356. Founders Pale Ale

This marks our sixth beer from Founders, following KBS (which was itself a bonus beer), Centennial IPA, Black Biscuit, Harvest Ale and Breakfast Stout. We found this on tap at Dewey’s, so we had it with dinner.

Served to us in pint glasses, Founders Pale Ale was a soft copper that was slightly yellow; it has a minimal head that quickly ringed the glass, although it did leave behind some lacing. The nose was a toasty, bready, and grainy malt nose with a little spicy hoppiness and some slight bitterness. The flavors followed the nose: the opening was mostly a toasty and bready malt that shifted to a spicy bitterness in the middle. The finish saw a return of some of the breadiness with some caramel malt flavor and dry biscuit, and also some graininess; the spicy bitterness from the middle also lingers on through into the finish, and also a bit beyond. Founders Pale Ale has a medium body and also a medium carbonation; there is some creaminess and dryness in the mouthfeel, although the dryness is more from the malt than the hops. As well, the bite from the carbonation and the hop bitterness merge in the final third to help clean and round the beer. Founders Pale Ale is more British than American as pale ales go—the bitterness defines the second half of the beer, with minimal hop flavor and aroma. Good, but nothing really outstanding.

From the Founders website: “A testament to Cascade hops in a bottle. This medium-bodied pale ale has a distinctive floral hop aroma and refreshing citrus flavor. You’ll notice a slight malty sweetness with a balanced hop finish. Perfect to enjoy anytime, anywhere.”

ABV: 5.4%
IBU: 35

I guess ours was a little old or something, because there was none of that “distinctive floral hop aroma and refreshing citrus flavor” to be found. Oh well.

(6/21/10)