DKML by Founders brewing is a 14.2% ABV Imperial Malt Liquor Aged in Bourbon Barrels
Here you have what could be the first malt liquor worthy of a glass. Typically a slighted style, we thought we would class it up with a stay in the wood and a healthy dose of dry-hopping. A huge hit of corn gives this one a smooth sweetness while its time spent aging in bourbon barrels will give you reason to share. Be warned: this one’s a pry-off, not a twist-off.
The “40” or “40oz.” has a new meaning with this beer. A crazy strong beer that only the closest Colt 45 or Mickey’s can ever dream of being the strongest of the bunch. Something that I have never tried before and honestly, something that my site has rarely ever gotten past security. Sorry, I have only done Malt Liquor upon request here and the only one I have done so far is King Cobra thanks to my friend Hugo Gascon. Yet, a bourbon barrel aged malt liquor?! What is this all about?! Great question for sure but I would be hard pressed to not bring it to the site, especially since it is Founders we are talking about. The makes of the awesome KBS and with their reputation in barrel aging beers. So yeah, this was definitely a must. Now that we are here, let’s have a look, cheers!
Aromas:
Rich marshmallow, oak, toasted coconut, vanilla, caramel, cane sugar, marshmallow, fruit cake, white raisins, tropical mango hints, orange peel, citrus, herbal, grassy hop hints, tangerine gummies, raisin bread, toffee, honey and rich butterscotch.
Flavors:
Rich caramel, pilsnery grain, honey, oak, butterscotch, bourbon, cane sugar, stone fruit peach, apricot, melons, apple, banana notes, marshmallow, orange peel, tangerine gummies, citrus, herbal, piney and grassy hops, tropical fruit mango, passion fruit hints, rocky road ice cream, toasted coconut, brown sugar, biscuit bread, flan, dark cherries, white raisins, clove spice, coriander hints, fruit cake and piloncillo sugar cone.
Aftertaste:
Finishing rich with honey, caramel, butterscotch, bourbon, marshmallow, toffee, rye bread, pilsnery notes, citrus, sweetened condensed milk, tropical fruit, stone fruit and more. Slight boozy but not detracting from the amazing flavors. Clear Golden body, smooth, velvety, syrupy and crisp mouthfeel but a sipper none the less. Chugging this like an actual 40 will definitely give you a bad time!
Overall:
A most epic and exceptional malt liquor! In fact, the best malt liquor ever! If those old English and Mickeys or even Bud Ices have told me, there is a talk of legendary beer and this is supreme! Amazing amazing amazing! Founders is simply awesome and the always keep pushing that barrel aging program forward. For being the first and possibly only bourbon barrel aged malt liquor out there, you have to do yourself a favor and get this one!
Anime Corner:
Franco iL Nero from Outlaw Django was chosen in this pairing mainly for the pairing of the colors of the beer but mainly for a through back to the Wild Wild West Side like that Song from Ice Cube. Essentially, the 40 ounce represents the hard times of living in the Ghetto or at least how it was back in the 80’s and 90’s but also playing that Wild West to be a synonym of the real Wild West in the dessert in the time of cowboys. Yes, it was rough back then but this beer brings something traditional from the past into the more modern era with it’s barrel aging. It is sure to get you wassstedd, synonymous to the “wasted” logo that comes up when you die in GTA but also literally wasted as in drunk!