Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

12 oz bottle courtesy of the Binnys Singles Rack (Orland Park, IL) that I’ve been sitting on for awhile now. Poured into a tulip, pours a fierce fiery amber, hazy, with moderate offwhite head that cakes a bit, laces well. Aromas push a fine caramel malt, light spice, mellow darker fruits with some orange, spices, and a touch of florals. Nice. Initial is moderate in body, fruity up front with some dark fruits and orange like notes, perhaps even a touch of apricot. Further in, the malt becomes more notable, with bits of spice and a small pleasant bittering finish. Touches of brown sugar, vanilla, and the fruitiness really work well together, coupled with some nice malty toffee and caramel feel. Very nice.. and I generally don’t like beers that are Barley Wine/Old Ale types. Cheers!

An almost vinegar aroma is why it got low marks in aroma. This, however, is a minor flaw. The flavor is old, leathery malts. Lots of tannic notes in this one. Pours copper with minmal head.

Poured from the bottle to a nice brownish orange with thick off-white head gthat lingered to mid glass and left decenrt lacing. Nose is a nice, pleasant mix of malted dark fruit, faint spices and a touch of alcohol (bourbon). Mouthfeel is full and a little thick, and the taste adds some brown sugar to the scents of the nose. Long warming finish tops this one off.

A definite bourbon aroma and sharp bourbon flavor. Warm and slightly viscous without being slick or tasting like ethanol. Brown sugar, vanilla, dark caramel, pie crust. Really a delicious old ale.

Bottle. Lists 9.8% ABV on the neck tag so I will update it after this rating. Near lifeless dark bronze pour. An island of bubbles is all that is produced from the carbonation. Nose is caramel, hints of bourbon, wood, toasted malt, brown sugar and vanilla. Smells like it’s barrel aged. Taste echoes that sentiment. Lots of oak, toasted malts, sweet caramel, toffee, vanilla, bourbon, brown sugar and ripe fruit. Faint hint of coconut as well. Body is nearly uncarbonated but is slick and has a nice alcohol warmth to it. Medium overall feel. This could be chewier also. Ends with more vanilla, slight hop notes, bourbon, wood, caramel, light nutty flavors, toffee and spicy notes. More vanilla and toasted malt here as well. Very tasty beer!

Pours a very slightly hazed dark copper with a 1 finger creamy beige head that has awesome retention and leaves some nice lacing. Aroma is toasted grain, vanilla, dark caramel, roasted nuts, old oak, maybe a hint of bourbon with that oak, lots of earth and herbal notes, hot buttery toffee and some toasted nuts, more oak and a dusty barn note come out as it warms. Flavor is oak, vanilla, caramel, nutty toffee, toasted wheat bread, some blood orange, dry grain, sweet wheat bread, toasted maple, Bit O’ Honey candy, light plum notes and bitter hops. Mosre slightly bitter hops, toffee, and herbal notes round it off to finish. Palate is medium to thick thickness, with a slightly syrupy feel and sweet-neutral finish. This stuff is pretty great, it has some really nice, lightly toasted oak and maple notes that are pretty unique.

tasting sample at grape & gourmet. pours a syrupy, orange, copper with a very thin white head. aroma was excellent with a big bourbon presence, toffee malts, vanilla, and a hint of floral hops. flavor is excellent as well with big, sweet toffee malts up front, oaked bourbon, hints of citrus and dark fruits, and a unique vanilla candy finish. palate is slightly syrupy, medium bodied, with low carbonation. overall, another excellent brew from founders.

Thanks to Cheeseman. This might be one of my favorite old ales. Pours thick and dark with a dark fruit, brown sugar and bourbon nose. Flavors are more of the same.