Founders 10K IPA - Founders Brewing Company

drabmuh

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, what a beer!

Beer served in a 10 ounce pour on draft in a shaker glass of sort. Beer is orange and clear with a white head of small and medium bubbles, some lacing, low carbonation, looks good.

Aroma is amazing, nice hop character, great earthiness, pine, some citrus but the pine wins here. Awesome, almost no malt in the nose.

Great great great beer, chewy with the hops but not too dry and not 10000 IBUs on the end, just a solid bitterness, nice subtle malt backbone, great beer overall. A really enjoyable IPA. I love this beer. If I had taken the train here instead of drive I would have had 4 of them and called it a night. I will have this again in a second. Bottle this immediately.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2011 00:09:16 | More by drabmuh

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Churchkey in DC. Served in a stemmed goblet of some sort.

Pours a somewhat-lightened copper color with a two-finger white head and incredible sheets of lacing as it goes down. Good cap throughout.

The nose was nice and fairly complex with notes of tropical fruits and plenty of citrus. Some pine in there as well. Lots of Simcoe for sure. The flavor went along the same lines, with the Simcoe really standing out. Really nice combination of tropical, citrus, and pine flavors that came together with a bit of alcohol and a really smooth bitterness. Quite bitter. Beautiful mouthfeel.

Overall, something that I very much enjoyed and would love to have again. Please make this more often.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2011 14:06:40 | More by Thorpe429

smakawhat

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured on tap at Churchkey DC into a tumbler glass (14 oz.).

Appearances brings no head at all. Nothing. This is filled to the brim with only a minor white collar. While drinking, the glass gives off no lacing at all. Looks flat as all get out. Body color is a clear copper amber color. No lacing whatsoever nothing, zippo, nada.

Nose on this is wet, clean, but a distinct flesh grapefruit. An interesting vinous sour that is light, and sense of green supermarket grapes.

Taste takes a back seat to a fantastic texture. This feels almost out of the cask, and buttery. Mid palate brings an almost chewy malt mixed with hop lingering grapefruit juice. Tolerable creeping bitter which grows after each sip.

Overall in appearance... stealth like, in taste and feel, flat out fantastic.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 21:36:19 | More by smakawhat

prototypic

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this at the brewpub on our Michigan trip.

10K IPA arrived a gold color. It's slightly hazy. Looks slight amber or copper when held to light. A soft, off-white head caps it. It's very modest, rising to maybe a half a finger in height. Lacing was sticky and moderate in volume.

The nose is excellent. It features a very strong, citric hop profile. Grapefruit and orange scents are prominent throughout. There are some light pine and floral hop notes in the background. Citrus is large and in charge though. There's a light caramel malt scent, but it's definitely secondary. I love that. Definitely smells sweet and a bit sugary. Alcohol is a little noticeable, but doesn't smell like 10% by any stretch. Find job here.

The flavor is likewise damn impressive. Citric hops are definitely the focal point. Grapefruit and orange are the primary flavors. Light pineapple, grass, and pine are also in the mix. It is a little bitter, but it's more balanced than I expected. That's especially surprising given that caramel malt seems to be light. There is a little sugary, caramel sweetness, but it's secondary. Alcohol is there, but doesn't seem to strong. It's a little deceptive in that regard. Finishes with a citrusy, slightly bitter taste.

10K IPA has a medium body. Carbonation is definitely light and soft. I honestly wouldn't mind a few more bubbles. Having said that, it has a nice, smooth feel and goes down extremely easy for such a big beer.

Founders has a knack for making terrific beer. 10K IPA is just another example in their lineup. How does it compare to Double Trouble? To me, it seems a little more balanced and approachable, which is interesting because the malt base seems very subtle. I like it a lot. Hopefully one day this stuff will also find its way into bottles. Easy recommendation.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2011 20:19:26 | More by prototypic

TCgoalie

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The server mentioned that this was brewed with a good amount of Simcoe hops.

Pours a filtered gold hue with a white crown. The head recedes after several minutes but lacing remains while drinking.

Pineapple, tangerine, and melon round out the semi-tropical aroma. The presence of malt is there but it isn't overpowering.

A pleasant balance between hops and malt occur in this brew. The taste echos what is present in the smell. The resulting bitterness is mild for what the hops create. Some black pepper come in at the end adding a nice spicy note almost as if some rye was used in the brewing. Smooth honey like richness really comes through differentiating from the Double Trouble like taste.

The feel is smaller than the abv indicates. A semi dry aftertaste is complimented with spice. Very smooth and nice.

A solid offering that got better the more times I tried it. I may like this more than Double Trouble.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2011 23:55:20 | More by TCgoalie

TheBear11D

Michigan

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap in a pint glass at Founders

Pours a cloudy golden orange color with a thick white head that lasted plenty of time and eventually subsided leaving excellent lacing.

Yes sir, there is hops. No surprise that one may find a good amount of hops in an IPA from Founders. The aroma is nearly a citrus overload which I welcome with open arms.

The flavor is citrus hop dominated, however, there is a small malt backing of sweet honey. The bitterness of the hops almost wipe out the honey entirely, but I am pleased to encounter a touch of malt.

Medium to full body and pretty smooth.

This is another wonderful brew from the Founders family. I continue to be impressed with nearly everything they do.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 02:33:32 | More by TheBear11D

Brew33

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Founders tap room and had a growler filled for the lake house.

It arrived at my table a glowing orange with a thin white head. The aroma was ALL Simcoe. a Simco bomb. Catty, tropical, and juicy. Slightly solventy in that Simcoe kinda way. The flavor is really good. Tons of bitterness, slightly boozy. The malt bill is very sweet but is overshadowed by tons of hops. A big beer. Medium to full bodied and very sticky on the lips. Overall I really like it but it's a touch boozy.

In short, a Simcoe bomb.... and a damn good one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2011 14:20:47 | More by Brew33

kzoobrew

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review input from notes. Enjoyed on tap at Founders on 7/9/11

Vibrant orange body, clear and free of sediment. One finger bone white head. Head works its way back rather quickly leaving limited lacing clinging to the walls of the glass..

Very aromatic beer, huge citrus aroma oozes from the glass. Nectarine and grapefruit aromas are prominent upfront. As you work your way back the citrus is undercut by a pleasant pininess. The malt profile, rather simple and subtle, finds itself buried beneath the hops.

The flavor is rather similar to the nose. The citrus flavor dominates the palate up front. Nectarine, grapefruit aromas are accompanied by a bit of pineapple. Resinous and Pine flavor develops on the midpalate. The more abrasive flavors balance the sweeter citrus up front. There is a substantial bitterness but does not become overbearing and is appropriate for the beer.

Medium body DIPA, carbonation is moderate and appropriate. Rather dry and crisp, slight resinous finish.

10K was a fantastic DIPA, in my opinion it is much better than Double Trouble. Bold flavors, pleasant bitterness and impressive drinkability, you cannot ask for much more in a DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2011 16:35:12 | More by kzoobrew

CuttDeez

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On Tap at Churchkey.

A - A golden copper slightly amber body with a medium sized resiliant white head. Great lacing throughout.

S - The nose had some great tropical and citrus notes on the front with some pine coming in in the middle to back end. The malt was evident but didn't overtake the crisp bright citrus notes.

T & M & D - Bold citrus and tropical fruits on the front end that are backed by a sizable pine pressence. Much like the nose the taste is strong and complex. The beer finishes with a good level of full palate bitterness without clearing all flavor. The beer is medium to full in body and carries a great flavor profile throughout.

O - A very good offering from Foounders. I enjoy the bold hop flavor and the complexity of both nose and taste.

-Cheers

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2011 19:38:09 | More by CuttDeez

vandemonian

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had Founders 10k IPA on tap at ChurchKey in DC. It's a nice double IPA.

A: Orange in color with sparse lacing. 3.5

S: Lovely combination of maltiness and hoppiness. 4

T: Sharp piney hops over a weak malty base. Slightly bitter finish. 4

M. A little watery. 3.5

O: Nice. 4

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2011 03:15:08 | More by vandemonian

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at CK, leftover from their Founders dinner the night before.

Chilled golded copper color with a thick white head; sheets of lacing and an extremely retentive cap. Tons of Simcoe on the nose; citrus and pine dominate with light spice. Body is medium thick and syrupy with strong bitterness and assertive alcohol presence. Pine hops dominate a strong malty body with mild citrus sweetness. Only slightly tastes like a Christmas tree. Very smooth and enjoyable, but the level of alcohol and bitterness wasn't doing it for me.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 20:54:30 | More by yourefragile