drenched toffee perfection. Absolutely world class stuff.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 05:13:37 | More by davey101

More User Reviews:

t_carterb

Georgia

4.25/5 rDev -1.6%

06-19-2013 15:51:37 | More by t_carterb

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev -7.4%

06-18-2013 23:43:22 | More by taylor714914

b2611

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev -7.4%

06-18-2013 14:34:51 | More by b2611

BColton1

Rhode Island

4/5 rDev -7.4%

06-18-2013 01:21:00 | More by BColton1

KyleMA

California

4.25/5 rDev -1.6%

06-17-2013 23:55:04 | More by KyleMA

Rogorama

Indiana

4.5/5 rDev +4.2%

06-17-2013 13:58:19 | More by Rogorama

AnitaBrewski

Massachusetts

4.5/5 rDev +4.2%

06-17-2013 01:17:39 | More by AnitaBrewski

dantsbeats

New York

4/5 rDev -7.4%

06-17-2013 00:39:30 | More by dantsbeats

IndyDad

New York

4.25/5 rDev -1.6%

06-16-2013 02:32:31 | More by IndyDad

JustCamIt

Virginia

4.5/5 rDev +4.2%

06-15-2013 13:04:45 | More by JustCamIt

afallon86

California

4/5 rDev -7.4%

06-15-2013 09:22:55 | More by afallon86

YoDude

Illinois

4.84/5 rDev +12%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Founders Backwards Bastard, aged 6 months in my fridge (yes, I am drinking it fresh), 10.2% ABV, a 12 oz. bottle and poured into a snifter glass.

Appearance: Poured deep ruby brown with a very little head and lacing.

Smell: Sweet caramel and smoky malt with a hint of vanilla, no pronounced hop presence, no obvious off flavors.

Taste: Candied dates and baking chocolate. There is also a spicy and earthy aftertaste that I attribute to the oak bourbon barrels used in the aging process and the 50 IBUs of hop flavor.

Mouth feel: Medium to full body and low carbonation. The bitter sweetness clings to the upper palette. There is definitely an umami effect as I keep running my tongue along my upper palette. Also a nice warming alcohol finish.

Overall: Founders has been making great beer for over 20 years. Backwards Bastard is an amazingly subtle yet complex beer. You will find the flavor change with each sip as the beer warms and the taste lingers. You can drink this with almost any rich food and meal course; from roasted garlic Portobello mushrooms, to a medium-rare rib eye, or a flourless chocolate raspberry cake. But why wait for the food. As my favorite late night talk show host would exclaim, “This is a beverage”.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 05:19:38 | More by YoDude