Next up, Founders Blushing Monk:
In search of some Funky Buddha beers, I headed to Churchkey (the poorly lit, well-stocked über beer bar in DC that has more than its fair share of ironic mustaches and short, cropped bangs). Unfortunately, they had drained all but one keg the night before for a SAVOR event. So my change of plans included this little fella’.
Founders describes this as a Belgian Raspberry Ale. I don’t know what that means or what the base beer is, but I do know it has a shitload of raspberries and is pretty strong at 9.2% ABV.
I had it on tap, and it looks like a vigorously poured, super-dark grape juice with a little pink head. It smells like what I believe raspberry cough syrup could smell like if pharmaceutical chemists weren’t such dicks: sticky, sweet, syrupy raspberry puree. With the first sip, it appears this will be a raspberry juicebox affair, like Founders is all slinging their wares preschool snack-time style. Then the carbonation quickly kicks in to tone things down, and I’m all:
Awww, that was a cute and sweet little number…
Then, shit got trill:
Suddenly you realize the moderate carbonation’s benevolent mercy as the tartness kicks in. I have seen people say this isn’t that tart. Perhaps my sour beer receptors are not jaded enough (although I do like kumquats and crazy-sour lemonade). And while it’s not exactly salivary gland twisting and automotive-screwdriver-to-the-jaw tart, I thought it was significant.
Things cool down for a split-second, and I notice some teeth-drying from the tannins and a slight red wine-like quality. Then a new sourness kicks in at the finish, except this time without any comforting carbonation. I like it, though, in a sick sort of way.
I think this was my favorite beer of the afternoon. I may have to rethink my unfavorable stance on fruit beers…especially 9.2% ABV fruit beers. And I may be seeking out some more sour stuff.
P.S. Thanks to Marshall for covering AOTD for me, while I went and got my Friday afternoon drink on.
nice pics
Thanks!
Sounds like something I want to try, not normally big on fruit beers myself either, they tend to be sweet and taste if fruit flavourings rather than fruit. Don’t suppose it will ever make it over to the UK anyway. Cheers
This was definitely sweet, but the tart, tannins, and carbonation tempered it…and it definitely did not taste like flavoring. It leaves no doubt that they actually used a gansey-load of real raspberries.
I’m gonna be honest, I don’t know if I could handle this. I have tried a few different fruit beers I have never really had a great experience. I enjoy the Abita Strawberry, but that is where I have pretty much drawn the line. I had the Flying Dog Sour Cherry at Smith Commons a few weeks ago and it was like having beer that was aged over cough drops. After all that, I’d still probably give it a shot.
This tasted like raspberries aged over raspberries.
Whatever that beer tastes like, it is totally redeemed by its alcohol content. I will pester my dad to go and find it.
Of note, its ABV was tied for lowest out of the 5 different beers I had that fine afternoon.
That’s it, I’m moving to your place. Get ready for a smallish FedEx package.
Part of me hates reading beer blogs from the USA cos they usually contain beers that will never make it to the UK… but I have seen some Founders beers here. Like yourself, I’ve never been too taken by fruit beers but I’d happily give any beer with an ABV of 9.2% a go, especially a sour one. Cheers
I feel ya.
That’s interesting that y’all get Founders. That’s not a bad US beer to have available.
I’ve never seen any on draft – just some bottles… and, if memory serves me correct, only in the Euston Tap in London