Founders Sumatra Mountain
Of the three samples I recently received from Founders Brewing — PC Pils and Doom being the other two — I’m going to go out on a limb and say Sumatra Mountain was my favorite. The pilsner was incredibly refreshing with a wonderful hop zing. Doom was simply a unique drinking experience that offers the opportunity for cellaring a big barrel-aged IPA. This imperial brown ale brewed with Sumatran coffee, however, simply hit the spot for me.
It’s also a bit of a story of two beers, at least in terms of aroma versus flavor. At first sniff, Sumatra Mountain delivers a robust aroma with a good bit of roasty coffee and earthiness. Upon drinking, that robustness steps back in favor of a rich, almost decadent experience. Yes, that smooth roast coffee is present throughout, but instead of getting up in your face, it mingles comfortably with a nuttiness, bready malt and a moderate sweetness — all delivered on a lightly viscous mouthfeel. And at 9% ABV, the big beer hides its potency quite well, adding to the well-rounded flavor profile.
Sumatra Mountain is a treat of a beer. It’s incredibly cohesive, with all parties working together instead of demanding more and more attention. The coffee presence and malt bill combine for a flavorful (I love that earthy nuttiness) and uniform experience. It’s not as experimental as Doom or, perhaps, as refreshing as PC Pils, but this imperial brown ale is a hell of a beer.
This is a review of a promotional sample.