Founders Curmudgeon's Better Half - Founders Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
96
world-class
-
755 Ratings

rAvg: 4.32
pDev: 10.88%
Reviews: 209
Hads: 546

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Founders Brewing Company

Michigan, United States

Style | ABV
Old Ale | 11.90% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (176), on-tap (32), growler (1).

Notes:
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.

Old ale aged in bourbon barrels previously used for Michigan maple syrup.

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Reviews

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Reviews by jegross2:

jegross2

Illinois

4.45/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewing the Curmudgeon's Better Half from Founders Brewing Company. This is the third beer in the 750 ml bottle Backstage Series release, the other two being Blushing Monk and Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS). This beer used to be know as "Kaiser Curmudgeon," but Founders recently re-branded it. I believe that Founders' Old Curmudgeon, an absolutely divine old ale, is the base beer for this one.
Score: 95

February 2012 vintage bottle served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 02/18/12 with a short stack of chocolate chip pancakes.

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber/mahogany color with a layer of yellow highlights atop the beer. A finger and a half of off-white/tan sea foam head at pour settles into a very thin ring around the glass. Excellent lacing, excellent retention. The lacing gradually changes from frothy to oily as it warms. 4.5/5

Smell: Brown sugar, vanilla, sweet raisin/fig, creamy malt, molasses and a little caramel-infused alcohol ester. There is a very light straight bourbon aroma. Hint of oak, hint of citrus and a little spice too. 4.5/5

Taste: Very smooth, balanced and complex. Tons of sweet maple and sweet vanilla upfront. Bourbon malt (caramel?), caramelized brown sugar, molasses/pancake syrup and chewy bourbon soaked raisins on the midpalate. Very faint oak on the midpalate too. A little alcohol warmth, but not nearly as much as you'd expect from a 12% ABV beer. This brew finishes and lingers with sweet maple/pancake syrup and caramel/bourbon malt. As it warms, a straight bourbon flavor comes out on the midpalate and towards the finish. Pairs excellently with the pancakes. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, minimal carbonation. Smooth/creamy mouthfeel with a little alcohol prickliness. Sweet and slightly sticky finish. 4/5

Overall: A superior barrel aged beer. Founders, the midwest's best brewery, makes a few better beers than this one, and it's not quite up to par with CBS, but Curmudgeon's Better Half is a beer that is absolutely worth seeking out. Sweet (though I have had sweeter), drinkable, and loaded with complex flavor. Is it worth the $18 price tag? Absolutely. However, you can get several equally good beers, such as Oak Aged Yeti, cheaper and easier. I cannot wait for Founders to package and sell the Cashew Mountain Brown.

Recommendation: Seek this brew out, but be forewarned -- this one is on the sweeter side (though I have had plenty of sweeter beers).

Pairings: Chocolate chip pancakes.

Cost: $17.99 for a 750 ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 06:42:04 | More by jegross2

More User Reviews:

alex021224

Michigan

4.75/5 rDev +10%

06-17-2013 18:09:27 | More by alex021224

anhigdon

Kentucky

4.5/5 rDev +4.2%

06-16-2013 04:20:03 | More by anhigdon

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

3.5/5 rDev -19%

06-16-2013 01:03:30 | More by BarrytheBear

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4.5/5 rDev +4.2%

06-15-2013 04:19:05 | More by ElGallo

djre4orm

Virginia

4/5 rDev -7.4%

06-13-2013 20:17:07 | More by djre4orm

HopsMatt

Kentucky

4.5/5 rDev +4.2%

06-13-2013 06:46:00 | More by HopsMatt

Gotti311

Wisconsin

4.25/5 rDev -1.6%

06-12-2013 16:44:56 | More by Gotti311

UWBadgerFan4Life

Wisconsin

4/5 rDev -7.4%

06-12-2013 01:26:22 | More by UWBadgerFan4Life

dbossman

Nebraska

4.59/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Tawny caramel hue with a thin film of a head and okay lacing considering the style

S: A lot of anise and bourbon and oak and maple syrup; this is boozy and malty and sweet and I cannot wait

T: This is brilliant: dark fruits, maple, anise, oak, bourbon, damn this is so so good

F: Creamy, medium body--such a good mouth feel

O: This is so damn good: bourbon in the finish and a ton of maple and just a bit of anise which strangely brings it together; God, I really love this

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 18:40:03 | More by dbossman

goblin7704

Ohio

3.5/5 rDev -19%

06-11-2013 17:06:11 | More by goblin7704

DanGeo

Michigan

4.25/5 rDev -1.6%

06-09-2013 18:40:05 | More by DanGeo

BMMillsy

Florida

4.25/5 rDev -1.6%

06-08-2013 22:39:50 | More by BMMillsy

dnb128

Pennsylvania

4.75/5 rDev +10%

06-08-2013 14:37:28 | More by dnb128

riemster

Ohio

4/5 rDev -7.4%

06-04-2013 04:47:20 | More by riemster

Spaten454

North Carolina

4.73/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A: it pours a burnt orange color with a small head that dissipates quickly. nice lacing. I had a lot of sediment in my pour.

S: Maple syrup, then bourbon. heaven. It smells exactly as you would think. everything blends together perfectly.

T: maple sweetness up front followed by a light bourbon in the end. Hints of caramel. nothing is overpowering. every flavor compliments the other. its not over sweet at all and the maple is fantastic.

M: Totally smooth, kinda slick like syrup. light carbonation. kinda coats the mouth.

O: Just a great beer. Def worth trying to score a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 04:46:38 | More by Spaten454