cur·mud·geon Pronunciation: \kər-ˈmə-jən\ Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1568 1. archaic : miser2: a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man.

This Curmudgeon may as well be Poseidon himself because this potent brew brings the full wrath of the seven seas in each and every sip. It starts with a powerful, malty smell that reminds me of 10 year old Balvenie with a hint of strong sea air. Some say bourbon, but it might depend on which you drink. It pours a deep, translucent red with nearly no head. The first taste was an eye opener. Again, I got a taste that reminded me of a salty-sweet, seaworthy, scotch with a stern, burning in the back of my throat. At 9.3% ABV it is no wonder. There is a sweet, dried date flavor that is delicious. This is a scotch drinker’s ale and a good one at that. This is serious ale for serious drinkers. Check out our video review of Founder’s Old Curmudgeon Ale.

Breakfast. The most important meal of the day and almost nothing beats a proper English breakfast. I once stayed at the Bell hotel in Sandwich Kent UK. It was a quaint, old hotel oozing with character and boasting a breakfast unlike any I had ever experienced, exceeded in brilliance only by the famous buffet at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua. This breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, toast with jam, fried tomato, mushrooms, black pudding, sausage (that’s right, 2 kinds of sausage) and pot of Earl Grey Tea.

This is the sort of stick-to-your-ribs breakfast is what gets the Brits to 10:00 AM tea and cake. I could get used to that. I could also see myself adding Founder’s Breakfast Stout to my regular rotation. Crack this English-styled brew and put your snout down in it. Take a deep snort and allow yourself to be overtaken by a nutty, coffee-chocolate, slightly smoky aroma that you can nearly taste. It pours like motor oil and has a gorgeous head that you could float a penny on. It has a deep, rich flavor and is a lot more viscous than it looks. It is complex, as a stout should be. The beer is pitch black with red hues and a thick head that seems to emit an aroma that draws you into the experience. If you drink more than one in a session, you might pay for it later. This is a sipping brew, an indulgence. There is a touch of carbonation for amusement, but overall I am in amazement.

An under the weather Belching Monkey tries a borderline soda in Founder’s Rubaeus Ale. We also have some footage from our visit to the Portsmouth Brewery in New Hampshire. This is a must-visit destination for beer fans everywhere. The beer is delicious, the place is beautiful inside. There is plenty of natural sunlight in the day, the pain is bright and creates a great atmosphere for enjoying a few beers with some friends. Try the mussels! They are plump, juicy and melt-in-your-mouth. We did not have one dirty mussel. Not sure how they accomplished that. GFN pulls off his impersonation of Gregory Ng’s impersonation of Belching Monkey and the featured track is “Just Drums” by the great Minneaopolis band, Tapes N’ Tapes. Belching Monkey has tickets to the concert at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Let us know if you will be there.

North Carolina Meyer joins as we attempt to find out what makes a salty old curmudgeon so surly. Founder’s Old Curmudgeon Ale.