Founders Brewing Co. Double Trouble
It’s been about 3 years now since I began really learning about beer. The different styles, brewers, the ingredients, etc., etc., there’s a lot to learn about and of course, a lot of beers and brewers out there. Sadly, it’s only within the past year that I’ve discovered Founders Brewing Company, the phenomenal brewery based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In part, this is because the beers have only recently begun to really penetrate the Massachusetts market. In past years, I’m certain that they haven’t distributed the same volume of beers in this state that you can now find. At the same time, during the past year I’ve made a concerted detour in my tasting trajectory and have really fallen in love with American beers and breweries. So it’s safe to argue that I haven’t noticed the available Founders beers in the past, to my detriment as it turns out.
Founders was opened in 1997 and today is one of the real center-stage breweries in the craft beer scene. Their beers (in particular their special releases such as the Breakfast Stout, Imperial Stout, Double Trouble, and the infamous Kentucky Breakfast Stout) receive loads of attention on sites such as Beer Advocate and at festivals such as the Extreme Beer Fest. In fact, I’ll never forget the massive crush of people lined up for the Kentucky Breakfast Stout at this year’s EBF and the throaty cheer that went up when the keg was tapped! And all of this attention is extremely well-deserved. Of all their beers that I’ve tried, at the worst they’ve been great (Red’s Rye), and at the best phenomenal (all of the others!).
The only downside is that in so many ways the craft beer scene is distinctly a “scene”, which brings with it the attendant difficulties of actually finding some of the more in-demand beers. A local shop for instance received all of one (!) case of the imperial stout, necessitating some extra driving to track down a 4-pack of that stunning beer. Similarly, with the imminent release of the Kentucky Breakfast Stout, I’ve been keenly aware of the weary answers of shop owners when I’ve asked them about when they expect it to arrive and hit the shelves. Despite this, I’ve no doubt that the Founders’ beers are worth all of the effort. As I said, I’ve yet to be unimpressed by any of their beers, and in most cases have been simply blown away.
The Double Trouble was a beer that I bought on a lark. I hadn’t heard of it, but it was in stock at one of the great beer shops here in Boston, Publick House Provisions. Of all of the Boston shops they’re probably most specific about their selection (due to space constraints), and so I decided to take a shot on this beer. Having enjoyed the other Founders’ offerings, I figured this was probably a good bet. Double Trouble is Founders’ version of an Imperial IPA, and I assume is a relatively new release since their website doesn’t even have any information about it. (New in bottles anyhow, since there are only a handful of reviews on Beer Advocate from before 2009, and they’re all from on-tap tastings.)
The beer is brewed to 9.4% and 86 IBUs. I haven’t found out any other information on it, and so I’m unsure of which hops or malt they are using.
The beer pours a crystal clear, light golden color, slightly darker than a pilsner. It begins with a billowy white head that falls to a persistent, thin layer of foam. Amazing aromas of grapefruit, orange, lemon, and pine surge out of the glass. The nose is dominated by hop flavors in accompaniment with an undercurrent of sweet, simple syrup. The flavors hit your palate with loads of citrus hop flavors up front, followed by a hint of pine and resin hop flavors, all layered atop a solid malt texture. The malt doesn’t contribute much flavor or sweetness. Essentially, it’s almost as though the brewers managed to perfectly balance the simply sweet malt flavors with the optimal amount of citrus hop flavors to create an incredibly well balanced beer. The finish begins with some resiny hop flavors that give way to a burst of hop bitterness that itself is followed by a persistent honey sweetness. The malt flavors really kick in at the back-end of the finish.
This is an incredible IPA. I’m a sucker for citrus and pine hop aromas and flavors, and so the moment I got hit by the beer’s nose I was taken in. It’s totally impressive that the palate and finish follow through so well to create a beer that has a massive hop presence so perfectly integrated with its body and well-integrated malt flavors.
This beer stands out on two levels. On the one hand, it is easily one of the best IPAs I’ve had the good fortune to try. It’s a seasonal from Founders, and so the pleasure may be fleeting, but an annual release to look forward to. On the other hand, it is yet another outstanding offering from Founders, right up there with the Imperial Stout, Kentucky Breakfast Stout, and Maple Breakfast Stout, the other of their beers that I’ve tried and found to be entirely stunning.
In the end, this beer certainly confirms Founders’ deserved reputation for brewing palate-challenging yet incrediblly drinkable and complex beers. If you enjoy hoppy beers, then go find some of this straightaway – no chance for disappointment.
Note: Here’s a link to an interesting video tour with the head brewer at Founders, Jeremy Kosmicki.
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