Founders Backwoods Bastard

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

355 ml bottle, vintage 2014, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 10.2%, 50 IBU. Deep ruby colour, large to moderate off-white to beige head. Aroma of Scotch whisky and bourbon, vanilla, oak, chocolate, grain and dust. Medium sweet flavour with the same elements as the aroma, also a distinct hoppy bitterness in the finish. Warming mouthfeel. Not bad at all.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Pours a deep amber, almost copper colour with a creamy warm beige cap, good retention, tiny particles and some foamy lace. Big aromas of liquorice and dark fruits (figs, dates) at first pour with a bitter storm and hints of soya. The taste is smoother with the dark fruits and caramel malts. Silky mouthfeel with some dryness in the finish, where bitterness builds. Hard to feel the oak bourbon barrels, as lost in the sweetness, and everything else going on. Some vanilla notes maybe. Just a scotch ale with a little more bitterness.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Bottle from LCBO. Pours a fairly big thick frothy tan head and has a murky amber appearance. Decent sticky dirty lacing. Moderate carbonation. Aromas of roasted malts, herbal, spices, notes of caramel and hint of vanilla. Flavours are strong earth, herbs and roasted malt notes with a bit of the barrel aged notes readily apparent. Has a little bit of a smokey finish. Smooth and slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is quite noticeable but not offensive in the least. Good balance of sweetness and bitterness. Great price for a great beer!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours out a red Amber reddish hue color with thin tan head. The aroma is of wood and malt. The mouthfeel is thick but oh god the ABV is noticeable. The flavor is a little sweet but wow the Abv is really there.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Reddish brown in color with a tan head. Aromas of bourbon and malt with notes of caramel and a hint of vanilla. Bourbon is the dominant flavor now joined by a bit of woodiness, as the malt, caramel and vanilla help balance the strong bourbon presence. Has a surprisingly sweetish finish. Mouthfeel is full and indicative of the style. I must admit, the first few that I had, I wasn't completely sold on. But this is my third one of the 4-pack (but only my first beer this evening) and it has definitely grown on me. Another winner from Founders.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Even with an aggressive pour it looks like brown wine. That's the only thing bad about it. Aroma of oak, fruit and booze. Strong bourbon flavour, caramel malt, vanilla, fruit, smoke, and some spice. Medium smooth mouthfeel. If you're a fan of barrel aging, this is a good one to try.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Founders has arrived in Ontario with 6 new beers and after trying them all, we need more of these in Ontario. Backwoods Bastard is a barrel aged Dirty Bastard and the result is a great beer. A dark rust colour with a decent sized cap. Aroma is sweet malt, berries, molasses, and bourbon. Flavour is a beautiful mixture of sweet malt/molasses balanced by a hint of alcohol. Great beer.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

355ml bottle
10.2% ABV
King/Spadina LCBO Outlet (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
December 13, 2013
Part of the Founders Release at the LCBO. The beer pours a translucent dark brown with a thin tan ring for a head that laces well. Aroma is dark fruit, molasses, and bourbon. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation. Flavour is strong on the bourbon with the caramel and roasted notes in the background.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

I like this one a lot. Bourbon in the flavor, strong but not overwhelmingly sweet. Heavy caramel malts with some light fruit as well. Appearance is a murky medium brown, with a mahogany tint. I actually thought the alcohol kick is somewhat tame for 10.2%. Only sampled a single to try out, but going to get a 4-pack and age a couple.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 6

A reddish-light brown colored beer with a two finger off white, sudsy textured head. Not much hang time and not much lacing. Boozy, high octane, vanilla in nose and tasting. Light whiskey feel on the palate.