Wulver & Backwoods Bastard

I'm one of the people in the minority that had Wulver first and, yeah, it totally blew me away. Finally had Backwoods the other night (a '14-'10 vertical no less) and I completely agree with OP. Both great beers but Wulver has the slight edge due to intensity of flavor, silky smoothness and a seamless profile. Backwoods is more straightforward, isn't quite as sweet and has a tad more booze bite. My favorite out of the vertical was the '13.

 

Absolutely love Backwoods but thought Wulver was even better.

 

Love both, but Wulver by a significant margin.

 

This....what he said!

 

Totally agree. While we may end being in the minority on BA forums, Wulver was one of the best beers I've ever had. Backwoods is a very good beer nonetheless.

 

Wulver Hands down I have probably bought my last Bastard....I just don't think they are in the same league!!!

 

Founders.

 

THe poster asked people's opinion on which they preferred, so that was my answer.

 

I know that many of us feel BB has fallen off the last couple of years....Last years wasn't boozy enough and this years many are saying to boozy. It just seem to be a consensus opinion on BB and that it has become to wide spread and very inconsistent.

 

I rated them both the same, and I've never had them at the same time. That being said, I would reach for a Wulver if I had to choose.

 

I haven't had Wulver's, but I recently did a side-by-side of BB and CW BA Scotch ale, and I maybe in an even smaller minority that like CW BA Scotch over BB.

Now I really want to get my hands on some Wulvers...

 

Wulver. Easily. I kind of wish it wasn't from my hometown so I can be sure I don't have any bias. Whenever someone asks about my favorite beer I say Wulver. Every time I have it I wonder if it will live up to my memories and every time I'm reminded how good it really is.

 

They're both great, but Wulver is pretty darn pricey around here at $26/4pk and up. I'll take Backwoods at roughly $10 less any day of the week.

 

Should Wulver be drank fresh? I had one with over a year on it, thought it was good.

 

They're dead even for me, but in certain categories each is better than the other.

Backwoods has the edge in (order):

smoothness
body
drinkability

Wulver has the edge in (in order):

taste
aroma

Backwoods gives a little up in terms of filtration and tends to drink just slightly too bitter/oaky for me, whereas Wulver is never without unappetizing sediment and an unfriendly alcohol content.

But like I said, they're both about the same for me in terms of subjective taste.

 

Wulver ages better. Backwoods is better fresh.

 

I prefer Wulver. That being said I think BB is damn good also. I live about 10 minutes from Thirsty Dog and I know the owner so that may be make me a bit biased.

 

That's funny, every year I've had it has been flat out fantastic just like every time I've been buying it for the past 3-4? years.

It's easily one of my all time favorite beers period. Heck got some today, can't wait to crack-er open.

Also doesn't surprise me that more than half the people loving it on this thread are from the breweries home state. Which is fine. Kind of ironic that you pick a brewery from your home-state that pisses on the brewery that is from the other home-state, the irony isn't lost on me

Only had a small amount of Thirsty Dog beers, one that lots of other people like Siberian Night which I thought was not very good, and a Citra Dog IPA that was rather alright as well but hard to compete in the amazing dominated IPA world. Where as the Founders catalog is just filled with some amazing gems over the years and continues to surprise me. I find them a much superior brewer in comparison. Do they have duds? Sure in my opinion.

Wulvers is a decent Wee heavy but there are also other non barrel aged ones I would pick over it, or even something really unique like Traquair House which has a great smokey quality that neither of those 2 beers seem to have to me.

Often a beer is never as amazing as the first time I had it sometimes, but not with Backwoods in my experience where I drink and look forward to it every year, and so far have never been disappointed with it, or felt it "fallen" or something.

But I would have no problem drinking either of them again as I like them both. and since I have some BB right now, that shall be true!

They're both good Wee heavy's, but I definitely prefer Founders take in that situation.