Thoughts on Founders?

I feel so bad for all you guys who can't even try to taproom specialties! Those are all equally as divine.

 

not everyone loves founders.
CBS. had one 5 oz taste. excellent. need more, doesnt seem likely anytime soon.
Double Trouble, liked this one. good 32 oz growler.
FBS enjoy occasionally but it is thin, and one note. never more than one.
KBS way overrated, had it once, never needed to go back.
Harvest Ale. nothing special.
Centennial . lousy.
Devil Dancer. lousy.
Dirty Bastard. uninspiring.
Reds Rye. terrible. try a BR Hop Rod Rye and you'll see.

so my opinion would be one of the most overrated breweries in the world.

 

I have not been into the craft beer market that long so Founders was one of my first "eye opening" beers; Backwoods Bastard. Of what I can find locally, I pick up most everything in some form or fashion from Founders. FBS can readily be found as can the Porter and other year round releases. The KBS I've only found once and I cleaned the store out of everything they had (only three 4 packs). Overall, I like their beer but my beer drinking is eclectic much like my whiskey drinking....I rotate among a broad range of styles and labels.

 

I feel they're going downhill. I love their beers but I feel like breakfast stout and backwoods, two of my favs, were not up to par this year. Also I personally thought boltcutter and frangelic were a bit of a letdown. My first post on here two years ago was something along the lines of. 'I can't get enough founders' but now I feel they're slacking.

 

Totally agree with that. For some reason it seems like SE Wisconsin hasn't been getting the volume other places have. I see dudes posting about getting a case of harvest in SC or something and I couldn't even stumble upon a bottle this year in MKE. I wasn't camped outside stores or anything but I feel like it was gone in under a week. Same with Backwoods.

Anyway, back to the thread, I usually like anything Founders makes that is dark. Not a huge fan of their IPA though. They are solid but not at the same level as their stouts and porter.

 

I completely agree. Breakfast Stout was one of my favorite seasonal beers for the longest time, but in recent year it just seems the flavors are a little muted.

 

KBS - My favorite BBA Brew ever, and my top Founders beer
Backwoods Bastard
Imp Stout - (best Imp Stout I've ever had)
CBS - (Top backstage so far)
Better Half
Bolt Cutter
Harvest ale - (I've managed to drink at least a case of this already, awesome stuff)
Double Trouble
All Day IPA

These are my favorites

FWIW, I also thought the FBS was a little thin this year, and with a little less chocolate

 

Was your Red's Rye really fresh? It's one of my favorites from Founders, but it doesn't do well with any kind of age on it.

 

That's another big possibility for the Centennial letdown as well. Centennial is a great IPA, but the hops drop off quick and outside of 6-8 weeks, it turns into a mostly malt-forward monster.

 

All their beers are belong to us.

 

My opinions -
KBS - incredible, one of the best beers I've had
FBS - favorite non-BA stout
Red's Rye - best rye PA out there
Centennial - good but doubt I will buy it again, too many better options available
Harvest - not impressed, it wasn't bad but way overhyped
FMB - thought it was ok but would never pay $13+ for a bottle again
Porter - excellent, one of the better porters I've had
Devil Dancer - aweful, worst beer I've had from Founders
All Day IPA - good for the style but not something I will seek out again

They make some great stouts and porter(s) but leave much to be desired with their hoppy beers (other than Red's). Still need to try DB, BB, IS.

 

Yea I had Harvest last night at a Founders event...I should have known better considering how long that keg has been sitting. A Founders Porter set things straight!

 

thoughts? hoppy offerings are on par with the best SoCal has to offer. barrel aging is exquisite with an understated drinkability on the "special" offerings. black biscuit is one hell of a beer. the regular porter is one of the best examples of the style. i like kbs.

 

I am yet to have a mediocre beer from founders. Even the ones I don't love are still great for the style.

 

its so nice to see all this love going around. all because of one brewery

 

Drank my last Breakfast Stout last night. It was gone too quick. Now I gotta trade for more. Womp womp.

 

I've loved everything I have had from them, save for Frangelic Mountain which wasn't my cup of tea. I specifically love the porter and breakfast stout. KBS is phenomenal!

 

Founders is the shit. I can name no other brewery with their resume.

Harvest Ale this year was amazing. Back woods is stupid good for a style I would not normally love and then you have KBS and CBS two of the greatest things I have ever tried. The only other brewery with similar abilities is Firestone.

 

Faves in order:
1. Backwoods
2. KBS
3. Red's Rye
4. Centennial
5. All-Day
I'm sure Harvest is wonderful, but it disappears from shelves like a fart in the breeze around here. Never been able to come up with it.

Dirty Bastard and Curmudgeon aren't terrible, but are harsh. Devil Dancer is liquid onions.

 

Love the Porter FBS and Backwoods Bastard.

Haven't had Harvest