First sip is suitably fruity and woody, but it's entirely possible that it's too much of both. The sweet fruit mixes with the coarse wood, and the effect is like a chew toy that two dogs are pulling at either end of (I may have been spending too much time with my dog lately). It's discordant and fights itself for an identity. But, that is only what a sip says. What will the gulp bring?
Tip-in is thick, sweet berries and very light carbonation tingle. The middle brings some of the wood into it, but the fruit is still master of the domain, and it seems to work out okay. The trouble starts when the finish brings bourbon into the mix for no good damn reason. So, the harshness of the wood then accelerates, and the beverage trails off into more wood grain.
Bottom Line: Founders does right by their beers, but this one wasn't a home run.
2.5/5