I have a Readly account with a couple of beer magazines that keep mentioning Founders. I take it it's a US brewery? Is it really that good ie worth the effort of me trying to source it in the UK?
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Wine and Beer Enthusiasts
- Thread starter albertfallickwa
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As someone from Our Benighted Isles, I have long had a prejudiced view of beers from the US (Millers, Coors, Bud, were all uniformly awful when I was a student).
Thus, some years ago, when someone in the trade recommended that I try Founder's. I'll admit that to surprise, but I was advised to purchase a bottle (or two) of the legendary KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) a limited annual release, to see whether I liked it.
I was blown away; yes, this is one of the very best (possibly the best) of what they produce, but it was outstanding.
Since then, I have purchased quite a number of different beers from the Founder's range.
Most of them are very good, some are excellent, and a few are outstanding. And yes, inevitably, a few have left me less than enthusiastic (such as Rubeus, a raspberry beer which I think too sweet, but their Blushing Monk - also a raspberry beer from Founder's is superb).
In general, I prefer their ales and stouts to their lighter beers, (although some of the latter can be excellent, especially in summer), but, in recent years, I have developed a taste for this sort of beverage.
So, yes, to my mind, their best beers are brilliant - far better than what comes from Sierra Nevada. Now, some of them do carry a fairly hefty price tag.
As someone from the Great White North (part of the former empire of the Benighted Isles and also La Belle France) I shared this view before I realised that our mainstream brews (Molson Canadian, Labatts Blue) were also pretty bland and that the new craft breweries from south of the border were fantastic as are ours.
I still prefer the brews and vintages on this "old" continent however.
Oh, God: Labatts - yes, I remember that. That, too, was an absolute horror. Appalling beers. An insult to venerable brewing traditions.
Now, in general, I tend to prefer beers (and most certainly wine, apart from some red Chilean reserves, and some NZ whites, I rarely drink wines form the New World) from The Old World as well. Particularly Belgium. But also some from the UK (am a big fan of most of what comes from the Buxton Brewery, and some of what Innis & Gunn produced have been very good).
But, it is good to have one's prejudices challenged, - and to feel obliged to alter them in the wake of evidence presented to challenge them.
Indeed, there are one or two treasures from the US (such as Pliny the Younger, I think), that I have yet to make the acquaintance of.
Thus, I will preach the virtues of the qualities of Founder's to anyone who will listen to me, these days, entirely without apology. (Or prejudice).
As one of the young gentlemen I usually deal with (in the off licence) has been off for the past few days, I phoned today to ask that he give me a call when he shows up today: This is merely to discuss 1) How much Founder's Curmudgeon's Better Half has actually arrived, 2) How much of that I can (without displaying too much Sheer Greed) credibly request to have put aside for me, 3) how soon I can lay hands on it (or have it delivered if the permitted quantity calls for that), and 4) what else (by that, I mean, the really good stuff) has also arrived.
Two years ago, most of the planned delivery of Founder's KBS never made an appearance on the shop floor, or fridge shelves. This was because your humble scribe had been advised of its arrival, requested that it be put aside, paid for it, and had to delivered.
This is also the reason I still have a few bottles, as I was able to purchase two crates at the time. Last year, alas, I was away when this nectar appeared, and I have never even laid eyes on the apparently wonderful CBS.
If you like rich, robust beers, I recommend their ales and stouts.
They have a number of beers they make every year (such as the standard - and excellent 'Breakfast Stout'), some seasonal specials (their Mosaic beer is very good), and some they make as a once off, or every few years.
A crate of beer will be delivered tomorrow morning; among other delights, it will contain 12 bottles of Curmudgeon's Better Half (by Founder's), and four of Founder's Breakfast Stout.
So I tried the Abbaye de St Martin beers last night and have to report that they are flipping nice. The Bruin is very dark, with a nice roasted flavour to it. The Triple (which I prefer) was slightly lighter but fuller bodied. I only had 8 but I'm feeling it this morning.
You "only" had eight beers? If that is the case, small wonder you are feeling it this morning.
They are only little, 355ml I think. I’ve been known to do over 10 pints on a good day admittedly of 5% stuff
What was the abv of those "little" bottles of 33cl?
The days when I could sink five or weight "pints" or indeed, eight bottles of 33cl are long since gone.
At most, I would be able for three, and most nights it is two. However, these days, the beers I drink tend (except in summer) to be rather robust.
But, I must say that I find that those two are most enjoyable.
And, it is the same when I am out; two beers are a real pleasure (one is rarely sufficient) and three pretty rare these days.
The Bruin is 8% and I had 7 of those. The Triple is 9% so I only had the one.
I find after 2 pints I’ve got the “taste” plus I drink a pint every half hour so 2 pints isn’t very long
I find after 2 pints I’ve got the “taste” plus I drink a pint every half hour so 2 pints isn’t very long
Seven beers at 8%?
But only one at 9%?
Well, enjoy them and it has been a long time since I was remotely capable of consuming that volume of beer.
Had one of my aged Bourbon County Stouts last night. It was a 2017 and boy did it pack a punch, coming in at 12% abv! Nice and smooth, the hard alcohol was almost nonexistent! Can't wait to taste the 2018 version!
The trick with beers at that level of strength is to ensure that the alcohol doesn't dominate; you don't want that 'burning' sensation, rather you want it smooth, and balanced and to feel the alcohol after you have consumed the drink.
I have just opened a bottle of Curmudgeon's Better Half (from Founder's) and am currently sipping some of this sublime nectar from a Belgian beer chalice.
And have opened my second bottle of Curmudgeon's Better Half: This is an outstanding beverage.