Imagine if Marx, Che, Malcolm X, Susan B. Anthony (and about ten other historical figures who shouted the proverbial "We're not going to take it" all while offering a serious backhand to any sense of "societal norms") all got together and made a beer. Then add an ABV about as epic as anything Teddy Roosevelt ever did, make it smell and taste like maple, and you're about scratching the surface of this beer: Founder's Brewing Company's Nemesis Wheat Wine "Anti-Establishment" Ale (2009 bottling).
I poured this into my trusty Piraat glass and witnessed a very nice and cloudy copper-toned wheat wine beer. I've had barley wines before, so I was anticipating good things. The head is relatively minimal, but leaves a fair amount of lacing. The scent, like I suspected was very maple-filled along with some hints of bourbon. Go figure: Founder's ages the beer (or wheat wine, technically) in bourbon barrels.
The taste really sold this brew for me. You automatically get a serious hit of dark caramels and light maple flavor. Then, while you're still reeling a bit from that taste, you notice the bourbon. The aftertaste (a word which I think needs to be viewed in a more positive light at times) is great. Imagine a great sip of Maker's Mark right after you cracked the bottle: warming, flavorful, and overall, just great. There is a bit of an alcohol taste present, but the rest of the flavors tend to overwhelm it.
The sentence on the bottle states "Every batch diabolically brewed to decimate ordinary-average-run-of-the-mill tasting beer." They hit the nail on the head with that. Try this beer and you will not be disappointed. My only caution: this is a slow sipper. As I'm still enjoying this beer, I have the feeling it might catch up to me in about a half hour.
Founders - Nemesis Anti-Establishment Ale (Michigan) ****1/2/***** (4 1/2 out of 5 stars)
Image Accessed At: http://foundersbrewing.com/founders/images/stories/nemesis-bottle.png
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