Founders Frangelic Mountain Brown - Founders Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

3.94/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours an opaque, dark brown with copper overtones and very slight ruby highlights here and there. Low carbonation on the pour yields nearly no head, just a small, off-white ring that clings to the circumference of the glass. Aroma is heavy hazelnut coffee; creamy, sweet, and sugary with more faint hints of cocoa and roasted malt. It tastes almost exactly like you'd expect from the nose - iced hazelnut coffee, loaded with sweet cream and sugar. Very dense and full of hazelnut flavor, as well as a lingering cocoa powder essence that gets stronger with time. As the beer warms up, the bittersweet coffee ground flavors start to come out, but nevertheless, it is the sweetness that dominates here. Heavy hazelnut and roasted malt aftertaste, very little (if any) hop profile to be found in this one. Medium body, maybe even a little on the thin side, and a bit thinner than anticipated. Could have used a bit more carbonation as well.

Overall, not disappointed like others said I would be. Then again, I love hazelnut coffee. And that's what they were out to achieve, right? It doesn't taste much like a beer, but it certainly has a distinguishable and fairly scrumptious taste, albeit maybe a bit too sweet to enjoy on a regular basis (aside from the fact that it's hard to get your hands on anyway). Can definitely say I was pleasantly surprised, and far from being let down. I'd have this again if it weren't for the high price tag and low availability.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 03:10:33 | More by tectactoe

KFBR392

Illinois

3.94/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark brown color with almost no head. Minimal lacing on the glass and enjoyed out of a goblet shaped glass.

Smell: Toffee, Hazelnut, and molasses. Very bright, bursts out of the bottle and really dominates the experience of drinking this beer.

Taste: An incredibly bright hazelnut front. After the hazelnut thins out a more regular brown ale presence sets in. The aftertaste is a little lacking as nothing really sticks around to make this an overly memorable beer.

Mouthfeel: A light caramelized layering covers the palette, a slight sticky molasses presence can be found here.

Overall: A great bottle to split with someone, and really have a unique experience drinking. I like that Founders has really tried to something unique with this beer and it certainly is different then any other coffee/brown ale I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 05:20:21 | More by KFBR392

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle from Rick’s. Served in a Founders tulip. Nose is incredible. Hazelnut and a bit of coffee. Very smooth. Flavor scales it back a bit, but could use more body. Quite tasty

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 03:13:21 | More by Thorpe429

kawilliams81

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- pours a dark copper, brown with a 1" off-white head. Big spotting and trails of lacing remain on the glass.

S- got a big pepper aroma at first and then some sweet hazelnut.

T- sweet peppers again with the hazelnut taking over in the middle.

M- medium body and carbonation. Smooth, slick feel.

O- why I get the pepper I don't know, but the hazelnut does take over. Different but would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:14:30 | More by kawilliams81

sjones5045

New Jersey

4.66/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Drank out of bomber for the third time in little less than a year of aging. Pours a thinner head but honestly, the color and look are an after thought after you get the first whiff of a very strong hazel nut smell. Honestly one of the strongest most pleasant smelling beers I've experienced.

Taste...absolutely delicious. In comparison to the nut brown class it ranks at the top. More specifically, in comparison to other hazelnut brown ales it still is head and shoulders the best. I did read other reviews that knocked the "artificial hazelnut taste". Two responses to that, first, don't care if artificial or not, it's a strong taste that would make a fantastic dessert beer, or a sipper just relaxing in the winter. And secondly, how often has anyone had a natural hazelnut taste? Not really sure if I've ever tried natural hazelnut to compare but until I do know this works just fine for me. The only downside would be for someone that doesn't like a sweeter type of beer or hazelnut, since there is a ton of it present in this beer.

Overall, Founders continues to dominate the darker beer space. They have perfected this style of beer with this offering. Only wish this was a consistent release. If and when they release this again, I'll be among the first in line to buy. If you can still find this, grab it.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 20:39:16 | More by sjones5045

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.65/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance - Clear reddish brown. Nice off white head that's well retained.

Smell - Ton of hazelnut and coffee. Nutty brown malts.

Taste - Lots of coffee and lots of hazelnut. Sweet to the point where not a lot of the beer comes out past the adjuncts. Slightly bitter and the nutty malts are faint.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied and medium carbonation. Decently bitter to counter the sweetness.

Overall - The adjuncts are good and good enough that I don't mind not being able to discern the qualities of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 19:27:28 | More by Alieniloquium

mscudder

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. Served in a pint.

A - Murky chocolate brown hue with a thin tan head. Fair lacing and retention.

S - Massive hazelnut that overwhelms anything else I can detect.

T - Hazelnut, hazelnut, hazelnut. Smooth caramel malts make this beer a step away from one-dimensional.

M - Medium body with light carbonation.

O - A smooth and enjoyable hazelnut brew. The flavor is immense and plentiful. I personally am not a big fan of the nut, and given the pure-awesomeness of the rest of the Backstage series, this one disappointed me.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 02:43:15 | More by mscudder

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 750ml. bottle, no freshness info.

Appearance: Body looks brown but has a dark red tint when held up. Good-sized head, bit of lacing and good retention.

Smell: Holy smokes this smells good! Like a fresh brewed hazelnut coffee, not too sweet, creamy, kind of dessert-like yet has a good coffee aroma. Some vanilla as well.

Taste: The first 5 seconds have a great hazelnut flavor but then it morphs into an artificial flavor, like a hazelnut coffee left out too long. Gleams of it are nice but overall it leaves a lot to be desired.

Mouthfeel: Very low carbonation, easy to drink but the body is sometimes good and sometimes thin. Has a chewy feel to it.

Overall: I love hazelnut coffee, i'm one of the rare BAs that loves brown ales and i really wanted to enjoy it but it was less than tolerable. At the price i paid, i expect more than tolerable. A good idea that didn't translate well.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:11:43 | More by papat444

champ103

Texas

2.43/5  rDev -38.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

A: Pours a dark brown color. At first a two finger bubbly beige head forms, but recedes in a second to a thin ring. Not much lace to speak of either.
S: Harsh and abrasive in the nose. Every time I take a whiff, I have to pull back. That fake hazelnut coffee creamer is just so ridiculously apparent, and nothing else really come through. Not very enjoyable.
T: Initially some sweet toasted and caramel malts, though that fades in a second to that fake/artificial hazelnut creamer. One of the most artificial tasting beers I have had. Solvent like alcohol in the back end of the throat as well.
M/D: A medium to full body. Surprisingly high carbonation. Almost prickly on the tongue. Solvent like alcohol and very artificial tasting. I am probably not finishing this.

What a disappointment. There is no way to get past the coffee mate/artificial creamer taste. Not something I care to have again.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 04:03:03 | More by champ103

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Let me begin by stating that I liked this beer, but I liked it in the way that I like a cup of artificially flavored hazelnut coffee at a gas station once in a while; it’s a cheap and trashy kind of fun but not something I’d want very often. I happen to love hazelnuts and nutella and that sort of thing so this one was cool for a one-shot deal but you better love that fake gas station hazelnut coffee if you want to enjoy this.

FMB pours a murky brownish amber with a sizeable head but weak retention and sparse lacing. The aroma is all hazelnut coffee, period. Maybe a little bit of roast and caramel. The flavor follows suit; hazelnut coffee in your face, lighter notes of roasted malt, caramel, toffee, chocolate, vanilla, maybe a touch of maple. Yeah, it’s pretty sweet. Alcohol is nearly undetectable.

Medium to slightly full bodied, moderate, smooth carbonation, nice enough feel that seems appropriate to the overall package. In closing I’m glad I got to try this, but I can see why it wasn’t a favorite amongst this brewery’s usually stellar offerings. Very much a one-trick pony, I’d say. Stay away if you don’t like that hazelnut coffee, I beseech thee!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:53:12 | More by tobelerone

matttttYCE

Arizona

4.15/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours with a nice high head, about 2 fingers, tan in color, and lusciously creamy. Nice murky ruby brown color to the beer. Head retention is good and the lacing is a bit better than good. The aroma is straight up hazelnut syrup mixed with hazelnut creamer to me at first. Then I start to get some nice coffee, brown sugar, toffee, salty peanut brittle, light vanilla coffee creamer, and hints of roasted malts. Even thought it's like coffee creamer beer, the aroma is really inviting! On the taste you can tell it's a brown ale base, with the roasted malts, caramel, and toffee, but then the wonderful hazelnut and vanilla creamer notes come in wonderfully strong, with coffee and bitterness, peanut brittle, and brown sugar not far behind. The aroma just barely beats out the taste, but both are quite good. Velvety smooth consistency, creamy carbonation, medium-full body (thanks to the creamer effect), and a lingering but smooth finish amount to a superbly drinkable beer.

Well, I'm sitting here outside, enjoying mid 50 degree weather and a fire pit cause I can with this awesome brown ale. The combination is outstanding. I was actually a little leery of this beer due to some of the negative reviews it got, but drinking it, it's pretty freaking good even if it is the beer equivalent of coffe creamer! Kudos to Founders yet again, for another awesome beer, even if it wasn't maple/barrel aged :). Also, must give a big thank you to Ryan/tut2528 for this as AN EXTRA in our recent trade. You're awesome man!

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 06:21:20 | More by matttttYCE

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another awesome gift from TheSevenDuffs.

Slightly hazy brown pour with ruby highlights. Two finger slightly creamy light beige head. Lacing is chunky.

Hazelnuts right up front, slight coffee, slight artificial aroma, like those coffee creamers. Toast and some brown sugar and vanilla.

Hazelnut coffee, brown sugar and vanilla. Sweet and creamy but not cloying. Roasted coffee aftertaste.

Medium body, creamy and a touch syrupy. Sticky on the lips.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 21:47:55 | More by korguy123

dasenebler

Maine

2.8/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Founders Frangelic Mountain Brown
11/28/12
750mL

Deep, dark red with mahogany edges. Hazy. Not much of a head to speak of, spotty lacing. (3.5)

Aroma is alcohol, ripe fruit, caramel and hazelnut coffee, the latter of which is strong without being overpowering. (3.5)

Flavor is nuts. No, literally-- it's all hazelnut. It's fine to have that hazelnut coffee aroma, but when this flavor masks all malt complexity and hop character, I begin to question whether or not I'm drinking beer. Moderate sweetness. I guess there's some caramel malt under there, but who's to say? Mouthfeel is medium-heavy and pleasant, though the carbonation seems too low. (2.5, 3)

This beer is basically dessert in a glass. It's more rich than sweet, but the hazelnut coffee component leaves me feeling I've eaten a piece of tiramisu with espresso. It's not my kind of beer, seeing as I like BEER flavor, but it's honestly not THAT bad. (3)

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 02:51:15 | More by dasenebler

Optifron

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on-tap during Founders night at Crane Alley in Urbana, IL 11/18/2012

Appearance: Dark brown. Light tan head.

Aroma: Coffee! Hazelnut. Both intense.

Taste: Intensely hazelnut and light coffee. Coffee bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Very light carbonation. The bitterness finishes a bit dry.

Overall: Like nothing I’ve ever had, but in a more interesting way than a good way. Too much coffee/hazelnut for me.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 21:34:53 | More by Optifron

ao125

Virginia

2.68/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

When I wake up in the morning, I like having a cup of coffee (or three).
My guilty pleasure is adding Coffee Mate liquid Hazelnut Coffee Creamer to said coffee.

When it comes time to drinking a beer, I don't really want it to taste like my morning coffee.

This, in every way, shape, and form, tastes exactly like alcoholic coffee with hazelnut coffee creamer.

If you're into that, I heavily suggest this beer. If you're not, I heavily don't.

I do have to give Founder's props for absolutely, 100% capturing the flavor exactly - I just don't think it translates well to beer.

I have 1 bottle left, at the time of this review, that I'd be willing to trade for something else.

Bottom line: This is a "love it or hate it" beer. I don't think there is a middle ground.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 19:16:36 | More by ao125

Bung

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at Duckworths. Surprisingly light hazy reddish brown pour. Frothy Off white head, laces the glass pretty nicely.

Aroma, toasted malt, molasses and mostly hazelnut.

Taste, a little more balanced, but mostly works around the hazelnut creamer. Lighter toasted malt, vanilla, some chocolates. Coffee faintly present in the finish.

Solidly medium body. Carbonation is just a bit too active for this to be creamy. Still coats pretty well though.

Say what you want about this, you aren't going to do that much better for a dessert brown ale. Went great after some Thanksgiving leftovers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2012 01:33:35 | More by Bung

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.13/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750mL bottle. Pours a medium to dark brown color with an inch of light tan head. Good amount of lacing. Aroma is a big whiff of hazelnut coffee, sweetness, caramel, vanilla and earth. The taste is a cloyingly sweet hazelnut flavor with an artificial sweetener aftertaste. Nutty and earthy. Hints of caramel and vanilla but the main flavor is the hazelnut. The artificial sweetener taste doesnt go away and almost has a metallic taste to it. Thin mouthfeel. I love coffee beers but the artificial sweetener and hazelnut flavors are just not working here. This beer isn't bad but isn't great either. 750mL is probably too large a format for this beer. A 4 pack of 12oz bottles would have been a better call. Overall, a disappointing beer that I dont need to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:37:40 | More by PicoPapa

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Overall this is not as bad as many would like you to believe. To many, it is not as interesting as other entries in this Founders series. This is probably true, but it is still a good beer.

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, the beer was a murky brown color with various hues of brown dancing in the glass. A strong malty aroma with hints of chocolate danced from the glass. Think of a chocolate malt except this is the beer version. The initial taste was a malty chocolate with a certain degree of chalkiness. As much as anything, the chalky texture gives the hints of a chocolate malt from your favorite ice cream shop. A hint of Hershey's chocolate syrup is present with a liquory coffee notes. On this level, it reminds me of the drink known as a "White Russian". The coffee seems to get creamier in the aftertaste, nicely masking the 10% ABV. I can not go over the top in my praise, but this is a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 18:43:09 | More by JohnnyHopps

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-murky brown with a thin cream colored head

S-light scent of dark grains, pumpernickel, and hazelnut.

T-awesome thick taste of creamy hazelnut. Absolutely reminds me of hazelnut coffee. Great tasting in and out

M-medium creamy carbonation with a creamy finish.

O-it's pretty awesome but it's a bit of a novelty. It tastes so true to flavor and with any flaws that it almost doesn't even taste like a beer. It's good though. I recommend it but I won't get it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 19:52:28 | More by AdamBear

nova009

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a snifter

A- pours a clear mahogany with a slight red tint around the edges, almost a soda appearance, a very small cream colored head appears and quickly dissipates to a ring, a nice ring of lace left around the glass

S- dark roasted malt, toffee, dark roasted coffee, espresso, the hazelnut really comes through on the end, very nice, really excited to taste this one

T- wow, really impressed on this one, roasted malt, very strong hazelnut coffee flavor, sweet vanilla, really tasty

M- medium-light body, not unlike an actual cup of coffee, smooth and creamy, medium carbonation

O- very easy drinking beer, extremely tasty, I'm sad I only had the opportunity to grab one bottle, also a dangerous beer considering it's 9% ABV and the alcohol is barely noticable

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 00:38:11 | More by nova009

GregSVT

Texas

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into a tulip

A: Pours a clear brown with a nice light tan head that fades to a ring and leaves some lacing on the glass.

S: The nose starts with vanilla, creme brulee, hazelnuts, and cream. There's also a hint of coffee but not much...it's like a coffee with a little too much hazelnut creamer in it. I like it.

T: The taste is pretty similar to the nose with nice flavors of vanilla, hazelnuts, coffee, and cream. There's also a bit of roasted malt in the background as well that actually cuts some of the sweetness on the finish. It's a bit sweet but a tasty beverage!

M: The feel is a bit on the thinner side of medium with decent carbonation. Could probably use a bit more body and creamier carbonation.

O: This isn't anything mind blowing but I do like the hazelnut influence. I could drink this on occasion and recommend this if if you like hazelnut and coffee with a lot of sweetener.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 02:19:34 | More by GregSVT

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Founders Brewing
Frangelic Mountain Brown Ale

LOOK: Brownish color, fine clarity. Soapy head leaving heady lace.

SMELL: Hazlenut coffee and vanilla. Hints of roasted malt. Has a candied nuts smell that is super inviting.

TASTE: Nutty, vanilla cream, mild coffee and roasted malts. Very mild bitterness and finishes a bit on the sweet side. There is no trace of the 9% abv.

FEEL: Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Coffee and Hazlenut flavors linger in the finish.

OVERALL: A really tasty brew from Founders. Big Hazlenut flavor and a bit of vanilla. I think this is a delicious brown ale, one well worth revisiting.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 02:09:33 | More by Stinkypuss

birchstick

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky brown poor without much of a head. Jose is tons of hazelnut,sugary brown malts. Taste opens up with brown sugar mts that move on to loads of hazelnut coffee. Ends with more hazelnut flavors. Mouth is watery, yet full. Overall, this is a decent offering from Founders - bold in hazelnut, which makes it a little one dimensional, but still pretty solid.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 01:39:06 | More by birchstick

Gobzilla

California

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: poured dark brown in color with burgundy highlights and a good finger of head that left some good frothy lacing sticking to the glass.

S: plenty of hazelnut coffee character upfront in the aroma with sweet chocolate notes, a little lactic milk qualities, nuttiness, vanilla and brown sugar.

T: Huge coffee flavor upfront on the palate alongside very nice hazelnut character, sweet milk chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla accents and hints of toffee.

M: the brew was medium to full in body with a fair amount of carbonation which had a sweet, chocolatey, coffee bean, slightly astringent and silky finish.

O: I thought it was a pretty interesting beer all around a bit sweet but with great coffee hazelnut character and makes a great dessert beer. Good looking out on the bottle Todd

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 04:46:18 | More by Gobzilla

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle courtesy of Cuzco pours a nice, clear red color with a sticky beige head. Very nice retention.

Tons of hazelnuts on the aroma with assertive coffee and some dark malts give it a magnificent sweet smell.

Crazy to have a brown ale with this much coffee flavor. Awesome flavor; really smooth and tastes like it has cream of hazelnuts in it (if there were such a thing). Lots going on in here and it all flows together very well. Coffee is smooth and never gets tannic. I love this beer! Thanks a ton, Nate

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 23:42:52 | More by twiggamortis420