Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale

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

12oz fresh stubby. Pours a dark orange, Barleywine-esque color, with a steady but small off white head. Hazy, muddy color. Aroma is surprisingly unique and interesting. Very floral, potpourri noticeable. A sudden memory smacks me as I smell this. Something very distinct, very singular jumps out. I try very hard to pinpoint it. Sushi? Wasabi? No. Blue cheese. Distinctly blue cheese. Stilton, Roquefort. Crazy how accurate that descriptor is right now. Pungent and cheesy. Also some dark/red fruit aromas, similar to a Flanders Red are apparent though subtle. Taste is similar to the aroma, though sweetness is very muted. This tastes a little young, not from apparent alcohol but it seems muted, non-complex; it needs to open up a little and I think age will do the trick. Very clean and the alcohol is very well hidden, especially for the ABV and age. Mouthfeel is silky and smooth, bitterness is very low. This is nice and I can’t wait to see what some time does for it.

Deep copper/amber/brown in color with a thin off-white head. Aromas are of caramel, milk chocolate, spice…mmm. The palate was rich, concentrated, round and well-balanced with a touch of bitter hops on the finish. This was a wonderfully balanced high gravity ale that may age well but is so well-balanced now I don’t see a huge upside.

Pours rust color and hazy with a thin ring of bubbles. Smells of sweet malt, some light fruity hints, earthy. Tastes fruity and dry with some tea like hints on the finish.

Brown pour with virtually no head. Aroma and flavor are of malt and fruit. Mouthfeel is flat due to low carbonation. Not a big fan.

Poured from a 12oz bottle and served in a snifter. This beer poured a ruddy orangish brown hue with a thin head of light tan foam that lingered for a while. A small amount of lacing was left around the glass. The aroma consisted of toasted caramel, dried orange, apricot, and some earthy/herbal charateristics. Let this one warm up and breath a bit. The flavor was made up of toasted caramel, brown sugar, dried dark fruits, citrus, and just a hint of alcohol. Not sugary sweet, but big and balanced. The mouthfeel was heavy and full-bodied. Mild carbonation. Thick and lush, but not quite sticky. A very complex but smooth brew. A great sipper for the cooler months.

12oz bottle. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is woody and malty with hints of oak and bourbon. A medium to full bodied old ale. Very smooth. Nice balance. Interesting old ale. It is a smooth blend of the sweet malt base, sharp and quick to fade bitters, and a consistent oaky and tannic overtone. Aftertaste is slightly sweet with a lingering alcohol bite. Very interesting.

12 oz. bottle. Pours a hazy copper color with a small white head that disappears quickly. The aroma is sweet, somewhat fruity, with a caramel malt backbone. The flavor, which opens with moderately sweet chewy caramel malt, is right in line with the best Old Ales. A slight fruit presence accompanies the malt, but is overtaken in the finish by a hoppy bitterness. The balance of this beer is quite impressive. Regardless of serving temperature, this one instantly has a warming effect as it travels down your throat. Surprisingly though, the alcohol is not very noticable. Full bodied and very smooth drinking.

[2008 Bottle 9.8%] Pours a glowing dark red tinted orange with a fine white froth on top. Spicy rich malt aroma, it really smells like bourbon. The spiciness continues in the flavor, smooth rich glassy lightly toasted caramel malt, lots of bourbon and barrel, buttery oak and a light hop bite. Covers the 10% beautifully. Medium body, buttery, with fine sizzling carbonation.