Founders Bolt Cutter - Founders Brewing Company

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in an Illinois State shaker pint glass.

Fifteen great years from Founders. Cheers! This celebration pours a mostly clear auburn topped by a finger of light khaki foam. The nose comprises grapefruit zest, sweet caramel, a hint of vanilla, pine resin, and a decent dose of booze. The taste brings in more of the same, with the alcohol merging with the citrusy hops, boosting them to the heavens. The sweetness of the caramel (joined by what may or may not be a kiss of bourbon/maple) remains intact, but it's beginning to clash a bit with the boozy hops, which leave a chlorophyll-laden aftertaste that lingers for a bit. The body is a hefty medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, a decent anniversary b-wine, but one that's clearly way too hot at the moment, and one whose overly-expressive hops kill any real sense of the barrels and of balance. It's not really all that bad, but there are plenty better barleywines out there, especially for the money.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 19:29:57 | More by TMoney2591

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 mL bottle pours a lightly hazed copper color with a surprisingly delicate head that sticks around a good while...nice lace too.

Nose is almost all caramel...wow, like a boardwalk candy shop! Little bit of toffee and toast, smooth nose - that’s fo sho.

Taste is understatedly hoppy! Mashes sweetness, toast and caramel just about as well as any beer I have ever had. Alcohol is ridiculously smooth for a 13%'er...Impressive. I really like it. Mouthfeel is a tad less creamy than I expected, but that is a minor complaint. Founder’s can do some amazing beers and Bolt Cutter fits their profile well, though it is almost a disappointment if one of their beers fails to rock your socks off! That can be both a blessing and a curse, in this case I think Bolt Cutter is a very good Barleywine, but never quite reaches the ‘epic’ status that many of their beers seem to effortlessly obtain.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 01:11:43 | More by twiggamortis420

Alextricity

Michigan

3.45/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

To my surprise, I saw this at the World Expo of Beer in Frankenmuth, Michigan and decided to try it out. I hope you're all ready to roll your eyes at this review and spit on your screen!

Appearance: A nice ruby-like color. No head to speak of, and no lacing either .... which I guess is to be expected.

Smell: Honestly smelled like a chlorine pool to me, for the most part ... after awhile that note seemed to fade and I just got a really odd mix of super sweet malt with hops. Unusual.

Taste: It's a barleywine. It's 15%. In the words of Ralph Wiggum, "It tastes like burning." The beer isn't overly bitter, but it burns quite a lot with a lot of alcohol in the flavor. I found that I was mainly concentrating on getting all of it down, rather than trying to pick up on flavors. I could finish my 4oz sample, but I'm not convinced I could have much more.

It's too big for me. Sweet, heavy, and copious amounts of alcohol in the flavor. Could definitely benefit by mellowing out over the course of a year or so.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2013 16:50:01 | More by Alextricity

Benny3000

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-19-2013 13:47:51 | More by Benny3000

NeutroMan

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-18-2013 22:20:10 | More by NeutroMan

BUNZILLA

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-18-2013 00:59:45 | More by BUNZILLA

smartassboiler

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-17-2013 14:19:24 | More by smartassboiler

dan027

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-17-2013 02:51:26 | More by dan027

Dan3279

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-17-2013 00:20:40 | More by Dan3279

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-16-2013 20:21:27 | More by iHeartMNBeer

acc88

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-16-2013 07:09:34 | More by acc88

standardcherry

Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22oz bottle.

A: Pours a slightly hazy dark orange/golden color with a big, creamy looking tan head.
S: Hoppy citrus aroma, sweet malts, caramel, brown sugar, woody scent. There's a sweet, almost bubblegum-like aroma at the end. Strange, but not bad.
T: Smooth malty flavor, followed by maple and a ton of citrusy/earthy hops bitterness. Fruity flavors (pineapple and citrus) mixed with caramel, maple, oak and booze. A hint of vanilla as well, but the hoppy bitterness dominates. It's ok, but I'd definitely let it mellow a bit if I had another bottle.
M: Surprisingly drinkable for a barleywine this huge. Full bodied with a sticky mouthfeel. Great carbonation for the style.
O: Glad I got to try this beer but I wouldn't buy it again. If I had another bottle I'd let it hang out for another year or two to let the hops mellow more.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 05:44:08 | More by standardcherry

twkirkby

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-15-2013 10:09:36 | More by twkirkby

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -20%

05-13-2013 21:40:36 | More by HarmonMW

davesway10

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-13-2013 20:35:49 | More by davesway10

hogansct

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-13-2013 18:33:40 | More by hogansct

vrbulldog22

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-13-2013 18:23:20 | More by vrbulldog22

Drock325

Missouri

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-13-2013 04:24:26 | More by Drock325

tugg407

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-13-2013 04:09:30 | More by tugg407

GameOfThrones

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-13-2013 03:23:50 | More by GameOfThrones

whallgren

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

05-12-2013 19:21:04 | More by whallgren

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-11-2013 15:16:33 | More by mikeburd1128

jacewg

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-11-2013 13:18:05 | More by jacewg

kingmaker

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

05-11-2013 06:18:56 | More by kingmaker

opwog

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -13.8%

05-11-2013 04:46:00 | More by opwog