Founders Backwoods Bastard Review

Notes

Another early barrel‑aged discovery for me, and one I keep coming back to. Backwoods Bastard is a full‑on bruiser: boozy, heavy, and unapologetically bourbon‑forward. Every sip hits like an old bastard swinging a barstool — in the best possible way.

Medium‑low carbonation, a lovely complex caramel aroma, and loads of bourbon‑caramel notes. The mouthfeel is smooth and very rich, but this is not as sweet as any of those pastry beers.

Drinking this beer becomes a constant battle between pacing yourself to savour it and the urge for “just another sip”…

It’s easy to find in the US and surprisingly affordable for a barrel‑aged Scotch Ale.

If you’re looking for a warm, comforting slap in the face, this is the beer.