Founders Curmudgeon (Old Ale) - Founders Brewing Company

ummswimmin

New Jersey

2.8/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I had this on tap at a special Founders event at the local bar.

The bar served this in a mini goblet. This beer is the proper tan/brown that you would expect from an old ale. The head was minimal and there was nice alcohol feet.

The foam yielded down to a simple scum on the glass. You could see minimal carbonation on this, which isn't a surprise for the style.

I smell tobacco, caramel, yeast, and some malt. It smelled very rich.

Curmudgeon really fell off with the first taste. There was a ton of alcohol in it. It really wasn't pleasant. You get a little bit of scotch. I had a ton of burn from the alcohol and visibly winced with each sip. The after-taste was all alcohol throughout my mouth.

I really didn't care for this beer. It was surprising since I enjoyed so much Founders in the past.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2011 00:04:20 | More by ummswimmin

david18

New York

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had a number of drafts of this while it was on tap at my local neighborhood bar. Very good beer and a nice strong alternative to all the double ipas out there.

Color was a dark brown with a red hue. A bit hazy and not very carbonated.

Aroma was of both dark fruit and some candy (caramel, etc).

Flavor is quite balanced and features the dark candy flavors as well as fruit and hops. Very easy to drink for the strength.

Overall a good beer that I look forward to hopefully seeing again soon.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2011 19:34:06 | More by david18

Guden

Maryland

3.13/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- Looks perfect. Ruby amber with a one inch head that only fades after drinking and leaves some nice lacing.

S- Some light cherry and raisin with a bit of toffee mixed in. Not overly strong but nice and refreshing.

T- Meh. The nose is entirely lost in hops. The hoppiness comes on with piney, herbal and earthy notes with prickly deep bitterness on the end. Not what I look for in an old ale, this one might be better after a few more years. As it warms some cherry character becomes more prominent and a bit of alcohol presence develops but still not hot.

M- Pretty smooth and creamy but the carbonation is a bit high which, when mixed with the hoppiness, comes off with an impression far from what I had hoped for or really enjoyed.

D- I didn't hate this beer but it was far from what I was going for in an Old Ale. The hops really cover up most of the complexity that it might be able to have, I would like to see how it ages but I don't know where to get a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2011 18:26:05 | More by Guden

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew was served on tap at Blind Tiger in New York, NY. It arrived in a tulip glass, and sported a rich red-brown color with very little head or lacing. The beer appeared a bit hazy, but no sediment was noted, while carbonation appeared minimal. The aroma began with big fusel alcohols, and some mild diacetyls. Tropical fruit was also noted along with some mild metallic yeast, and a definite caramel malt presence. As we sipped, the first thing noticed was a dark and very sweet malty character. Buttery diacetyls were also present here, which moved us into the middle where the main components were caramel sweetness and rich grains with a sour twang. Alcohol spiciness also began to creep in here, bringing the flavor to the end, where we were given honeycomb sweetness, sugary hops, and a darker porter/stout malt character. The aftertaste breathed with sweet caramel and grains, and a definite booze presence. The body was medium, and the carbonation was medium to high. There is nice coating to each sip, and a decent slurp is noted, helping to develop the deeper, thicker aspects of the beer. The abv was appropriate and the beer drank as more of a sipper.

Overall, our favorite thing about this beer was that it tasted very much like a dubbel, but with a more complex nature about the aroma. The nose was perfectly balanced to allow for the sweet components to shine through over top of the bitter roasted malt presence. Where this beer lost points was in the over the top sweetness. It is not that the sweetness was so offensive that it made the beer undesirable, however, by the end of the glass it did prove a bit overwhelming.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2011 19:24:25 | More by TheBrewo

fltmedic

Missouri

3.45/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

At the HOPfest in KC 2011-

The dark brown ale pulls with a nice head which calms very quickly and leaves a surprisingly thin collar around the glass.

The aroma is strong and the maple, caramel sweetness is the first to meet the nose. Some malt is present, but it takes a backseat to the other notes.

Sweetness overpowers but a slight maltiness comes through in the fade.

The ale is far more syrupy and thick than others in the style. There is no comparison. It is heavy and thick and warmed by the alcohol at back of the palate.

This is a drink for those who prefer a thick, sweet sipper. Low on the totem pole for me.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2011 00:45:45 | More by fltmedic

deebo

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

09 from keg

A-Cloudy with some foam that laces and hangs on throughout. Deep orange color.

S-Oak is predominant aroma with this one.

T-Nice flavor but alcohol note is a bit stronger than I'd like.

M-Thick, a substantial drink.

D-Pretty good considering the strength

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2011 23:46:12 | More by deebo

FanofHefe

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a tulip. Amber body with some red tint. Good one finger head that leaves plenty of lacing.

The aroma is pretty faint. A little bready malt and a note of fruit. Not a great set up.

Fortunately the flavors surpass the aroma. Sweet caramel and brown sugar blend with some spicy notes. A little citrus and good biscuity malt finish.

The alcohol is definitely noticeable but doesn't detract. Medium body and appropriate carbonation. Very solid offering and enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2011 17:51:07 | More by FanofHefe

godfathermg57

Florida

2.93/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

On tap at hunahpu's day

A: Deep red with a thin head. Looked like it should have been a good drink...

S: Lots of honey and alcohol. Little hints of fruit

T: Not very good. I definitely taste honey but also wood, alcohol, and viney taste that does not taste good.

M: I guess it's good enough. Not enough to make up for the taste though.

D: If you like the taste then I guess drinkable. For me I had to labor.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2011 00:46:44 | More by godfathermg57

claspada

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Aromas are intially light with bready and biscuity maltiness; a slight amount of fusel alcohols. As this warms, however, much more emerges. You can detect some nougat and caramels; almost dead on for a Milky Way candy bar.
The tastes begin with brown sugar and treacle/molasses; quite typical for the style. There is a hop presence, bitterness and flavors, but they are not decernable over the malt flavors. Slightly citrusy and earthy.
Mouthfeel is quite full with adequate carbonation. Overall this is a good example of an under-appreciated style of beer, if you purchase a fresh bottle I would recommend letting it cellar for a little because the alcohol was slightly detectable. Founders knows how to make strong beers well that's for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2011 15:37:42 | More by claspada

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

on tap at RnH in nyc. served in a tulip glass.

Pours a syrupy clouded burnt orange color with darker brown hues. A thinner white head fades quickly, leaving a faint layer of film and hardly any lacing.

Plenty of burnt sugar in the nose with caramel, thick breadyness, and molasses. Softer fruit flavors and lighter hop bitterness with an alcohol flair.

Begins with a bite of hop bitterness, quickly followed by layers of syrupy sweetness. Burnt sugar, caramel, and molasses all swirl together for a fairly rich, sweet base. Thick malts with boozy warmth. Another note of pine hoppiness towards the finish with some more heat.

Full bodied, lighter carbonation, sticky and syrupy on the tongue. Drinks pretty well, although its definitely a bit on the warm and sweet side of things.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2011 06:06:12 | More by xnicknj

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a taster glass at the Haymarket Founders event.

Appearance: A dark cherry color, existing between hazy and transparent. An off-white head fades to a ring but leaves layers of lace.

Smell: Brandy and ethyl alcohol kick, with an earthy covering to the sweet dark fruit and malt aromas.

Taste: Sweet brandy, caramel malt, and some dark fruits. Figs, raisins, and plums. Sweet all the way through. Some light earthy flavors slowly coat the tongue, adding some depth and complexity. This definitely gets better as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, brandy-like, with light to medium carbonation. Sticky, with a fuller than medium body.

Drinkability: A fun and complex beer. Sweet, with lots of bite, so I am not sure I could drink this all night.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 18:40:29 | More by KickInTheChalice

jrallen34

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Haymarket into a 4oz tasting glass...Pours a deep amber with orange notes, a decent tope head, looks good...The aroma is pretty good very sweet with lots of caramel, honey, spice and a little oak. Good start...The taste just doesn't translate, this is borderline horrible. Almost all bitter alcohol from start to finish, oak, and honey try to help out but they can't do enough. I had a hard time finishing this. I just can't believe how bad this is.

Avoid for me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2011 01:03:39 | More by jrallen34

CraftAleRookie

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Tulip Glass at the Blue Dog, Chalfont- (number 9 in a series of tastings for the 2010 Holiday).

A- Deep amber, with a fluffy bone-colored one finger head. Good lacing, nice retention.

S- very interesting aroma- malt, with a nice sweet edge. Thoughts of hard candy come to mind in a subtle way.

T- Malt, sweet toffee, hint of hops, and a slight alcohol nip. All play well together to present a very balanced strong ale that's not over the top.

M- robust, light fizz, medium to strong body. Good presence.

D- One of the best strong ales I've sampled- will likely get better over time, but in a young form it's not "in your face" strong and very repeatable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2010 15:26:25 | More by CraftAleRookie

cwguy5

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on-tap at Duckworth's in Charlotte, NC...

I have to admit that I did not get the best look at this serving of beer. It was dark, but it had a deep brown color and a light brown head.

The aroma was full of toffee, maple, and dark fruit.

Sweet beer with lots of dark fruit, maple, toffee, and herbal notes. Warm alcohol taste with strong, long linger. Medium bitter and malt. Individual fruit notes of coconut and banana.

Mild but firm carbonation. Fruit first, then toffee, then bitter with long linger.

A very well crafted beer. Personally a bit too sweet for me. The dark fruit flavors almost seem a little rum-like. A very big beer with large palate.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2010 04:59:33 | More by cwguy5

ne0m00re

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

09/04/10- Had this on on-tap at the Founders brewpub.
A: Burnt orange, nice large cream head.
S: Spicy (almost pumpkin pie), cinnamon brown sugar. Not very strong.
T: Caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, sweet malt, with a green leafy hops finish.
M: Very creamy, frothy, and moderately syrupy.
D: One glass is good. It is a little too spicy.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2010 17:20:13 | More by ne0m00re

jabergess

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Serving type - tulip glass, on tap

Appearance - typical for a barley wine. Medium brown with little head.

Smell - raisins, caramel, sweet.

Taste - this is the exciting part. Same as the smell, but with an alcohol warmth. The flavor is rich and heavy and coats the tongue, but in a good way.

Mouthfeel - exactly what I would expect for this style.

Drinkability - give me 5 more, but you'll have to drive me home.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2010 01:46:14 | More by jabergess

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

10 ounce goblet - $9.00 at Taco Mac in Canton, Georgia.

Appearance: Dispensed into a simple, all-purpose goblet a hazed, mahogany-hued body with a scant, white head.

Smell: A rich, invitingly malty nose smelling of caramel, chunks of toast, and brown sugar stirred up into cake batter. Fruity notes of citrus, cherries, and green raisins punctuated by some stinging alcoholic wafts.

Taste: The lush, tempting sweetness of heavily caramelized sugars with additional tastes of toasted bread, light brown sugar, and spiced holiday cake. The fruitiness from the aroma is well-represented in a taste of raisins marinated in cherry liqueur and spiced with a bit of dried orange peel. Moderate bitterness provides a bit of balance, though this one remains fairly on the sweet side of things. Soft, sweet finish with plenty of alcohol warmth rolling in.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body, with a mouthfeel both smooth and a bit sticky. Medium-low carbonation.

Drinkability: Bold AND beautiful. A quality sipper, even on a day in South filled with 100-degree heat and 100-percent humidity.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2010 16:44:20 | More by ChainGangGuy

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange-ish/ copper color with an off white head. In the aroma, oaky vanilla and malt. In the taste, oak, vanilla, a pinch of bourbon like flavor and small alcohol notes. A smooth body and medium to lighter mouthfeel, with a small dry alcohol and oaky aftertaste. Looks lighter than expected, and the mouthfeel is a bit thin too, but nice flavor!

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2010 13:17:32 | More by OWSLEY069

stakem

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Brass Rail today during lunch. Served in a Sam Adams perfect pint glass it appears a clear amber color with some lighter orange colors around the edges and a thin lacing of yellowish tanned head. Spotty amount of lacing left on the glass. Aroma is of sweet malty grains with a touch of orange character. Taste has a welcoming warmth of alcohol that is also solvent in flavor upfront with a sweet malty caramel backing and light citrus hop bitterness that mingles with a flavor of bitter orange rind. The hop bitterness lingers in the mouth with a bit of a resine-like piney flavor. Medium to heavy body with a light amount of carbonation. Other flavors of grain linger in the mouth. As it warms, more residual sugars come out in the taste much like dark sugar akin to caramel that has somewhat of a smokey quality about it. Overall pretty decent but doesn't have the wowing factor that I have come to expect from most Founder's offerings.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2010 19:13:19 | More by stakem

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Spuyten Duyvil in Brooklyn, NY. Served in a 12oz. tulip glass.

A: Cool amber color, light for an old ale. Thin layer of a bubbly head, sticky.

S: Boozy, caramel malts, and grains.

T: Nice smooth mellow toffee notes, bitter, slightly boozy. This beer really opens up as it warms up.

M: Good carbonation, tingly and zippy on the way down (this is probably due to it being from the tap).

D: Easy to take this serving down rather quickly.

Overall, a really nice and readily available (now that Founders is in NY!) beverage.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2010 01:53:43 | More by hoppymcgee

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Comes out of the tap a bubbly semi-transparent dark honey golden - the way it was poured I wasn't able to comment on the head. Malty aroma has a honey-sweet overtone. Malty, lively flavor has hints of spice, a nice alcohol bite and a hoppy undertone. Edgy, fizzy texture has a fierce, brandy-like bite.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2010 16:10:49 | More by Cyberkedi

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours an opaque dark copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of sticky caramel malts with a good amount of indistinct spiciness and lighter amounts of earthy hops.

Tastes fairly similar to how it smells. Sweet and slightly grainy caramel malt flavors kick things off. Midway through the sip they sweeten a bit and are joined by earthy, leafy, and lightly spicy hops. The hops carry through to a solidly bitter ending. The sip also warms a bit as it heads down the gullet.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a very nice thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without any problems and could have another.

Overall this was a very well done old ale and does a great job of hiding the alcohol. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2010 23:15:25 | More by glid02

alleykatking

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from growler. Thanks Luke for once again sharing!

A- Poured a dark caramel color. Very little head pops up and turns into skim on the top of the beer. No real lacing but coats the glass...hmm.

S- Big time sweet malts in this one. Some brown sugar or molasses. As it warms up some vanilla somes into play. Light toffee and darker fruits make up the aroma.

T- Lots of sweet malts in the upfront of this both caramel and toffee. The darker fruits come in next but mix with a alcohol presence very well. Light oak flavor along with vanilla. A sweet alcohol in the backend of this.

M- Medium heavy mouthfeel. Carbonation was a little off and made the beer feel more heavy than what it was. Tons of malt left on the palate with some alcohol soaked plum in the aftertaste. Flavors were big and bold. Left my palate very dry after each sip.

D- This beer is always a struggle for me and I don't know why. I enjoy the taste but it is always a sipper for me. It is always a welcome for me but sometimes too much for me to finish. One of a few beers that is like that for me.

Serving type: growler

05-09-2010 01:48:12 | More by alleykatking

metter98

New York

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is brownish-amber in color and didn't arrive to my table with that much of a head. It's difficult to see any rising bubbles in the glass.
S: A somewhat sweet smell is evident--most likely from the molasses--but it isn't all that strong.
T: The taste is very well balanced and starts off with malty sweetness followed by hop bitterness in the finish. You can definitely taste some of the alcohol.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate, smooth, and somewhat syrupy.
D: I don't think I could have more than one of these in a sitting but it's definitely a good beer to sip.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2010 12:53:13 | More by metter98

homebrew311

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've tried this beer a few times from both the bottle and draft, this review is on the draft version.

A: Pours a clear dark reddish amber. Almost no head to speak of, some slight white soapy bubbles, but nothing much.

S: the smell is very malt forward, with some sweetness, some vanilla, and a liquor like quality that I can't put my finger on (like bourbon or something like that). If I didn't know any better, I would think this beer was barrel aged.

T: The sweetness is up front with vanilla as the predominant flavor. There is definitely some booziness on the tongue, but the draft version seems more mellow than what I remember of the bottled version. There is a nice balance in this brew along with a richness. It definitely is warming and makes for a nice winter sipper. No perceptible hops.

MF: Has a nice thick body to go along with its high carbonation. A little sharp on the tongue. I think if the carbonation was toned down a touch, this would be a better beer.

D: As I said before, this is a sipper. It loses points in drinkability since it is only enjoyable in small doses. My serving was approx 10 oz, which was perfect. But anymore would have been overwhelming.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2009 01:34:46 | More by homebrew311