I cut another entry in my video blog playlist: “One-Take Beer Review.” I’m finding the videos get a few more viewers when I feature “whales” from widely distributed brewers, so here’s one on Founders Brewing Company’s Doom. Disclosure: this beer was sent to me by Founders for comment.
Doom is part of Founders’ “Backstage” series, a line of returning previous popular beers and new formulations. Doom is based on their Double Trouble Imperial IPA, which comes out at 9.4% alcohol by volume. This beer is ramped up to 12.4% abv and aged in bourbon barrels.
My 12 oz. bottle was packaged in April, rated in October. Pours a dark gold color, with a head that hangs around pretty long for an imperial beer. Smell is already a bit medicinal, with alcohol pushing the flavor of the malt over a slightly bitter hop nose. Taste has hop bitterness up front, though. Nothing piney or fruity, just some sharp bittering with nobles and maybe some Cascade. Alcohol just seems to push up the flavor of the beer rather than making itself known. Not much bourbon character, but the barrel aging gives it a very strong oaky character. Luckily Founders also sent a 22 oz. bomber bottle to stash away and try a few years later. But generally, you want to make sure you have at least one “Impy IPA” fresh, because the hoppy beers are the ones that will change quickly over time.
