Founders Doom - Founders Brewing Company

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

decent lace. Lots of carbonation, tiny bit of sediment, only real loss of score here would be on the lack of head. Smell was classic Hop Bomb, deep pine resin, with a strong alcohol presence upon first smell, as it warmed some of the more subtle scents started to come through, a slight sugary sweetness and citrus, specifically grapefruit were now there to be found. Overall smell was very nice, not over powering, but did have enough to tingle the nose a bit. Taste was very crisp, clean, and warming. Alcohol was a big factor in the beginning again, with a huge pine hop hit. Letting it warm brings out the malt that was trying to balance it with a bit of sweetness, but is still overpowered by the hops. This was a very good brew, and I am glad I got to try it. A

Serving type: growler

08-24-2011 03:37:43 | More by mikesgroove

mikey711

New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Counter pressure bottle bottle thanks to badnewsbeers

A: Slightly cloudy golden orange color. Head is only about a quarter of an inch thick and does not retain all that well or leave any lacing.

S: Mixture of Vanilla and citrus hops that is heavenly. The bourbon is very light but mainly comes through as vanilla sweetness.

T: Oh man this is good. The citrus hoppiness and the bitterness of the pine blend very well with the sweetness of the vanilla, but there is also a very smokey quality that is very enjoyable. There is also a bit of a pepper note which adds to the overall flavor profile and complexity.

M: For the most part smooth, with some lingering bitterness. A touch of heat but that doesnt really bother me.

D: I could drink this nonstop for the rest of my life. I really wish founders would bottle this so that i could have it more often as it is one of my favorites

Serving type: growler

05-27-2010 22:50:42 | More by mikey711

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Growler via FooFaa on 11/30/09.

A - Poured a clear, sparsely carbonated orange/light amber body with a finger's width of bubbly off-white head that reduced to a patchy veil and thin ring of retention. However, the head flared back up with each swirl of the glass, leaving spotty lace that slid down the sides of the glass.

S - Pungent citrus hops paired with sweet vanilla, oak and woody notes, and a sharp bourbon/whiskey presence. There's also a slight hint of earthy must and pine needles/sap.

T - Like a creamsicle soaked in whiskey, Hand of Doom combines citrus hops with a vanilla character to create a uniquely delicious DIPA. Strong alcohol notes emerge in the middle, but are ultimately quelled by the sweetness. A slight herbal, medicinal character appears in the finish due to the heavy alcohol presence and aggressive hop bitterness.

M - Medium bodied and quite smooth and creamy with subtle carbonation. Finish is semi-dry with moderate hop bitterness and alcohol warmth on the palate.

D - While I prefer bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stouts over hoppy brews, Hand of Doom is probably the best example of a barrel-aged DIPA I've had. This is really tasty stuff and another winner from Founders.

Serving type: growler

12-22-2009 02:06:34 | More by ffejherb

koopa

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Growler purchased at Capone's Black Friday Event.

Appearance: pours neon orange with little head, retention, or lace. The growler is about 10 days old though and I remember a fairly decent white crown on the glass I purchased and consumed at the bar on Black Friday.

Smell: A wonderful bouquet of hops, bourbon, and a slight sugar note. Intoxicating!

Taste: Loads of orange / lemon citrus coupled with floral and grassy hops with some bourbon warmth and flavor in the background. I'm amazed by how much the hops stay up front while the bourbon keeps to the background. The play btw the two is intricate and fascinating.

Mouthfeel: Well this growler is lacking carbonation but that is because I didn't drink it soon enough so I won't hold that against the brew. Medium bodied and a touch syrupy. I remember the fresh pour having more carbonation and feeling fairly lively.

Drinkability: Btw the abv and the booze quality, this is a sipper that should be consumed in moderation.

Serving type: growler

12-08-2009 23:17:10 | More by koopa

Maltzilla

Florida

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler into a large cognac snifter. The appearance was of a bright bronze, moderate head which dissipated into thin foam atop.
in the nose, subtle aroma from the bourbon aging process, some citrus notes and the floral-hoppy background could be picked up as well
. . . the taste? WHOA! Nothing could have prepared me for this. Powerful bourbon right up front. I'm guessing this might not be for everyone, but I rather liked it. This is definitely a sippin' DIPA. We tried (at the same tasting, at my place) Double Trouble right before this, but it is almost as if they were two completely different beers. I forgot all about it rather shortly after I started taking swigs from the HOD cup. After the bourbon tour-de-force recedes a bit, the more subtle notes can be picked up: some citrus fruit and vanilla too.
As for mouthfeel & drinkability, I think it runs on a 4-out-of-5, just because of the strong "hot" bourbon feel of the drink. Its something that you definitely do not expect and takes a bit to get used to and hence enjoy. Overall, a phenomenal beer, I've been dying to try a good IPA/DIPA that had been aged in whiskey or bourbon, and I think this thing fits the bill and sets the standard

Serving type: growler

09-29-2009 04:44:09 | More by Maltzilla

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very clear gold color with a small white head. Head disappears rather quickly, but expected due to the size. A few nice spots of lace.

Nose full of juicy, piney hops. A bit of bourbon and wood as well. Pretty decent whiff of alcohol. Very nice aroma.

Lighter malt character. Good bitterness. Great juicy hops. A good woody note. Nice bourbon edge at the end. A bit harsh with some tannins. Some warming alcohol.

Medium body, lower carbonation. Very nice. Interesting.

Serving type: growler

09-24-2009 20:41:29 | More by Bierguy5

vic21234

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml poured into a snifter, cooled in the fridge for about 2.5 hours before serving. I was very surprised to snag this one off the shelf at a local shop today, thought these were long gone.

A- Looks like Double Trouble. Pours a clear and bubbly light orange/ amber color. A half finger of off-white head sticks around for awhile before forming along the side. Some lacing is also noted.

S- All I really get in the smell is some slight citrus notes, like a faded DIPA. There is some very slight sweet vanilla notes too as the beer warms. No bourbon to speak of in the smell for me.

T- Sweet malty opening gives way to some piney and citrus hops. I also get some oakiness with vanilla toward the back of each taste. The alcohol is noted and this one is drinking kind of hot right now, which isn't necessarily bad.

M- Smooth yet very bitter and dry finish, well carbonated. This beer is still very hoppy.

Though it's good I was expecting more from the barrel aging, but I guess I don't know what I was expecting since I've never had a BA DIPA. It is a good beer however and I'm going to try and get my hands on another to age. I'm interested to find out what happens to this beer when the hops fade.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 22:44:58 | More by vic21234

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.79/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle, thanks to Andygirl. Cheers Andrea! My bottle says 10%abv.

A- pours a clear light gold, +1 finger head of foam, impressive lacing ensues.

S- this smells very bitter. Lots of citrus with some fruit and then...some sweets move in and then..the Bourbon. A lot going on with all these aromas.

T- starts off with a mix of bitter and sweet, hoppy and malty in other words, Bourbon sneaks in with some vanilla character, finishes more on the bitter side...man, this is what you call dank. I like how the Bourbon doesn't over power everything else. Lots of warming in the tummy after the swallow.

M- close to full bodied with medium carbonation

O- a very interesting take on a IIPA, tasty for sure and I'm glad I got a chance to try it, but it's not really that much up my alley. Nice burps though.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 22:16:38 | More by Bitterbill

portia99

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle poured into a Bruery tulip.

A - Pours a pale golden color with glowing orange highlights. The body has decent clarity although a touch of haze is present. A thick finger plus of dense creamy white foam shows excellent staying power falling to leave behind lots of foamy lace on the glass.

S - Sugary sweet malt base with plenty of citrus hop character. Vanilla and sweet bourbon aroma and light booziness. More bourbon than hops but both exercise good overall balance and appropriate intensity.

T - Good hop bitterness up front that gives the beer an overall bitter character. Bourbon comes on behind the hops with noticeable booziness. Potent woody flavors and smooth vanilla. Bready malt finds its way thru to the finish. Barely noticeable citrusy hop flavors. Barrel aspects overpower the DIPA base, maybe a bit too much. I find the flavors clash a bit and create a bit of a medicinal bitter flavor overall.

M - Body is medium-full. Carbonation is medium-high, finely bubbled and a bit creamy feeling. Hop bitterness, wood, bourbon, booze dominate. After the swallow, citrusy hops linger into the aftertaste a bit, finally fading off and leaving behind the medicinal bitterness that I get on each sip.

O - This might be one DIPA that could use a little age...not something I would typically say. The hops really are overpowered by the barrel treatment and I find the combination of booze, wood, hops is giving a medicinal impression. Beer is rather dry overall also - from start to finish...actually think this could benefit from a bit more sweetness...some more malty, sugary flavors would suit this well. Perhaps I am asking more for a BA barleywine out of this. Good beer, but it doesn't hit the mark the way Hand of Doom did at EBF a couple years back - that really had more hop flavor and aroma and blew me away. Falls somewhere between super fresh and hoppy DIPA in barrels and a bit too hoppy BA barleywine. Too old...not old enough? Not really sure, but if another bottle finds its way to me, think I will hold on to it for a while and see what some age does to this.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 23:08:44 | More by portia99

schwemjw

Ohio

4.96/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A: a light golden color without much head.

S: Oak, bourbon, vanilla, buttered popcorn, balanced out with tropical fruit, papaya, guappa, grapefruit, and pineapple. after being overwhelmed by these flavors they mellow out and a floral and spicy characteristic come through. intriguing.

T: Once again, vanilla initially dominates. Then comes the bourbon and spicy rye. Then it becomes earthy and floral with a big dry finish. West coast pine is all over this thing.

M: smooth, creamy with a little burn on the end.

O: WOW! i don't know about everyone else but i truly loved this beer. Loved it. i didn't to like it this much but its hard not to love bourbon and oak mixed with an IPA. It has some crazy flavor that is all over the map. delicious. /98

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 21:14:26 | More by schwemjw

zachary80

Indiana

2.43/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.75

Kept refrigerated since purchased at release. 750ml capped bottle.

A slightly hard pour gives this a huge white head. Hazy golden body picks up some orange hue at the widest points of the glass. Lacing is good but not as good as other similar beers.

Aroma is biscuity, sweet, doughy. Hint of bourbon. As this warms and gets lower in the snifter the hops sneak through but are still dominated by sweetness.

Taste matches. Almost a cloying malt sweetness which is very offputting. Very low bitterness. Doughy. Vanilla sweetness, likely from the barrel. Some fleeting hop flavor on the finish, along with some barrel and bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied. Carbonation is good. Alcohol is very well hidden. The finish seems astringent and that feeling lingers.

Overall this is a very mediocre beer. Hop presence is low, the sweetness is almost entirely unbalanced, and the barrel seems to add sharpness rather than complexity. Reminds me more of an imperial Kentucky Bourbon Ale than a respectable offering from Founders. I couldn't recommend this to anyone but the sweetest of sweet tooths - it is a borderline drain-pour for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 23:14:22 | More by zachary80

FanofHefe

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. Could not find the regular Founders date stamp on the neck, but it is from this years' bottle release. With a fairly aggressive pour down the middle, I get three fingers of light tan head over a light amber body, with a bit of yellow tint and a touch of haze. The head dissipates fairly quickly, as would be expected from a high abv beer. A little lacing is left behind.

Very sweet aroma. The bourbon and maple are prominent. Light amounts of oak and light, sweet citrus.

The flavor is also very heavy on the bourbon and maple. Other smaller flavors blend in as well - oak, caramel, light citrus. Only a very slight amount of bitterness to balance the sweetness.

Medium to thick in the texture and a noticeable amount of carbonation. A bit of alcohol present. Overall, sweeter than I had hoped for as a fan of Double Trouble. I think the comparisons are inevitable but I think I prefer Burton Baton, aged just in the barrel, without the bourbon. Works a little better in the flavor mix for me. All in all, however, a very well prepared beer and likely achieves what they were seeking.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:51:56 | More by FanofHefe

Alextricity

Michigan

4.04/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Sampled on-tap at Frankenmuth at the World Expo of Beer.

Appearance: A nice little finger of head floats on top of this golden colored beer. Good.

Smell: Huge hop aromas... fruity and floral, and bursting.

Taste: Sweet, oak, vanilla, hops, not very bitter ... not cloying. My first aged IPA, and I like it a lot.

A great beer! I wish I had gotten myself a full sample of this instead of Bolt Cutter. The barrels work their magic on this one, and it makes for a very compelling IIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2013 16:54:32 | More by Alextricity

RacerX5k

Pennsylvania

4.46/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Delicious. Pretty color, great aroma bright citrus hops lots of vanilla. And that's how it tastes, nice balance between the vanilla and citrus, with notes of bourbon barrel. Smooth, thick, soft and creamy I really like how this finishes. Kinda reminds me of Samichlaus, fruits dipped in alcohol and overall very satisfying. Got this for an incredible $12.49 at Flair Beverage Inwood Manhattan NYC 205th street that was an adventure, almost as far north as you can go on the island. And the uptown girls looked as delicious as the beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 00:29:29 | More by RacerX5k

minterro

Michigan

4.14/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bought from founders for around 14 dollars

Not as intense as I expected both in hops and alcohol tones.

between straw yellow and burnt orange in colored. Head is retained well at times, but other pours (with equal vigor) there was less retention. Head is pure white.

bourbon comes out more (but not very intense) as it warms. alcohol come out much more at room temp (way more then the bourbon)

Very sweet in the smell and taste.

huge malty backbone, Grapefruit hoppyness in the taste. hints of golden raisins.

Overall: enjoyable, but nothing as special as I thought it would be.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 20:01:18 | More by minterro

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.16/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

White head. Color is a slight hazed golden orange.

Flavor profile is a nice coconut flavor up front. Really delicious. A lot of tropical fruits. Grapefruit citrus and pineapple. It has a wood/oak and maple flavor. A bit of bready and caramel malts show, but it is mainly tropical and citrus flavors. The hop profile is floral.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and clean at first, but it ends sticky. Medium bodied. Good amount of carbonation.

Overall, I really enjoyed this beer. It still had a bright citrusy flavor and it wasn't all malts. The barrel flavors were really nice. The coconut was awesome!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:24:15 | More by mothman

hardy008

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours hazy amber with a one finger head, with good retention and lacing. The aroma has grapefruit, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, maple syrup, and light bourbon.

The taste is sweeter than the aroma suggested. The bourbon is stronger in the taste than the smell, but is not too strong. It seems to be just right. In addition to bourbon, the taste also has grapefruit, pineapple, vanilla, coconut, maple syrup, and oak. The flavors come together very nicely. This is a definite sipper.

Medium to full bodied with average carbonation. Smooth and easy to drink. The alcohol is not as noticeable as I thought it might be for a 10.40 % abv beer. Very well made. I recommend this highly, if you have access to it.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:47:29 | More by hardy008

ChrisKayler

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Sharing this one with my family - cool bottle!

Glass: Duvel Tulip.

Appearance: A beautiful hazy orange color. Slight carbonation rising from the bottom. Very little head produced from a gentle pour.

Smell: Deep sniffs produce mostly bourbon. A very sweet bourbon with little alcohol or boozy character on the nose. Not really my style, I hope that the flavors of an IPA come through a little more in the taste.

Taste: Hmmm, kind of good! Lots of vanilla comes through from the bourbon, yet it still remains quite mild! A little bitterness from the hops, but overall this one seems relatively tasteless to me in the hop department. Most of the hop flavor falls into the "piney" department for me.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and medium carbonation, oily, with a dry finish.

Overall: I definitely feel let down compared to my anticipation for this beer. The bourbon qualities are beautiful, and not too strong. However, there needs to be much more tropical fruit / citrus qualities for me to personally like this one. If I got those flavors combined with the vanilla from the bourbon I would have been very happy, but overall the hop character is just too weak for me. Not a drain pour, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 00:46:20 | More by ChrisKayler

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.21/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

And let the point, counter-point begin! Do you prefer IPAs fresh and unadulturated? Do you like barrel aging? Or better yet- bourbon barrel aging? Does that age take away from the hops or round them out? How does that balance play out? ...Doom takes you through all that range of preferences, all the while seducing you against your will.

Like syrupy caramel, the ale pours golden honey-amber and carries the standard hoppy haze. Releasing a creamy textured, ivory colored head, the tight knit sheet pulls apart to form a necklace around the glass before retaining the session. Light on lace, the alcohol-laden ale prefers cognac-like appearances... deservingly so.

Bold boubony aromas are reinforced by caramel and toffee before being wrapped by citrus and pine hop scents. Candied in its character, the ale brings in fragrant oak, vanilla, almond, marshmallow, and coconut. The balance of grapefruit and pine ismore than just supportive- those hop notes command the stage as well.

But then there's the taste. The rich caramel, bourbon, and vanilla flavors layer on the tongue heavy and in saturating fashion. Candied almonds, coconut, and sweet cream only reaffirm the beer's malty-rich upstart. But the late middle palate allows for a rise of citrus peels and piths to pierce the malt and balance the beer with ease. A late charge of strong oak, bourbon tannin and cherry-like alcohol keep the complex alcohol taste coming.

Though an IPA, the ale carries the body of an American Barleywine because of its supreme sweet and savory underpinnings- yet with its dryish charm from alcohol, hop resins, and toasted hop and oak underpinnings. Though strongly warm, the beer lingers with a marshmallowy creaminess and grassy hop bite that keeps the beer balanced even in the deepest of aftertastes.

Because the bourbon barrels have rubbed off the fresh and sharp edges of hops and then supplanted them with bourbon booziness, the beer sides heavily with American-style Barleywines. I don't see it as any type of IPA, but as an American strong barley-focused, boubon barrel layered, and hop infused ale of ultimate complexity. And I celebrate it very well in this arena.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2013 06:38:24 | More by BEERchitect

kylehay2004

Florida

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Not much head on a clear golden with burnt orange hues body. Not much lacing. Aroma is mild and simple with oak, earthy and slightly herbal hops and mild caramel malts with some candied orange. A lot of whiskey and oak sweetness throughout with a still noticeable caramel malt base. It's interesting how this one remains fairly bourbony without being too boozy but still has a booze sharpness and burn. The hops are mostly earthy with some tart citrus. Medium body and moderate to high carbonation. The carbonation seems a little strong. Nice balance between the barrel aging and hops.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 02:33:37 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

3.8/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Pours with two fingers of white foam on top of a lightly hazy, copper colored body. The foam settles at a moderate lace and leaves thick lace.

S - Pine, vanilla, caramel, and citrus.

T - Thick, sweet malt up front with some vanilla. Pine and grapefruit in the middle with a finish of grapefruit pith, oak, and whiskey.

M - A syrupy body, moderate carbonation, and a sweet finish.

D - Like most other bourbon barrel IPAs I've had, this just doesn't work that well. For whatever reason the hops and bourbon clash and while the beer is drinkable enough, I can't help but think the barrels should have been saved for a stout or barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 02:32:24 | More by nickfl

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a medium to dark orange copper color with a soapy thick two fingered head that dies down after several minutes.

S - Bourbon, citrus orange and grapefruit, light traces of caramel malt, vanilla, and oak, very faint spiciness.

T - Wow!, this thing screams bourbon from start to finish and doesn't let up. Bourbon, oak, and vanilla up front, dies down somewhat in the middle to let some orange, grapefruit, and a little caramel surface for a moment before blending with more bourbon, oak, vanilla, and some peppery spice. The experience ends with a nip of sweet vanilla caramel, bourbon, and a lingering grassy grapefruit bitter finish.

M - Full medium body, mild carbonation, and leaves a somewhat wet cloth coating in the mouth.

O - Put anything in a barrel and I'm game, this is an interesting combo and worth a try but in the end, I prefer my Double Trouble straight up without the barrel and the aroma is a little faint compared to its pedigree.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 21:14:14 | More by jzeilinger

happy4hoppybeer

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -23%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bomber poured into snifter:

Hazy dark orange with minimal white head, very little lacing. Head fizzles away within seconds.

Big nose of oak, charcoal, caramel, malt, some citrus and hops. Makes a good impression.

Mouth is filled with malt sweetness, confronted with bitter hop goodness, followed by the whiskey barrel taste. It's not that well-balanced, and comes across as schzio. I think the whole "barrel-aged" crap is out of hand, and brewers should just lay off of it.

Medium body, with average carbonation.

I think "barrel-aging" any kind of IPA is a disgrace. This isn't bad, and is certainly more than drinkable, but give me a straight up, unaltered DIPA or IPA anyday.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 21:28:50 | More by happy4hoppybeer

BradtheGreat7

Ohio

4.51/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Review taken on my Birthday May 2nd, 2013. It was in my fridge for nearly a week before opened. Saving it for my 'special day'.

Large brown Founders Backstage series bomber bottle. Excellent label and artwork. These style bombers are beautiful. This was poured into a stemmed tulip style glass.

A - burnt orange/dark golden/copperish colored body. Slightly off white head that poured lush and massive. Foamy while leaving some stick. Settles to a nice ring of lacing with a few big splotches floating in the center while looking down at the ale.

S - Bourbon and oakiness. Some boozy vanilla and caramel. Citrusy hops are noticed but very mellow. Maybe some odd coconut and bubblegum whiffs. Sweet sugary aroma that screams bourbon barrel aged. Fruitiness paired with the bourbon booziness and vanilla sweetness make for a wonderful aroma.

T - A real oakiness up front with citrusy hops. Big bourbon flavor provide excellent vanilla and slight caramel notes. A small touch of grassy hops paired with more citric hoppiness as you go further into the flavors. A pretty hefty booziness to the overall flavor. Bubblegum and sugary from the time spent in the barrels. Hops add some bitterness but the overall sweetness make for a mild bitter presence. A big dose of bourbon character in the end taking some of the massive bite out of the finish.

M - big and bold. Massive bodied and coats the mouth with big time flavor. This isn't something everyone will find easy to drink. The mixture of Double Trouble and bourbon barrels make for a massive and bold encounter. This definitely isn't for everyone. But I myself found this to be my kind of DIPA. Strong while taking no prisoners. Dominating the mouth while letting you know with every sip you are drinking a bourbon barrel aged double ipa.

O - wow what a creation. I can't recall many DIPAs I've had aged in bourbon barrels, but damn was this thing delicious. Doom brought a lot to the table and I enjoyed every bit of it. Wish I could have had a chance to buy a few more of these. It has a lot of class and a lot of thought went into this ale. I just hope it gets released again at some point. It's not for everyone, but then again it wasn't intended to be. It's a remarkable ale nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 14:32:16 | More by BradtheGreat7

barczar

Kentucky

3.56/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy deep golden copper with no head, but a whitish ring of foam around the rim.

Muted citrus, a hint of oak, and bourbon form the initial aroma. Slightly sweet caramel notes, along with vanilla and resin, add complexity. Fresh cut grass surfaces late. More subtle than expected.

Booze encompasses the flavor initially. There's some oak dryness and bitterness, along with resiny underpinnings. Deep caramel and toasted notes surface after a few sips. After the bourbon and oak subside, there's a muted grapefruit and lemon character. Becomes earthy late.

Body is moderate to almost a touch light, with modest carbonation and substantial alcohol warmth. It's borderline fusel.

The balance is bitter and boozy, and the rest of the flavors are unfortunately dwarfed. Citrus is pretty muted.

Improves as it warms, but not enough to merit excellent status. Still too bitter for my palate.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2013 01:44:10 | More by barczar