Cashew Mountain Brown
Founders Brewing Company

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From:
Founders Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
ABV:
10%
Score:
100
Avg:
4.57 | pDev: 9.41%
Reviews:
50
Ratings:
133
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 01, 2014
Added:
Jun 10, 2011
Wants:
  69
Gots:
  0
Imperial Brown Ale aged on cashews in maple bourbon barrels for 287 days, then aged one even more cashews for an additional 3 weeks
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.25 by zestar from California

Aug 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by TasteTester from Ohio

Dec 14, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by GonzoHomebrewer from Massachusetts

Aug 20, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by BUNZILLA from Indiana

Aug 13, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by redblacks75 from Iowa

Aug 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by funkyaudio from Illinois

Jun 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by trapper2408 from Pennsylvania

Jun 19, 2013
Photo of Brenden
Reviewed by Brenden from Ohio

4.42/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I thought this was a one-off, but wasn't sure. Now that I have the notes, I'll review in the hopes that Founders considers doing it again, or should it return for any reason.

The color's a medium brown, though edges a bit lighter; it's actually not as dark as I expected and even has just the slightest opacity to it. A scrappy-looking off-white head puts up a fight and eventually settles to a compact crown that lines the edges of the glass and manages surprisingly decent lacing given that it wasn't particularly dense.
All the nuttiness I'd hoped for is in the aroma along with some maple, not just the sweetness but a nice base flavor that foes with the nut very well. Alcohol comes out but not as hard as I feared, and not too fusel either. Dark fruit and vanilla lay down an extra sweet complexity, likely from the bourbon. The malt foundation seems strong enough to rest it all on.
Malty enough for sure, it needs the strong base to rest all of the flavor's boldness and complexity on. Nuts are not just the main element, mingling with the other flavors rather than overcoming them. It stands out as a flavor, but just. Quite sweet but not massively, all the maple, vanilla, dark fruits, and semi-sweet chocolate come out strong. They couple with more complexity from the barrels, and a balancing dryness to boot (without which an effort like this one fails). Oaky, with just a touch of smoky char to it, it really counters the sweetness well. Founders is Founders.
Fortunately not too heavy, I don't forget that this is a brown rather than a stout. It's rich and robust weithout being destructive or sinking heavily. Carbonation is low but enough to allow everything to work together, and enough to make for smooth sipping (key). A lingering finish is semi-sweet.
Jun 01, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by DanGeo from Michigan

Apr 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by AndrewKroll from Michigan

Mar 22, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by ROBSTARR from Michigan

Feb 15, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by thedirtystayout from New Jersey

Jan 16, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by MordorMongo from Indiana

Jan 13, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by BlissJunkie from Michigan

Jan 10, 2013
 
Rated: 4.75 by dalepryor from Kentucky

Dec 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by gradergator from Ohio

Oct 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by bradfordjohnson from Kentucky

Sep 04, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Dactrius from Netherlands Antilles

Jul 26, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by Magery from Kentucky

Jul 14, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by TheBeerTruck from Michigan

Jul 05, 2012
Cashew Mountain Brown from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 133 ratings