Founders Brewing Co. To Release Doom

Picked up a 4 pack at $14.99 in SC this week. I would think IPA and bourbon barrel aging do not go well together. Founders really pulls it off. This beer is excellent and and a bit "outside the box".

 

I'm really surprised by some of these reviews so far.

Had some this weekend and actually thought it walked that thin line between capturing both the hops and barrel incredibly nicely. I actually picked up a lot of sweet bourbon boozyness with a nice hop kick in the finish. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

Nope, especially if they're going to be releasing so many BA beers. Why use that space on beers like frootwood and doom? When you can make a BA imperial stout, or more kbs or cbs.

 

I picked up a 4-pack in Iowa last week. I've already enjoyed two bottles and I am looking forward to the rest!

 

I cracked open my bottle tonight. I don't understand the gate some have expressed, this stuff is amazing. I'd consider this the best imperial IPA I ever had. And if you can't taste the bourbon barrel you need to widen your palate as it is very bourbon barrel forward and is what makes this so delicious. It's like KBS as an imperial IPA instead of a stout. Very delicious stuff.

 

Not sure why they call this an IPA, American barleywine would be more accurate. Hardly any barrel flavors either.

 

Interesting. I wouldn't have thought that BA DIPA would be to my liking, but I tried a SN version a year or so ago and really enjoyed it. I will have to pick up at 4 pack

 

It's an imperial IPA not a barleywine. It's as barleywine as 90 Minute IPA which is imperial. It says imperial on bottle and that is exactly what it is. The bourbon barrel is definitely there too.

 

you're making a mistake

 

would this be worth trying to cellar just for the hell of it? or would it just come out tasting like a barleywine

 

Founders fan boy

This one however--round one--was one that I really looked forward and fell short. Booze bomb. Harsh.

I will see what round two holds.

 

Cellar it. It might not have that tastey upfront bourbon barrel flavor I found enjoyable while fresh but I would totally cellar a bottle if I ever get my hands on another

 

Don't forget BA Sumatra Mountain Brown too. Seriously though, I'm still looking forward to Doom. Hopefully hits by me this week.

 

Most shops near me have single bottles for sale, haven't seen any bombers. I'm borderline obsessed with IPA's and was pretty skeptical on this one. It's fantastic, and dangerously drinkable like Hopslam. I haven't tried all of the founders BA offerings, but I will be looking for this every year from now on.

 

I just took a trip out east, near Cape Cod. It's obviously off season and mostly old folks around. I hit the local party store and they had a full shelf of untouched KBS. I almost passed out. I shipped about $200 worth back home. Wife was angry but I still don't care.

 

The last time this beer was released was 2013. There's no plan to release it again any time soon, so you may want to stock up now (just anticipate the bitterness from the hops fading a bit over time). I bought a ton for this very reason.

 

Just don't wait 4 years to drink it, umm... i mean this hits its peak after about 3-4 years, anyone interested in a vertical?

 

Totally agree, why waste the space for beers like this. I have not had Doom yet, and probably won't, by choice. I had Frootwood, and was not impressed at all. But on the otherhand, they want to try to keep up with the market, of trying new beers and new styles. They might also want to tweak old recipes, or put some of thier BA beers to rest until they figure things out. But they are probably using 2nd use barrels, for beer, to make it more cost prohibitive to buy as many barrels as they do each year, hence the point they are producing beers like these two. Last statement is a total presumption, just my guess. Maybe they are saved/ing their good barrels for KBS and CBS, why waiste a good barrel if they are going to mass produces two large beers like these two.

 

How can you make any such statement without trying Doom? As an imperial IPA compared to say Dogfish Head 60, 90, 120 min IPA's....Doom is the best imperial IPA by far. The bourbon barrel flavor overrides and distinguishes itself from other imperials. As a matter of fact I don't even really like imperial IPA's but Doom is amazing. So don't start criticizing something you never had. Plus for an imperial IPA it usually needs some age, not the case with Doom, tastes good fresh. Maybe you should try it 1st. And who knows maybe after you try it you'll see it's delicious. But probably to enjoy this beer you need an appreciation for whiskey.
What Founders really needs to do is brew more Doom and more often.

 

KBS, and CBS need more barrel time than the others because they have a legacy taste to uphold, which includes long barrel time. I too did not like Frootwood, and while I do not expect to like Doom or DKML either, I will try them. I stocked up on KBS. I'll probably pass on BWB because I like Central Waters BA Scotch Ale more, but really looking forward to CBS.