Founders Backwoods Bastard - Founders Brewing Company

beertunes

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Received this bottle as a gift from BA johnmichaelsen when he recently visited my fair town.

Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a slightly hazy medium brown with a bit of a reddish tint. the beer poured very still, no head at all, with just a couple whisps of lacing.

A very sweet, caramel flavor enters the nose. Behind the caramel is a touch of earthy malt and a hint of spiciness. The initial taste is sweet backed by a wallop of alcohol. After the first rush the other flavors become apparent, caramel, peat, spice and a touch of hops.

The body does a nice job of coating the tongue and satisfying the tactile sense without being heavy or overly sticky. Drinkability is very good, however at 10% and the sweet caramel aspects of this beer, I probably wouldn't have more than one at a time.

Overall, a very good beer that I enjoyed a lot. If this were more readily available to me, it would be in my regular rotation. Thanks again, John!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2010 22:50:28 | More by beertunes

kylehay2004

Florida

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

half finger rapidly dissipating head, no lacing, on a cloudy dark brown amber body. Aroma of the bourbon barrel is right on. Nice oak and vanilla notes. Mostly oak and bourbon in the flavor. Smooth with some molasses and caramel notes. medium to full body and moderate carbonation. Just the right amount of bourbon flavoring, smooth and surprisingly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 02:49:21 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

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

I found a 4-pack of this at Stimmel's in Bowling Green Ohio. Tonight my wife and I are drinking it, poured into Sam Adams glasses. The beer's appearance is 50% perfect: hazy dark brown color with loads of fine floaties but absolutely no head. I can feel the carbonation when I drink it but really no foam on top.

The aroma is strong, bourbon and malt, maybe you could guess it was even a rum and coke. The flavor is way complex, rum, coke, bourbon, sweet and roasted malts, unreal. Alcohol is really evident as well, which limits the drinkability for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2008 03:52:02 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I did a side by side of a bottle of Dirty B from March of 2007 and the 07 Backwoods B along with Chris towards the end of the first night of our epic tasting. Thanks for the bottle go out to czoch75

A: Like the Dirty B, this one's crimson with ruby highlights but doesn't have the head or the retention of the DB with only one ring to show for my efforts at pouring this.

S: On the nose, ton of bourbon up front with some pleasing oxidation. Again, there's a hint of wet cardboard but the malt backbone is rich and bready with rum-soaked plums

T: Opens up with a good bit of bourbon. Once this has had time to breathe, the booziness tames a bit and the bourbon is more balanced. Sweet dark fruit character with great plum and mild raisin character. Dark brown sugar. Drying on the finish with some tannic character. Warming this up does bring out more oak and vanilla, resulting in a wonderful palate.

M: Moderate carbonation, medium body and a great finish with some alcohol heat

D: Side by side with the DB, this is one treat!

**Edit 03 August 2012**
I'm drinking my last bottle of the 08 vintage. It still doesn't look like much. The nose is super mellow. The bourbon has fallen off, but there is a nice vanilla note. The base beer has mellowed out too, with a little bit of caramel, leather, a touch of smoke and some fruit present. Some solvent too. The palate is a little stale with a dull and mildly papery oxidation, a muddling oak astringency and very muted flavors. Some fruit - faint raisin and faint citrus - is present on the mid-palate. Drying, oak-laden on the finish with harsh tannins. I really can't taste much. There's some faint tartness, but that just makes the beer all the more confusing. What a waste, I should have drunk this 2 years back.
3.5/3/2.5/2.5/2.5

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2009 03:55:54 | More by DefenCorps

nickfl

Florida

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

A - One finger of light brown head on top of a slightly hazy, amber-brown body. The foam settle quickly to a thin layer and leaves moderate lace.

S - Sweet caramel malt that blends with, and becomes indistinguishable from, bourbon barrel aromas of oak, coconut, cherries, and booze. Lots of burnt sugar notes with a little bit of pine sap character.

T - Strong, thick malt up front with toffee, caramel, and brown sugar notes. The bourbon character comes in fast and hard with a lot of spicy alcohol notes and more complex, dark sugars. The finish is spicy and alcoholic with a strong, phenolic smoke note that brings out a lot of the woody, boozy, harshness of the bourbon. Lingering notes of smoke, char, brown sugar, and pine sap stick to the back of the tongue.

M - Moderately thick body, low carbonation, and an only slightly sweet finish with some alcoholic warmth working its way down my throat to settle in the pit of my stomach.

D - I expected something big, round, sweet, and bourbon like, but what I got is something far leaner and meaner than one would expect from a scotch ale. There is a lot of phenolic smoke character in this beer, either from abused yeast or from peat, and it does some strange things when it meets the bourbon. The phenolics seem to bring out a lot of the boozy and astringent qualities of the whiskey that are usually not present in barrel aged beers; combine this with the relative dryness of this brew, and the fact that it is not at all shy about its 10% abv, and you have a weirdly convincing bourbon beer. I'm still not quite sure what I think about this one. It has managed to capture a lot of the harsher qualities of distilled spirits that I prefer not to see in a beer; on the other hand, I have to respect the fact that they have brewed what I can only regard as the liquid equivalent of the grizzled, scotch-irish mountain man that graces the label of the bottle. This is quite a unique beer, and while I won't be rushing out to buy another one, I am certainly grateful for the opportunity to try it.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2009 08:38:52 | More by nickfl

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.63/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle in a snifter. 50 IBUs, 10.2% ABV, and Bottled on 11/05/09.

Massive thanks go out to Sweemzander for hookin' it up!

A - The pour is hazy with sediment which is hard to see due to the beer's dark ruby-brown color. A tall pour creates a low but dense cream-colored head that has moderate retention and bits of lace on the glass.

S - Wow. That's a fantastic, bold, deep aroma. Piles and piles of malts make up a great base for this beer. Toasted and biscuity with a mild caramel sweetness that grows in intensity. A lot of raw honey and fruit is present. Raisin, cherry, a little molasses, dark candi sugar. MMM. Then comes the booze. Brought on by the nice oak flavored bourbon barrel goodness. The booze is balanced perfectly to give it an inviting feel. I can't get enough of this aroma.

T - The flavor mimics the brilliance of the nose in depth and distinctiveness. Wow. The malts give off so much. Toasty, biscuity qualities, butterscotch hints, loads of caramel, and molasses. Dark candi sugar, raisin, and honey are also present. No hops here. The barrel aging gives the perfect oak hint while boosting the booze with a mild bourbon phenol warmth. So much going on here.

M - Medium-full bodied with a rich flavor profile, this Bastard is a smooth brew. Well carbonated, meaning, it's there but you don't "feel" it. A nice mild warmth finishes the beer out.

D - More of a sipping beer, it'll take me a while to get through but I'll enjoy every drop. Wonderfully crafted by Founders. I hope I have one more in my cellar! Thanks a ton to the wonderful Sweemzander for this beauty.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 00:50:01 | More by BeerFMAndy

tpd975

Florida

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

Thanks to SeaBass and Kiefdog for providing this one.

A: Pours a murky shade of brown with a small tan head. Little retention with a smattering of lace.

S: The aromas are very earty with tons of oak, bourbon, vanilla, brown sugar and dark fruit. This one is a real treat to the senses.

T: Big bold bouquet of flavors. Tons of bourbon up front with great notes of oak and vanilla. Red fruits with hints of darkened brown sugar. One tasty ass brew!

M: Full in body, rich and creamy.

D: Awesome. This one gives no hint at the ABV it packs. I had the base beer Dirty Bastard and was not impressed. Put on wood this beer becomes quite possibly the best of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2009 20:08:38 | More by tpd975

smakawhat

Maryland

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

Poured from the bottle in to a thistle/tulip bulb glass

In appearance, this bastard resembles a great head of a nutty light brown with tight bubbles. Head foams almost like a guiness quality creeping up slowly but staying compact. Your typical dark midnight brown color if I could call it that.

The bouquet is fantastic. Giant cream smell, HAZELNUT, chocolate, pralines, light brown sugar, milkshake consistency sweetness on the nose, malt is not noticeable, no smoke, it smells like warm creamy hazelnut hot chocolate.

Taste is fabulous, mild carbonation giving way to some malt and this giant cream finish of nutty hazelnut chocolate and pralines coming through a buttery finish with maple syrup. Medium bodied, not syrupy not wet either. Just a flat out joy.

I am a big bourbon fan, and its sometimes hard to find THIS much flavor, bouquets, and tastes just coming from ONE bourbon. Ironically, the beer does not remind me of whiskey, but that's fine with me because it is flat out exceptional. You don't even notice the high ABV content. What the heck is up in the water in GRAND RAPIDS!!!!

Drinkability is stratospheric!

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 20:09:22 | More by smakawhat

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle, Fall 2008. Served in a Sam Adams BL glass, the beer pours a dark red/brown color with a very small tan head that went away quickly. Not much lacing either. Aroma is mostly bourbon, but there's also vanilla, oak, peat and smoke noticable. Taste is similar to the aroma, but the alcohol heat is a little harsh at first. It does mellow a bit when it warms up but you can still tell there's some alcohol there when drinking it. Mouthfeel/body is medium, carbonation is low and it's creamy. Drinkability is decent enough and it is smooth, but the alcohol isn't hidden well at all so that hurts it some. I don't think I'd want to drink more than 1-2 of these at a time. Overall I think it is a decent enough beer, I think aging it some would help.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2008 00:34:08 | More by bluejacket74

FosterJM

California

4.55/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

105th Review on BA
Bottle to Pint
12oz bottle

Thanks CosmoHopHead for the gift!

App- A dark brown with not very much head and not much for swirl marks either.

Smell- A nice oaky boozy with hints of dark fruits (raisin, fig) some light vanilla and the bourbon of course.

Taste- I get the use of the Scotch ale. This does not drink like a beer. Such a fine and superb taste. I really enjoyed it.

Mouth- A bit less than a full mouthfeel with a nice low carb to give a nice beer.

Drink- I have one. I want more.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 04:19:21 | More by FosterJM

dgilks

Australia

4.2/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared with MrKennedy and mulder1010. Thanks for cracking this Owen.

Clear, dark, burnished amber colour with a small, smooth, off-white head.

Masses of caramelised toffee, chocolate and oak. Bourbon as well. Really nice and complex.

Full body with moderately-low carbonation. Good.

This is a massively rich, complex Scotch ale with lots of oak and bourbony sweetness. The spirit is well integrated. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 09:16:10 | More by dgilks

StonedTrippin

Colorado

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

super different for a beer in this genre. it pours a slightly cloudy pale amber color, with a dense nearly pure white head, lots of lacing left behind as it sips down. the nose is a little fruity, a lot boozy, and entirely different again from most scotch ales. its too light. the taste is awesome, like a tasty hybrid of licorice and fresca soda, thats what i taste. more fruit than ever for a scotch, and the same effervescent carbonation as that artificial grapefruit flavored soda pop. its really good, but i am missing that smoke and hefty malt base ive grown used to in these beers. anyone else get that? bright bubbling medium body, again too light for the style, but this is a damn good beer. living up to its name for all the wrong reasons, this is something unique and to be cherished. i never in a million years would have put uts abv over 10% on a blind tasting, its far too delicate to be that potent, but it all seems to work out just right. on tap at j. ryans in syracuse, a place you must visit as a beer enthusiast. what a treat from founders!

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2012 04:55:27 | More by StonedTrippin

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.21/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

355ml bottle poured into wine glass 27/4/13 cheers Rutager for the bottle

A clear brownish ruby when held to the light with some tiny bubbles moving suspended particles around, thumbs width of tan foam lasts for a couple sips and leaves some random lace where it existed

S a fair amount of barrel with vanilla, wood and a little smoky bourbon, loads of caramel with some fruity, nutty notes I can't quite place, hazelnut and plum? smells quite nice whatever it is, a little teriakyi as it warmed

T even more wood and a little booze I wasn't smelling, not too far from the nose but with a little heat that doesn't do much harm

M medium- full, enough bubbles to give it some life and some tannin from the barrel along with a little heat, woody, nutty, caramel on the finish

O solid beer without doubt, could use a little age but the heats a minor complaint, I'm curious how long this sits in a barrel as its rather strong

another winner from Founders and I don't think I've had a bad beer from them yet or even an average beer for that matter.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 17:39:15 | More by wordemupg

Brent

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Whap - that is the sound of this beer smacking you in the face on first sip. An immediate onslaught of bourbon and vanilla oak, some sweet malt and fusel alchohol. After a couple more sips to acclimate, the alcohol retreats but does not leave the background. Malty sweetness emerges and the beer with a shot impression lingers. A bit more boozy than I care for.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2010 18:22:50 | More by Brent

blackie

Virginia

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

a: piraat snifter, low khaki head with light retention, the beer itself an opaquely hazy dark amber in color

s: disappointingly on the tame side at first sniff though it does open slightly after further warming, peaty toffee malt base with notes of sweet pipe tobacco speaks to the scotch style, some caramelized oak presence - if on the restrained side for my preference - but very little bourbon aside from a wave of mild booze, aged hops

m: the carbonation and body combo is delicate and on the full side of the medium range

t: good malt structure, but the barrel effect is very underwhelming, flavors of buttery toffee and peat with a toasted grain flavor coming in soon after the sip, pipe tobacco and dried fig, some spicy oak but no or little bourbon, light to moderate hopping, dries a bit in the finish

d: easy enough for a 10.2 percent abv scotch

single from 6-12 Market, Raleigh, NC

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 04:01:24 | More by blackie

champ103

Texas

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

A: Pours a nearly opaque ruby/brown color. A large light beige head rises to over two fingers. The foam has good retention, and lots of sticky lace is left behind.
S: At first an interesting mix of vanilla oaky sweetness and peat/smoke aromas that is just awesome. Toasted caramel malt and molasses. Cherries and other dark fruits. The nose really balanced and develops a lot more as this warms up.
T: Again, lots of vanilla and oak from the bourbon barrels. Sweet caramel malt. Peat and smoke. Sticky molasses. Dark fruits that follow the nose. Some boozey alcohol as well.
M/D: A full body that is thick, creamy and rich. Velvety smooth. The ABV is huge, but this is a great beer to sip on.

The bourbon aging really works well here, and is extremely well balanced with with everything else that is going on. I love how the barrel aging has not taken away from the Scotch Ale base. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2009 05:58:15 | More by champ103

alexgash

Connecticut

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark, garnet-brown body with a thick, frothy, khaki brown head. Great lacing. Bourbon notes are prominent and they meld fantastically with the bastard's rich caramel, smoke, peat, and maple syrup aromas. Light bourbon burn up front. Dark fruits and rich caramel soon follow, with the bourbon around the edges. Hints of peat before delicious wave of vanilla, butterscotch, oak and sweet dark fruits. Herbal hop bitterness way in the background gets lost in the warming bourbon finish. Delicious. Full-bodied with a very smooth, creamy feel. Very impressive!

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2007 03:06:23 | More by alexgash

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle (2010 vintage, I presume) into a wine glass. Shared in line at DLD; thanks to the provider!

A: Clear, warm rosy-brown body with a 1/2" of fine tan foam. Ok retention and lacing. Attractive.

S: Soft, oaky bourbon is front and center, with vanilla, toffee, and dark fruits underneath. NIce, but not quite incredible.

T: Tons of barrel, with vanilla-drenched oak and straight bourbon dominating. Caramel, toffee, coconut and leather undertones. Boozy finish, but boozy in a good, bourbony way. Tasty.

M: A little thinner than expected, but in a pretty good way - smooth + slick. Light carbonation.

O: Excellent beer, but not as transcendent as I was hoping for from Founders. I'd love to drink it again, but won't be going out of my way for it any time soon.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 21:59:20 | More by woosterbill

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

MMmmmm, baby, baby - can't get enough of your beer babe. Luxuriant. Poured with fine creamy, light tan head and good lace. Color is cured cherry wood. Aroma is vanilla, sweet cherries, malt, caramel, and brandy. Flavor is sweet, a hint of roastiness, Texture is velvety with fine carbonation. Some alcohol in the finish which is fairly long and sweet with a tinge of bitterness at the very end. Not a session beer although an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2009 04:29:23 | More by drpimento

tdm168

North Carolina

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

Thanks to jtd1969 for sharing a bottle with me.

A - dark amber with a soft, off white head leaving a thin lacing

S - big bourbon aromas, some fruit, caramel

T - caramel, huge bourbon flavors, alcohol, dark fruit

M - warm, medium to full bodied, well carbonated

This is a decent beer. It's a bit simple, but it's good. The bourbon is a bit heavy and the underlying scotch ale at times seems to struggle with it. On the whole, this is a very nice beer that is worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 01:45:56 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

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

12oz bottle served in a thistle glass.

L - murky brown with a khaki colored head that thinned to a ring and left a few trails of lacing.

S - bourbon, oak, vanilla bean.

T - heavy bourbon taste upfront with some malty sweetness on the finish.

F - medium bodied with a smooth feel.

O - good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 00:32:34 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottled 9/30/10 almost 8 months old.

A - Surprisingly I got a ring of head that turns to a lace ring. Color is a deep murky brown with an amber hue.

S - Well it's hard to defer from the bourbon but it does have a bit of caramel and maple in the mix. Maybe some toffee.

T - Bourbon has relaxed a bit and is not that aggressive. The taste is mostly that of bourbon then a sweetness of toffee or butterscotch and the the finish is fairly sweet with little burn. As it warms the oak becomes more clear making the bourbon feel less "warming".

M - Very warming the bourbon may have settled but the feeling is still there. Worth sipping.

Overall I remember having this fresh and almost gagging but after about 8 months possibly at the most a year (if you want to age it) it's about as good as it will get. Very tasty bourbon beer that's worth the $4.50 price tag (especially considering some can't even find this right now) At the most one a sitting since the bourbon goes right to your head

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 02:12:18 | More by DrDemento456

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

merlin48

Kentucky

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

I've been looking forward to this one for a long time. The bottle pours a cloudy dark copper body with a small beige head that vanishes quickly and leaves no lace.

Aroma has caramel, toffee, vanilla, and boozy bourbon.

Thick mouthfeel is medium full bodied and creamy. Subdued low medium carbonation. Some alcohol heat.

Taste is complex. Bourbon, peat, vanilla, toffee, caramel, herbal hops, and some boozy warmth. Creamy vanilla notes intensify as it warms.

Wow! Dangerously drinkable. The bourbon keeps this from being an authentic Scotch ale, but it's supremely tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 20:26:59 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Oh man, I almost pass out when I sniff a brew and get the malty bourbon aroma, no shit, it’s very close to Jim Beam – one of my favorites. And some vanilla tossed in the mix adds nicely to this brew.

In fact, adds TOO much to the quaff, it’s turning into a vanilla malt shake. Sweet to the point of cloying. Holy crap Founders forked up this one.

It tries to settle at mid-bottle, but it stays on the sweet side – and this hides any thought of 8.7% alcohol. But eh, I’ll try again next year.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2007 22:35:11 | More by Vancer