Founders Nemesis 2009 - Founders Brewing Company

CruisaC

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thought to myself "self--you've had plenty of Nemesis '10 but never the peculiarly named Nemesis '09." Time to remedy that problem. Thanks to coreyfmcdonald for helping that happen.

pours a dark caramel color with less than an inch of butterscotch head.

Smells like a lot of bourbon, not much of any sort of maple sweetness on the nose.

The taste is primarily three things: bourbon and alcohol up front with some of that maple sweetness coming through on the back end. Not much actual beer flavor coming through but likely a good bit of the malt flavor is overshadowed by the bourbon. Not a bad thing, but it is a sipper. You have to sip slowly to appreciate nuances or it could be a bit on the "hot" side...whatever that means.

On the heavier side of thick. Just a bit of alcohol burn going down the throat.

Overall a bit boozy but tasty nonetheless. Could stand a bit more maple flavor but let's be honest---they're maple BOURBON barrels, and that's what you get. Super glad to get the chance and glad I have another.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 00:33:54 | More by CruisaC

JayAre46

Texas

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

from notes shared with DC

been waiting awhile to try this one and a first for the style.

A - pours a light transparent golden honey, with zero retention and minimal bubbles, looks about as good as a beer can without head.

A - smell the booze immediately, hot like a .50 desert eagle, big maple, molasses covered bananas, caramel, alcohol is very warming

T - banana, bourbon, sweet caramel and bourbon taffey flavored candy. candied caramel, with some oak flavor that tries to battle the sweet mexican made candy. or the candy in the khaki bag with hills i think and a fence called werthers (credit dereck) alcohol is very present but not over powering.

Medium mouthfeel, no carbonation very silky and smooth, flows heavily.

O - very good beer, had high expectations that were slightly let down, i expected more of a "wheat" presence but did enjoy the wheat and bourbon combo definitely would like more on a cold evening.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 02:32:57 | More by JayAre46

Casey10

Maine

4.47/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was a really nice beer that I had received in trade awhile ago finally glad I opened it up.

This was a great beer it poured with little carbination but reatained a nice semi dark color. Taste of carmel and malts.

This was a sipper for sure if you have a chance to try this please do.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 04:47:01 | More by Casey10

projectflam86

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been aging this one since it came out. Hopefully some of that heat has faded.

A- Pours a murky orange/copper color with a thin foam head that fades away to nothing. Lots of floaties.

S- Really nice sweet maple syrup in the nose with some caramel and a good dose of bourbon. Things are starting to shape up with this one...

T- I'm not sure if I've ever had a wheatwine before so it's hard to say if this captures the style's quintessential flavors, but I can say that it is tasty. Full flavored with notes of vanilla, caramel, maple syrup, and plenty of bourbon. Very sweet overall.

M- Full bodied and syrupy with very little carbonation.

O- This is a very different brew. I love the bourbon addition and I think the time in the cellar helped to lessen some of the alcohol harshness from the fresh version.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 22:27:58 | More by projectflam86

claytong

Vermont

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

appearance - beautiful golden orange with what looks to be yeast hanging out inside.

smell - caramel, maple, bourbon, minor traces of wheat ... simple but great

taste - follows the nose with some spices (like cloves but very light)

mouthfeel - silky smooth, drinking like an english barleywine to me

a beautiful way to finish the 8 hour work day in the sun, now for a shower

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 21:51:47 | More by claytong

errantnight

California

3.15/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

I must say, for one of my favorite breweries, brewing a beer style (Wheatwhine) that I love, and doing it all up with maple and bourbon and the hoo ha and the whatnot... I was so stoked for this beer when it came out that I hungrily traded for multiple four packs sight unseen.

The last time I let a little thing like brewery reputation and awesome sounding beer influence me to over-commit before tasting.

This beer has never been particularly good, and it really hasn't improved.

A booze bomb to start, two years in it stills reaks of high alcohol and bourbon in particular. I say "reaks" which makes it sound unpalatable, but it's far from it. It's just a touch harsh. A pleasant enough, even soft, harshness for a snifter of the hard stuff, but to my tastes unacceptably sharp for a beer.

Like the far superior Backwoods Bastard, this has a gorgeous, luscious mouthfeel that in and of itself warms me towards this beer. Despite the heavy accents of booze, this is full, smooth, soft and slightly round. Sweetness is apparent on the palate but finishes nicely dry with a hot, warming chest to follow.

This is so in the range of something spectacular. That it avoids thinness in and of itself with this level of aggressive booze is an accomplishment. But it's still enough straight bourbon notes to make me question if this, or the un-barrel aged version of this beer with a shot of bourbon in it, would be preferable.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 06:06:56 | More by errantnight

Adrianized

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter.

Orange copper in color with particulates floating throughout. One finger off-white head settles to a layer of foamy bubbles.

Up front are huge bourbon notes, maple, and oak.  I also get some sweet caramel, vanilla, maybe molasses, and a hint of glazed bar nuts.

Big, boozy, warming bourbon smacks you in the face.  This is followed by that maple glaze and more hot booze.  It finishes with a subtle hay and wheat.  It leaves behind lots of bourbon and some bitterness.

Mouthfeel is full-bodied, oily, and syrupy.

Overall, what another amazing offering from founders.  These guys know how to age their brews in bourbon barrels!  I can't imagine how hot this must have been fresh.  Grab it if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 12:37:53 | More by Adrianized

Janderson91

Alabama

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

BIG thanks to ottodyer for hooking me up with this bottle. No date on the bottle but I believe it was ~July 2009. Enjoyed on 07/20/11.

A - 12oz bottle poured into a goblet. Pours a just slightly hazy bright gold/orange color with no head and no lacing at all. To be expected from a wheatwine, looks pretty good.

S - Wow, very interesting. Lots of maple sap, pine, almost a minty aroma with the sweetness of the wheat and the bite of the alcohol and vanilla from the barrel works very well.

T - Sweet wheatwine throughout with layers of different flavors to compliment it. Even after two years, this beer is still quite hot, but it works. The maple is quite evident and the barrel aging just adds some complexity that most wheatwines lack. The maple and vanilla just work with each other so well on top of the wheat and alcohol, this is excellent.

M - Mouthfeel is good. Very little carbonation but it's not too thick at all.

O - Overall, this is by far the best wheatwine I've had. Both beers in the Nemesis series have been exemplary. Great stuff from Founders.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 03:38:09 | More by Janderson91

Marty30

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into A Jackie O's snifter.55 degrees.

A. Pours a cloudy orange with some golden hues.Not much carbonation or head just some large bubbles.No lacing and head to be expected. Some floaties in there.

S. Maple and bourbon come first. I get some sweet caramel and a little sweet fruity smell like some berries.

T. MMMM! Maple bourbon With some wood and a sweet kind of boozy taste.Some caramel in there also. Just so damn good.

M. Mouth is thick and heavy but not where your mouth is coated and you cant get the taste out.Very nice.Low carbonation which fits perfect.

Overall Founders can't do any wrong in my eyes,every single beer I have and every time I have them they are excellent. I must get more of this.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 00:32:27 | More by Marty30

SFLpunk

Vermont

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A big thanks to Thorpe429 for this bottle! He's the man! 12oz brown glass bottle with white wax (that may have been added by Thorpe...).

Immediately I can smell the maple and then the bourbon as I'm pouring it. A hazy golden color with thin white head after a rough pour that dissipates quickly.

Nose is DOM-I-NATED by bourbon. Just huge vanilla and whiskey, all day. I can get a little honey-like aroma too.

Palate is big and sweet, with lots and lots of bourbon and toasted oak. As the palate progresses I can get a little maple candy and some honey here too. The palate is hot, not prickly, just hot from the booze.

Notes: I prefer this one to the 2010, age aside. This beer is still very young, I believe. It's very focused on the whiskey, which is delicious, but I'd like to hope that age with give it more grace. Need to seek out more for cellaring. (BM me.)

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 04:39:55 | More by SFLpunk

dcloeren

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Shared with JayAre46

Poured a beautiful unfiltered sunset orange with little floaties suspended throughout. Got about a half a finger of bubbly khaki colored head that disappeared instantly.

Smells of rich tropical fruits, booze soaked oak, some sweet maple syrup and maybe some caramel as well.

The taste was a little hard to put a finger on due to the numbing alcohol on the tongue. Alcohol infused maple syrup, great oak characteristics, booze infused weather's original caramel hard candy!!!! BAMMMM!! Took me forever to put my finger on it. My grandma would be going nuts for this beer.

Medium bodied and syrupy with a decent amount of carbonation. Boozy tongue numbing after taste dominates your taste buds with every sip.

Overall, this was a great beer. Not one that I plan to seek out or could drink a ton of but one that was extremely unique compared to other beers that I have had. Definitely worth a try if you can get your hands on a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 01:41:31 | More by dcloeren

TheJollyHop

California

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a mason jar at ~55F

Huge aroma of tropical fruit (coconut, pineapple) rum soaked golden raisins with whiffs of alcohol. Nose has a distinct sake like scent which I have never experienced before, and is extremely pleasant.

Beautiful, hazy golden amber, with a dense and creamy off-white head. Taste of coconut and vanilla upfront, alcohol throughout and toasted wheat sweetness in the middle; slight oxidation. Bourbon and toasted oak add complexity without. dominating the entire flavor profile. Creamy and medium to heavy bodied with medium carbonation.

Age has really mellowed this beer out and made it a fantastic drinking experience. Better than The Bruery's White Oak Sap in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 20:13:48 | More by TheJollyHop

zep9865

Indiana

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

finally get to try this beer from my favorite brewery courtesy once again to aasher.

poured into New Belgium snifter with a light blood-orange color and all kinds of sediment.

Smell is super malty and bready. It's 12% but i don't think the smell is more extreme than something like matilda. I detect some licorice and cinnamon. It smells like hard candy.

Alcohol is extremely abrupt in this beer. Carbonation is lacking and the beer is a lil spicy. Very sweet malt with a brutally bitter aftertaste

Would like to experience more carbonation in this barley but it grows some much needed hair on the chest.

All in all I'm glad in tried this beer. It's still better than half of the barley wines i have tried, although this is a wheat wine. The first i have tried in fact

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 06:52:40 | More by zep9865

aasher

Indiana

3.33/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This bottle is just short of two years old and is being split with zep9865. This beer pours a lightly murky and medium orange in color with a light white lacing around the glass. It smells of faded bourbon with a light vanilla tinge while also featuring a good amount of faded citrus hops. It's kind of sweet on the nose, in a fruity kind of way. I must say, it's gotten soft with age. When I last had this, fresh and some month after its release, it was the most bourbon laiden beer I've ever had. Now it smells soft and delicate, like a beer in old age. It tastes of faded hops, bourbon barrel aged. You get a light citrus aspect but it's slight, and provides the majority of the sweetness. The vanilla is minimal. It drinks sticky and sweet. The bourbon aspect is definitely more prominent in the flavor but is much, much less than it was awhile ago. I'm really surprised that this beer has fallen so far. It drinks medium in body and kind of sticky. It's ok. Would I chase it? No. It's solid but nothing crazy at this point.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 06:48:17 | More by aasher

youradhere

Arkansas

2.4/5  rDev -42%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Pours a murky golden orange, no head to speak of but a light cap of lacing. Smells of sweet malt, bourbon, vanilla, raisins and honey. Taste is maple bourbon, some astringency, lots of alcohol burn still. the bourbon makes this pretty one-dimensional as it still dominates the flavor in this beer. As it warms the bourbon becomes more present and so does the astringency, it is almost distracting it is getting so bad. I like bourbon barrel character, just not this flavor of a straight shot of it in my beer, I can hardly even taste the base beer which makes it seem as though it is being masked by the bourbon. Mouthfeel is alright, it is thick enough to carry the bourbon, but could be better. Not a great beer by my standards, I think the bourbon was too much on this like Backwoods. I can't even taste the beer outside of the bourbon, I might as well be drinking straight bourbon instead of this next time.

I definitely prefer the 2010 Nemesis to this one, hands down. On to Bells 10,000 next.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 02:43:38 | More by youradhere

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3.68/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip from a 12oz bottle.

A - Pours a lot lighter than I remember. A slightly oily and flat strong copper color with some great orange hues. There is a slight fiz but no real head forms. There is a slight ring of bubbles on the edge of the glass.

S - Wow. Aging has done it well. Starts off with some mild booze and some nice woody notes. Some maple syrup notes are present as well as some sweet caramel.

T & M - There is still some alcohol burn to it. Lower carbonation. Maple sweetness as well as some burn and some woody notes. The nose doesn't let on to how boozy this still is. Some slight sweetness but still with a pretty hefty burn. The nose is a bit more promising for this beer. Still quite harsh on the palette. Some malt, caramel and some wood but still a lot of booze.

O - Not as promising as i thought it would be. In fact a bit disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 23:35:40 | More by JoEBoBpr

trappistlover

Arizona

3.73/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(12oz bottle). Pours cloudy apricot color with thin white head. Lots of yeast in suspension. Moderate carbonation. Aroma of bourbon and oak dominate this beer. I’m not getting much of the maple. Taste is sweet with syrup and bourbon leading the way. Its fairly full bodied with some thickness to this. Smooth finish. The hops have faded, but I probably prefer it that way. Pretty nice althought the alcohol is noticeable.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 05:00:18 | More by trappistlover

wchollif

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 2009 Nemesis into a tulip. Not an aggressive pour since I knew that the sediment would be an issue. So minimal head and lots of cloudiness made a very ugly beer. Right away this beer makes up for it on the nose. Wow, you can really get the maple caramel in the nose. I'm not getting bourbon, is this a maple "bourbon" -bal aged, or just maple? Moving on, taste here is fantastic, great caramel, malt, and slight citrus flavor with very little bitter hoppiness. Mostly malty character and the maple really dominates. This is a dessert beer, but I think I could drink more than one. It's not as cloying as I expected. Aggressive carbonation comes from the bottom of the glass helping the drinkability and mouthfeel. I like this beer, a lot, but the sediment really bothers me.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 14:14:40 | More by wchollif

joshuaseresse

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle received from a co-worker. Split with my girlfriend and poured into snifters:

A - A nice golden amber with a bit of ruby hues toward the center. Very faint foam ring around the edges with a little patch of foamy bubbles in the middle and some murky clouds. A decent amount of sediment in the glasses despite not pouring the entire bottle out.

S - This smells pretty damn good. Nice aromas of maple, vanilla, little bit of brown sugar, earth and wood. Just a tiny, faint aroma of citrus. It is a nice smooth, well developed aged brew that is really quite mellow.

T - The taste follows the nose. Maple, bourbon, wood, a touch of honey, earth and a bit of dirt. There is a bit of heat and booze to this one despite it being aged, but it is not as bad as it was when it fresh, that was a hot mess.

M - Pretty smooth with a little prickle from the heat. The carbonation is really light.

O - This is pretty nice, but not great. I'm glad that the heat died down a bit but it is still noticeable. The smell is really nice and delicious, but the taste has faded a bit. I'm not usually a fan of wheat wines, and this one doesn't convert me but I did enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 05:11:46 | More by joshuaseresse

Wadsey

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nemesis 2009 

Hard-poured into a DFH signature glass. 

A: Color borders between pale and medium brushed amber. No effervescence, head or lacing. 

S: Mint and spearmint grab the nose. Amazing. A little vanilla presents itself, too. A damp wood forms subthreshold. 

T: Sweet caramel malts, then mint and spearmint rush in. Vanilla and, to a lesser extent, coconut join fray. A little alcohol, but well masked. Medium bitterness moves in. If I dig, maybe a wheat tang can be found. 

M: Big, round body with light carbonation. Mouthcoating.  Pleasantly warming. 

O: Nemesis 2009 is a fascinating beer. Barrel-aging dominates the base beer, which is a wheatwine, but it is secondary barrel characteristics that shine:  mint, vanilla and coconut. Alcohol is well masked. Very interesting and enjoyable sipper. One of the few Founders beers that benefits from aging. 

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 03:56:01 | More by Wadsey

badboyrsl84

California

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a thick honey color with no existing head.

Smells - sweet maple sugar, Bourbon vanilla, alcohol, oakyness. Its very SEXY!

Taste - Bourbon barrel kick in the beginning and end. I get a wheaty taste in the end as well. The middle shines so beautifully in this one. supper duper sweet with maple, vanilla with a hint of grains. The alcohol is get more present as it warms up.

Mouthfeel. Super thick from all the sweetness. It coats your mouth and throat with each sip. The alcohol is noticeable as it warms but does not dominate.

Overall - this is my first wheat wine and it won't be my last. Its one of my favorite beers of all time now. The only sad part is its an anniversary beer and it may never come back :(.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 05:49:41 | More by badboyrsl84

superspak

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to jsanford for sending me this one! 12 ounce bottle into snifter. Pours a very hazy orange color with a small off white head with good retention. Minimal glass lacing, but a thin lacing cap does last for the whole glass. Aromas of strong bourbon, oak, vanilla, maple, caramel, and molasses. Huge aromas here, a bit of alcohol in there as well. Taste of huge amounts of caramel, bourbon, and vanilla on the front that transitions to smooth and sweet maple and oak on the finish with some molasses. A bit of alcohol in there as well, but it blends well with the rest of the flavor. No bitterness noticed, but a lot of sweetness present here, and there is a ton of flavor with fantastic balance. Super smooth drinking for 12%, and alcohol is extremely well hidden for the amount. Fairly mild carbonation with a huge full body. Very slick feel as well that is incredible. Overall this is just an incredible beer, I would have it again if possible.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2011 02:40:51 | More by superspak

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

1.93/5  rDev -53.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

finally decided to crack this one open. bottle date of 02/03/10.

appears a clear amber golden color. no head, but some bubbles stream to the surface for a bit. fakes of yeast float throughout.
aroma is all whiskey and maple syrup, as expected. boozy.

damn, this is still hot for being over a year aged. way too much bourbon, this tastes like a glass of watered down bourbon, not beer. solvent-like fusel alcohol flavors. very low carbonation.

very disappointed, especially since Fouders is one of my favorite brewers. unpleasant, I could only drank half the glass.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 02:57:13 | More by jmdrpi

Spider889

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of badnewsbeers. Live review.

Ohh, and just for Ryan, this review is entirely droided.

The appearance is really lackluster. No bubbles, no head, no foam, nada. The color is an amber with pinkish hues.

The smell begins with lots of bourbon notes. Vanilla and oak are big, along with a harsh alcohol astringency. As it warms the beer grows exponentially in deliciousness. Maple begins to come through, though it never becomes super apparent. Brown sugar and toffee round out the aroma with a pleasant sweetness.

The taste also really benefitted from some warmth. There's a sweetness that is slightly citrus in nature, along with lovely bourbon flavors. It grows in bitterness over time, to the point where I must assume that this was heavily hopped. Additionally, wheat or no wheat I feel like there could be some rye in the grain bill as well.

Spicy orange peel and peppery alcohol lead into complex malt flavors. Vanilla is very big as is caramel and tobacco leaves.

Quite boozy, this is a sipper. I kind of wonder if Founders didn't fudge the 12% abv listing on this... very low carbonation, I was wanting at least a little more.

Overall - I finally get why everyone raved about how much better the '09 was compared to the '10. I want more.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2011 07:36:14 | More by Spider889

mdaschaf

Washington

3.8/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes 4/22/11.

A: Pours an orange color with tons of floaties, reminds me of a snow globe actually. No head formation at all and no lacing.

S: Some honey, a little bourbon, some oak, a little vanilla, and a tinge of alcohol.

T: There is a solid bourbon flavor, the vanilla and oak come through. A little bit maple maybe as well. A little too boozy for my taste.

M: Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Pretty smooth, but a sipper for sure.

O: Pretty good, not the easiest to drink, and a little strong for my liking. I did like it more than some other wheatwines I have had probably due to the bourbon barrels.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 20:34:21 | More by mdaschaf