Founders Nemesis 2010 - Founders Brewing Company

FernMaster

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a goblet.

I would usually pour this into a snifter, but I was feeling sassy.

Nemesis pours a very dark brown. The rim if you tip it shows a darker reddish brown color. Usually I don't expect a lot of head in a barleywine, in this there is very little and moderate lacing. This has better lacing that most, so bravo.

The smell is loud, just big. Caramel and dark fruits are definitely at the forefront. There's also this wooden smokey smell to it as well, like burnt toffee. You can also get a hint of the booze that lies in this 12% beast, which adds an unwelcome hint of heat in the nose.

Usually I'm so-so on the barleywine style, but this is one I really like. For me it's sometimes hard to get past the big alcohol taste in barlywines and the brown-sugar muskiness, like a rotted woods smell. Nemesis, like I said, I like. It's a good balance of the alcohol adding a nice touch of spice on the finish without being overbearing. There's a brown sugar, toffee, caramel flavor that's a good balance with this sort of piny raisin bitterness. It's peculiar, but very good.

The mouthfeel is nice, it's a big bold body which upholds the flavors very well. I wish there was a little less of the alcohol though as it does affect the mouthfeel a bit by burning like a bourbon. But that's my only complaint about the mouthfeel. It's else wise a very drinkable barleywine. Usually I sit and sip them, but I don't need to do that (as a survivability tactic) with Nemesis. All in all, it's a very good, bold barleywine. One I like a lot, which is a good thing considering the crazy price tag.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 03:15:41 | More by FernMaster

Dirksen

California

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-24-2013 18:22:54 | More by Dirksen

Mike

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-22-2013 02:08:58 | More by Mike

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-22-2013 00:57:02 | More by mikeincharleston

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4.25

Presentation: 12 oz. stubby bottle I have kept in the cellar for a couple years. Decided to open this up recently so I chilled this down. Poured into my Kate the Great tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours almost zero head. Surprisingly lack of carbonation. Dark brown in color but some light does get through.

Aroma: Nice earthy pine tones from the hops. Definitely a pretty strong hop presence given the age. Chocolate and caramel backing with almost no oxidation.

Taste: Pine, light citrus and a strong earthiness really take hold and dominate. The malt comes through nicely and lends a slight cocoa bitterness. Lots of chocolate and brown sugar. Hides the ABV really well.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation is definitely noticably absent. Not flat persay but close. Medium bodied.

Overall, a really nice tasty black barleywine with some nice hop character. Nicely balanced. The lack of carbonation (not sure if it just this bottle?) does not hurt this too much at all.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 23:47:32 | More by Gosox8787

ackeeper

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-21-2013 02:02:13 | More by ackeeper

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 14:30:48 | More by InspectorBob

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-19-2013 00:39:23 | More by Photekut

mscudder

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-18-2013 17:41:11 | More by mscudder

EROCK75

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-13-2013 15:50:05 | More by EROCK75

kscaldef

Oregon

2.5/5  rDev -40.3%

05-09-2013 21:12:36 | More by kscaldef

2beerdogs

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-09-2013 05:53:53 | More by 2beerdogs

hilgart1

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-08-2013 00:22:43 | More by hilgart1

Pecafaced

Maryland

4/5  rDev -4.5%

04-30-2013 23:24:40 | More by Pecafaced

pmoney

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%

04-29-2013 19:24:23 | More by pmoney

zachattack555

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.5%

04-28-2013 20:18:24 | More by zachattack555

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

04-26-2013 22:51:21 | More by spycow

SaxmanRick

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

04-26-2013 16:37:20 | More by SaxmanRick

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

04-26-2013 11:00:21 | More by skaboom420

Steve_Oldrati

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.5%

04-26-2013 06:44:48 | More by Steve_Oldrati

phishbfm

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

04-26-2013 02:20:21 | More by phishbfm

szmnnl99

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

04-19-2013 01:28:16 | More by szmnnl99

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

04-19-2013 01:26:53 | More by JohnnieNepal

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

04-16-2013 18:57:52 | More by cadaugherty

KFBR392

Illinois

4.01/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A local micropub sat on their keg of this until today when they unleashed it.

Appearance: Very dark, almost pitch black. No head to speak of, beside a very thin lacing on the edges of the glass. Above average lacing on the edges of the glass with each drink.

Smell: Very subdued overall. A lot of strong booze/bourbon, vanilla, hops, and barley. The barley comes off very potent.

Taste: The front is a silky vanilla bourbon booze ride. The body evens out and shows off the strong accents of barley. Finish is medium dry alcohol bite. There is some decent complexity here but overall nothing outstanding.

Mouthfeel: Cleans off the palette, almost dangerously drinkable. Good thing my girlfriend was with me to drive, this one went down awfully quick.

Overall: I was so excited to hear about the Founder's take over which included this great brew. Definitely had the feel of a well aged barleywine. I will definitely be going back for some more.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2013 02:54:43 | More by KFBR392