Founders Backwoods Bastard

"Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts, a bit of earthy spice, and a scintilla of dark fruit. It’s a kick-back sipper made to excite the palate."


Mmmmmm, I love this beer.  Possibly my favorite beer that Founders makes.  I wish more breweries would barrel age their scotch ales/wee heavy's.  The combination of peated malt and the oakiness and vanilla from bourbon barrels really just make for the perfect beer during cold weather months.  I was only able to grab two four packs of it this year so I plan to try and make this last.  I had originally planned to drink and review this on Thanksgiving but we all know how that turned out.

Now for the review:

Pour was a reddish brown and somewhat murky once in the glass.  You can actually see sediment floating in the glass but it really just adds to the experience of this beer.  When held up to the light it was a dark ruby red.  Hardly any head to speak of once in the glass.

The aroma on Backwoods Bastard is awesome.  Very first whiff and you are hit straight away with big bourbon and vanilla but then also notes of dark fruits like figs and raisin.  Same peated malt character to this as there is to Dirty Bastard which is the base beer.  Just a really awesome and fantastic smelling beer.

On the initial sip, like the aroma, you are hit up front with vanilla and a bourbony character.  The raisins and figs come into play and a nice peaty or smokiness help round it out and bring all of it together.  As it warms you get more barrel character from it but also more of the dark fruits in it.  Truly heaven in a glass and I wish I would have been able to get more of this.  Only a few left so next year needs to hurry up!

Mouthfeel on this way full/heavy.  Layers of flavor coat the mouth and leave you with a lasting impression of what was and what will be upon the next sip.


This beer was one of the first barrel aged beers I had and even now I am still blown away by it.  Buy it, trade for it, do whatever you can to acquire this.  It is well worth the price.


Cheers ladies and gentlemen!