Stirring rocky tan-headed amber-hued dazzler plies sugary spruce overtones to resounding orange-grapefruit-pineapple-nectarine tang countering pine needled spice-hopped bittering. Dry rye and buttery almond jot crisp cracked wheat base of savory moderation.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
FOUNDERS PORTER
Comparably light-bodied for its class, though ‘dark, rich, sexy’ chestnut porter sustains soothing dry nuttiness and mellow burnt coffee restraint ’til milk-sugared black chocolate lines brief lactic finish. Cocoa-powdered cola nut, hazelnut and walnut illusions add depth.
FOUNDERS OLD CURMUDGEON ALE
Superior 9.3% alcohol-soaked strong ale merges sweet whiskey frontage and dry Scotch waft with heavily creamy malt concentration, picking up sturdy bourbon, burgundy, and chocolate liqueur illusions as well as subsidiary bruised orange-cherry feistiness. Sinewy floral yeast thickens tertiary banana-marshmallow hint and brown sugared anise slip. Heady slow sipping digestif conveys irrefutable character and strength.
FOUNDERS IMPERIAL STOUT
Creamy lactose thickness fortifies weighty mahogany-bodied Russian-styled conqueror. Frothy black chocolate sourness gives way to equally opulent burnt coffee bitterness, picking up anise, maple, and hazelnut hints before buttery burnt caramel cluster forms. Tar-like stickiness deepens resinous bottom, adding to robust nature.
FOUNDERS DIRTY BASTARD SCOTCH STYLE ALE
Bold port surge, punctual cocoa-dried oats flaking, and lactic chocolate liqueur waft consume fulsome mocha frontage. Creamy vanilla milkshake illusion seduces blunt astringent finish propped up by raisin, peat, and black cherry adjuncts. On tap, well-rounded wee heavy contrasts maple-sugared stone-fruited Scotch malting against leafy wood-dried hops and twiggy nuance, overriding initial mocha impression.
FOUNDERS DEVIL DANCER TRIPLE I.P.A.
Ticklish spice-hopped citric entry lingers through sugary spruce-tipped crystal malting, gaining heady bitterness reinforced by ancillary mocha-nut convergence. Tangy pink grapefruit, peach, strawberry, mango, apricot and pineapple tropicalia endures. On tap, sticky apple-candied caramel malting counters smoked piney hop sharpness, juniper berry bittering, and herbal fungi twinge. Orange-dried Grand Marnier and booze-soaked cherry illusions enhance tropical pineapple-grapefruit-papaya insistence.
FOUNDERS CENTENNIAL I.P.A.
Respectable honey-browned spruce-hopped pale ale receives spicy lemon-grapefruit tang pleating pine needle nose. Slim caramel-roasted barley toasting contrasts piney citric bittering.
FOUNDERS KENTUCKY BREAKFAST STOUT
Impressively rugged cave-aged bourbon-barreled version of world class stout. Embittered hop roast replete with coffee bean-soured espresso milking and rich vanilla bean lambasting. Rich barley-oats toasting settles beneath exquisite mocha-liquered finish. Bourbon aging stokes gossamer-like Kahlua, Amaretto, and chicory illusions juxtaposing molasses-sapped chocolate subsidy.
FOSTER’S SPECIAL BITTER LAGER
Better in bigger oilcan than plain bottle. Dour amber-grained hop toasting and slim nuttiness create complacent dry bitterness. Unsettling tinny finish arrives if warmed over. Needs more all around character. On tap, creamier malt sweetness and brisker alcohol-tinged lemon-soured swoon greaten potential.
FOSTER’S LAGER
Australian for beer, mates! In 25.4-ounce oilcan (where it tastes best), this fairly distinct hop-roasted mineral-grained corn-sugared moderation soothes to delicately sweet malt finish. Prickly carbolic briskness ensues. Rates a full star lower in 12-ounce bottle.
(FORT COLLINS) Z LAGER
Smoky cured meat aroma and Band-Aid mouthfeel give inceptive prickly-hopped tongue a peppery spicing, but girding beechwood seasoning depletes barley roast. Instead, piquant amber lager settles to sudsy cocoa-chocolate malt frailty.
FORT COLLINS ROCKY MOUNTAIN I.P.A.
Rewarding moderate-bodied ‘sweet-tart’ straw blonde (with pearly head) has creamier malt flow than usual India Pale Ales. Dry orange-grapefruit permanence and juniper-currant bitterness rise above toasted barley base. Herbaceous floral hop spicing deepens fruity center and caresses burnt wood and tree bark illusions.