Founders Brewing
Founders Solid Gold Lager is about to get bigger
Founders Solid Gold Lager debuted nationally on March 1st of this year. Soon, this “Solid” addition to the brewery’s lineup is going to get bigger. 19.2 ounces bigger. The big cans are coming soon. The release date for these larger cans hasn’t been announced. We assume before the end of the year.
Original release info below.
Over the past few months now, we’ve said 2018 will be a big year for lagers and Pilsners. Let’s offer this new release from Founders as more evidence. Solid Gold Lager got its start in the Founders taproom in Grand Rapids, Michigan years ago. Their brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki has completely overhauled the recipe ahead of this forthcoming national launch.
Founders Solid Gold is a beautifully crisp, clean lager. There’s a touch of lemony citrus aroma that fills the glass and lingers in the smooth, grainy finish. Has Founders challenged the concept of a lager? If nothing else, they have succeeded in making it stand out a bit. The use of Lemondrop hops definitely puts a subtle lemon zesty elegance what some might call a “simple beer”. Solid Gold is beautiful – from pour to finish. If you aren’t convinced yet, hopefully, the pricing will. 6-packs should retail around $7.99, while 15-packs will run $14.99. That’s about a dollar per can, making it one of the most competitively priced lagers on shelves.
Founders Solid Gold Lager is the first year-round beer by the brewery to launch exclusively in cans. Look for it nationally starting March 1st.
Style: Lager
Hops: Lemondrop
Availability: 12oz Cans. 19.2oz Cans (COMING SOON). Year-Round
Debut: 3/1/18
4.4% ABV, 20 IBUs
Founders Solid Gold 19.2oz Cans will join the lineup in the near future.
The 4th Barrel-Aged release from Founders arrives in June: ‘Barrel Runner’
Founders Barrel Runner will join the brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series in June.
The weather is finally warmer, perfect for sipping this pirate-themed, rum ladened offering – Founders Barrel Runner. The base beer is an imperial India pale ale brewed with mosaic hops, that has been aged in rum barrels.
This is the 4th release in the Michigan-based brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series lineup this year. Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS), Backwoods Bastard and brand new Founders Dankwood (bourbon barrel-aged red ale) have hit shelves ahead of this release.
“I drink tiki cocktails probably more than I should and looked to them for inspiration when creating Barrel Runner. You get a lot of bright, tropical character from the abundance of Mosaic hops plus a nice kick of oak and rum from the barrels. Add a tiny umbrella and you got yourself a beer perfect for enjoying poolside.” – Brewmaster Jeremy Kosmicki.
Founders Barrel Runner will be available in 12-ounce and 22-ounce bottles and draft, starting in June 2018.
Style: Imperial IPA (Barrel Aged. Rum.)
Hops: Mosaic
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 22oz Bottles, Draft. June-August
Debut: June 2018
11.1% ABV
Founders Green Zebra Watermelon Gose makes a spring return
Founders Green Zebra returns to cans in April.
For more than five years, Founders has brewed a beer for the ArtPrize competition hosted in the brewery’s hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Previous releases in the lineup include Pale Joe, Spectra Trifecta, and Mosaic Promise.
Founders Green Zebra, is a goes-style ale brewed with watermelon and sea salt. A new packaged style for Founders, as well as being the first ArtPrize release that has been canned.
“We love playing with expectations when it comes to brewing our ArtPrize beers and Green Zebra is the perfect example of that. The gose style is very unique and pretty unknown, even amongst craft beer drinkers, and we wanted to bring our version of it to a larger audience. For the first time ever, our ArtPrize beer will be available across our entire distribution network so even more of our fans can get to know this style we’ve fallen in love with.” – Dave Engbers, Co-Founder and President
Jacob Wiseheart, an employee of Founders taproom created the label artwork.
Founders Green Zebra will be available again in 12-ounce cans and draft again starting April 13th.
Style: Gose (w/ Watermelon. Sea Salt.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft.
Debut: 8/15/17
Latest Return: April 2018
4.6% ABV, 10 IBUs
Image: Founders Brewing
Founders Dankwood joins the brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series in April
Founders Dankwood is coming to the brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series in April.
The Grand Rapids, Michigan based brewery has taken a “big, bold” imperial red ale, and aged it for a while in bourbon oak barrels. The resulting beer is described by Founders as having “rich caramel notes emerge from the depths of the IPA, highlighting strong malt character while the bourbon barrel-aging develops the complexity”.
Founders Dankwood will be the third release in the brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series, following the venerable KBS in March, and Backwoods Bastard (the brewery’s newest year-round beer) in April.
Expect both 750-milliliter bottles, 12-ounce bottles, and draft.
Style: Imperial Red Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Debut: April 2018
?? ABV
Founders Tank Bender, a barrel-aged anniversary beer debuts in October
Founders Tank Bender debuts in October, celebrating the brewery crossing the 20-year mark.
A barrel-aged eisbock has been chosen to mark the double decade milestone, a first for the brewery. The style is created by freezing water off the beer, leaving behind a much stronger beer. Apparently, the brewery bent one of their fermentation tanks in the process, thanks to collapsing ice.
A liberal addition of Munich malt highlights the toasty and dark fruit notes while a stay in bourbon barrels tames those intense flavors.
Those looking to get their hands on Founders Tank Bender will have to make a trip to the 20th-anniversary party on October 14th. Founders is only offering this special release at the brewery to the fans that been active since the beginning, “…to illustrate the importance of our home base”.
750-milliliter bottles will be available on October 14th, both individually, and in special gift sets with glassware.
Style: Eisbock (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml Bottles. Brewery only.
Debut: 10/14/17
?? ABV
Barrel-aged malt liquor. Founders DKML debuts in July
Founders DKML, a barrel-aged malt liquor, has been formally announced for release in the brewery’s Barrel-Aged Series this July.
Hot on the heels of Kentucky Breakfast Stout, and recently released Doom, is a completely new style for the Grand Rapids, Michigan based brewery – a malt liquor. The base beer is brewed with corn, plus a lager yeast that has been cultivated by Spanish brewer Mahou San Miguel, a strategic partner with Founders.
Founders DKML is not only dry-hopped, but aged in bourbon barrels.
“With DKML I wanted to do something totally original, and I don’t know anyone in the craft beer world who is barrel-aging malt liquor. After some early trials, we ended up with Mahou’s lager yeast to brew a really amazing malt liquor, and then we did what we do best – barrel-aged it. The bourbon barrel smoothed it out while giving it that ‘kick’ you would expect from an imperial malt liquor.” – Jeremy Kosmicki, Brewmaster
Founders DKML will be available in 12 ounce bottles, 750 milliliter bottles, and draft in the taproom starting in July, 2017. The brewery’s 46 state footprint will receive it in late-July.
Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 750ml Bottles, Draft.
Debut: July, 2017
?? ABV
Founders reDANKulous Imperial Red IPA returns in June
Founders reDANKulous Imperial Red IPA, once the 13th offering in the brewery’s “Backstage Series”, returns in mid-June.
The imperial IPA is billed as a “no-frills” offering, hopped with Chinook, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops. Just calling it “hoppy” is an understatement.
It pours a pleasing burnt amber with some sweetness due to the Caramalt and roasted barley used in the malt bill. But hops are the true headliner in this elaborate sensory experience. The spicy, piney, tropical complexities of Chinook, Mosaic and Simcoe hops hit you right away with their dank aroma—and they stick around.
Founders reDANKulous Imperial Red IPA was bottled again the last week of May. Look for it across the brewery’s distribution footprint in June, in 12 ounce bottles and draft.
Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Chinook, Mosaic, and Simcoe
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. June- Sept
Latest Return: June, 2017
9.5% ABV
