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Dirty Bastard

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Dirty Bastard is a Scotch-style ale of 8.5 percent and one of the beers that made Founders known. Specialty malts, among them abbey and crystal malts, give it a dark ruby colour. Caramel and toffee lead, with dried fruit, a hint of tobacco and a touch of spice behind them. The malt brings a rich sweetness, while Nugget and Willamette hops add a firm bitter edge that keeps the full body in check and leaves a complex, slightly warming finish.

ABV
8.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter50 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
dark22
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Silver · 2010
World Beer Cup
Strong Ale
★Silver — World Beer Cup (Strong Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelmaltydark fruit
caramel
malty
dark fruit
spicy
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced caramel and toffee notes, underpinned by the rich sweetness of toasted specialty malts.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Dirty Bastard

◎ Appearance

Deep ruby to dark brown hue, achieved through careful selection of specialty malts including abbey and crystal varieties. The beer displays good clarity with a dense, tan head that shows solid retention and attractive lacing against the glass. Carbonation is moderate, creating a gentle sparkle that complements the full-bodied character.

deep rubydense headgood lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced caramel and toffee notes, underpinned by the rich sweetness of toasted specialty malts. Behind these primary impressions lie subtle dried fruit aromas alongside a faint tobacco leaf character, with gentle spice rounding out the bouquet. The overall aromatic profile is warm and inviting, without aggressive hop presence.

caramel, toffeedried fruittobacco leafsubtle spice

◐ Taste

The palate enters with full malt-driven sweetness, carrying strong notes of caramel and toasted grain across the mid-palate. Nugget and Willamette hops assert a firm, measured bitterness that provides necessary balance and prevents the beer from becoming cloying. A hint of tobacco and warming spice emerges in the mid-palate, adding complexity to an otherwise straightforward malt platform.

malt-forwardcaramel sweetnessfirm bitternesswarming spice

◑ Finish

The finish is notably long and complex, with lingering warmth from the 8.5% alcohol and a dry, slightly peppery aftertaste. The bitterness persists gently, leaving the palate with a balanced impression of both malt and hops.

long finishwarmingdry aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
80
Serve at 12–16°C

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

Pint glass

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Dirty Bastard

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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 caramel, bitter, malty character as Dirty Bastard will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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