Founders Brewing Company Doom (2017 Release) American Double / Imperial IPA at 12.4% ABV | 100 IBU (US$13.75 at Beer Thirty Bottle Shop & Pour House, 750 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 21-Jun-2017, reviewed 12-Jul-2017)
Appearance: clear pale amber with an initially enthusiastic fluffy off-white head settling gradually to a persistent cap, patchy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: coconut, bourbon, toffee, vanilla, oak. (9/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, high bitter. (9/10) Palate: full slick body, moderate carbonation, off-dry massive bitter finish. (4/5)
Sweet merciful… “Doom,” indeed. This is a beast of a beer – and I say that with all due respect. On the nose, this is all about the barrel ageing, with woody and bourbon notes coming through loud and clear (though I’m honestly getting coconut as the forerunner), and big sweet toffee coming in slightly behind. Massive bitterness is only barely tempered by the slick sweetness, and remains long after the toffee fades. I wanted to drink this while it was still reasonably fresh, because I figured, ABV and IBU notwithstanding, this is still an IPA – but that was wrong-headed of me. There’s very little in the way of a hop profile here, other than an undifferentiated sledgehammer of bitterness. If anything, a year or five in the cellar might tame this – but I doubt it. If you have one on hand, drink it now or wait, because it doesn’t matter: Doom awaits. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
