Curmudgeon Old Ale. Opinions

This is so strange. I was wondering that same question earlier this morning because they still have some at Founders and I was wondering if I should pick up a couple to slam in the celly. What did you think was strange about it? Being 6 months old and 9.8%, I don't see it changing too terribly much. This is one of my favorites at Founders. I always wondered why they released it in the spring instead of the fall. The spiced flavor of it makes me think fall.

 

Its a very nice beer and I find it better with some age on it. 6 months to a year is ideal. It has pretty good English sensibilities for a Michigan brewed beer. It has a bit of the marmalade backbone and a fairly earthy/spicy hop balance. Definitely not as cloyingly sweet as some other Old Ales.

Would need more description of what "strange" means to diagnose if there is an issue with your beer.

 

Like CellarGimp, I prefer Curmudgeon with 6months to a year on it. To me, it just seems a bit rough around the edges when fresh. All the flavors meld and blend together nicely though with some time.

 

If you've had a barleywine, you've pretty much had an old ale. The difference is arbitrary.

I'm not a huge fan of Old Curmudgeon, though I like most Old Ales. Take that for what its worth, but it is entirely possible you just don't love that particularly beer. 6 months shouldn't change it that much.

 

have you ever had a beer brewed with molasses or barrel aged before? i mean, to me it holds a lot of the familiar characterists of any barrel aged beer?

 

I love this beer fresh and I'm aging one to see how I like it aged. It's not cloying sweet when fresh and has nice hops that offset the sweetness. My fear is with a year or so on it, will it turn more sweet (not what I want).

Really good beer, really good.

 

"Member Since:Aug 17, 2011"

"I grabbed a 6er or bigfoot last year."

"I actually havent had a barleywine either."

How is that possible?

 

I love it at 6 months, wrote this review about it this summer.

http://emptygrowler.com/2012/07/cellar-review-founders-curmudgeon-old-ale/

And I had the last of the four pack last week closer to 10 months and it was still phenomenal. Now I'm searching for more from last years batch.

 

Actually popped an Old Curmudgeon tonight, prior to seeing this thread. It was ok fresh, LOVED it tonight with ~6 months on it. Tons of sweet malts, very little hop presence. I got lots of dark sugars, molasses, etc. Wonderful beer, some age is great on this. I bought 8 of these, had one fresh and one tonight. Might well pop open one every two months or so from now on and see how it develops. Very good beer, another winner for Founders and I can see this getting better and better for another couple years.

 

I prefer this one fresh.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/24905/?ba=yamar68

 

Had a two year old Crumudgeon late this summer compared to this year's and the cellared beer was miserable. Not one I would age (or buy fresh again, but that's another point).

 

Curmudgeon is great FRESH and but even better with AGE (12months-18 months) in my opinion. Depends on what you like, as it's pretty hot fresh but mellow, smooth, and rich with age. I always grab at least a case and usually end up finishing it about a year and a half later. stuff tends to overlap a bit...

 

I disagree
Old ales and barleywine do not taste alike
I cant think of any that do

 

The quantifiable difference between an old ale and a barleywine is minimal. Honestly, they're both kind of fuzzy styles, and brewers take lots of liberties with the range of each.

Here's a fantastic read on the subject:
http://zythophile.wordpress.com/201...e-difference-between-barley-wine-and-old-ale/

 

I guess they are a little more distinct to me. Especially loving old ales more than barleywines.

 

I'm drinking my only bottle right now. It's really nice. Sweet, chewy, vanilla and bourbon-soaked malt bomb. If I had another bottle, I wouldn't sit on it for long.