Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Aroma: Dark malts, vodka-like alcohol, and some deep, slightly obscured estery hops. Sweetness of brown sugar or molasses. Appearance: Dark red wine to coffee color, glows sunny crimson along the bottom edge. Coffee-stained peachy head; volatile with poor retention. Flavor: Lots of coffee, woody and floral hops, quite nicely bittered, actually. Toasty flavors. Not as buttery or peaty as I’d expect from a Scotch ale... a unique take on the style. Alcohol sweetness is very present, like dark rum. Palate: Cloying at times. Not full-bodied enough to warrant the stickiness - it should be a little more crisp or else a little less light. Overall: Not my favorite Scotch ale, but pretty drinkable. I’d rather have a Belhaven.

Lots of smooth, chocalaty malts. A little thin on the pallate. Didnt seem to quite as balanced as say, Old Chub. Still a decent scotch ale for sure.

One of the better Scotch Ales I’ve had. Pours a dark ruby reddish brown with a good amount of frothy head. Notes of smoke, wood (seems to be oak) and ends on a dry note. Very good - I would get this again.

Malty and grainy. Quite a lot of bitter without the chocolate malt. A good bit of hop bitterness without a lot of the citrus and herbal aromas. Lots of crystal malts. A bit smoky and peaty. Very heavy mouthfeel. A very formidable beer but a bit overrated on this site in my opinion.

Great Beer, Usually not a scotch ale fan, because they tend to be too sweet. Yet this Ale was very Nice, Smooth, and a pleasant scotch flavor. Hints of chocolate, coffee, not sweet, yet not overly hoppy. Had a slight alcohol finish, probably just the scotch flavor coming more full at the end. Overall: Really good Scotch Ale, would have another again soon.

Founders is quickly becoming my favorite brewery. My only complaint about this one is it didn’t pour much of a head. This is not the usual cloyingly sweet scotch ale that you find. Many layers of flavor here with mocha, caramel, and especially molasses dominating the palate. There’s some rich earthiness too, and enough bittering hops to balance out the sweet malt without making it too bitter or detracting from the malt.

Found this on tap thanks to Vinatage in Boardman, Ohio. A deep chestnut brown with a nice tan head, the lace clinging to the glass as it was consumed. Smelled of coffe and toasted malts. Tasted of the toasted malts and coffee, as well as some hops. Great carbonation level, not to much or too little, smooth going down with no negative after taste. Went down smooth, a very drinkable brew that I’m glad I tried. Serving type: on-tap

Nice peaty earthy malt flavor. Not a big hop presence in the back, but something there to balance and contribute a nice mossy earthy flavor. Toffee is big. Lots of malt but not too sweet. Very well balanced. The flavors are pretty big and strong. Palate is pretty good, carbonation gives it a little creaminess, but a little more weight on the tongue couldn’t hurt. I might like a little more complexity in here, but the flavors are nice. Well made for the style.