Dirty Bastard - Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids
Style:
Scotch Ale
Serving Type:
Bottle
Alcohol by Volume:
8.5%
Aroma:
Caramel, figs and prunes with a healthy amount of malt. A hint of alcohol on the nose but not terribly strong
Appearance:
Deep ruby red around the edges, thick dark brown in the center. Light tan colored head of tiny bubbles, thin with a little lacing
Flavor:
Malty up front, more caramel than dark malt. Not a whole lot going on until the beer hits the middle of your palate where you'll notice vanilla and a decent amount of alcohol. Finishes boozy with a little bitter kick in the end
Mouthfeel:
Full bodied but not necessarily thick in texture
I've had samples of Founders Dirty Bastard at several beer fests and tastings but I've never really bothered to bring home so much as a bottle. About two months ago I saw a couple bottles of Dirty Bastard sitting on the shelf of a build your own six pack section and figured it was time to give this beer a formal review. Recently I've been on the look out for more Scotch Ales and found this bottle sitting in my basement so I chilled it, poured it into a nice tall glass and here we are... Founders beer are a bit pricier than the competition so I tend to expect a bit more. Previous experience has taught me that Founders beers don't always meet those expectations, so I'm trying to keep an open mind with this Dirty Bastard.
The aroma coming off this beer is on the lighter side of thing. Don't get me wrong, there are heartier aromas here they just aren't overpowering. Subdued may be a better way to explain it. Dark fruit like figs and prunes are evident along with sweeter caramel. Malt is obvious without being in your face. There's also a hint of alcohol there to remind you that this beer is 8.5%.
Founders Dirty Bastard looks a bit darker and thicker than other Scotch Ales. It's dark red around the corners but thick brownish, almost black, in the center of the glass. The head is thin, a light tan layer of bubbles with a little lacing going on.
This beer's flavor is decidedly Scotch Ale-y but there are a few points worth noting. Most notably is the absence of most non-malt flavor from this beer before it hits the middle of your palate. When you take a sip you'll get the caramel malts, a little light toastiness, but that's about it. It tastes more like a Bock or Märzen at first. That all becomes moot as this beer reached the taste buds on the middle of your tongue and all those Scotch Ale flavors kick in. It's odd, but not unsettling. It's a mild distraction but one that was noticeable nonetheless.
If you're looking for a gateway Scotch Ale to set your expectation for the style, I wouldn't really recommend this beer. There are other, cheaper and more approachable Scotch Ales out there. Scotch Ale enthusiasts will appreciate this beer's intricacies and peculiarities. Either way, you won't have a bad time with this beer... As for me, like with most of Founders' line up, I was left a bit underwhelmed by this beer.
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