Founders Brewing Cos Doom: An Imperial IPA - Review by @Robyn_Seto

How about a bonus IPA? While IP-May has come to a close, there are still IPA’s out there that I plan to sprinkle over my reviews from time to time. Behold, Founders Brewing Co’s 2017 vintage Doom: an Imperial IPA aged in bourbon barrels. Part of their barrel-aged series, this is a limited release beer that’s currently only available on tap in a few select locations across the United States. It was first available on tap at Founders’ taproom in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and first bottled in 2013. Founders released Doom again in 2017, and since then it has only been seen available as a draft beer from taprooms. 

Unlike most IPAs, Doom is aged in bourbon barrels and thus makes it a good candidate for aging. The four years it has had to mellow and meld gives Doom a pleasant yet boozy experience. The barrel is really at the forefront of the flavors with warm caramel notes. The hoppiness is very slight, but still present. The hop flavors become more prominent as the beer warms, but never become overpowering. The sweetness from the barrel complements the slight funk of the hops. Overall, it’s very smooth and silky. Despite the high ABV (12.4%) there’s not a whole lot of boozy scent or taste after 4 years of aging. Watch out for this one, it’s sneaky!

It’s kind of interesting for me to explore a style I haven’t liked very much in the past, and I don’t think I’ll ever find myself reaching for just any old IPA I might see but it has been fun to try to pick out ones with characteristics that I enjoy. Part of the fun of tasting beer is seeing the variety found within styles. So if you think you might staunchly dislike a style, there’s a good chance that there’s at least beer of that style that will appease your tastes. Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge a beer by its style.

5/5 Burps

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