Founder Curmudgeon Old Ale

The first thing I did when I poured this ale was grab a dictionary.

Curmudgeon (noun): a bad tempered, difficult, cantankerous person

This provoked me to look up the word Cantankerous

Cantankerous (adjective): disagreeable to deal with, peevish.

Synonyms include: cranky, crusty, grouchy, grumpy, quarrelsome, crotchety, and testy.

Those synonyms sound like the seven dwarfs from hell.

These definitions explain the pissed off looking salty dog old man that is frowning on the label of this ale. Like Founders Porter, the label itself is a thing of beauty. An old white bearded sea captain glaring with a not so friendly eye.

Curmudgeon Old Ale pours a cloudy burnt orange color with nearly a fingers worth of biscuit colored froth. Notes of malt, bourbon, and spice. Woody flavor with notes of spice, molasses, and caramel - hint of raisins. The alcohol is strong in the first few sips but quickly gives way to the flavor of this brew. Big warming effect, sort of like global warming in a glass. That can be attributed to the 9.8% ABV! Founders brews can often pack a punch, but they are very skilled at masking the alcohol content. The finish is sticky and sweet, with flavor notes of oak and rum spice.

Pairings/ Recommendations

Given the strong alcohol content of this ale, I would recommend sipping this brew and taking your time. The fact that it was aged in oak barrels brings about some wonderful flavor notes, and these flavors should be appreciated. But be careful and pace yourself, because if your not careful, the person staring back at you in the bathroom mirror in the morning just might be a bit cantankerous.