Founders Nemesis 2009 - Founders Brewing Company

elgiacomo

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Revisiting Nov 30, 2010 at about 10 months old and some age has done wonders for an already excellent brew.

Again served in a Duvel tulip. Pours amber with a whole lotta floaties and a good white head that recedes to a light foamy cap and ring leaving some spotty lacing behind.

Aroma is fantastic, I feel like I'm sticking my nose straight in the maple bourbon barrel and not a glass of beer. Also a lot of vanilla, a bit of fruit, banana and pear, some caramel, spice, some alcohol as well on the nose, very good strength.

Flavor is a delicious balance of bourbon whiskey, maple syrup, vanilla, oak, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, green raisins, spice. Alcohol burn has diminished drastically but this monster of a beer does still leave me with some warmth in my chest.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, creamy, finishes a bit sticky, low carbonation.

This was a bit too boozy for me when fresh but really drinking very, very nice right now. Can't wait to see what additional aging will do!

---

Original Review, March 7, 2010:

12oz bottled Feb 3, 2010. Served in a Duvel glass. Pours amber/copper with a very small off-white head that quickly reduces to a light ring and doesn't leave much lacing at all.

Aroma is a little quiet but improves with warming. Features caramel malts, some bourbon and oak, good dose of vanilla, a bit of spice and hops, a touch of the maple syrup.

Flavor improves on the aroma, more sweet caramel malts, maple syrup is more prominent, wood, some floral hops, vanilla, bourbon is very strong along with the alcohol, a good dose of spice on the finish. Almost a beer version of whiskey, very boozy. Interesting at the very least.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a bit sticky, low carbonation.

Glad to get my hands on this, good right now but not blown away, especially for the price. However, this should benefit greatly with some age and I will update the review later.

Appearance 3.5, Smell 3.5, Taste 4.0, Feel 3.5, Overall 4, Score 3.75

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2010 16:20:55 | More by elgiacomo

ackeeper

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-21-2013 02:02:55 | More by ackeeper

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-20-2013 14:30:26 | More by InspectorBob

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

05-19-2013 00:39:11 | More by Photekut

TheRemyLeabeau

Ohio

4.94/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

One of my favorite beers of all time. I have only had it with three years of age on it I never had the beer fresh. It was honestly like drinking candy to me, the flavor was balanced throughout and as it warmed the sweetness seeped out even more than when cold. I honestly believe that its hard to consider a beer based of other people's reviews because everyone is so different that depending on your preferences you might like it/love it/hate it for any beer. So if you're like me and have a massive sweet tooth for sugar goods then this beer is right up your alley!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 21:11:54 | More by TheRemyLeabeau

csustar001

Ohio

5/5  rDev +20.8%

05-13-2013 20:53:37 | More by csustar001

kscaldef

Oregon

3/5  rDev -27.5%

05-09-2013 21:12:23 | More by kscaldef

UCLABrewN84

California

4.14/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle shared at GRG1313’s tasting.

Pours a hazy orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is malt, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and bourbon aromas. Taste is much the same with vanilla and bourbon flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of woody bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some nice aromas and great flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:02:50 | More by UCLABrewN84

dalepryor

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

05-07-2013 22:13:44 | More by dalepryor

zachattack555

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

04-28-2013 20:18:02 | More by zachattack555

Texasfan549

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -21.5%

04-28-2013 01:17:02 | More by Texasfan549

kjkinsey

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%

04-28-2013 01:07:50 | More by kjkinsey

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.4%

04-26-2013 22:50:24 | More by spycow

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

04-16-2013 18:57:37 | More by cadaugherty

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.4%

04-06-2013 04:14:59 | More by outoffocus

brother_kenneth

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%

03-30-2013 23:35:35 | More by brother_kenneth

RandyKemka

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -3.4%

03-30-2013 17:35:39 | More by RandyKemka

st9647v3

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

03-30-2013 03:52:22 | More by st9647v3

herman77

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

03-26-2013 23:25:23 | More by herman77

AndrewKroll

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%

03-22-2013 02:17:16 | More by AndrewKroll

FUwolfpacker

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

03-14-2013 14:29:28 | More by FUwolfpacker

siege06nd

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Bill for the trade...

A. Pours a very murky, wildflower honey color with an orangish tint. Very flat, only a trace of extremely tiny bubbles ring the glass. Sparce lacing. For the age and ABV, not bad.

S. That's the stuff...treacle, caramel, ripe fruit, vanilla, brown sugar, hints of chocolate, sawdust, even some herbal qualities. Vanilla and caramel are at the forefront. Good amount of honey and some maple as well. I also detect faint spiciness from the hops. Smells like a rum cake.

T. Follows the nose with a more pronounced barrel flavor and extremely prominent chocolate notes. Big kiss of bourbon on the back end, but not in an aggressive, off-putting way. Chocolate, caramel, maple, vanilla, and ripe fruit. There's an interplay on the mid that is distinctly melon-like. This rolls over the tongue like liquid dessert and hits a lot of beautiful notes along the way. Oh and did I mention hops? They've faded a bit, but they still assert themselves with a mildly spicy, bittering finish.

M. Sweet and decadent. Carbonation is still moderate which is impressive for the age. The crispness of the carbonation and the hops leaves a very neat finish that lingers long enough for you to savor but not so long that it overstays its welcome. This is a well balanced beer, a lot of bold flavors are integrated quite well here.

O. One of the best wheatwines I have had. Surprisingly good considering the age. If there is a dusty corner in your store where these can be had, I wouldn't hesitate to pick them up. Drinking great now and I don't see any reason why it won't continue to drink great on into the future. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 00:08:01 | More by siege06nd

BMMillsy

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%

02-17-2013 03:43:54 | More by BMMillsy

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%

02-11-2013 04:38:36 | More by randylangford

calcnerd

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%

02-01-2013 02:44:26 | More by calcnerd