#dkml

[clangoring]

Damn! You could heat your house with this in the winter.

[beerconspiracy]

Work hard, drink hard! Here’s to a looooooong week! @foundersbrewing #DKML #imperialmaltliquoragedinbourbonbarrels #bourbonbarrelaged #maltliquor /// #beerconspiracy #beerconnoisseur #beergeek #beerporn #beer #craftbeer #beeer https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpswym5APZJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1c80p1lgg1fq8

[brewru423]

Been cellaring this brilliant brew for a year now, and it was so worth it! Has matured into velvety bourbon wonderland! @foundersbrewing #the413 #barrelaged #thebrewru423 #supportcraftbeer #drinkcraft #drinkcraftbeer #dkml #foundersbrewing #craftbeer #craftbeerlover #westmasscraft #cellaring @thespiritshoppema www.thespiritshoppe.com (at Deerfield Spirit Shoppe)

[scientificfunk]

I guess I'll just just my Instagram for beer. #dkml (at The Haystack)

[gigantic-hawk-blog]

No need for a #paperbag for this one. #foundersbrewing #DKML #maltliquor or is it #paintthinner

[tail-light-rebellion]

Newest addition to the #TailLightRebellion compound- @210tavernsrq 's #nye poster featuring @foundersbrewing #dkml - it definitely lived up to it's name (at Greensboro, North Carolina)

[thepainfulone]

#dkml (at Founders Brewing Co.)

[thebeeroftheweek]

Beer of the Week 218 - 11/15/2017: Founders DKML

I’m not going to lie, I’ve been pretty damn excited about this beer since I heard Founders was going to release it.  DKML is an American Malt Liquor...yes, Malt Liquor like Colt 45 or Olde English 800.  No, it doesn’t come in a brown bag, and no it is not the malt liquor from your college days playing Edward Fortyhands.  DKML is a 14.2% ABV, bourbon barrel aged malt liquor.  Crazy, right?  Founders released this as the 4th installment in their 2017 Barrel Aged Series, and once I got the email that it existed, I knew it had to be mine.

DKML pours a relatively clear, amber-orange color that has light gold hues to it when held to the light.  A small, half a finger thick, eggshell white head formed and quickly dissipated to a collar and cap.  Sweet aromas hit first with bourbon and vanilla hitting hard, all followed by adjunct-like malts and corn hitting hard.  Caramel, honey and some hops come last but have a hard time poking through a very strong alcohol scent that seems to be ever present. 

The flavors all follow closely with the aromas you get from the beer.  Strong alcohol hits first followed by sweeter flavors of bourbon, corn, honey, caramel, vanilla.  LOTS of adjunct malts are coming through too, along with some corn syrup and stand up to the sweetness of the aforementioned flavors.  This one is strong on the bourbon side of things, which I love and is the only real redeeming quality of the beer.  The base beer seems to be a sweeter, adjunct-as-expected malt liquor.  The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation.  As I mentioned, this one has a strong bourbon and alcohol overtone, so this was certainly a slow sipper.  The bourbon and alcohol are quite warming as you continue to drink it, which is nice as that’s not necessarily the feeling one gets when they start slamming a Colt 45.

Overall, this sure was an adventurous beer from Founders - not that I’m surprised they would take a chance like this.  Does it work?  Yes, if you like really bourbony malt liquor.  Does it work in terms of a beer I yearned to drink again once I finished this glass?  No.  But, I put 3 away to age to see if lessening the alcohol burn does anything to improve the overall quality of the beer.  Here’s to hoping.

Cheers!