Founders Red's Rye PA - Founders Brewing Company

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

pour is dark copper, slightly cloudy, denser murky white head. Nose is hopped up, light rye spice and juicy citrus and sticky piney hops. Taste is a bit less fresh hop, spice is mild with a more present malt body, biscuity and chewy, lighter carbonation, soft citrus and sticky pine, very creamy feel, soft body.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2013 18:28:42 | More by cpetrone84

jjboesen

Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This is another Founders beer to add to my list. It has an average appearance: dark copper in color beneath a moderate froth cap; there is some minor lacing along the glassrim, yet little carbonation present.

The nose is the usual in that there is a heavy pine scent with some wafting grass aroma. The palate detects subtle citrus in the initial taste, one which hesitates between a sweetness and outright bitterness. Once past the first sip, the scene changes as the dry rye comes onto the stage and steals the show with a arbitrary rush of toastiness. The mouthfeel is strangely buttery.

An interesting style for Founders: despite its’ average 6% abv., it comes across as somewhat heavy than the style would have you believe. While not big on rye, I could still recommend this for a single quaff. That is that for this.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2013 23:54:28 | More by jjboesen

Wrigfen

South Carolina

4.64/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Great dark red amber, that pours heavy with a nice head. The taste is prevelant immediately and is a full flavored and full bodied. Can't quite compare the taste to anything else at the moment, but I found it excellent. A full bodied beer with a full taste and not an overpowering after taste. Not to strong ABV wise nor too watered down. Just a phenomenal beer I was lucky to find at my local craft store. Two draughts and an immediate purchase of a four packs should say enough. excellent!

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2013 23:50:42 | More by Wrigfen

Hopprof

Georgia

3.31/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Had this one at the Brick Store Pub in downtown Decatur. The hops is masked a bit too much at first sip; however I did pick up the customary IPA bitterness at the end. There was a tad too much rye on the front end and not a sufficient amount of hop bitterness for my taste. I enjoy all the other Founders brews, but have to put this one at the back of the bus. Having said that, while I would never go out of the way to pick up a six pack or growler, I would certainly order it at one of our Atlanta area beer bars if the other draught offerings were sub-par.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2013 19:35:21 | More by Hopprof

monkbrewed

Michigan

2.61/5  rDev -38%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

As a fan of rye beers and separately IPAs, I wanted to like this, but the beer has a sort of whacky, out-of-balance characteristic. The Michigan hop-head aesthetic is in full bloom here. Bell's Brewery has been setting the pace on these over-blown hop styles. The problem with this Rye PA is that the hops get masked by the rye grain charateristic. Sort of a train-wreck. Malty sweetness isn't evidenced by intent, but the result of this combination is sort of a sharp mush of bitterness. Over many beers this would escalate with growing fatigue on the palate. I've tried this on two occasions- once in the tap room at Founders and once at a bar in Ann Arbor. I did not finish either pint. Exceptionally poor label art too for Founders on this as well.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 19:14:40 | More by monkbrewed

MGoodrich

4.53/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this brew at "The Harp" in Willimantic, CT - a nice hole in the wall Irish pub.

I had the Founders Red Rye on-tap, poured straight. It had a good head, light and semi-transparent. The smell was excellent and perhaps my favorite part of this drink. It was so fragrant of grapefruit and citrus that my group of friends commented on the smell upon its arrival. It was highly carbonated, crisp, and fresh tasting. Staying true to its citrus scent, the taste was equal parts citrus and floral. I really enjoyed this and would both recommend it and have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2012 21:08:19 | More by MGoodrich

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Founders event at the Cloverleaf Tavern. It was served in a Palm tulip.

Red's Rye Pale Ale arrives ruby red in the glass, with a bit of clarity and some lighter red highlights. Almost two fingers of foam crowns the beer, and while it fades quickly at first, the last third or so hangs on for a while. There's definitely some lacing left clinging to the glass, but I'd classify it as spotty. The nose is disappointingly mild, but a bit of caramel plays off spicy grapefruit notes as aromas from the hops and rye meld together. The beer's a little more robust once it hits my palate. A prominent caramel note greets me, before a mild bitterness segues nicely into the spicy touch from the rye. The hoppy finish has some citrus, but also a more dank, pine-y aspect to it. The body is just too chewy for my taste, and as a result the carbonation struggles to cut through it all and make an impression. Red's Rye PA is a decent offering, but doesn't quite measure up to the quality of most Founders brews.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2012 22:25:43 | More by axeman9182

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First had: ?
Review from recent tasting at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Slightly hazy pour, a medium brown/amber color with a finger or so of foamy white head; decent retention and lacing. Pine and citrus in the nose, stone fruits, bready malts and rye notes. Good mash of all those components in the taste, bready malts, caramel, stone fruits and citrus, pine bitterness, and a mildly sour twinge. Medium body, well-balanced, a very nice drink overall, and a great, easily-obtainable selection from Founders.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 23:17:14 | More by Rifugium

JustinCurtisKoch

4.88/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

my first experience with a RyePA.; exceptional. definite fan of this brewery.

A: dark red, thick tan head
S: the rye comes through, remebered that pepper note from rye whiskeys. malt comes through strongly as well.
T: starts sweet, good caramel malt notes, biter hops begin to take over about half way through, finishes bitter and complex and lingers there.
M: medium weight
O: a definite go to for me when i'm looking for something on the bitter side, the rye defenitely adds complexity to the IPA style. highly recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2012 23:55:59 | More by JustinCurtisKoch

Gilmanbrz

4.85/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Really excited to try this beer,heard lots about it over beeradvocate, great taste really wish to see more of thoses brews around this area (newhampshire)
the flavor of this beer is very unique compare to this everyday micro brews that I like.

Very hoppy, beautiful color at the pour, over all really good! Defenely a 10 high score on my board!

Lately I have Ben discovering lots of small brewerys but world class score thanks for beeradvocate.
And thanks to the founders master brewer! Keep working for THE BEST!
I m a big supporter of fine tasting brews.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 00:39:33 | More by Gilmanbrz

SGDJosh

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From notes taken on 9/5 at Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop:

Appearance - Amber, dark rust. One finger head that dissipates to light lace on top. The head leaves a trail on the glass as you go. Sticky Icky!

Smell - Big citrus up front, most noticeably pink grapefruit. Very light malt on the nose, smells more like caramelized sugar to me.

Taste – Bam! Smooth citrus is met with that spicy rye note. Just like the nose, it reminds me of pink grapefruit in the summer and the rye carries me over to fall. The rye provides that little kick which evens the whole beer out. Very smooth, very drinkable.

Mouthfeel – Carbonation is perfect and for this medium bodied beer. The hops and rye leave the mouth dry, begging for more.

Overall – Great Rye Pale Ale. Lots of smooth hops with a bit of spicy rye. Delicious!

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2012 14:06:34 | More by SGDJosh

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a nice, quaffable IPA with the added twist of some spicy rye and accentuated caramel goodness.

tall, foamy, tan-colored head - ultra-clean-filtered appearance - liquid, reddish-amber in hue

west-coast style hop profile in the nose - nice, but nothing unique - a bold, pungent, fairly-balanced pine/floral blend with some faint notes of orange peel - very appealing underlying caramel character and some mild alcohol

flowery/herbal hoppy with a mellow, yet lightly-biting bitterness up front - rye spiciness seems to take hold (w/ hops) midway, following through to the finish - the malt is there, rounded by that unmistakable caramel flavor - so nice

quite lighter-bodied (though not w/o a subtle roundness) and easy-drinking for an American IPA, which is certainly appreciated - dry, for sure, though a phantom saliva-sodden syrupy film stays on the taste buds between sips

up there with the most drinkable American rye beers I've had - it may take second to SA's Revolutionary Rye in my eyes, which is still strange to me - perhaps if they dialed back the hops a bit on this one and let malt come through more, it'd be the apple of my rye, harharhar.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2012 05:41:47 | More by Bouleboubier

iGulp

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a newly tapped keg. The beer poured well with a nice firm head. Overall color was reddish-brown and nice clear viscous, semi-translucent appearance. Easy roll and good mouth feel. Balanced hop taste and a bit of very light sweetness as the beer temperature rose during drinking. Very smooth and balanced taste. Initial heavy hop feel from first sip, faded and became more balanced with subsequent tasting. The smell was average, non-floral and simple. However, the taste offset the nose and delivered a solid IPA taste without an after-taste. A solid beer!

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 20:28:53 | More by iGulp

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 3oz pour at Atomic Coffee, Moorhead, MN (July 27, 2012). From notes.

Pours a clear amber. Nose is spicy with grapefruit hop on nose. Earthy dankness in body along with some citrus with a slickness and a light spicy finish. Some lift sweetness from malt balancing the bitterness well. Well put together beer. More rye character as the beer warmed.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 18:01:25 | More by kjyost

bwan15

New York

3.98/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: beautiful deep amber/mahogany color. Gorgeous, creamy dirty blonde head that settled down from 3 fingers to 1, leaving a thick rime of deflated fluff around the edge.

Smell: Light, delicate citrus, smells like orange and lemon to me. 

Taste: A delicate weave of hops that springs forth with a light, citrusy zest on the front, and a clean, pleasant bitter on the back. If the rye is adding anything to this, it's contribution is subtle, or beyond my palate's tasting abilities.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and beautifully balanced. Carbonation is just right. Leaves palate feeling clean and a bit puckered.

Overall: Another solid beer from my favorite brewery in the world. Not their best, but pretty goddamned good. 

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2012 00:27:14 | More by bwan15

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.03/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served a dark amber-red color with a thin off white head. The head faded fast giving a lighter amount of lacing.

Smell – The smell is a nice combination of rye bread, caramel, and a good hoppy aroma. The hops are biggest in citrus, but nice notes of pine and earthy hop smells are present as well.

Taste – There was a nice sweeter malt backbone that was present throughout the entirety of the taste experience. At first it was slightly on the sweeter side with some nice caramel and brown sugar flavors mixed within. A citrus hop flavor then enters the scene at a loss of some of the sweet. As the taste advances further more pine hops start to come into the flavor. These are also accompanied with rye taste. These rye and pine flavors get stronger as the taste moves to the end. It mixes very nice ly with the bready flavors and leaves a smooth rye spiced hop flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – This beer has an above average creaminess in body with a medium level of carbonation. The body suits the rye and hop flavors quite nicely as it really allows them to sit on the tongue.

Overall – This is a very nice red IPA. It’s got a great hoppy flavor with nice rye bread tastes.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2012 23:34:35 | More by Darkmagus82

spark3148857

New York

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Founders:

Ap: Clear mahogany with an off-white creamy one finger head.

Ar: Floral and citrusy (grapefruit) with a peppery spice from the rye.

Ts: Rich caramel malts take a backseat to the hops on the middle of the palate. A nice rye peppery spice is well balanced.

Mo: Exceptional.

Ov: This is a great Rye PA and while SN RR is really enjoyable I definitely prefer Red's Rye. Grapefruit notes from the Amarillo hops blend perfectly with the spice of the rye and rich caramel malts.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2012 22:17:18 | More by spark3148857

claspada

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy darkish copper color with a big off-white head. As it recedes there is plenty of sticky lacing which I assume is from the rye/large hop additions.

Aromas begin with a lot of citrus, mainly grapefruit, hops with a bit of pine in there as well. One you get past the hops, the rye and light caramel maltiness comes through.

The tastes begin more bready on the malt side with not as much of the rye as was present in the nose, but it's definitely still there.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied wiht medium carbonation. Hops are lightly bitter and coupled with the rye makes the finish slightly dry and sticky/mouthcoating.

Overall this is a very drinkable rye IPA style beer. Hops overpower the rye maltiness slightly and I wish the finish was a little less bitter, but quite tasty none-the-less and a solid beer to find on draft in NYC.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2012 14:09:48 | More by claspada

tylerprince

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at DBGB in NYC (Bowery and Houston).

A: Pours a beautiful clear, dark amber with ruby hues. No apparent bubbling. Thin white head doesn't linger; gives way to sparse lacing.

S: Incredible. Hop oils and resins, citrus (esp. grapefruit), biscuity malt. Rye is subtle but provides a nice crispy twang in contrast to the hoppy earthiness.

T: Good but nothing special. Rye comes through and provides a nice layer of complexity on top of already excellently balanced malt/hop profiles. Citrus (esp. grapefruit), sweet malt.

M: Perfectly carbonated with a nice alcohol booziness. Fairly thin and crisp with a slight resiny stickiness.

O: A great PA; would want again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2012 03:05:06 | More by tylerprince

zhanson88

Montana

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a copper color with 1" of white head. Great lacing, and pretty good retention. Moderate carbonation is apparent in this beer.

Smell: Smells of bready malts, slight spiciness, and both citrus and piney hops. Good smell, very aromatic.

Taste: Malts are bready and a light spiciness from the rye is apparent and very nice. Adds another dimension to this beer. Hops are both piney and citrusy, and add some bitterness to the finish.

Mouthfeel/Overall: Just under medium bodied, with a moderate amount of fine carbonatioin. Very smooth. I've been meaning to try this beer forever, but just hadn't gotten around to it. Glad I did this time. It's a pretty solid brew that differentiates from your run of the mill IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2011 21:02:48 | More by zhanson88

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap in a pint glass.

A- Very hazy dark amber. Cant see through at all
S- Astringent hops and a bunch of sweet caramel. Smells just like their Centennial IPA to me.
T- LOTS of grapefruit in this one as well as other citrus tones. Can definitely taste a variety of sweet malts in this one.
M- Good carbonation and mouthfeel, reminds me a lot of their Centennial IPA only with more citrus. A dry aftertaste.
O- This is a very good, unique rye/red/PA mishmash that's definitively worth trying especially if your an IPA lover

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2011 02:03:54 | More by TwelveOunces

WhiteOak

Connecticut

2.78/5  rDev -34%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Medium copper color with a thick head which settled quickly.

S - Grapefruit and Fir bud resin hops smells dominate.

T - Citric hops dominate the flavor, pushing all else aside. I was looking forward to rye flavors, but none were apparent.

M - Thick and slighly viscous, oily hoppiness.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2011 02:14:26 | More by WhiteOak

MicroBeerMan1980

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep red body topped with a creamy white (almost off white) head. Very good head retention, which stays with the beer the whole time. There is tiny lacing that clings to the glass.

S: Sharp Amarillo hops on the nose. Also, there's a lot of rich full malt in there. The rye is very noticeable. Grapefruit is also very prevalent.

T: The first thing I noticed was the rye. Then the rest of the malts came later. All the while, intertwined with the bittering hops. It's very well balanced though.

M: It’s a full, rounded ale. It fills you palate and lingers for a bit, but not in a bad way. For a hoppy rye, it has a rather easy after taste.

D: This beer is very drinkable. This would be a great tailgate companion on a brisk day.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 19:56:50 | More by MicroBeerMan1980

Amalak

New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This has a hazy copper color with some streams of bubbles. Not much head and lacing, but that can be forgiven. Very strong rye scent. Very excited to try.

On the tasting end, there's a very nice floral bitter scent with some rye hints underneath. Very good, but a bit disappointed if only because I was expecting more of a rye wallop. It's hoppy with hints of citrus. Very nicely carbonated and refreshing. This is a beautifully balanced ale with tons of flavor coming through.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2011 03:44:30 | More by Amalak

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very cloudy caramel colour. No real head, which means no lacing.

Smells like American Hops. Citrus and pine everywhere. Nice touch of bittering. Smells like on hell of an APA.

Did they grind up fresh Michigan pine cones and needles? because it tastes like it. Both initial tastes and subsequent drinks just reveal what a pine cone were to taste like if you brewed with it. Strangely, I like it. Its got a decent malt backbone that feels light and somewhat sweet (the caramel malt really adds a layer of smoothness that helps mellow out all the Amarillo Hops).

Theres enough hops to make their presence known, yet its not too much. If you like hops, this is your drinkable beer right here.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2011 23:10:51 | More by VncentLIFE