Founders Dirty Bastard
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Tasting Notes
The aroma opens with rich toffee, dark bread, and a hint of peat smoke — not aggressively smoky, but enough to give it a distinctly Scottish character. On the palate, flavors of caramel, molasses, dried fruit, and a touch of dark chocolate layer over a full, chewy body. The hops are deliberately restrained, letting the malt do the work. The finish is long and warming, with a gentle sweetness that lingers without becoming cloying.
About the Brewery
Founders Brewing is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has been operating since 1997. They built their reputation on high-gravity, aggressively flavored beers aimed at drinkers who wanted more complexity than mainstream American craft was offering at the time. Their lineup includes KBS, CBS, and All Day IPA, spanning barrel-aged stouts to session ales, and they've maintained strong national distribution and a devoted following in the Midwest and beyond.
Food Pairings
A rich, malt-forward beer like this pairs well with braised short ribs because the caramel malt mirrors the deep fond in the braise. Sharp aged cheddar works because the fat and funk cut through the sweetness without clashing. Roasted lamb with herbs is a natural match since the peat smoke in the beer echoes the char on the meat. A slice of dark chocolate cake plays off the cocoa undertones in the beer itself, and smoked sausage reinforces the beer's smoky backbone while giving the sweetness something savory to lean against.
Style Guide
Scotch Ale, often called Wee Heavy at stronger strengths, is a malt-driven style originating in Scotland where hops were historically expensive and scarce, pushing brewers to build complexity through deep malt character instead. Defining features include caramel, toffee, and sometimes subtle smoke or peat, a full body, and very low hop bitterness. ABVs typically range from around 6% to well over 8%, with Wee Heavy sitting at the stronger end. It differs from an English Barleywine in its lack of hop presence and from a Scottish Ale primarily by degree of strength and intensity.