Grumpy Old Time
Westbrook Brewing Co.

Grumpy Old TimeGrumpy Old Time
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From:
Westbrook Brewing Co.
 
South Carolina, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
11%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 15.15%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
141
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 08, 2017
Added:
Oct 17, 2013
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  24
Dark sour Belgian ale aged in apple brandy barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by loverofthecraft:
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Rated by loverofthecraft from North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

Jul 29, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by brpendergast85 from District of Columbia

Jul 08, 2017
 
Rated: 2.42 by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

Nov 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Nov 09, 2016
 
Rated: 1.77 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Nov 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.76 by xShoWTeKx from South Carolina

Sep 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.79 by RPM3334 from South Carolina

Sep 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by djrn2 from New Jersey

Jul 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.49 by acurtis from New Jersey

Jul 03, 2016
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.57/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
"A collaboration between Westbrook Brewing and The Charleston Beer Exchange. The base beer for the Old Time series of barrel-aged beers (A Belgian-style strong dark ale) was originally brewed in July 2011 and shortly thereafter racked into a variety of oak barrels, where it spend 18 months maturing. Grumpy Old Time was aged in apple-brandy barrels with a blend of brettanomyces, lactobacillus, and pediococcus." Brewed in the style of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, aged in apple brandy barrels. Available in 750 ml. bottles.

Poured from a 750 ml bottle to a tulip glass.

(Appearance) Pours a biscuity caramel tan head of a frothy foam consistency over a densely hazy toffee brown body with garnet highlights. Retention is below average, lacing is light and spotty. 3

(Smell) Potent and tangy funk body of caramel grains and bready malts with a notable pinch of brandy for a distinctive twang of enhanced apple sourness. Slightly gruff at this stage, not a lot of sourness character in the nose particularly. Potency is high. 3.5

(Taste) I slightly prefer the flavor of this beer to the aroma- a satisfactory malt body sweetness and complexity of caramelized sugars, plum syrup and licorice meets an instant nip of tangy and drying sourness with slightly funky undertones, although distinctively lactobacillus takes the lead over brettanomyces for a lactic, tangy sourness prevailing. Slightly grainy and notably boozier than the average soured ale, although most sour ales don't come anywhere near 11% abv, so this is to be expected. Finishes with a long drag of bittersweet malt, yeast and culture blending in the most harmonious way they can. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Texture is silky, slick, smooth, lightly chewy, briskly dry. Carbonation is mild, generating a light frothiness and a subtly crisp finish. Body is medium for the style, medium+ overall. Balance is moderately tangy and acidic over sweet and grainy. Alcohol presence is modest, and there are no off characters. 3.5

(Overall) A quaint little experiment with mixed to desirable results. While I can't say I've experienced Apple Brandy barrel aging nor pediococcus cultures in a beer before, the end result of Grumpy Old Time is enjoyable- albeit slightly underwhelming for my expectations. Very dry, slightly grainier than I felt necessary and not too terribly complex outside of the souring impact. This is quite a big bottle to undertake for a single guy alone, and that helps me to be sure that I won't be feeling the urge to revisit this anytime soon. Hefty price tag for a beer with divisive results. 3.5

Westbrook Brewing Co.'s
Grumpy Old Time
3.57/5.00
Dec 07, 2015
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Reviewed by DVMin98 from North Carolina

4.52/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Shared a bottle with some friends. I must have gotten a great bottle that aged well, because looking at the ratings, this was an anomaly. Great brandy flavor. Apples, sour with some (booze) heat. Get some vanilla as well. Was hoping to try this some time and a buddy brought it.
Dec 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by ConradKenney from Maryland

Nov 20, 2015
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Reviewed by kiki3drt292 from California

2.92/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
This beer poured totally flat and had an unpleasant soy sauce aroma. Upon putting it to my lips it was slightly oily and had a bit too much unbalanced tarting sharpness. Barrel was somewhat present, but this beer did not stick around in my mouth long enough for me to examine thoroughly.
Mar 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by oline73 from Maryland

Mar 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by mrn1ceguy from Illinois

Feb 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.4 by SCanthony from South Carolina

Feb 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.16 by Brihon from South Carolina

Feb 04, 2015
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Rated by kscaldef from Oregon

2.5/5  rDev -36.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
This is pretty acetic and cidery.
Jan 21, 2015
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Rated by JGam115 from New York

3.6/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Dark maple, zero head. Cherry tartness, maple syrup, apple reduction. Great syrup finish and nice tartness. Nice
Jan 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by mltobin from Connecticut

Nov 23, 2014
Grumpy Old Time from Westbrook Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 141 ratings