Founders Backwoods Bastard
Style: Oak Aged Ale
Alcohol Content: 10.2%
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames
http://foundersbrewing.com/
http://foundersbrewing.com/
Mid week blues. Ever had them? The first couple of days back after a week off is always intense. First, you log onto you computer to find you have 200 unread emails to trawl through, then every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to ask you questions about your holiday. Before you know it, Wednesday is here and you're already dreaming of the weekend. Luckily, I have a few tasty beers in the fridge for a little pick me up. After much debate, I plump for a beer with real strength and mystical character (at least I think it's Gandalf on the label). The subject of this review is Founders Backwoods Bastard.
Canal Street Brewing Co. was founded in Grand Rapids in 1997 by Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers, home brewing enthusiasts who had recently graduated from college. The company was named after a Grand Rapids area where in 1800s several breweries were located on Canal Street, now Monroe Avenue. The beer bottle's labels originally included an old black and white photo of the original Canal Street breweries with the word "Founders" above it. Thus the company became known as Founders Brewing Company.
Since the mid-2000s, it has become one of the most prominent breweries in Michigan, expanding its market to 25 states and its production capacity to 340,000 barrels per year. Founders was the 30th largest US craft brewery by sales volume in 2012 and 41st largest US brewery by sales volume in 2012.
Colour: Pours a dark ruby red that is almost opaque when held up to the light. A bubbly tan coloured head which slowly dissipates to a light dusting of foam after a few minutes.
Aroma: Instantly you will able to smell the old oak bourbon casks used to mature this ale. Hints of peat like smokiness and a warming sweetness will rise from the glass. The smell is very reminiscent of another one of America's greatest gifts to the world; the infamous Jack Daniels.
Body: Very smooth and velvety due to the low level of carbonation. The drink will tickle your throat and warm your belly due to the high alcohol content. The sensation is very similar to that of a good whiskey; warm and satisfying.
Taste: Smoky peat from the oak bourbon casks present themselves from the off. This builds up to a crescendo of sweet sticky molasses, vinous fruit and warming pepper. The finish is long and complex, offering warming alcohol alongside liqueur, toffee, vanilla and spicy hop notes. For such a high ABV, the alcohol is extremely well hidden under the depths of flavours this beer provides. A great sipping beer to share with you dad or Gandalf the Grey as the bottle suggests.
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