Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

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

Copper, no head - nice aroma, with a bit of rum or whiskey, and touches of vanill and chocolate. Flavor is smooth and rich, with a bourbon and brown sugar, maybe some molasses, too. Very tasty stuff.

Bottle, thanks TearsForBeers! Pours murky mahogany, a beige head with traces of lace. Vanilla bourbon aroma. Medium-full body and moderate carbonation. Oaky bourbon up front in the taste, followed by nuts and a dash of fruit. Dry and softly spicy finish. The complexities of the malt get crushed by the oak and bourbon. This beer probably should have spent about half as much time in the barrels as it did, so its influence on the taste ends up being somewhat more subtle than a hand grenade.

This is what happens when a boat load of malt meets up with a truck load of hops while being mixed by craftsmen of the highest order. Pure matrimony, no in fighting between two heavyweight egos of ingredients, no domination of one over the other, just the pure bliss of which we are the recipients of such art. Care is taken in the manufacturing of this beer, I guarantee it. Smells of raw honey, dairy cream and fruity hop sweetness. Looks amazing, a cloud of orangey garnet. Taste blows the joint up!! Saturated sweet smoky maltiness along with a heft that Ive rarely experienced with a finishing hop tang. Creamy decadent goodness. 2008 12 oz. Thank you Founders.

Hazy dark amber with large beige head. Sweet aroma with overripe fruits, roasted malt and caramel notes. Sweet flavour with roasted malt, ripe fruits, caramel and alcohol notes. Finished sweet with warming alcohol notes. Well done and full bodied.

12 oz. bottle, 2008 vintage. Pours cloudy pinkish amber with plenty of fine floaters and a splotchy yellow head that leaves spotty lace. Aroma is sweet, fruity (dates and apricots), with some brandy and bread. Flavor is sweet and malty with lots of fruity and some bready notes. While it tends sweet, this ale is pretty well balanced and almost a bit dry in the finish. Medium-full bodied and creamy smooth, with medium-low carbonation. Warming but not at all hot - this is damn drinkable on a winters eve. Very nice old ale.

12 oz. bottle - Poured a deep copper color with small head. Aroma - banana bread, yeasty and alcohol. Flavor - Medium mouthfeel, yeasty and grainy. Palate - average to light carbonation. Long strange aftertaste. Overall - alright beer, silky smooth but aftertaste is strange.

12 oz bottle first purchased at EZ Liquors and then multiple 4packs from various stores since. Pours a clear reddish amber with a small light beige head. The aroma on this one is simply not to be missed....wet wood, coconut, light sherry background, vanilla, golden raisins, lots of earth. Flavor on this one had some slight barleywine hints with some caramel,vanilla and alcohol but then there was also the fresh hops and wood with a slight touch of coconut. Full bodied with strong carbonation and a slight touch of alcohol warming. This was one kick ass beer that I really really enjoyed.

Bonus points for high alc. Also very smooth. I enjoyed this brew and Founders is proving to be a great brewery