Blushing Monk Rejoins Founders Brewing Co.’s Limited Lineup

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of Blushing Monk in December 2020.

An infrequent but fan-favorite release from Founders Brewing Co., Blushing Monk is a Belgian-style Strong Ale “brewed with a ridiculous amount of raspberries for tart yet luscious raspberry-jam character and fermented with Belgian yeast for subtle fruit and spice esters.” Incredibly easy-drinking for 9.2% ABV, Blushing Monk is “an intense and delicious example of a Founders fruit beer.”

“Some of us have been around Founders long enough to remember the first time we bottled Blushing Monk back in the early 2000s,” said Brewmaster, Jeremy Kosmicki. “I remember it vividly because it was all hand packaged on a two-headed counter pressure filler and it took several days of around-the-clock action to get it done. These days, things are a bit more streamlined, but I still feel nostalgic whenever we decide to brew this huge raspberry ale.”

Blushing Monk is scheduled to return in early December 2020 and will stick around through March 2021. 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 Blushing Monk from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; December 2020 – March 2021
Style – Belgian Strong Ale/Fruit Beer
ABV – 9.2%
IBUs – 20
Added Ingredients – Raspberries
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

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Founders Brewing Co. Adds Moon Rambler IPA to Seasonal Lineup

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has announced that Moon Rambler IPA will officially join its Seasonal lineup in early November 2020.

Originally introduced in Founders Brewing Co.’s taproom locations under the name Cow Jumped the Shark, Moon Rambler is a Milkshake-style India Pale Ale brewed with oats and wheat, hopped with Azacca, Mosaic and Cascade hops for “a blast of tropical fruitiness,” and dosed with milk sugar. Clocking in at 6.4% ABV, Moon Rambler IPA boasts “a sweet yet slight creaminess, giving it a round mouthfeel, remarkably less bitter taste and a fuller body than your typical IPA.”

“When it comes to beers, milk sugar has traditionally been used to sweeten up heavier offerings like stouts and porters,” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “With Moon Rambler IPA, we added some milk sugar to balance the bitterness and accentuate the fruity hop character. Brewed with oats, wheat and featuring Azacca, Cascade and Mosaic hops, Moon Rambler IPA is still a full-fledged IPA, just with a softer and sweeter side.”

Moon Rambler IPA is set to release in early November 2020 and is scheduled to hang around through March 2021. You can expect to find this new Seasonal offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 15-packs of 12 oz. cans 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 Moon Rambler IPA from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Seasonal; November 2020 – March 2021
Style – American India Pale Ale (Milkshake-style)
ABV – 6.4%
IBUs – 44
Featured Hops – Azacca, Mosaic & Cascade
Added Ingredients – Lactose
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 15-packs of 12 oz. cans & 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/

Founders Brewing Co. Brings Big Luscious Back for a Limited Release

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

Last released in 2014 as a part of Founders Brewing Co.’s Backstage Series, Big Luscious is a “rich and robust” Imperial Stout that has “raspberries lend a tart and refreshing sweetness while the addition of dark chocolate takes it to an indulgent level.” Coming in at a smooth-sipping 7.8% ABV, Big Luscious is “big, yet balanced” and “perfect for sharing with friends and family.”

“Since low-cal beers and seltzers are all the rage right now, I thought it would be a good time to bring back a beer that drinks like a dessert,” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “You know, to zag while everyone is zigging. The chocolate is rich and sweet, the raspberries are tart and bright, while a blend of wheat malt, chocolate malt and roasted barley provide a perfect, velvety malt backbone.”

Big Luscious is scheduled to return in October and will hang around into December 2020. 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 Big Luscious from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited; October – December 2020
Style – Imperial Stout
ABV – 7.8%
IBUs – 30
Added Ingredients – Chocolate & raspberries
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/


Tasting Notes: Marvelroast from Founders Brewing Co.

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For this installment of Tasting Notes, we settle into our Labor Day by relaxing with a couple bottles of Marvelroast from Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan).

Introduced earlier this summer as the newest Limited Release from Founders Brewing Co., Marvelroast is a Golden Strong Ale brewed with coffee, vanilla and cocoa nibs.  With milk sugar supplying “a smooth and sweet finish,” Marvelroast (8% ABV) comes together to be “a delicious treat reminiscent of your favorite iced coffee drink.”

Marvelroast debuted in July and is scheduled to hang around through September 2020. 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.

Tasting Notes for Marvelroast from Founders Brewing Co.

Appearance: A slow, cautious pour produces a vibrant, golden-colored liquid capped with over two fingers of frothy, bright white foam. When held to direct light, the golden tones radiate while a soft orange hue emerges near the core of the glass. The beer is beautifully clear and holds an abundance of tiny, slow-moving carbonation bubbles. Head retention is good, falling to a lasting half finger that paints the glass with fluffy structures of lace.

Aroma: As soon as the beer is poured, a rush of high-quality vanilla is quick to engulf the nose. This is then consumed by a comforting presence that can only be described as a plate of freshly baked brownies served with an expertly prepared mochaccino. We are talking about big notes of roasted coffee, rich cream, dark chocolate and decadent cake. The profile ultimately closes with a lingering waft of freshly roasted coffee.

Taste: Each sip leads with notes of vanilla creme, marshmallow and graham crackers. The coffee then surfaces with some light roast and mocha notes consisting of sweetened coffee, cream and rich chocolate. A drizzle of caramel rounds everything off in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Leaning toward the medium side of full-bodied with a pillowy soft carbonation, this beer has a gorgeous sip that takes its time on the palate before it eventually cleans up and dissipates fully. All of the notes are on the sweet side, but they are tempered wonderfully and somehow avoid being cloying or overwhelming. The 8% ABV is well hidden and surprisingly provides very little warmth in the throat or belly. The aftertaste is a lasting dollop of vanilla creme.

Final Thoughts: After sampling many Stout-influenced Golden Strong Ales (a.k.a. White Stouts) over the years only to find them lacking in one area or another, everyone on today’s tasting panel was happy to discover that Marvelroast was able to pick up the slack and give us the hope that this style could be executed in a way that truly resembles a Stout. The coffee used in the beer supplied just enough roast to mimic the tones you normally get from the use of darker malts, and the added vanilla and cocoa nibs provide all the dessert-like goodness you expect from a Pastry Stout. Marvelroast truly is a marvel and a decadent delight that deserves your attention, so make sure that you track down a bottle or pour before its limited run comes to an end later this month. Prost!

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. Continues ArtPrize Series with Release of Oktoberfest

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that it will raise awareness for ArtPrize, an open international art competition in the brewery’s hometown of Grand Rapids, with the Limited Release of Oktoberfest in August 2020.

Crafted to be “similar to a traditional Reinheitsgebot style” Festbier, Oktoberfest is a Märzen-style Lager “brewed using imported German malts and hops.” Coming in at a highly quaffable 6% ABV, Oktoberfest “pours a gorgeous copper hue with a rich, malty and slightly sweet backbone.”

“Brewing traditional German-style beers, especially malt-forward lagers, isn’t something we’re especially accustomed to,” said Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki. “I’ve really begun to enjoy drinking Märzens over the past few years and decided to get serious about a recipe. Oktoberfest is brewed with malt and hops imported from Germany for a rich, malty character that still manages to stay light on the palate. Whether you’re celebrating Art Prize or Oktoberfest, this is the beer to do it with!”

Dropping as the seventh release in Founders Brewing Co.’s ArtPrize Series, Oktoberfest now joins previous releases that include Green Zebra, Pale Joe, Spectra Trifecta, Mosaic Promise, Inspired Artist Black IPA and Trigo. 

Oktoberfest will officially release in August and is scheduled to hang around through September 2020. You can expect to find this Limited Release offering available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 15-packs of 12 oz. cans and on draft at 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 Oktoberfest from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/ArtPrize Series; August – September 2020
Style – Märzen
ABV – 6%
IBUs – 20
Fun Fact – Oktoberfest was brewed to adhere to the Reinheitsgebot, a 1487 German law that limits the ingredients to water, barley and hops.
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans, 15-packs of 12 oz. cans & draft
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/

Founders Brewing Co. Continues Brewed for MI Series with Release of Cerise

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Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, Michigan) has officially announced that Cerise will return in late June as the next release in the brewery’s ‘Brewed for MI’ Series.

Brewed as a “celebration of the official state fruit” of Michigan, Cerise is a “ruby red” Fruit Beer “brewed with 100% tart, Michigan cherries.” Coming in at a light and refreshing 5.7% ABV, Cerise boast so much fresh cherry flavor that it is “as close you’ll get to tasting the real thing without picking it off the tree.”

Available exclusively in Michigan, each beer in the Brewed for MI Series “aims to raise awareness for Michigan-based non-profits through Founders corporate giving platform, The Big Pitcher.” Cerise will “raise awareness for Fair and Equal Michigan, a growing coalition of grassroots citizens, LGBTQ groups, business, political and philanthropic leaders that have joined together to help prohibit discrimination against the LGBTQ community.”

“We’re absolutely thrilled to bring back one of our first fruit forward beers,” said Co-Founder and President, Dave Engbers. “Cerise isn’t one of those subtle, just a hint, fruit beers – it’s packed full of Michigan cherries. It’s well-balanced with the perfect amount of sweet and tart. We’re proud that this beer celebrates people and from all backgrounds and beliefs and helps raise awareness for Fair and Equal Michigan.”

Cerise is scheduled to be release in late June 2020 and will be available for a limited time. You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. cans at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Michigan only. Prost!

Vital Information for Cerise from Founders Brewing Co.

Release – Limited/Brewed for MI Series; late June 2020
Style – Fruit Beer
ABV – 5.7%
IBUs – 15
Added Ingredients – Michigan cherries
Fun Fact – “Each release in the Brewed for MI Series aims to raise awareness for Michigan-based non-profits through Founders corporate giving platform, The Big Pitcher. All causes Founders supports fall under three categories: Social Justice, Environment and Arts & Culture and range from local, MI-based organizations to those that operate on a national-level. The ‘Brewed for MI’ Series is Michigan-exclusive series include a lineup of three different beer releases throughout the year. The Brewed for MI Series beers have included Red’s Rye IPA. One more release in the series will be announced later this year.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. cans
Distribution – Michigan only
Beer Finder – https://foundersbrewing.com/beer/find-our-beer/