Review - Founders Brewing Company's Dirty Bastard Scottish Ale
"Founders flagship beer. Dirty Bastard is an absolute beautiful beer to behold. Dark ruby in color and brewed with ten varieties of imported malts this beer continuously lives up to its reputation as a bold and powerful ale. Dirty Bastard is complex in the finish with hints of smoke and peat paired with a malty richness, finalized with a good bit of hop attitude. This beer “ain’t fer the wee lads”" -- Founders Brewing
This dirty bird pours a beautiful deep garnet color with a solid, reddish-brown frothy head with outstanding retention and good sticky lacing. This Scotsman isn't hiding what's under his kilt, as we're smacked with a potent mix of alcohol, sweet malts, and a subdued fresh hop aroma. The first impression is a moderately sweet alcohol with a nice hop presence giving us a bitterness that kicks the sweetness right in the face as the beer matures into a nice, hoppy, smoky finish that tames the alcohol. Medium bodied with a creamy texture, it leaves us a little bit dry and oily and gentle carbonation. This beer is certainly excellent, although with a little more balance with the alcohol up front, we could see it being even better.
Reviewed on September 6th, 2007.