Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

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

Certainly a musty dusty vibe which gives credence to the old ale term, but this cardboardy yeasty brew has a unique dusty honeyed touch which is rather unique and appealing. A meaty, brothy brew to imbibe, this guy has the makings of a nice afterdinner warmer, which provides both a candied, medicinal touch as well as an oaky vineous landscape. A nice brew for sure and a nice drinking experience as well.

Bottle. Pours beautifully turbid sunburst amber with a half inch of tan foamy head - it takes awhile to form since the body is so heavy. Aroma is wonderfully floral hoppy, orange, licorice, dark fruits, bready, caramel, alcohol, spicy hops. Flavor is really malty at first, then it lightens up into dark fruits, some licorice, orange, banana, spicy hops, vanilla, and alcohol. Palate is nicely heavy and has a lot of sediment.

Bottle at Butters Big Cellar Blowout. Pours an off-white head with an amber body. Caramelized malt aroma. Flavor is similar. Finish is well-balanced with a cotton candy note.

pours hazy amber with a beige head that quickly dissapears to leave a thin layer of lace. slightly creamy mouthfeel. malty, bourbon, caramel. alcohol. sweet dark fruit.

Pours a murky orange, with a tiny tan head. Aroma is sweet, darkly fruity, roasted malts. Flavor follows suit, almost suggesting a barleywine, with sweet malts, toffee, and strong fruit tones (subtle citrus, apricot). Finishes with earthy notes, slight smoke and peat. Interesting, although not something I’m eager to drink too often. Alcohol is pretty well-hidden for such a big beer.

Bottle thanks to rtravers on BA. Reddish amber in color with an off-white head and decent lacing. Aroma is caramel malt, toffee, brown sugar, earth, and vanilla. Flavor is really malty and sweet with slight roast, toffee, fruity notes, vanilla, and spices. Medium-full body, smooth and almost buttery on the palate. Alcohol well-hidden. An awesome beer overall.

Thanks go out to a couple of BA’s who sent me one of these. Bottle poured into a snifter produced a finger worth of white head that settled down to a sparse lace. The color of the brew was a cloudy almost Macintosh apple red. This brew sat in the closet for a while so I am getting some bourbon whisky like aromas coming from the glass. Some vanilla and a little barleywine note as well The flavors are strong malts and candy sugar but the alcohol flavors keep the sweetness in check. This brew is thick and smooth in the mouth. I was in the mood for a strong brew tonight but one is enough in one sitting. A likable Old Ale I will defiantly revisit this one

Bottle 355ml.
Unclear medium amber orange color with a average, frothy - creamy, good lacing, mostly lasting, beige head. Aroma is moderate malty, roasted, caramel, light hoppy, orange, moderate yeasty. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20081122]