Founders Red's Rye PA - Founders Brewing Company

NedShakeshaft

Ontario (Canada)

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

I first encountered this beer (and brewery!) at the Ballpark Brew Bash in Buffalo this September. I thought it was the best beer in the show. It made a huge impression on me despite being about the 30th sample of the day.

The complexity of this beer manifested itself right from the growler pour. The color is hard to describe; the body is all of brown, red, copper and gold in a misty swirl. The head was an inch thick tan/white that dissipated quickly to half that, then held its form.

Big fruity nose hits you right away, but underneath is some bready caramel malt and spice.

The rye malts and caramel hit you right away but are quickly balanced out by the citrusy hops. Finished sweet with the caramel and some of the fruit lingering. Just a tiny bit of orange peel-like bitterness helped it along. Outstanding.

Nice mix of body and carbonation. It certainly didn't taste all of its 6.6%.

I'm really impressed by this beer and will seek it often.

Serving type: growler

10-31-2012 02:18:48 | More by NedShakeshaft

dejrrma

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$5.49 for a 32oz Growler at Ale Yeah. Poured into a pint glass.

a- a beautiful ruby reddish color and amber orange. a small white head forms that thins out into a ring. lively with lots of bubbles rising to the top.

s- minimal smell of hops and pine, slight bready scent.

t- light hops, a nice bitterness, rye dryness and spice. there's a very, very slight sourness, and it's almost unnoticeable, but it's there. light malt. alcohol is not noticeable at all.

m- crisp, refreshing, with a dry finish. good carbonation, light body. a well balanced beer.

o- great beer for the weather. great for the price. would purchase again.

Serving type: growler

03-24-2012 18:18:49 | More by dejrrma

Durge

Connecticut

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

A cloudy deep orange brown colored brew with a healthy big bubbled off-white head and modest lacing. The aroma says cat piss hops, a little grassy citrus bite and a little caramel malt sweetness. The flavor brings sharp hop bite, lemon and grapefruit over what I find to be a proper rye bread touch. It’s finely but prominently carbonated in a medium-light bodied brew. Awesome!

Serving type: growler

09-25-2011 03:01:01 | More by Durge

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Devil's Backbone willibecher.

Who's Red? Probably some filthy Commie... This beer pours a clear ruby-amber topped by nearly two fingers of ecru froth. The nose comprises pine needles, tangelos, creamy caramel, and a touch of peppery rye. The taste kicks up the rye a great deal, though it is still not allowed to take any position of preeminence. Instead, it shares the spotlight in a vigorous tango with hop elements that themselves gracefully combine the talents of pine and ruby red grapefruit. It's quite a dance, particularly set against the backdrop of sweet caramel. The body is a fluffy medium, with a light carbonation and a very creamy feel. This beer begs to be continually consumed and returned to. Thankfully I've got the rest of this growler to help me with that...

Serving type: growler

07-11-2010 13:46:15 | More by TMoney2591

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

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

Picked one up at the brewery, pours a very dark red with a decent amount of foam. Smells very fruity in a good way, but the taste doesn't quite match it. Still tastes good with a bitter hop kind of finish to it. A very sessionable beer overall. Glad I finally got to try this one.

Serving type: growler

03-21-2010 05:16:15 | More by WeedKing4

webmanspidey

Michigan

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

Growler picked up at Founders.

A perfectly balanced and drinkable beer. This is an IPA made with rye. A great mix of the bitter hops flavors and the sweeter caramel/rye flavors makes this probably one of the best beers I've had from Founders, at least of the sessionable non-overpowering variety. Medium bodied and exceptionally drinkable. Not overly intense or complex flavors, but delicious.

Serving type: growler

07-27-2009 00:37:53 | More by webmanspidey

ngandhi

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was at Arcadia just a few hours before strolling into the back country forest preserve party that is the Founders Brewing Company brewpub. And Arcadia's rye might have just been the perfect primer for the Founders Rye, a beer I've had a few firkins of by the bottle and tap, but never one so close to the source. What amazes me still about the Founders Red's Rye is its insistence on freshness. Though a beer absolutely consumed by peppery, anisette hops, it verges on being a drinkable barleywine because the rye is so intense. This beer would only taste better with a corned beef shooter. Which is to say, you never see this much balance in what really amounts to a double IPA. But the graininess here provides great liquid-Jell-O-like texture and body, not to mention flavor, that makes the hops all the more interesting. It's as bitter as all get out, but maybe closer to Rogue's Old Crustacean than to something like 3F's Dreadnaught. I love that. I love that a beer can be this hoppy and still let the malt shine. Not more than five brewers in the world can balance the extremes this well, and none do it better than Founders.

Serving type: growler

12-31-2008 03:11:27 | More by ngandhi

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