Curmudgeon's Better Half
(has 2 batches)
Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Traditional Beer - Old Ale Rotating Out of Production|
Score
7.73
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What tames an old ale like Curmudgeon? The tender embrace of oak and sweet maple, that’s what. The result is Curmudgeon’s Better Half, a harmonious matrimony of our deceptively smooth old ale brewed with molasses and time spent aging in bourbon barrels that have previously held maple syrup. Because all counterparts should be sweet, rich and utterly delicious.
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8.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
I have this 12 oz bottle of brew called Better Half that was purchased at The Cellar a few weeks ago. I cannot say old ale is one of my favored styles but I have been surprised before. The molasses and maple syrup bourbon barrels can only be a positive in my estimation. We shall see. I have a snifter from Cowtown Brewing in front of me to receive the beer. I see a dark, shiny, caramel-colored body finished by a strong top of parchment tan bubbles. The glass is lifted for a smell, a sweet syrupiness and a bit of booze. A drink now, yes, this is not bad at all. I get alfalfa, maple syrup, light chocolate, dark plums, bread, raisins, malt and a small bourbon influence. This goes the right direction.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Jan 2021
at 02:54
8.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8
12 oz bottle, poured light reddish brown with off-white ring of foam. Full bodied, oily. Bourbon and maple syrup aroma. Figs, raisins, maple syrup taste, with the finish is where the 12.7% abv of this big beer presents. Work of art.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Dec 2020
at 01:55
8.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 9
Texture 10
Overall 9
A dark red-brown beer, a head is small and blond. Aroma has lots of dried fruits, raisin is dominating and prune is balancing, caramel, some barrel, port, vanilla, alcohol can be noticed, but it's not bother. Taste has raisin, nice caramel, some drying wood and barrel, maple syrup and hazelnuts, strenght of alcohol. Full bodied, minor stickyness, smooth. Great complexicity. Brilliant beer, pure enjoyment.
Tried
from Can
on 12 Nov 2020
at 19:34
8.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Light brown colour with thin head. Aroma has elements of cognac, heavily roasted malts, some coffee, dried fruits. Flavour has roasted bitterness and coffee up front with the sweetness of vanilla and bourbon and caramel in the finish. Sweet but not sugary. The maple brings an earthy sweet balance.
Tried
on 01 Nov 2020
at 19:01
6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle. A- Sweet bread, whisky, malty. A- Brown color, clear liquid, tan head. T- Brown sugar, booze, mild maple, sweet, light butterscotch, malty. P- Full body, average texture, average carbonation, cloying finish. O- This was just too sweet and cloying. Boozy too. Perhaps this would be good with some years on it but at a year old, this was just too sweet and too boozy. Needs some refinement. Really wanted to love this but just can't get there. A 4 oz flight pour would've been great.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Mar 2020
at 04:00
8.4/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 7.5
Review based on the BJCP2015 guidelines (style 33B/31B/17B). Bottle 35.5 cl - Batch 05326 (BBF 13.08.2019). AROMA: medium notes of vinous alcohol (Port-like), followed by slight oxidated malt and Maillard notes (bread crust). Low background of wood and maple syrup. APPEARANCE: amber color and cristal clear. medium beige head, creamy with average retention. leg formation. TASTE: initial medium bourbon flavor, followed by medium-low dried grapes, dried figs, slight wood and Maillard compounds (bread crust). Malt presence with a slight caramel character. slight vinous note, Port-like. low bitterness with a semi-sweet finish. PALATE: medium-high to high body with medium carbonation. smooth texture and smooth alcoholic warmth. OVERALL: although the best before date has already passed, this is a very good Old Ale with added fermentables. very complex.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Jan 2020
at 17:28