Founders Brewing Company- Nemesis 2010: Can’t we be friends?
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 5:44PM | by Wes 
I can get my hands on most of Founders beers here in Chicago, however it can be hard to get my hands on small batch, or limited edition bottles. So, when my boy Ryan told me he got a four-pack of Founders Nemesis, I begged him to save me a bottle. For all of those that don’t know, Nemesis is a once a year brew that changes annually. Last year’s was a maple-bourbon barrel aged wheat wine, well this year's is an American Barely Wine. I also dig the whole name thing, Nemesis is billed as, “every batch diabolically brewed to decimate ordinary-average-run-of-the-mill tasting beer,” well let’s hope so.
Nemesis rocks 100 IBU’s and a 12% ABV to justify its $20 per four-pack sticker price. The pour was very dark with just a microscopic hint or ruby edging through the darkness. I would rank the carbonation as slightly below average and the head was cream colored but whisper thin. You will notice the trademark sweetness that comes with a barely wine in the bouquet. It has a cereal like grainy aroma that drowns out other scents.
I was almost system shocked by the flavor. For a beer sporting 100 IBU’s, Nemesis is really sweet. You can pick out hints of hops but they don’t add much to the flavor. What rises up in Nemesis is a malty-grain sweetness and dark heavy red wine flavor. It warms your pallet wonderfully and leaves a very pungent alcohol tingle on your tongue. I enjoyed the flavor, but it did not wow me or leave me begging for another bottle. It would make hardcore barley wine fans perk their heads up but just doesn’t seem to offer a lot to a novice, curious beer adventurer. I think this beer’s biggest Nemesis is going to be people’s year-to year humungous expectations.
ABV: 12%
Consumed: Globe Glass
Verdict: Buy a Twelve Pack.
