Founders Red's Rye PA - Founders Brewing Company

eonbluekarma

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured nice and copper like a red. The smell is great. Flowery, yet sweet, with a hint of earthy rye. I think it might be one of the best smells from a beer that I've experienced. The taste is just as complex. A slight carbonation gives was to a great mix of hop, malt and rye. Overall, this is one of my favorites. Love the uniqueness of Rye IPA's.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-07-2012 22:02:20 | More by eonbluekarma

WakeandBake

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From Notes
Bottle,draught,Nitro tap.Pours hazy amber with a descent off-white creamy head. Aroma of fresh citrusy hops mingled with matly sweetness and a just a hint of grain.The flavor is awesome, first you taste fresh hops, some citrus,some floral,and then you get some of the malt sweetness, the flavors deepen as it warms,nice full mouthfeel,with a dry finish. This stuff is The Bomb !

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-07-2008 16:36:17 | More by WakeandBake

KC8LTL

Michigan

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

Had on nitro-tap at the Harvest Party in my Founders Harvest Pint Glass.

Served with about an inch of dark tan nitro-smooth foam with considerable staying power on top of a dark coppery beer itself. Unfortunately the head somehow seemed to limit the hop smell I was expecting. Nothing wrong or off, it just seemed tame. However, Nitro-tap makes it much smoother and creamier than I've had it before and definitely let the flavors blend more. As I said above, this was not a smack you in the face with hops beer, followed by a rye aftertaste. Instead they blended and grew as I enjoyed it. This is a beer to savor over a long time, not pour down.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-12-2008 18:36:08 | More by KC8LTL

Brabander

Netherlands

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Got this beer in a trade with Rohkey. Thanks Chris for this refresher!

Poured in my Struise glass this beer starts very well. Fluid a bit like darker tea and a nice broken white head with some very nice lacing. Pineapple in the nose, this is one hoppy bastard!

Mouthfeel is Ok but not spectacular. A very well made rye beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 22:56:11 | More by Brabander

ShreddedThumb

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

The Dorm Room Review

Blessed with a cornucopia of Founders' beers at my disposal, Red's Rye PA never found its way into my shopping cart. Now, it's been poured and ready to be scored.
This review was written while listening to: a live Melvins Lite live concert.

Poured into a blue solo cup (definitely planning on buying a snifter or a pint glass soon).

Appearance: Slightly reddish, mostly amber. Great frothy head.

Smell: Nice rye beer smell. The permeating rye scents coupled with some fruity additions really entice the drinker.

Taste: Imagine a craft beer-nerd scientist places a rye beer and an IPA in the Large Hadron Collider. In my mind, after a long period of pseudo-cosmic tribulation, Red's Rye PA starts dripping from the ceiling, at which point, Founders' flies all the way from Michigan to bottle the Higgs-Boson runoff. As amazing as that sounds, RRPA is sort of generic. The hoppy bitterness is there, and rye flavors certainly show up; however, I'm not blown away by either. Unfortunately, the pleasant tropical fruit aromas aren't apparent in the taste. Unlike Lagunitas' Brown Suggah, which had excellent fruity notes, Red's Rye PA wallows in mediocrity.

Mouthfeel: Light remnants of rye linger. Slight (and I mean SLIGHT) hop bitterness. Not bad.

Overall: I really wanted to like Red's Rye PA, and I certainly found enjoyment in the rye IPA; however, I feel that RRPA could be so much more, in terms of flavor. It looks nice, it smells great, but the taste leaves me expecting more. I would toss a few more tropical fruits into the mix. Since I'm only an hour or so away from the Founders' Brewhaus, breaking and entering doesn't seem half bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 22:57:28 | More by ShreddedThumb

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

MisSigsFan

California

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden/red with a HUGE frothy white head. The head dissipates very slowly. Smells of citrus and tropical fruit with some rye. Taste follows the nose but with a more pronounced rye taste. Also has a bit of a sting from the hops at the end. Mouthfeel is pretty light and crisp. About average or just below average carbonation. Overall, this is pretty good. I wouldn't go around hunting it down, but it was nice to try.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 23:23:24 | More by MisSigsFan

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.19/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a twelve ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours reddish brown, more red, with some foam. Little ring. Nice blends of caramel and rye. Both pop out. Light sweetness. Taste is a wall of hop that fades into a toffee sweetness. At the end, some bitter pops back up. Lots of rye in the blend. Well carbonated too. As with all Founders offerings, quite good.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 00:26:27 | More by KTCamm

TheCondor

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I've had this beer 100 times, but never actually sat down to review it. That time has come, I finally took some notes for a formal review. Side poured with standard vigor from the bottle into a Sam Adams 12oz glass.

Appearance - Pours a beautiful amber color, pretty transparent, with very little head to speak of and little head retention. Leaves little lacing, and the guy on the front of the package reminds of someone that should be cruising around in an ice cream truck or a panel van. Kinda creepy.

Smell - Woody, earthy, with the rye adding a little pop to it. There is a hop presence in the nose and a slight maltiness as well. Sounds complex, but there really isn't that much to it.

Taste - A smooth and tasty brew. Definite hop character mixes with malty backbone. Rye provides some spiciness and zing, almost a tobacco-like flavoring. A unique brew, for sure. Well-balanced.

Mouthfeel - Leaves some hop bitterness on the palate, but nothing to really get excited about. Medium bodied, smooth and drinkable.

Overall - This is certainly a good beer, but not even close to the best Founders has to offer. I could name a half dozen Founders beers better than this, although it is certainly deserving of a try. It just doesn't strike me as a Beer of Fame, although it is. Most Beers of Fame really leave an impression, but this is mildly forgettable. Give it a shot, but I wasn't too wrapped up about it.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 01:14:43 | More by TheCondor

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

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Amber, hazy, and with a white soapy head. The beer has a clean aroma...some woody, earthy scents. Spicy hops, some malt. E rye does not come out in the smell as much as it does in the taste. Sweet up front, with lots of malt. Some softness and grain character. Wood and chaff. Firm body. Solidly good.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 21:42:47 | More by Suds

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.53/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 120z bottle. This beer pours with very little head, some lacing around the edges. The beer itself is a brilliant red-amber color, lots of caramel malt perhaps? The smell of this beer is outrageously good, the rye is nice and peppery smelling and there is a solid malty backbone here.

The rye also comes through in the taste, there is pepper right up front which fades fairly quickly to a nice bready-malt core. The rye comes back a bit on the after-taste with a spicy pepper note that really lingers. The moutfhfeel here is also great, it really fills the entire palate. A nice, rye forward example of the style.

This is one hell of a tasty beer! Definitely worth purchasing again.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 23:19:39 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

barczar

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy, ruddy brown with copper highlights and a frothy one inch billowing head that dissipates slowly, leaving thick, spotty lacing.

Fruity hop notes mix with resin, onion, and significant amber malt to form the initial aroma. Rye, pine, and grapefruit add complexity.

Flavor reveals significant toasted malt at the backbone, giving way to rye bitterness and flavor at the finish. Underpinnings of grapefruit and resin become more prominent as it warms. Floral and earthy hops and pine surface near the finish.

Body is moderate, with moderate carbonation and a bit of astringent bite.

Solid beer with a decent malt support to counter the bitter rye character and enough flavoring hops to add intrigue. Would prefer more complexity in hop flavor and less bitterness, but that's personal preference.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 00:38:02 | More by barczar

Goosehunter75

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a hazy copperish red with a one finger offwhitehead with decent retention and great lacing

S - Definately lemon and grapefruit with a slight hint of malts and rye

T - Wow. Awesome flavor and nothing like I thought it would be after smelling this beer. The caramel malts blend perfevtly with the hops and there is definately the spiceness/dryness of the rye. Its alll followed by a pleasent pine aftertaste

M - Moderately bubbly Medium body beer. I felt like it was very smoot and went down easily.

O - Another great beer by Founders. Best Rye IPA I have had yet. Will be looking for this one again no doubt!

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 00:53:13 | More by Goosehunter75

Jake_Ramrod

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass from a bottle.

A: Poured a nice amber color that was opaque. Loved the look of it with a light shining through it.

S: Not much here other than a bit of rye and citrusy hop background and some sweet malty goodness..

T: A smooth and flavorful beer with a nice hop undertone. The rye grain gives it a spiciness that really adds to this beer. And,a citrus blend in there works really well with caramel malt flavors. I wouldn't call this a complex beer necessarily, but it really melds several flavors together very well. Typical easy to drink,yet flavorful Founder's offering.

M: Oily.

O: Again, a smooth and easy to drink, yet quite flavorful IPA. The rye grain lends a spiciness to the profile that is really works well with the citrusy hops. Not the best rye ipa offering out there, but I still like it alot.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 02:01:16 | More by Jake_Ramrod

beyah

Maine

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance - 1 finger of head, retention is average, off-white laceing hangs in there.

Smell - Big citrusy hop aroma can smell the rye malt in the mix.

Taste - First sip was a bit strange, I let it warm up a few mintes and the taste balances out. There is a definate citrusy hop, tabacco and rye spicyness there.

Mouthfeel - Very slick almost oily with a slight alcohol warming.

Overall - Recomeded, a nice rye beer

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 01:54:04 | More by beyah

leokbelo

Florida

4.86/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Pours a deep amber/copper into a pint glass. An inch head fades into a lacing that lingers.
Spicy hop aroma, rye and a bit of caramel. A "grapefruity", citrus bouquet comes out too.
Absolutely wonderful on the nose!
A full hop punch on the palate, spicy and piney, grassy feel. Very smooth, very drinkable, extremely balanced. Rye spiciness in the background, keeping it fresh and tasty!
What a beer! Simply amazing!
Hoppy (70 IBUs!), fresh and wonderful!
Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 15:56:44 | More by leokbelo

3beerdudes

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Beer dude #1 enjoyed the reddish hue described by beer dude #2. It was a very smooth yet hoppy flavor that was pleasing to the palate. Dude #2 dropped a chip in his beer giving it a rich and original flavor to and already enjoyable taste test. Dude #3 says "outstanding flavor."

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 17:31:34 | More by 3beerdudes

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

patre_tim

China

4.34/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Orange brown like apple cider, highly unfiltered and opaque, lots of bubbles on the glass, 2 finger yellowish head.

S: Rye, hops, citrus hops, molassis, fresh cut grass, fresh garden herbs, feels like I’m about to take a fresh healthy drink like wheat grass juice.

T: Grain, malt, molassis, fresh grass, citrus hops, rye, dull bitter linger at the end. Some qualities such as the breadiness remind me of barley wine, it has a slight sweet undertone, and really does taste like fresh squeezed juice of some herb or grass. Phenominal job on this beer.

M: Medium bready body, medium carbonation.

O: Great beer. Love the freshness, uniqueness, balance, herbal healthy quality, the label, the company, the colour, etc. Great by itself, it would go well with Scottish oat cakes and whipped butter.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 05:10:28 | More by patre_tim

KelsoSaaz

New York

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

Bottled on 06/28/12, poured in conical pint

A: Pours a hazy deep orange-red with a tan 1 finger head and little lacing.

S: Sour rye bread aroma, slight citrusy hops and spicy notes.

T: Grainy and slightly sour rye flavors, earthy yet spicy. Bitter grapefruit and faint caramel malts. Finishes bitter that fades into spicy sweetness.

M: Medium carbonation with a soft, creamy, satisfying mouthfeel.

O: This is a great beer, exactly what you would expect with Founders. Like great American pale ales, it pleases with its hops, however the addition of rye creates a spicy, earthy, and wonderfully different tone for this brew. Get this beer whenever and however you can, it is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 04:10:07 | More by KelsoSaaz

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber/copper color, good sized light tan head, fades slow enough and leaves decent lacing.

Smell has a large caramel malt aroma coupled with some musty hops.

Taste is slightly sweet from the caramel malt but more than enough hops to balance it out, nice spicy rye character, quite bread-y, body has good depth without being too heavy, soft but ample carbonation lends a creaminess.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 22:03:55 | More by deltatauhobbit

Bowersm

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have nothing bad to say about this beer. After pouring from bottle to glass it looked beautiful and rich and smelled powerfully good. There was plenty of good flavor and a fantastic after taste. I could easily drink this beer all night and not get sick of it or have any desire to switch it up. This beer cannot be recommended enough!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 21:13:56 | More by Bowersm

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Red's Rye pours a clear, dark copper color with a small off white head. As the foam disappears it leaves behind a fair amount of lace on the glass.

The aroma is bready with notes of rye and orange citrus. A touch of spice and a little caramel is also present.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is soft and smooth with mild carbonation. The flavor is sweet with a hoppy finish. It starts with bread and spicy rye flavors along with some caramel malt. It finishes moderately bitter with notes of orange citrus. Once gone the rye spice and citrus lingers on the palate.

A nicely balanced beer that's not over powered with the rye. Easy drinking and would go great with a steak.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 18:49:41 | More by WanderingFool

GoldHorde

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oh man do I love IPA's! ...and RYE! Rye beers are a fairly new experience for me and so far of the half dozen plus I've had so far each has been significantly exquisite! Too many exclamation points you say? I've not begun!

What exactly the rye is lending in totality I can't be sure but as far as flavor - according to the styles charts - it is not unlike the flavor profile that you expect in bread styles when picking a rye over wheat or white and I would agree. It definitely has a deeper earthy/grain flavor with that edge of dry bitterness.

The pour is a hazy brown amber and a decent thick head and mouthful of body. The aroma is aggressively hoppy in the IPA style and the flavor is rich rye with a nice bitter afterburn. The hop hit, while noticeable, in the taste is without a hop slap but the rye aftertaste takes care of that.

I, again, bend my rebuilt knees to the gifted beer geniuses at Founders!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 05:49:17 | More by GoldHorde