The Good Stuff

In this hectic, bustling world, it’s easy to forget to stop and smell the roses. We all have too much work to do and too little time, so it can be quite tough to just relax and enjoy the good stuff once in a while. Luckily, after attempting to move too much furniture, I knackered my back, and was able to do just that.
After tweaking something and not being able to move around very easily, I was instructed to sit down and take it easy. I collected a few things for my extended break, and along with water, snacks, my phone, and a pillow, I happened to check the back of the fridge and found the perfect remedy for what was ailing me.
You see, I had pushed a single bottle of a 4-pack of sweet elixir to the rear of the cold box, and this was the ideal time to retrieve it. Well, hello there Founder’s Old Curmudgeon, nice to see you again.
Likely you’re already familiar with Founders Brewing Company from Grand Rapids, Mich. One of the best breweries in the country, I don’t know if there’s a Founders beer I don’t like: from Breakfast Stout to Harvest Ale to Red’s Rye, they make fantastic beer.
Which brings me to the old man, the Curmudgeon, an ornery old ale with a cantankerous flavor profile and a penchant for irritability. Founders says “This old ale is brewed with molasses and an insane focus on the malt bill, then oak-aged. The result is a strong, rich, malty delight that’s deceptively smooth and drinkable.” Checking in at 9.8 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), this old ale is strong yet very tasty. A rating of 50 International bitterness units (IBUs), with light lager usually around 10 IBU and American amber ales in the 1930s, shows Old Curmudg to be mildly hoppy, but certainly malt-focused, as an old ale should be.
Even cold, right out of the bottle this beer looks, smells and tastes wonderful. But let the chill leave and the minimal head settle, and you will be rewarded. Lots of caramel and maybe cocoa in the nose, these notes are joined by an earthy hint and bitter orange peel in the mouth. Complex taste is a reward for those who let this ale warm. Barrel aging brings out a vanilla flavor that is not sweet, but adds to the overall sweetness of the beer.
This beer is amazing in the mouth, with a fullness and silky texture that is a pleasure to drink. The beer was going down way too fast for such a strong option, and I had to put it down and back away just to take in the complete package.
Only at the end, when the beer had warmed completely to room temperature was I able to discern a hint of alcohol in the flavor, but by that point, I was feeling alright and it certainly was not a problem. Although big beers like the old ale style are often released and intended for the colder months, this was a perfect time to bring out the old man. Find one of those special beers, crack it open, sit back and relax and enjoy the brews … Cheers.
 
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. While they don’t have every beer the Beer Snob writes about, they probably have most. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.