The Brewery: Founders Brewing Co.(Grand Rapids, MI)
The Brew: Doom 2013 (Oak-Aged Imperial IPA)
Availability: Draft and bottles (limited)
ABV: 10%
Rating: 10/10
Location: The Westy
The Story? Any of Founders' "Backstage Series" is always a quick hit to the wishlist, followed by some sort of seance or offering in hope that we can actually score a bottle before they sell out. Luckily enough, my partner and I hit such a score with a beautiful bottle of Doom. Shortly thereafter, we learned the owner of The Westy (our favorite draft beer stop in Ithaca) had hoped to obtain this wondrous brew for their taps, but alas, missed out. Since he provides us with such wonderful libations on a regular basis, we saw it fitting to track down another bottle to share. A few weeks of searching later, bottle #2 was procured.
For those new to this impending Doom, the brew is the result of Founders' award-winning specialty Imperial IPA, "Double Trouble", being aged in bourbon barrels - a method more commonly reserved for maltier beers such as stouts and barleywines in the past, but now being applied to hefty IPAs as well.
The Beer? Wonderful caramel color with almost no head. Big, smooth taste up front. An equally big, hoppy breath in with a nice whiskey burn on the way down. Boozy, with hints of coconut. Very smooth and perfectly balanced. With the second glass, we see increased hop presence as the beer takes on drier notes with an even boozier breath.
Overall a well-balanced, drinkable, intense, but mature beer. Looking forward to how it ages a bit. Plenty of hops and bourbon present, but neither overpowers as they compliment one another. Hoppy, with sweet notes and plenty of alcohol presence. A very complex, rich take on a high-gravity IPA.
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