Founders Brewing unleashes Doom, a new barrel-aged imperial IPA

For the last two years, the Backstage Series has been taking Founders Brewing Co. exploratory taproom ideas and bringing them to the public via 750-mL bottles. In 2013 alone, Founders will release three additional beers in its Backstage Series, complementing mates like Blushing Monk (a purple-red raspberry beer), Bolt Cutter (a barrel-aged barely wine) and Curmudgeon’s Better Half (an old ale brewed with molasses and aged on oak, then aged in bourbon barrels that had formerly aged maple syrup).

This April, Founders will introduce the awesomely named Doom, a bourbon-barrel-aged Imperial IPA, marking the sixth installment in the brewery’s popular Backstage Series. Like all Backstage Series beers, Doom will be sold in 750mL bottles. It has a suggested retail price of $12.99 per bottle.

Doom is unleashed when Founders’ award-winning specialty Imperial IPA, Double Trouble, is aged in bourbon barrels for four months to create a distinct flavor experience. So, while Double Trouble is brewed to turn your world upside down, Doom is brewed to tear it apart: pungent hops conspire with boozy bourbon notes to send your senses spinning.

Known as “Hand of Doom” when originally brewed for Founders’ taproom, this 10 percent ABV beer is a unique addition to Founders’ barrel-aged repertoire, which has mostly consisted of malt-forward beers such as Backwoods Bastard and Kentucky Breakfast Stout.

“Doom is one of those beers that we’ve talked about releasing ever since we started the Backstage Series,” said co-founder and vice president of brand and education Dave Engbers. “It’s hop heavy. It’s barrel-aged. It’s unapologetic. It’s the definition of a Founders beer.”

Founders’ Backstage Series is made up of boundary-pushing, experimental beers that have previously been available only in the brewery’s taproom and at a handful of high-exposure events. The intent of the series is to take the diehard Founders fan experience to a wider audience — though all of the beers are still released in limited batches. Since its introduction in the summer of 2011, Founders’ Backstage Series beers have quickly become some of the most sought-after releases in the industry.

Doom will be released in limited quantities across Founders’ distribution footprint beginning on Monday, April 22, and will be available at the brewery’s taproom through a ticketed release during the week of April 14. The brewery expects to release two more Backstage Series beers in 2013.