Founders - Imperial Stout (2010/2011)

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Still has a slightly ashy smell. At this point, its not really bitter. Lots of chocolate. Seems thinner than I remembered. Nothing special now, maybe should have drank it last year?

The 2010/2011 Reviewed in 2012

Founders - Frangelic Mountain Brown

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Definitely has hazelnut coffee in it. Slight chocolate flavor to it also. Its okay. Novelty beer.

I haven't had Rogue's hazelnut brown ale in years, so I don't have a comparison point there.

Founders - Backwoods Bastard

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

So I think this is about 6 to 7 months old at this point. I think my complaints are still the same. The bourbon is very strong and the vanilla overwhelms any of the actual beer. I might like this after another 6 months to a year.

Green Flash/Founders - Linchpin White IPA

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

A white IPA. Certainly bitter. Not very memorable.

Founders - KBS 2011

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Well. I just had a 2012 a few days ago and I should have taken some better notes. My initial reaction is that I should have drank this last year. Its a little thinner than I remember the 2012. The coffee is pretty muted at this point, same with the chocolate. Enjoyable enough, but much better not aged. I will proceed to drink my other 2012 in the next few weeks.

Founders - Curmudgeon's Better Half

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Its been a while since I've had Old Curmudgeon, so I don't really have a comparison point. This is tasty though.

Founders - Nemesis 2010

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Bottled 7/10/2010

This is still only mildly interesting for me. Some burnt/roasted malt flavor, a good amount of bitterness still.

Founders Devil Dancer

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

So I bought a four pack of this earlier in the summer and stashed a bottle to see if it would become more drinkable.

Low and behold... a lot more drinkable. Still really bitter, with the dank/musty hops still coming through strong. But its actually agreeable now. I might just buy a four pack next year and drink it all six months later.

Founders Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Mildly bitter, a lot maltier than I expected. I wouldn't have picked out cascade hops unless I had looked at their website.

Its a fine beer, I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again though.

Founders Imperial Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Fresh this is a lot more bitter, especially with a lingering sharp bitter/burnt coffee aftertaste.

With one year on it, the bitterness has really dropped off. The aftertaste is now more chocolatey, with a hint of anise as well. Almost like a completely different beer. I like it a lot. I'll definitely age the remaining two I have from 2011.

Founders - KBS 2011

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

As a treat for my birthday, I pulled one of the two KBS that I kept from earlier in the year.

Still delicious. Still slightly bitter. Coffee is more prevalent now than chocolate was last time (at least per what I said last time). Hints of vanilla and oak from the barrel aging are in the background.

Founders - Backwoods Bastard

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I didn't think this was very good. Very boozy. Almost like a watery whiskey.

Founders - Blushing Monk

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Founders in a big bottle.

Another raspberry beer. Except this one tastes slightly tart (like an actually raspberry) and pours with a dark pink/red head.

Its pretty good, I just wish it was in a smaller bottle.

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I had this last year on draft and I remembered liking it a whole lot.

It holds up well.

The thing that strikes me is that the base beer retains a lot of the flavor and isn't dominated by the barrel aging. Hints of chocolate and coffee with a slight bitterness to it. The smell takes more from the barrel aging than the taste.

This is really good. Would recommend.

I like it better than the Heresy just because of the chocolate that comes through.

Founder's Imperial Stout

Stumbled across this at the neighborhood beer store.

Its pretty "aggressive". You can taste the alcohol, along with a lot of molasses, a little licorice, and some bitterness.

I guess I'm a little torn on this one. I don't think its as good as the Stone Russian Imperial Stout. The alcohol is really prevalent. I'll have to see what happens to it sitting in the back of the closet for a few months.

Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale - 2010

Non-aged.

Its slightly bitter and has another slight off taste that appears at the end. Still slightly sweet. I think I liked it aged a lot better, the bitterness was a lot more subtle.

Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
Smells liquory. Do not want.

Founders Devil Dancer

Labeled a "Triple IPA". What the does that mean? Is it like Gillete saying, "Fuck everything, we're going to five blades"?

A lot of piney hops taste, slight hint of caramel.

Founders Harvest Ale

Delicious.

Pale ale that's plenty bitter and hoppy. Not too heavy. Pretty enjoyable.

Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale - 2009

Random Notes:
(1) This was part of a birthday four pack from last year that I stuck in the back of the fridge.
(2) I thought it was Old Curmudgeon Ale, not Curmudgeon Old Ale

I think time was kind to this beer. Its still pretty sweet, but I don't think the alcohol comes through as much as it did last year. Slight caramel and dark fruit taste. Good times.

I meant to buy a new four pack to compare to this one but instead picked up a bunch of other beers. Woops.

Founders - Nemesis (2010)

Secured a ridiculously pricey 4 pack from my new secret beer store (where I also had obtained a six pack of Bell's 25th Anniversary Ale).

Well if they didn't just hop the shit out of this beer. Lots of bitter hops in the taste, the alcohol isn't hiding either. Not as fruity as I'd imagine.

If I hadn't bought a 4 pack, I wouldn't be seeking out three others to drink. I think I'll let them sit in the back of the closet and see what happens in 6 months.

[Note - Tried another one in December. I liked it a lot better, not sure how much was aging/my mood.]