Founders Backwoods Bastard

Backwoods Bastard is a bourbon-barrel aged scotch ale. Yummy!

Brewer's notes: Expect lovely, warm smells of, oaky bourbon barrels, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice and scintilla of dark fruit. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate.

BeerAdvocate: Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice and a scintilla of dark fruit. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate.

Tasting notes

20260501

I drank the 2nd bottle from a four-pack and continue to be impressed. The beer is complex with a balance of sweetness and something else. Bourbon is present but not overpowerings. Sort of a liquid pecan pie? I am upgrading the rating.

Rating = 6.5 glasses.

2 Jan. 2021
Still good.

5 June 2020
Backwoods Bastard is a bourbon-barrel aged Scotch Ale. It is yummy. Barrel aging a Scotch ale is rare and a great combination. Bourbon is very evident but not overpowering.

Rating = 6 glasses.

Breakfast Stout

Brewer: Founders

Style: Imperial Stout

Beer Advocate: The coffee lover’s consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, and Sumatra and Kona coffee, this stout has an intense fresh-roasted java nose topped with a frothy, cinnamon-colored head that goes forever.

Tasting notes: 

2511: On draft at The Alley Light. A big stout with too much coffee for me. Rating = 4 glasses is perfect.

1010: A 1 yr. 1 mn. old bottle. Coffee is muting. (1002) A 4 mn old bottle. Well made stout. More coffee than I prefer and the coffee comes forward as the beer warms. (0910) Coffee! The flavor is growing on me. Upgraded from 3 and though about 5. Click here for a previous review.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, 20 December 2008, and 04 November 2009.

Rating: 4 glasses

Founders Porter

Brewer: Founders

Style: Porter

Tasting notes

Feb. 2010: A bottle @ Avalon. Stoutlike: dark and rich.

March 2024: Good description from 2010. I like it but don't think it measures up to Great Lakes. For something dark, I think I might choose Guinness Extra Stout for its lower APV. Downgraded the rating from 5 glasses to 4.


Rating: 4 glasses

Founders Highball Drifter

Highball Drifter is a bourbon-barrel aged strong ale. Interesting and good but not great. Some vanilla, molasses, and bourbon.

Rating = 3 glasses.