Being a huge fan of Founders, there was no doubt in my mind one of my favorite new styles, Scotch Ale, would make my palate dance. This bottle, 10/5/2009, has had some time to age and mellow out, and undoubtedly will change certain aspects of the flavor profile.

The signature stubby Founders bottle brands itself at 10.2% ABV and boasts aging in oak bourbon barrels. The pour into my snifter was mahogany brown with some sharp maroon hues. A faint crust of red is mixed with a deep, darkening brown. The carbonation seems to have mellowed out, considering I had a quickly dissipating head and also noticed some floaties in the body.

The Backwoods Bastard stays true to its name while the nose encompasses a huge charred oak wood flavor. The hints of bourbon served neat come through nicely along with some Werther’s Original hard candy, toffee and [unflavored] cough syrup. This eclectic mixture teases your nose for an intense and decadent Scotch Ale.

The first thing I noticed about the body was the lack of carbonation. This has seriously mellowed out since its bottling date though the body still feels on the heavier side of a medium-body. Your palate is covered with silky smooth and hot bourbon, though dangerously drinkable. The backbone is heavy in malt, while being extremely rich and balanced. This finishes off with some hints of dates, and evident, though subtle, oak wood notes.

For enjoying this bottle almost one year after being bottled, I’m impressed how well the flavor profile is still in tact. While the carbonation has definitely mellowed, the rich bourbon and oak flavors are still present. I’d be extremely interested to taste this “fresh,” to see if my speculations of differences are in tune, though for what it is, this is a seriously solid Scotch Ale.

93
out of 100

Title photo from: Flickr