Founders Bolt Cutter - Founders Brewing Company

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Capone's in SEPA.

Bolt Cutter comes in a goblet with a small trim of off white bubbles up top leaving a skim of foam for a bit before fading off, no lace but some swirls bring it back. The body is a deep amber golden color that is on the bright side, not much activity after a bit.

Smell is big on caramel and toffee with some toasted malt characteristic. Bourbon and maple in the scent. Sweet and alcoholic, I can sniff it from the glass cold and warm. Not a distraction. Not well integrated yet, I can see this blooming later on becoming a sweeter scent as a nice hop presence is noted.

For 15% this can be a lot hotter than it is, the alcohol is masked but not fully so it seeps out in the taste all over. The hops come forefront bringing out some sharp pine, with a mix of bourbon and slight maple tones leading to some more sweet caramel. English in nature that will mature when the hops drop.

Body is above medium with a harshness from the hops and alcohol mix, that is not all that scorching. A hoppy barleywine now, that probably will tone down with time. Carbonation is muted but there and keeping the beer from being dead.

A pretty good barleywine that has both English and American characteristics with the Founders touch. If I find a bottle I'll see where it takes me. Right now, I could not see drinking more than 8oz's though as it's ripe.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2012 01:45:49 | More by onix1agr

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

hey5hitgoose

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-11-2013 00:58:10 | More by hey5hitgoose