Founders Brewing Co. Will Kick Off 2022 with Return of Frootwood

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently took to its Cadre Newsletter to announced that it will launch its 2022 Barrel-Aged Series with the return of Frootwood in January.

Back by popular demand after a successful introduction back in 2017, Frootwood is a cherry-filled Fruit Beer that was then “hid . . . away in oak maple syrup bourbon barrels . . . [to emerge] blanketed in notes of warm vanilla and cherry sweetness.” Coming in at 8% ABV, Frootwood allows the “wood . . . [to be] the star of this beer, adding depth and taming the tartness while the maple character from the barrel imposes a velvety texture that lingers for not a moment too long.”

Frootwood is scheduled to return in January 2022 and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Frootwood from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; January 2022
Style – Fruit Beer
ABV – 8%
Added Ingredients – Cherries
Treatment – Aged in oak maple syrup bourbon barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

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Founders Brewing Co. Develops Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa Variant of KBS

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently took to its Cadre Newsletter to inform fans that it will introduce KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa in November 2021.

Arriving as the latest variant of Founders Brewing Co.’s fan-favorite Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout, KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa is an Imperial Stout that takes the “sumptuous, deep coffee and chocolate flavors of KBS . . . to the next level with a swirl of cinnamon and a hint of vanilla to create a sweet-but-not-too-sweet barrel-aged drinking experience.” Coming in at 12% ABV, KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa is a “whole new spin on KBS that’s sure to sweeten your spirits.”

KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa is set to debut in November 2021 and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this new Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution network (“no draft in UT and no distribution PERIOD in Mississippi!”). Prost!

Vital Information for KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; November 2021
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12%
Treatment – Aged in Bourbon barrels
Added Ingredients – Coffee, cinnamon, vanilla extract & cocoa nibs
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Velvet Rush Slated to be Next Release in Founders Brewing Co.’s Barrel-aged Series

Posted on by mashingin

Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently teased in its Cadre Newsletter that it will begin the Limited Release of Velvet Rush, the brewery’s newest Barrel-aged Series offering, in September 2021.

Inspired heavily by “both high-end craft cocktails and moody jazz clubs,” Velvet Rush is an Imperial Brown Ale aged in Bourbon barrels and dosed with coffee, chocolate, vanilla extract and milk sugar. Weighing in at 11.1% ABV, Velvet Rush “[weaves] together [a] complex tapestry of flavors to create a unique sipping experience that really ties the room together.”

Velvet Rush is scheduled to debut in September 2021 and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Velvet Rush from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-aged Series; September 2021
Style – Imperial Brown Ale
ABV – 11.1%
Treatment – Aged in Bourbon barrels
Added Ingredients – Coffee, chocolate, vanilla extract & milk sugar
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft (no draft availability in Utah)
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Founders Brewing Co. to Launch 2021 Barrel-Aged Series with Release of Panther Cub

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently took to its Cadre Newsletter to announce that it will begin the Limited Release of Panther Cub, the latest offering to join the brewery’s vaunted Barrel-Aged Series, in early February 2021.

A special brew some may recognize from an appearance at a Black Beer Party held at Founders Brewing Co. a few years ago and/or as an early installment in the brewery’s Mothership Series of taproom-exclusive releases, Panther Cub is a Robust Porter “aged in the finest bourbon barrels available along with a kiss of maple syrup and vanilla extract.” Clocking in at 9.2% ABV, Panther Cub possesses an “aroma of maple and vanilla [that combines] with a surprisingly deep character to make this rare creature one to gaze upon fondly. Don’t let it fool you, this kitty has claws.”

Panther Cub is set to pounce in February 2021 and will hang around only as long as supplies last. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Panther Cub from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series
Style – Robust Porter
ABV – 9.2%
Added Ingredients – Maple syrup & vanilla extract
Treatment – Aged in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

KBS Espresso Returns to Founders Brewing Co.’s Barrel-Aged Series

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of KBS Espresso in late October 2020.

Originally released in 2019 and back to close out Founders Brewing Co.’s 2020 Barrel-Aged Series, KBS Espresso takes the brewery’s original KBS Bourbon Barrel-aged Chocolate Coffee Stout and “amplifies” the coffee presence by aging the beer on espresso beans, roasted by Ferris Coffee & Nut Co., after barrel removal. Weighing in at 12% ABV, KBS Espresso “is a fresh and extra-snappy coffee twist on the brewery’s classic barrel-aged beer.”

“This beer was so much fun, we had to bring it back for another go ‘round,” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “There’s a lot of flavors going on in a bottle of KBS, as those who’ve had it before can attest. If the coffee is your favorite characteristic, then KBS Espresso is definitely for you.”

The 2020 batch of KBS Espresso will hit Founders Brewing Co.’s Grand Rapids and Detroit taprooms on October 21, and distribution is scheduled to begin later that month. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout most of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution network (KBS Espresso will not be available in any format in Mississippi or on draft in Utah). Prost!

Vital Information for KBS Espresso from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; October 21, 2020
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 12%
Treatment – Original KBS aged on espresso beans after being removed from Bourbon barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Underground Mountain Brown Returns to Founders Brewing Co.’s Barrel-Aged Series

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that Underground Mountain Brown will be back for an encore release in the brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series in early September 2020.

First introduced last year as a part of Founders Brewing Co.’s 2019 Barrel-Aged Series lineup, Underground Mountain Brown is a “barrel-aged version of the brewery’s since-retired Imperial Brown Ale, Sumatra Mountain Brown.” Clocking in at slow-sipping 11.9% ABV, Underground Mountain Brown allows its team of malts [to] complement the bold Sumatra coffee perfectly while time spent immersed in oak creates layers of depth and complexity.”

“Underground Mountain Brown is a fantastic example of our use of coffee in beer-making,” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “Using an imperial brown ale as a base for the earthy and rich Sumatra coffee allows the coffee flavor to shine while adding the perfect complement of sweetness. Add in the extra layer of depth from barrel aging and you get an extremely complex yet approachable beer.”

The 2020 batch of Underground Mountain Brown will hit Founders Brewing Co.’s Grand Rapids and Detroit taprooms on September 2 and distribution is scheduled to begin later that month. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of the brewery’s nationwide distribution network (except Mississippi). Prost!

Vital Information for Underground Mountain Brown from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; September – October 2020
Style – Imperial Brown Ale
ABV – 11.9%
IBUs – 30
Added Ingredients – Sumatra coffee from Ferris Coffee & Nut
Treatment – Aged for a year in Bourbon barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Tasting Notes: Más Agave Grapefruit from Founders Brewing Co.

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For this installment of Tasting Notes, we settle into the holiday weekend by getting into a pour of Más Agave Grapefruit from Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan).

Introduced back in May as the first variant of the brewery’s wildly popular margarita-inspired Más Agave, Más Agave Grapefruit is also an Imperial Gose “brewed with agave and sea salt before being aged in tequila barrels.” It then sets itself apart from its predecessor once it is removed from the barrels by dropping the lime addition and getting “a dose of fresh grapefruit juice to ramp up the tanginess and to pay homage to [Founders Brewing Co.’s] other favorite tequila-based cocktail, the Paloma.” Coming in at around 10% ABV, Más Agave Grapefruit is “sweet, salty, and mouth-puckeringly delicious.”

Más Agave Grapefruit is available now and will stick around through the end of July 2020.  You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution area.  

Now that we all know how a Paloma-inspired beer is made and how to get it, let’s pop the top on a bottle of Más Agave Grapefruit and combine beer and cocktail hour over some Tasting Notes!

Tasting Notes for Más Agave Grapefruit from Founders Brewing Co.

Appearance: A steady pour from a 12 oz. bottle fills the branded snifter with a beer that is a rich copper in color and topped with just under a finger of loose, slightly off-white foam. When held to direct light, bright orange tones push through to add some brilliance and shine to that copper. The beer is dark but clear, and a vibrant carbonation presence sparkles within. Head retention is minimal, receding quickly to the thinnest of rings that occasionally leaves some spotty lacing.

Aroma: Citrus bursts from the glass and greets the nose with sharp notes of grapefruit zest and juice alongside just a twist of lime. Agave then rolls in to consumes the profile with a wave of tropical sweetness. This note opens further to expose a light tequila note that is more sweet than earthy.

Taste: Things shift around a bit here as a bright, slightly bitter presence of grapefruit zest, juice and pith collides and marries with the sweet agave to strike a beautiful and enticing balance of flavors. The slightly sour Gose base and its wonderful level of salt combines with the pleasant tequila notes to fully capture the cocktail experience and absolutely nail the characteristics of a Paloma.

Mouthfeel: Leaning toward the medium side of full-bodied with a high carbonation, this Imperial Gose drinks lighter than expected and has a refreshing effervescence. Moderately sour and complemented with a nice mix of sweetness and bitterness, this offering is incredibly playful and zesty on the palate. The 9.7% ABV makes itself know with a gently building warmth in the throat, but it never gets out of control. The aftertaste is all grapefruit drizzled with just a bit of agave nectar.

Final Thoughts: Just like the original Más Agave, Más Agave Grapefruit is a massive Imperial Gose that tastes exactly like the intended cocktail it was modeled after while still somehow retaining a dangerously high level of drinkability uncommon for a beer of this ABV. The aromatics and flavors are spot on for a Paloma (besides a touch of added maltiness), but it gives you that full cocktail experience with the convenience of just popping open a bottle or pulling a tap. This level of convenience and its approachable/recognizable flavor makes Más Agave Grapefruit a great option to stock the cooler/beer fridge with this summer because it will easily appeal to non-beer-drinking cocktail fans, seasoned craft beer lovers and everyone in-between. Make sure you give it a try before its limited run comes to an end. Prost!

Founders Brewing Co. Will Close Out 2020 With the Release of a New KBS Variant

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) recently teased in its Cadre Newsletter that it will put a bow on its 2020 Barrel-Aged Series by introducing its newest KBS variant, KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge, in early October 2020.

Inspired by the old-fashioned fudge that is so beloved in Michigan, KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge is an Imperial Stout that “[amplifies] the rich chocolate notes of [the original] KBS using Mackinac Fudge coffee, then [adds] maple syrup and [ages] it in oak Bourbon barrels.” Weighing in at 11% ABV, KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge is “a bold new take on [a] barrel-aged classic – one that could only have originated in Michigan.”

“We’ve been enjoying beers brewed with the Mackinac Fudge coffee in our taproom for years, and now we’re finally bringing that treatment to KBS,” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “It takes the chocolate flavor traditionally found in KBS to a whole new level.  Add in a hint of maple syrup and now you have an elegant, yet explosive new flavor experience.”

KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge will debut in October and is scheduled to hang around through December 2020 (as long as supplies last). You can expect to find this new Limited Release available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; October – December 2020
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 11%
Added Ingredients – Mackinac Fudge coffee & maple syrup
Treatment – Aged in oak Bourbon barrels
Fun Fact – KBS Maple Mackinac Fudge follows the release of KBS Espresso as the second packaged variant of KBS
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Founders Brewing Co. to Introduce Más Agave Grapefruit Alongside Re-release of Más Agave in 2020

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mas_agave_grapefruit_12oz_bottleFounders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that it will release Más Agave Barrel-aged Imperial Lime Gose in tandem with its first variant, Más Agave Grapefruit, in May 2020.

First introduced in 2019 and back to reclaim the summertime slot in Founders Brewing Co.’s Barrel-Aged Series, Más Agave is a margarita-inspired Imperial Gose “brewed with agave, lime and sea salt and then aged . . . in tequila barrels for just the right amount of kick.” Ridiculously smooth and easy drinking for 10% ABV, Más Agave is “a party in a bottle.”

New for 2020, Más Agave Grapefruit takes Más Agave to a new level after it is removed from the barrels by getting “a dose of fresh grapefruit juice to ramp up the tanginess and to pay homage to [Founders Brewing Co.’s] other favorite tequila-based cocktail, the Paloma.”  Also coming in at around 10% ABV, Más Agave Grapefruit is “sweet, salty, and mouth-puckeringly delicious.”

Más Agave and Más Agave Grapefruit will both release in May and are scheduled to hang around into July 2020.  You can expect to find both of these Limited Release offerings available in 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Michigan and throughout the rest of Founders Brewing Co.’s nationwide distribution area.  Prost!

Vital Information for Más Agave from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; May – July 2020
Style – Imperial Gose
ABV – 10%
IBUs – 20
Added Ingredients – Agave, lime & sea salt
Treatment – Aged in Tequila barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Vital Information for Más Agave Grapefruit from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Barrel-Aged Series; May – July 2020
Style – Imperial Gose
ABV – 10% (+/-)
IBUs – ???
Added Ingredients – Agave, lime, sea salt & grapefruit juice
Treatment – Aged in Tequila barrels
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 750ml bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

 

 

 

Founders Brewing Co. Reveals 2020 Availability Calendar

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4_giants_fpo_3-4_mockup-1024x1024Brewery release calendar season is back once again and we are kicking of this year’s round with a look at the 2020 Availability Calendar for Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan).

As is the norm around here when it comes to beer calendars, we have published Founders Brewing Co.’s 2020 Availability Calendar in its entirety below so that you can examine it at your own pace.  With that said, here are a few juicy tidbits that we would like to highlight before we turn you over to the calendar:

  • The Barrel-Aged Series kicks off with the 2019/2020 release of KBS Espresso – the first variant of KBS – which will have availability into February 2020.  The original KBS will return in February as a Year-Round release. Más Agave (May – July) and Underground Mountain Brown (September – October) are both scheduled to return in 2020. Founders plans to add two new yet-to-be-named offerings to the series during the year – one of which will be a Más Agave variant.
  • The brewery’s Year-Round lineup will see the addition of Unraveled IPA in February.  Unraveled IPA is an “incredibly flavorful and aromatic” Juicy India Pale Ale “dry hopped with traditional hop pellets along with lupulin powder, an innovative hop product that separates lupulin from the hop flower.”  ABV – 6.6%  IBUS – 50
  • Centennial IPA will get some new packaging options in 2020.  Look for this Year-Round to have availability in 19.2 oz. cans and 6-packs of 12 oz. cans beginning in February 2020.
  • 4 Giants IPA, “a mashup of [the brewery’s] four favorite imperial IPAs,” will be available April through June 2020 as a part of the Limited Series.
  • Speaking of the Limited Series, Frangelic Mountain Brown (January – March), Green Zebra (May – August), and Harvest Ale (October) are all scheduled to return.  Founders plans to also add two yet-to-be-named offerings to the series in 2020.
  • The Mothership Series, the brewery’s “ultra-limited, brew team favorite beers only found at [Founders] taproom locations,” will kick off with the return of Devil Dancer on January 22.  Founders plans to release five more Mothership Series offerings throughout the year.
  • The brewery will launch the MI-Exclusive Series in 2020 with the March release of Red’s Rye IPA in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans. As you may have already guessed, the MI-Exclusive Series will see exclusive distribution in Founders Brewing Co.’s home state of Michigan.

That should just about cover all the points we wanted to go over, but there is still a good amount of info left for you to discover on the calendar below. Give it a good look and start getting excited about all the tasty brews headed your way from Founders Brewing Co in 2020.  Prost!

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