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Backwoods Bastard

Founders Brewing Co.
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🌍 United States · Scotch Ale · One of 14 Scotch Ales in hopIQ

Backwoods Bastard is Dirty Bastard, the brewery's Scotch-style ale, matured in bourbon barrels and bottled at 11 percent. It pours a deep ruby brown. The barrel adds oak, vanilla and a whiskey warmth to the malt base, and a light smoky note sits beside sweet caramel and roasted grain. Raisin, fig and a little earthy spice appear as it warms. The body is full and smooth, bitterness stays in the background, and the finish is long and warming.

ABV
11%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter50 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark22
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Firm bitter edge.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Scotch Ale.
Malt character
caramel
roasted
Distinctive notes
oak
vanilla
dark fruit
smoky
spicy
Hop character
earthy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Backwoods Bastard

◎ Appearance

Pours a deep ruby brown with excellent clarity and a dense, persistent head that clings to the glass. The color suggests caramel and roasted grain backbone, while the head retention demonstrates the beer's malt structure and carbonation level.

deep ruby brownpersistent headclear

◌ Aroma

Bourbon barrel influence dominates the nose, delivering prominent oak and vanilla notes layered over a rich malt foundation. Light smoke and sweet caramel emerge alongside hints of toasted grain, with subtle earthy spice becoming more apparent as the beer warms.

bourbon oakvanillasweet caramellight smoke

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with caramel sweetness and roasted malt flavors anchoring the palate. Mid-palate develops dark fruit character—raisin and fig—with the bourbon barrel contributing whiskey warmth and subtle woody notes, while bitterness remains deliberately restrained in the background.

smooth, full bodydark fruitwhiskey warmthrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, driven by alcohol presence and residual malt sweetness. Dry toasted grain and oak linger pleasantly into the aftertaste.

long, warming finishlingering oak
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
82
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Backwoods Bastard

Serve at 12–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 12–16°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Backwoods Bastard

About Scotch Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Scotch Ale?

Scotch Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Scotch Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same oak, vanilla, full-bodied character as Backwoods Bastard will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Scotch Ales in hopIQ

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