Nemesis (2009)
Founders Brewing Company

Bottle courtesy of acurtis.
Probably well past it’s prime.
Sweet fruity notes but not really drinkable.

 

 

Drank December 2019. Smooth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

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.

 

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!

 

 

 

 

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.

Huge thanks to garymuchow for this, did not see this coming!
12 oz bottle poured into a snifter

A- A clear amber with a lot of floaters with a small off white head.

S- Maple, bourbon, sweet, oak, dark fruits, tart cherries?, mint, oxidation, some complexity that I'm having trouble describing but it is great.

T- Maple, bourbon, earthy spice, sweet malts, raisins/figs, hints of grapefruit rind, brown sugar, smooth, great complexity.

M- Smooth, medium to full body, low carbonation

O- I have not tried this fresh but I have tried fresh Sweet Repute and this is better. Complexity is great, very smooth, almost no alcohol. If you can get a hold of a bottle, get it!

Founders Nemesis

Look 9/10
Smell 17/20
Taste 37/40
Feel 8/10
Drinkability 16/20

Overall 87/100

Summery: Nice big barley wine. Not a huge fan of the style. So for me it's about as good as it gets~