Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

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

Curmudgeon has a hazy dark red pour, there are hues of burnt orange, ruby and brown in this brew, pour gave a thin covering of tiny bubbles, looks viscous and syrupy in the glass, left tiny bubbled lacing on the glass, aromas of brown sugar, toffee, caramel, dark malt, dark candy sweetness, faint aroma of tobacco in the background, reminds of opening the glass jars of tobacco in pipe shops and taking a whiff… interesting, lots of malt flavor, has a big malt sweetness, brown sugar, chocolate, light berries and candy, some hops but not a big bite, maybe this bottle has been laying around and the hops tapered off some? Alcohol warmth felt at the first sip, alcohol warmth soothes your palate, throat and all the way down to your tummy, thick mouth feel, coats the tongue and warms the palate, this would make a great sipper for a Cold Winter Evening.

Pours a three finger very light tan head that fades slowly, leaving some lace. Cloudy amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Roasted malt nose. Flavor is sweet roasted molasses. $3.90 for a 12oz bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Lent half a bottle by the host with the most nbutler11. A prickly nose of poppy, powder, flour and chocolate. Stationary brown-grey body. Taste is noticeably creamy, with an odd taste of coriander and caramelized malts creeping in. Rather tastes like a figgy quad. The spiciness really kept me from falling for this beer - I should have loved it looking back on these adjectives but it just struck me as sharp when I had it.

Poured a deep amber from the bottle with a thin near-yellow head. Faint nose, a little like apple seeds. Lots of red apples, butter, and cream in this malty brew. Unique, and highly drinkable.

12 oz bottle given to me by masonjer. as always, thanks jeremy.....not sure of the vintage but i doubt that it was the barrel-aged ’06....poured a reddish auburn brown with a thin light beige head that turns wispy after not very long.....nose has dark fruit caramel, malt, vanilla, and even some hints of wood and light bourbon (could i be imagining it?)....sweet caramel malt flavors pairs well with dark fruits and a slight bitter alcohol astringency in the finish. body somewhat thin from where i would have liked it to be but still pretty nice.

bottle. Aroma is fantastic. Strong notes of caramel malt, dried dark fruit, pear, vanilla, wood, and whiskey. Wow! Dark amber brown hue with a small head that fully diminished and left no lace. Flavor is sticky sweet malt caramel, vanilla, wood, whiskey and a little smoke. Very lovely. Palate is full bodied and oily flat. Just a wonderful brew that probably has over a 1000 calories. Sticky sweet, rich, complex, and a great sipper that gets better as it warms. Top notch, one of the best I’ve had.

2006 bottle - thanks to TBC. 6/24/08 - my 1 yr RateBeer anniversary the bourbon barrel aging really comes through on the aroma... lots of bourbon and sweet sugary malts with some vanilla as well. pours a dirty brown with little to no head.... lots of floaties too. wonderful on the palate - very even and smooth... medium to full body. caramel, bourbon, vanilla and maple syrup dominate the mouth. excellent strong finish... the bourbon barrel aging is most noticeable on the finish and there is a bit of alcohol presence as well.... it goes down extremely smooth and lingers for a bit. very glad I got to have an ’06 bottle and would love to compare it to a newer batch.

Via trade with Scubarex. Many thanks. 12oz bottle pours a dense, translucent, amber brown with a thin beige head and slightly visible carbonation noticeable around the edge of the glass. Aroma is sweet and malty with strong vanilla, oak and whiskey smells. Flavor is similar with raisins, caramel chews, vanilla, oaky bourbon, wood, cherries, light tobacco, chocolate and quite earthy. Thick, chewy, sticky and creamy on the palate with some lasting bitterness and a touch of lasting sweetness like butterscotch. Got much better when it warmed up and was surprisingly drinkable for such a big beer.