Founders Red's Rye PA - Founders Brewing Company

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A Simcoe dry-hopped cask (bombed with Simcoe hops as the notes say) at the General Sutter.

A: The ale is a dark, cloudy haze of a beer, a ruddy amber color. A thin head, larger bubbles with no action, screams 'cask'.

S: The nose, oh how the nose is divine. Simcoe is strong, perhaps there are a few cones left in the firkin! The simcoe is ridiculously strong, citrus with pine. Rye needs some time to emerge, bringing darker breads and anise along. A pleasure to sniff.

T: Suitable for my needs. The hops are strong but muted, primarily helping the aroma. The bitterness is present but has been smoothed out in the cask. It does deliver pine and citrus, almost tropical, throughout the glass. Rye, dark and bready, has pepper and anise and lingers nicely in my empty glass.

M: The mouthfeel is soft, hoppy but restrained in the cask. The nose is to-die-for and the flavor doesn't pull any punches.

O: Worthy of an epilogue. The highlight of the day, citrusy, rye-y, delicious. I'd love to see more of this.

Serving type: cask

04-03-2011 15:53:56 | More by akorsak

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2011-04-02 at Bull's Head Public House's 3rd Cask Beer Festival. This cask was "bombed with Simcoe".

A - Partially hazy orange caramel with almost no head or lacing.

S - Some tropical fruit and cat piss

T - Pineapple, hop cone, pine, spice, medium roasted malt with plenty of lingering bitternes and rye malt sweetness. It has more alcohol taste than on-tap.

M - Light-medium body and almost no carbonation. Pretty smooth.

O - I like it much better with carbonation but the extra dry hopping was a nice touch.

Serving type: cask

04-03-2011 11:14:04 | More by Tucquan

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've loved this from the bottle, but this casked version "bombed with simcoe" was a completely different animal.

a: This was a cloudy golden caramel color and it was served to me with a small khaki colored head.

s: Lots and lots of grassy, oniony, unbelievably pungent hop goodness with some citrus in the back round. Some rye and a bit of caramel sweetness does manage to come through.

t: A deliciously unbalanced hop showcase. Tons of earthy, pungent, (kind of garlic-y and onion-y), and sort of citric hopliciousness just pounds the palate. Some rye spiciness and a trace caramel sweetness does come through, bur precious little.

m: Kind of a sticky body with gentle, creamy carbonation.

o: What a fun beer to have tried. I wouldn't choose it over the regular version everyday, but I'm really glad I had the chance to try it.

Serving type: cask

04-03-2011 00:23:08 | More by DIM

david18

New York

3.28/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Below is a recent review of the draft version I had of this a little bit ago:

Man do I love this brewery. Just about everything I've had from here I've loved. This was no exception. A really good IPA with all the aspects of rye that you would expect: spiciness, bitter, great! Dark brown color, low carbonation, light colored head, great aroma and the bitterness was very pronounced but not overwhelming.

A very good beer that I'll have again.

---

I had this on cask at George Keeley's on Manhattan's upper west side. I'm not a huge fan of cask versions but I always try them and this was better than most. Surprisingly good carbonation, nice flavor, not too warm. If you see it, get it.

Serving type: cask

08-20-2010 19:01:06 | More by david18

jasonpeckins32

Michigan

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

It was a rich, dark reddish color with a swirling off-white head. The smell was truly exceptional, the red smell so strong you could practically taste it before even taking the first sip. Also smells like a wonderful fruit basket of oranges and grapefruit. The mouthfeel was thick and fairly carbonated, tasting quite red with noticable hops and rye. The lacing was superb, as it stuck around on the glass for quite some time.

Overall, I was highly impressed with this beer. It has a lot of great traits, and is definitly worth going out of your way to try. I'm sure it will show up on my shopping list again very soon.

Serving type: cask

02-02-2005 00:39:51 | More by jasonpeckins32

rjp217

Massachusetts

4.94/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bottle into a Guinness pint glass.

A - Dark red, two finger head. Nice retention and quite a bit of lace around the glass

S - Rye and fruity malts. Some grapefruit and a little bit if spice. All goes very well together.

T - WOW, amazing. So so smooth, nice thick malts. Very creamy with bits of hop and bitterness. Also a little bit of warmth to end it. Unique and eye opening.

M - Agreed with previous reviews, this beer feel so silky and smooth. Velvety smooth with tiny bits of carbonation.

O - This beer it utterly awesome. The rye and hops blend amazingly well together to give a unique treat. So smooth and sweet, I am super impressed.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 20:27:12 | More by rjp217

plaid75

New York

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

On draft at Tap and Barrel, Smithtown, New York.

Poured a deep copper, almost red hue with a two finger frothy off white head. There was very good retention and sticky lacing.

The smell featured waves of piney, citrus, herbal and tropical hops atop a clean grainy malt.

The taste consisted of an upfront piney and herbal hop assault that begrudgingly gave way to spicy rye malt and round crystal malt.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side of the style.

Overall a brawny full bodied hop bomb. Very nicely made.

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2013 20:15:23 | More by plaid75

magictacosinus

California

3.93/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured out of a 12oz bottle into a nonic pint glass. Bottling date is stamped on the neck as "01/09/13."

Pours a thickened, reddish amber color complete with a full finger of bone white head. Head retention is pretty damn good, especially considering the older age, which is expected as always from Founders' consistent quality. Not much lacing or residual sugar sticking to the glass. Not many bubbles rise to the top, although carbonation seems plentiful with the retention. Pretty viscous and thickened, almost to the point of being bready. Truly eye candy, and I'm already expecting a lot here.

The rye is fully up front here, in an almost crackly, spicy manner, but it is backed up by a sharp sweetness from the malts, almost in the sense that you get in barleywines as soon as the hops start to break up. In fact, there's barely any hoppy or astringent sensation to speak of other than a temporary sharp sweetness as well as a bit of booziness. Honey and light caramel prevail, and the rye and cracked toasted barley flavors, almost resembling wheat, linger on top. The alcohol becomes progressively sharper, as does the rye. Not much fruitiness to speak of - although the spiciness and floral phenols are undeniable. Feels a bit empty, but for its age, has held up well.

The initial flavor consists of a rush of slightly old yet nevertheless robust flavors of rye, breadiness, toasted barley cereal notes, and pungent earthiness combined with the honey and floral flavors. Some light characteristics of caramel, toffee, and maybe, just maybe, slight apricots. Again, not much fruitiness prevails, but it terms of showcasing the malts and rye, it truly shines. Absolutely bready and chewy in mouthfeel, as well as flavor. Very earthy, combining dank mineral sensations with dustiness, as well as slightly oily, resinous sensations from the sugars and whatever is left from the hops. Crackly, slightly astringent, but very well balanced.

This is a real treat to drink, and actually goes down quite easily in spite of any thickness. At this point, I'm not so set on Founders' hop-focused beers, but their maltier offerings are fantastic. This may be old at this point, but it's still drinking amazingly well. I love the spiciness imparted by the rye, as well as the earthiness, rather than excessive sweetness, on part of the predominant malts. Would love to try this fresh, but it seems to be good any time. Truly ahead in the style!

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 05:41:24 | More by magictacosinus

Andrew041180

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a dark brown color with reddish-amber highlights. Not a great color, but the head retention was excellent and it left lacing all the way down the glass. Could see mild carbonation when I held the glass up to the light.

S - Comparable to a Ruthless Rye (which I love). Very clear rye smell with a nice piney hops kick.

T - It's rye through and through, with malty sweetness in the center and piney hops on the finish. Nice spiciness. Really tasty.

M - A different feel to this one. It's not really carbonated or heavy bodied, but this beer is more like silk, which is a nice contrast to the hops and rye. The beer sort of glides through your mouth - excellent contrast.

O - I could probably be a little more generous here. This is the best I've had from Founders - all of the features complement each other and it is a pleasure to drink. Perfect for this cold, rainy afternoon.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2013 17:33:20 | More by Andrew041180

Pegasus

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Hazy tarnished copper in color, with a massive, dense and persistent tan head, which retains quite well. Thick glass-coating lace adorns the walls of the chalice.

Aroma: Bold citrus hops vie with lots of sweet rye in the nose, with a respectable portion of dark caramel as well.

Taste: Opens with a profound grapefruit and hop presence, but the rye and dark caramel shine as well. While the hops dominate the taste throughout, the malt backbone holds its own very well. Finishes with a late surge of pine tar hops, but the rye manages to shine on.

Mouth feel: Velvety and full, with a moderate sting of carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Although I am not a rye beer partisan, it is difficult to overstate the quality of Founders Red's Rye PA. Those who declaim rye beers should try this before abandoning the style.

Presentation: Packaged in a stubby twelve-ounce brown glass bottle with a twist-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 23:19:38 | More by Pegasus

thegodfather1076

Ohio

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

Presentation: Awesome label that extremely eye-catching graphics and font. Label gives a very small desc of beer, web info, small bit of brewery info. Neck label has Founders logo, web info, and ABV/IBU info. Bottled on date(11/21/12).

Appearance: I allowed this to warm for 10min before pouring into a 16oz snifter from its 12oz bottle. Poured out a cloudy ruby amber color with a 2 finger light tan head of medium density. Head retention was a 4min 8sec before fading to a thick coating and ring. Excellent lacing.

Smell/Aroma: Aroma is dominated by ruby red grapefruit with a definite malty rye backbone. Slight resin aroma.

Flavor/Taste: Taste is initially of sweet ruby red grapefruit with a slightly herbal hop bite as well as some rye spiciness. A nice lightly toasted malt midpoint that sticks around to the finish. Finishes a bit herbal and slightly floral.

MouthFeel/Drinkability: A heavier medium bodied beer that is what I would call chewy. Extremely drinkable.

Overall/Comments: Wow. I was very impressed by this offering. Really great on the nose. The flavor profile is really great with rye being the perfect compliment for the sweet citrus hops. A mush try. Consumed 4/27/2013. Classified as a Rye Beer @ 6.6% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2013 19:21:21 | More by thegodfather1076

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured into stange. Clear golden orange with a thick yellowish-white head, leaving tons of lacing all over the place. Smells an even blend of hops and malts, with some subtle graininess. Taste is some hops, with a wide spicy bready malt taste with barley and rye combining nicely. Mouthfeel is clear, full and smooth. Overall, I'm very pleased with my first rye beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 05:38:09 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

Purp1eOne

Illinois

4.61/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass

Appearance: Amber with red highlight with a slight head

Smell: Nice fruity rye beer smell.

Taste:A well balanced unique rye bite where the dryness and spicy highlight standout.

Mouthfeel: Nice light hoppy/carbonated feel that goes down smooth.

Overall: I think this is a great beer glad I tried. Good hops and a little different from the norm. Will always have a cold one of these on hand.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 00:48:27 | More by Purp1eOne

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