Founders Backwoods Bastard - Founders Brewing Company

vfgccp

New York

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Chicory brown with solid black/brown core. Light rim of head with trace lacing.

S - Blast of bourbon. Hard woods, vanilla bean, brown sugar, booze, coconut. Almost overwhelming but it really grows on you.

T - Sweet molasses, bourbon. Vanilla, booze, oak, pepper, cream, touch of smoke. Background notes of raisins and dark dried fruits. Extremely strong. Unlike the nose, punch from the flavor hits as hard on the last sip as it does on the first.

M - Medium, almost perfect, creamy body with a boozy dry finish. A little too much alcohol in the finish.

D - Way too powerful to rush through. It's a beer that should be enjoyed slowly, but carries so much punch you really don't have a choice.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2011 03:58:01 | More by vfgccp

Axic10

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Capone's.

Appearance: Dark brown with no head.

Smell: Bourbon, vanilla, caramel malt and oak notes.

Taste: Heavy bourbon taste with hints of oak, vanilla and caramel malt.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied and very smooth.

Drinkability: I feel that I often overlook this beer from Founders with KBS and CBS, but this is a very enjoyable and complex beer that I really do enjoy.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2011 05:06:40 | More by Axic10

bruemaster

California

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

i stumbled upon Backwoods bastard at a local bar, as a lover of scotch and beer i gave it a taste.

A: Dark amber color, had a thick head that lasted through the drinking of the beer

S: On initial smell this beer reeks of whisky, with all of the taste notes that go along with it. since whisky is nosed and not often drank when reviewed the smell can tell you a lot as it did with this beer.

T: Initial taste is very much like scotch minus the hard burn of 40% alcohol. the after taste is sweet and very malty...pleasing to the palate.

D: this is not a beer that i would wont to consume a lot of in one night but will definitely have again. its smooth to drink and full of flavor

final note: if you like the taste and the aroma of scotch this beer is perfect.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2011 15:24:59 | More by bruemaster

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-very dark brown with a thin white head

S-some mocha and bourbon, but its a mild strength

T-mmm this is quite interesting!! it starts with an amazing hit of bittersweet chocolate. the after-taste is like a dark chocolate milk shake. the flavoring in this beer is extremely strong and rich. this is a great one!

M-this is very thick and heavy, medium but soft carbonation with a dry finish

D-high ABV? i think not. the taste is amazing and it stays so well. there is no alcohol note whatsoever. i loved this beer and i hope to have a lot more of it!

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2011 22:11:45 | More by AdamBear

afksports

New York

3.18/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

This bastard was the best looking thing in the bar, so I'm sippin it in.

That said, I'm tired of drinking bourbon beers. It's almost like soup - choose what you are! Solid or liquid!

This bastard smells sweet, caramel, bourbon. Can't detct the bitter. Dark dark amber. Deep. Normal lacing, quickly fading head that sustains.

Taste follows nose. Sweet, bourbon, caramel, malts. Tons of them. It overshoots and misses the mark, IMO. But maybe I'm not suited for a "wee heavy" style scotch strong ale like this one.

Maybe I'm a lightweight low abv smooth drinking bastards. Not from the backwoods. Still well made though. Can never deny Founders that. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2010 02:18:35 | More by afksports

LanceW

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

What a wonderful beer.

A: The brew was thick in appearance but not too malty in the mouth. I drank it a night so the color was dark so that is all I could say.

S: The smell was sweet and faint hint of alcohol was in the back ground along with notes of barrel aged

T: Full of flavor. Very dark and the taste of the barrel age came through on a perfect balance. Some time the taste of what was previously brewed in the barrel can be strong but this was an equal pairing.

M: Thick but not syrupy.

D: Oh yeah.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2010 00:32:35 | More by LanceW

mynie

Indiana

4.63/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the Blind Pig in Champaign, Illinois. Kudos to them for serving up whole pints of the stuff.

Pours like a thick glass of fluffy, opaque ink. I almost don't want to drink it, it's so pretty.

Smells like sweet, smooth vanilla, burnt caramel, butter, brown sugar, porter barley, chocolate, and scotch.

Tastes like sweet, smooth vanilla, burnt caramel, butter, brown sugar, porter barley, chocolate, and scotch. It's like an imperial stout for kids. There is absolutely no burniness nor any other hint that this is any way alcoholic. (When I say this taste like scotch, I mean it tastes like the very beginning of your fifth sip of a nice, smooth blend, when all you get is the sweetness and warmth since the rest of us has become numb).

This beer's name is inexplicable--it's defined by its smoothness and approachability, which makes it the least bastardly thing I can think of. I can see this easiness actually turning off some beer geeks, it does nothing but excite me since I got a creepy thing for neoteny.

I can't account for the good-but-not-great reviews for this beer. There's a big disparity between the tapped and bottled version, maybe? I dunno. What I do know is that this tasted like a world class brew, and I'd love a chance to try it again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2010 22:50:43 | More by mynie

donniecuffs

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a snifter at the Mohawk House in Sparta, NJ. Deep opaque, reddish-mahogany, with one finger of beige head that retained and laced excellently. Very little visible carbonation. The aroma revealed a huge cherry-vanilla/whiskey/oak essence, with some caramel apple and smoke as well. The taste? Wow...sweet malty, caramel-apple, cherry-vanilla, then followed by more sweet fruitiness before finishing on an ever so subtle bitter peel finish, that hid the alcohol content ridiculously well. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for the whiskey in the nose, I wouldn't get much hint of alcohol at all. The feel was a silky smooth medium thickness, with no carbonation. The crazy thing is that the alcohol presence is such a non-factor, that you can find yourself having downed three snifters of this stuff, and still be yearning to session more. I know I was. Anyway, I sampled this at my virgin trip to the fine establishment known as the Mohawk House (see review), but even if I didn't like the place, I would've come back just for this beer. I can't remember when I have given a beer review 5's across the board..if ever. This beer is excellently done on all fronts.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 23:14:45 | More by donniecuffs

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served from tap into a goblet at the Founders event at Duckworth's. Poured reddish-brown with a minimal off-white head. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt and bourbon. The flavor was of sweet malt, alcohol, and syrup. It had a medium feel on the palate with light to mild carbonation. Overall this one was very nicely balanced with a nice flavor. The aroma on this one was quite nice as well. Probably one of my favorite Scotch Ales to date. It is also crazy drinkable to weigh in at 10.2%...

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 13:07:59 | More by thagr81us

paulozanello

Brazil

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at a Founders event at The Big Hunt in DC.
Pours a dark brown color with ruby red hues. Creamy beige head with good lacing.
Smell is mainly of bourbon, vanilla, oak and some dark/chocolate malt.
Taste is very strong and starts with caramel and chocolate but soon gets overpowered by a heavy bourbon and vanilla blast.
Creamy mouthfeel with moderate carbonation and some alcohol notes. Aftertaste is chocolaty and oaky.
Great well balanced scotch ale. Definitely going to buy me some bottles later this week.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2010 23:28:40 | More by paulozanello

despainmakesbeer

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Alcohol, some
malt bourbon, some cherry, masked

good carbonation, still cheery, very toasty almost charted, inside of barrel,

quick head white creamy lace, dark copper with deep red higlights

bourbon at front front, finished slighlty dry with warm bourbon tinge typical of bourbon alone.

Betty drinkable such a high alcohol beer

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2010 00:38:28 | More by despainmakesbeer

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Capone's Friday and reviewed from notes. Pours out a very dark brown with not head and just a ring of off-white froth around the edges of the beer. Leaves light lacing that is spotty but looks pretty good for an aged beer. Smell needs a bit of strength but it is good. Bourbon, wood, vanilla and that signature caramelly/sugary scotch ale scent. No alcohol comes through in the nose. Taste was fantastic. A perfect balance, it is like the bottle but much more balanced and without the alcohol notes. Bourbon, oak, caramel, vanilla, and great tasty malts combine to form a nectar of the gods. The bourbon level here is perfect and more enjoyable than the extremely strong bourbon in KBS. Mouthfeel also improves from the bottle! The body is medium but very, very creamy with moderate carbonation. A tiny warmth makes for the most suitable mouthfeel possible. I could drink this on-tap all night, if the ABV didn't eventually kill me. It is so balanced on tap, it is amazing. The price at Capone's was fantastic and the flavor couldn't get any better for what the beer is.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2010 01:50:12 | More by cbutova

glid02

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a murky reddish-brown color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of sticky and slightly mineral-like caramel malts with good amounts of whiskey and vanilla. As the beer warms booze-soaked golden raisin aromas waft out.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Caramel malt flavors with huge whiskey and vanilla undertones and hints of butterscotch kick things off. Hints of boozy dark fruits enter into things midway through but allow vanilla to dominate through the mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I was more impressed with the bottle version I had last year as I feel like the whiskey notes were more well-defined. Still, this remains a very good beer and one that's worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2010 03:48:08 | More by glid02

gabeerfan

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip glass with a hazy caramel brown with a nice light tan/off white head.
Aromas are pretty much all bourbon. Lots of vanilla, caramel, and candied orange peel. Very boozy, but more subdued than just straight bourbon. Almost no "traditional" beer aromas make it through.
Taste is about the same. Lots of bourbon flavors: vanilla, caramel, candied orange peel. Lots of alcohol flavors. Again, almost no traditional beer flavors in this.
Full-bodied, but pretty smooth mouthfeel. A little syrupy, but not cloying.
Drinkable in the flavor dept., but at 10.2%, it is a definite sipper or night cap.
Great beer. Not sure I could have more than one in a night, but this is a great alternative to regular bourbon.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2010 23:31:42 | More by gabeerfan

tipnsip

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It's like Founders crafted the Backwoods Bastard just for me! I'm a bourbon guy and when I got my first whiff of it I knew it'd be one of my faves.

The tall glass was all dark reddish-brown with a tan head. The aroma is fantastic! It's like hovering over a Maker's mark manhattan with foam on the top. Taste-wise, it's like a "soft" shot & a hearty beer all in one. It's not a boilermaker - it's a well balanced combination of the two. It's on the sweet side but not overbearing, has a strong oak under-flavor, is medium bodied and I found it very drinkable.

Granted, if you're not a fan of bourbon - you will most likely not care for this brew. But if you are a fan ... Merry Christmas!

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2009 22:42:33 | More by tipnsip

atsprings

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Flying Saucer served alongside Slappy Sappy Bastard on 12/10/09 and reviewed from notes. The beer was served in a tulip glass a murky brown with a decent khaki head that diminished to a thin layer. The aroma is Bourbon in front of dark malts, burnt caramel and slight dark fruits. The taste is dark malts, dried fruits, bourbon and vanilla. The beer is slightly heavy with a decent alcohol presence, but an enjoyable sipper. This is a very enjoyable beer, I'm looking forward to opening a one year old bottle I've been holding.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2009 19:56:39 | More by atsprings

Soneast

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee.

Served in a nondescript snifter. Pours a deep mahogany color, developing a half inch thick, tan colored head, that doesn't so much dissipate as it does form a dense creamy mat on top of the beer, leaving dollops of suds on the glass as the beer recedes.

The aroma is full of an earthy oakiness and vanilla notes as well as a brown sugar character with a touch of tobacco, very much like a fine bourbon. No smokiness to speak of....which is NICE!

The flavor is intense, this is a sipper for sure. First you got your standard Scotch Ale malt forward profile of toasted grains, brown sugars and caramel, but then the barrel aged flavors really make their presence known, assaulting the taste buds with a pungent earthiness, leaving quite a boozy impression. The finish has a great dryness to it, though that doesn't ruin the amazing malt and bourbon flavors, but rather only serves to balance the overall sweetness.

I could think of nothing better, then to sit in front of a warm fireplace on a cold winter's eve sipping a snifter of this beer. And when I drink Backwoods Bastard, that is the scene that instantly comes to mind. A great after dinner drink, with a great amount of complexity. A rich creamy body, and very mild amount of carbonation really improves the overall drinkability despite the high ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2009 20:30:55 | More by Soneast

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap and bottle...but draught review for this one:
Pours a nice dark shade of caramel brown. Light tannish colored head, pretty thin. Wow the scotch smell is pretty solid. Pick up a little malt and sweetness, caramel perhaps.
Taste is pretty complex. Scotch taste again is very present. Booze aspect is pretty subtle. Sweet flavors again of chocolate or caramel...malty...VERY good. A little heavy, so not a quick drinking beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2009 19:26:17 | More by ShadesOfGray

soupyman10

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Deep maroon color with a small head and a touch of lacing. Nose is huge bourbon - delicious, if fairly straightforward. Flavor is similar, huge bourbon and malt. A complex taste - dried fruits, a hint of alcohol spiciness, and then bourbon all over the place again. Absolutely delicious. Body is nice and full, somewhere between syrupy and full bodied. Overall, a delicious one - glad I got to try it. Another winner from Founders.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2009 19:48:49 | More by soupyman10

BigAl723

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Ashley's in Ann Arbor. Served in a 10oz tulip.

A: It pours a very dark brown/red. Like a dark rusty color. Very nice tan head about an inch and a half thick.

S: Dark Fruit, caramel, bourbon, molasses, light oak...I had to taste this to get more out of the smell. It was a little hard to pick up for some reason.

T: Here we go. Kind of hoppy and heavy. Very complex...a lot going on. The taste and smell came out real nice once I tasted it. Bourbon dominates along with sweet notes of chocolate, caramel, and molasses. The taste of this beer grew on me while I drank it. I had to get two of them because they were so good.

M: Fairly heavy in the mouth with moderate carbonation. Perfect really.

D: For being over 10% ABV, it has great drinkability. The more I drank, the more I wanted. I had to stop myself after two.

Overall, I've only tried this once before and it was last year around this time. It was good but this year's batch is outstanding. I really enjoyed this and will be seeking out a four pack soon. Founders +1!

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2009 01:15:10 | More by BigAl723

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Backwoods Bastard pours a ruby mahogony with a dense off white head and some lace. Poured into a snifter to maximize aroma.

Nose is of sweet bready malts and a whiff of bourbon like booziness.

Flavor features some complex maltyness. There is a bourbonesque booze and a woody, earthy note from the barrel aging. Chocolate covered cherries. Vanilla. Oak.Faint resinous hops. Then some clean solvent alcohol in the warming finish.

Luxurious and smooth.

A strong, full flavored beer. Complex and a sipper for sure, though I could drink so much more in an ideal setting.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2009 05:49:30 | More by Stinkypuss

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Murky, dark mahogony w/ almost no head but thin lacing

S - Burbon, earth and oak leading to hints of vanilla sugar

T - Vanilla oak with a nice burbon taste. a complex boozy balance of flavors

M - Thick and full bodied, mild carbonation but perfect warmth and smooth as can be.

D - Have one of theese and you will be good for a while. No need to rush to finnish this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2009 15:32:36 | More by rfgetz

psulovesbeer

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on draft
Rusty looking with minimal head
Smells like a bourban barrel not like a beer at all
Taste is of a smoothed out bourban with a hint of beer maybe a scoth ale in there somewhere
Mouthfeel is smooth with a smokey barrel in there interesting
A unique brew with a good flavor decinetly worth a try

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2009 21:15:05 | More by psulovesbeer

thequeen711

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Backwards Bastard is a fine brew from my friends at Founders. Nice frothy head out of the tap, beautiful bourbon aroma/taste with hints of oak, malt, caramel, toffee, and vanilla. With a mix like that who could not like this!!! Mouthfeel is refreshing and satisfying, sip after sip.
Drink up and enjoy!

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2009 18:19:11 | More by thequeen711

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Brass Rail Deli, Campbelltown, PA on 3/12/09.

A - Poured a cloudy, earthy brown akin to iced tea with sparse carbonation and a creamy tan head that receded to a thin, patchy veil and deposited adequate lacing around the glass.

S - Oaky nose with plenty of sweet vanilla notes and caramel malt, as well as a hint of alcohol and a nice bourbon presence that isn't overwhelming at all.

T - Huge bourbon presence in the flavor, but it is cooled down considerably by the vanilla and caramel sweetness. Finishes with a touch of bitterness and more woody/oaky notes.

M - Medium body with a syrupy texture and pretty soft carbonation overall. Finish is sweet on the tongue and is accompanied by some alcohol warmth and traces of hop bitterness.

D - Overall, I was really impressed with this offering from Founders. Backwoods Bastard boasts plenty of borubon flavor with a big vanilla presence, resulting in a bourbon barrel aged brew that isn't too boozy. Drinkability is fantastic for a 9.2% beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2009 16:00:06 | More by ffejherb