Nemesis (2009)
Founders Brewing Company

Nemesis (2009)Nemesis (2009)
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From:
Founders Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Wheatwine
ABV:
12%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.14 | pDev: 12.8%
Reviews:
470
Ratings:
711
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 18, 2020
Added:
Feb 06, 2010
Wants:
  178
Gots:
  122
Maple bourbon barrel aged wheat wine.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Scrumtralecent:
Photo of Scrumtralecent
Reviewed by Scrumtralecent from Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Big thanks to Alewatcher for this, much appreciated. Wasn't sure if I'd get to taste this once again, but Alewatcher saves the day. Poured from a bottle into a snifter.

A - A nice dark orange, with a little brown tint to it. Pretty hazy. Plenty of carbonation leads to a white head that lingers on the sides.

S - Can smell that sweetness from the maple and oak, with a little fruitiness almost, reminds me of a Belgian strong ale in some ways. A earthy tone lingers beyond that. The bourbon smell has faded, leaving the wheatwine and maple to come forward.

T - The wheatwine has really come forward, with that maple sweetness with some oakiness melding with it. Little bourbon heaviness left in the end. Makes me wish how bold this once was with the bourbon, but it's melded into an interesting brew. Just a little too much on the sweet side now.

M - Initial carbonation scared me in the beginning, but calms down and is at a good level. Pretty smooth and easy drinking really, especially considering the abv.

O - Not as good as it was fresh, but still good. The missing bourbon is the missing key to all this, made the brew more bold and assertive. Without the bourbon to even it out, ends up being a little sweet. I'll admit, I'm going to rate the overall based on what it used to be, hope Founders finds a way to make this again sometime.
Sep 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of bret27
Rated by bret27 from California

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle courtesy of acurtis.
Probably well past it’s prime.
Sweet fruity notes but not really drinkable.
Nov 18, 2020
 
Rated: 4.24 by Richter525 from Michigan

Aug 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.71 by eawolff99 from Minnesota

Dec 28, 2019
Photo of dafla67
Rated by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

4.17/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Drank December 2019. Smooth.
Dec 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by nwhittin from Indiana

Feb 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.82 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Dec 23, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Sep 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by ScottP from New Hampshire

May 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.06 by Ben1313 from New Hampshire

May 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.06 by midlifec from Michigan

May 06, 2018
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a snifter

This beer pours a hazy blood orange color with amber highlights. It doesn't have much head.

It has a date, fig and molasses aroma.

I get the dates and fig in the flavor along with a little alcohol. There is enough bitterness to keep it from being too sweet, although it does lean towards being sweet.

Thick, syrupy, sticky mouthfeel with low carbonation

It has held up well over six plus years. There is a little oxidation, but it still is pretty tasty.
Jan 29, 2017
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured a thick brown body with minimal head. Bits of booze and wood come through but really dark fruits like prunes and raisins in the aroma. Thick body and slow-sipping, this beer has a sticky sugary sweetness from maple syrup but is smooth thanks to barrels, and has an intense dark fruit taste akin to black cherries, figs, prunes & raisins. Finishes real sweet and booze hidden throughout.
Jan 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by teamwiggum from Wisconsin

Jan 01, 2017
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.51/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle thanks to Jake65, share on 6/11/16. Nice medium amber body, small airy head. While this is all barley wine through and through, the barrel aging makes adds the right amount of sweetness and smokiness to this brew. Hints of vanilla, marshmallow, licorice and molasses add to the complex tastes. Slow, pleasant burn caps this off. Spectacular!
Jun 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.02 by SveNss0N from Massachusetts

Apr 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4.56 by Beastcpa from Pennsylvania

Oct 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.8 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Jul 29, 2015
Photo of SPLITGRIN
Reviewed by SPLITGRIN from Kentucky

4.59/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This review is from notes that I found dated 2-20-10.

A near perfect amber tone of a body that nearly glows on the edges when held to light. Head is a very light tan with tight bubbles that reach almost two fingers then fades to just a skim in about two minutes. No real lace is noticeable. Nose is beautiful as it screams rich hop buttered toffee and true butter rum, this is just so unique and lovely. As I take first sip it is just so creamy and rich with a pretty close following to the nose in terms of the buttered rum. Sweet but not heavy as hops do play nicely on the back half of the palate to balance the beer. I absolutely do not get a huge or over the top bourbon presence as some have noted, and I am a big bourbon fan. Alcohol is slightly hot on the back end of this one. A couple of years in the cellar will do it well. Mouthfeel is played more by the hops than by the heavy sweet notes. Drinkability is nice but the alcohol will sneak up on you.
Jul 27, 2015
Nemesis (2009) from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 711 ratings