Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

heavy carmel and maple syrup with brown sugar and some walnuts. very rich lots and lots of bourbon, and its been aging for 3 months at least

Pours a rich reddish copper with a significant though quickly waning creamy white head. Good lacing. Big woody oaky vanilla bourbon. Sweet malt bill makes this a an almost cloying bourbon sort of experience. Not bad, but not quite my cup of tea. Definitely strong caramel and even a hint of chocolate in here. Not bad at all. A creamy rich mouthfeel with very subdued carbonation and a velvety smoothness. A woody bourbon note comes through over a great bit caramel malt backbone. Wood is huge here, and the vanilla is big, but the tannic oak is what sticks out. And actually, it reels in the malt well, making this a lovely balanced beer. Cookie dough in the finish? A little bit of diacetyl, but the aftertaste is dominated by vanilla and oak. After this and the Kentucky Breakfast, I might be turning the corner on bourbon barrel aged beers... maybe.

12-oz. bottle received via trade with Duane. Pours cloudy, lightly particulate amber/mahagony with a small rocky light brown head, somewhat lasting, fair lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (cookie, caramel), light hops (perfume), average yeast (dough, fresh leather) with notes of vanilla, wood, bourbon. Full bodied, creamy texture, soft carbonation, and a bitter finish. Average duration, moderate sweetness and bitterness, light acidity; caramel roasted malt, vanilla and bourbon with wood notes.

Pours a dark orange brown color with a medium beige head. Aroma of oak, vanilla and strong alcohol. Taste is much the same as the aroma. Strong oak and vanilla presence with alcohol prominent. Nice warm finish. Very good.

Pours a deep cherry red, hazy, with good head but minimal lacing. Aroma of whiskey. This ale has a wonderul bourbon whiskey flavor, as much as you could possibly want, yet without coming across as a "whiskey wannabe" -- it’s an ale all the way. Additional notes of coconut, brown sugar, oak, some cherry. Nice alcohol warmth. I’m a variety lover, yet this is one of the few beers I feel like I could enjoy every day.

Skipped over this one in my notes. Murky chestnut color with a very thin head. Raisin, apple, caramel notes along with some nutmeg and brown sugar. Virtually no alcohol aroma. Thick syrupy palate. Dark pit fruit and sweet dried apricot flavors mix with a spicy, slightly sour finish accented by a bit of heat. A very enjoyable brew.

2006. Burnt orange pour. A brilliant color is diffused by substantial haze. A very thin off-white head forms and quickly fizzles out. With warmth and a gentle rousing, a more sizeable and lasting head is rustled up through a syrupy body. Lacing is thick and irregular. Aroma is forged of bourbon and wet oak, caramel and baking cocoa, sweet dark and ripe tree fruits, alcohol playing a moderate backing role. Lovely nose all around, enticing. Hops aren’t anywhere to be found, suitable for the style. The malt profile is elegant and weighty due to skillful employment of barrel aging. Flavor is delicious. Fruity character is massive and blends very well with the whisky notes. Actually tastes like fruit infused whisky. Light to medium bitterness and bold sweetness further compliment the heavy oak and roasty attributes. Light vanilla is revealed late, along with bold warming from the alcohol that is clearly apparent on the tongue. Finishes dry and fruity, sweet caramel lingering for a great length. Mouthfeel is adequately carbonated, lightly spicy, very smooth and full bodied. A lovely beer. Certainly an Americanized take on an old ale, worthy of its heritage.

Bottle. Thanks to solan for the bottle. Poured a deep amber body with thin head. Heavy bourbon aroma, malty, slight yeast. flavor was sugary with a heavy alcohol taste, caramel, malt. Smooth considering the high alcohol amount. Good ale.