Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Old Ale
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

THOUGHTS: It’s amazing to me how different old ales can be from one another. This one seemed a little harsh, but I think it will age well. The flavor did grow on me as I drank it. It was like a different twist on a barley wine. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a medium to dark brownish orange with a hardly there, off-white head that mostly lasted. What little was there hung around for a long while. The aroma was heavy caramel malt, moderate pine hops, light to moderate yeast, toffee vanilla, alcohol, brandy, orange, spices, slightly soured fruit and a little of that special barley wine smell. The flavor started sweet and a little bitter, and finished mostly bitter with some alcohol and an average to long duration. There was caramel malt, alcohol, spicy yeast, toffee and some orange hops. The medium to full body was sort of syrupy with tingly carbonation and a slightly metallic and lightly alcoholic finish.

Very smooth the bottle I had was 2 years old lays down nice. Smooth malty creamy. I would say there are extra candi sugars added to this beer almost could pass as a barley wine if some citrus flavors were added. Like a barley wine with out the citrus. Not much hop presence but this bottle is 2 years old. Wow 9% alcohol hidden very well. Nice beer recommend.

A nice sweet caramel aroma. This is quite nice. A good hop flavor, some sweetness, a hint of caramel and molasses. A slightly coating finish, this reminds me of many barleywines.

courtesy of kiefdog. Pours copper with tan head. I guess I was too mesmerized by the goodness of this beer to even actually take any decent notes. Taste had a good dose of malts, balanced with the bourbon, and light vanilla notes. Just overall excellent beer.

Bottle. Tea-colored copper pour, creamy light sandy head, thin wet bands of lacing. Belgian smelling yeast, some chocolate, banana, clove, cinnamon. Dry sharp caramel and chalky notes, alcoholic fruit, sharp bitterness, chocolate and slight bourbon, and like vodka or something. Very unique. Smooth and well-carbonated and damn drinkable.

12oz bottle. pours a dark amber color with an off white fluffy head that slowly recedes to a small ring and a slight film over the beer. nose is very sweet with lots of cherry and fruit esters. Palate is full bodied with a smooth feel and a filmy finish. flavor is cherries and fruity esters with some nice sweet malt and dried figs in the finish.

Bottle pours a thick dark amber color with a light tan head. Aroma is caramel sweetness, oak, and some bourbon notes. The nose leads into the same flavors and is very smooth and tasty. Mouthfeel is medium heavy with a slight touch of carbonation. Overall a very solid brew and is one I will buy again.

pours a medium-dark amber color with a thin white head. aroma is complex with notes of dough, vanilla, and citrusy hops. flavor is slightly sweet and reminiscent of cream soda with a touch of vanilla and an oak and citrusy hop finish. mouthfeel is thick and smooth. a little sweet but very nice.