Founders Red's Rye PA - Founders Brewing Company

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

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Half Acre tulip.

A- pours a hazy dark amber with a 2 finger tan head. Big trails and amoeba lacing left on the glass.

S- very sweet malts, caramel, toffee, citrus (orange mainly), some spice and pine.

T- sweet toffee, caramel, spicy rye, so,e citrus in there with nice pine bitterness at the finish.

M- medium body and carbonation. Little effervescence but nice creaminess in the middle and finish.

O- very tasty beer, and very similar to hop rod rye which I just had the other day.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 04:31:04 | More by kawilliams81

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.14/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Single bottle from Premier Gourmet in Buffalo, as part of a Founders lineup. It's a brewery I have yet to really explore.

Poured into a Founders-branded nonic. A darker crimson-amber colour, nice creamy head that survives throughout the bottle and leaves some sheets of lacing. Fine looking brew.

Nose is sweet and malty, with a bit of spicy grain in the back - probably the rye. Grapefruit and other citrus hops in the mix as well.

Great tasting brew, with a chewy thickness that makes for a terrific slow sipper. Quite hoppy, with the Amarillo hops providing a sturdy grapefruit citrus bitterness. The spicyness isn't as pronounced as I have seen in other rye brews, but it is enough to move this brew enough away from the category of pale ale into something new. Digging this a great deal.

The rye certainly adds a different component to the brew that makes for a highly quaffable, hoppy ale. Not sure who Red is, but I likes his beer just fine!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 22:24:07 | More by JohnnyBarman

sethcroisant

Nebraska

4/5  rDev -5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- bright copper color. half a finger of head with a tiny bit of lacing.

S- musty hops with a little bit of spice from the rye malt.

M- thick and chewy with a balanced level of carbonation.

T- spicy up front and all the way through. the hops are dank, but are actually a nice compliment to the sharp spice. slight bread and caramel flavors linger in the background.

O- a tasty treat that deserves the recognition it receives.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 04:30:20 | More by sethcroisant

--Dom--

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Pours a hazy ruby-tobacco. 1 finger off white head, good lacing. Smells of syrupy malt and piney hops.

Amazing flavor. Smooth to start out with, earthy pine hop flavors along with a sweet malty backbone. The finish is slightly more bitter than the start with the hops coming forward toward the end. Just delicious.

Mouthfeel is slightly syrupy and thick, not in a bad way though. Carbonation is medium. Overall I really enjoyed this beer. The harshness of the rye is held in check by the other flavors. I'm glad I got it and will probably be picking up a sixer of it in the near future.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 04:18:22 | More by --Dom--

AmitC

Indiana

4.04/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle dated 11/21/2012.

Poured into a snifter glass from 12 oz bottle.

Very clear appearance. Ruby colored hues. Copper amber in color. Some bubbles seen rising up. Very faint head of a thin layer. Decent lacing on the sides. Looks very neat.

Nose is a bit of faint IPA. A good amount of hops mixed with malt aroma. Citrus, grape fruit, somewhat earthy. Malt is also dominant with bread and caramel type of notes.

Taste is bitter mostly due to rye and hops. A good interplay of malt, rye and hops that presents a well balanced and very easy drinking rye beer. Hops are very much similar to nose and mix well with the body. Dry hopped for sure. Good feel on palate and the finish is bitter.

Mouth feel is medium bodied. Smooth and easy. Sessionable. Moderate carbonation. No astringency except for some bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:55:12 | More by AmitC

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.01/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Gorgeous coloring with reds and light yellow/orange tints. I guess you can call it a radiant mahogany. The head was short but mildly creamy with tons of lacing.

The scent is very strong with "hyped up" hoppiness. Floral pine notes with a hidden sweetness there's some citrusy tones in there.

A touch of rye, a strong hop flavor and some earthy flavors dominate an unbalanced array. The hops are a touch overpowering but then again that's what was advertised. The rye is left begging, wanting to share the spotlight but getting drowned out. The finish is a touch earthy, almost oniony. Overall the taste is of a good quality I just caught myself savoring the malty, grainy rye flavors and wishing the hops didn't overwhelm.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 22:41:00 | More by KYGunner

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter.

A: Slightly hazy amber with one-finger, off-white, fizzy head that lasted a couple minutes. Pretty good lacing.

S: Vivid lemon and pine. Rye.

T: Light to moderate sweetness and moderate bitterness. Citrus and pine hops. Spice and sour Rye.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Crisp.

O: Solid Rye beer. The smell stood out the most to me. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 23:37:49 | More by SolipsismalCat

Francois

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

This is my overall favorite that is available year around, locally.
I'am so drawn to this selection, that I want to try a clone recipe of this when I brew my own batch. Just to experiment.
I've had this both on tap and in the bottle and they are equally of high standards and taste. I am not disappointed with this style and consistency of beer.
No wonder Founders made the top ten of the best brewers in the world.
Maintain your high standards, and I'll keep coming back.
Well done.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 00:14:04 | More by Francois

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.29/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a perfect pint glass. Purchased in Wakefield, RI.

A- Pours a hazy dark amber body with a thick bubbly off-white head that exhibits high retention and reduces to some uneven chunks of foam and leaves sticky lacing.

S- Fresh lemon zest, big citrus, pine needles, caramel. Very aromatic and inviting.

T- Starts off with piney, lemon-zest notes, ends with a rye zing and slight toasty malt aftertaste.

M- Medium body, medium-low carbonation. Very smooth and drinkable.

The drinkability of this beer is amazing. It's nicely balanced and flavorful, too. Recommendable.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 00:40:35 | More by gcamparone

greenmonstah

New Hampshire

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

12 oz bottle

A - Amber in color with a half-finger of off-white/tan head which lingers well.

S - Intense rye malt and bitter hop aromas, plus some tropical fruit/citrus and sweeter malts to balance all the bitterness. Bitter pine needle and caraway seed. Big on the grapefruit.

T - Balance balance balance. SN's Ruthless Rye is awesome, but overall a bit too bitter. This is much more balanced. Bitter hops, sharp spicy and bitter rye, grainy malt, sweet caramel malts, and citrus hops all go together brilliantly.

M - Medium body with a drier finish. High carbonation suits the beer well.

O - The gold standard for the rye beer style. Perfect balance of flavors, plus drinkablity and a great body, Founders hits another out of the park.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 02:07:57 | More by greenmonstah

maleman

Mississippi

4.11/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Dark, tea color with a one-finger, off-white head that quickly receded into a tight cap. Thin, oily lacing.
S - light, grassy smell. some biscuit, cereal and malt.
T - biscuit with a tinge of phenol in the aftertaste.
M - taste in the back of the mouth, slight, but not overpowering finish.
O - very good brew. not one that grabs you up front with a bite, but a nice relaxing finish. will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 00:16:30 | More by maleman

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.83/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Founder's - Red's Rye P.A. - 12fl oz bottle

Snagged a sixer of this little gem at our friendly neighborhood meat and seafood market, was excited to see it as it is one of the lesser seen Founders brews around here.

Look - Pours a cranberry amber haze with a negligible head. I poured a second glass for a friend a bit more vigorously and was able to get an inch or so of quickly dissipating head.

Smell - Citrus, hops, and rye, not overly aromatic but properly done.

Taste - A hoppy rye bite with a tasty bitter finish.

Mouthfeel - A cool refreshing treat, quite a smooth 6.6%.

Overall - This is a great brew, perfect fusion of rye and hops, would have this again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 12:42:56 | More by JMScowcroft

SeamusDoyle

Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a reddish brown, almost maroon hue with short white head and some lacing. Aroma of spice and strong hops. Scents of wheat and grains and rye. Tastes of bitter citrus hops, pine and grain. Citrus hops are grapefruit and orange peel. Malt flavors are light, but some creaminess comes through bitterness. Subtle notes of grass, ginger, cinnamon, apple. Grains are earthy but with some nut meat. Overall a superbly bitter IPA with much more grain and earthy tones than your average IPA. Also more pine notes and strength in the hops than your average IPA, but what drastically sets this IPA apart from the pack is the grains.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 20:15:25 | More by SeamusDoyle

thlayli87

New Jersey

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

A - Ruby with two fingers of cream colored head. The head lasts for a few minutes before receding to a thin ring. Good lacing.

S - Piney hops, citrus, grapefruit.

T - Pine, pepper, maybe a faint taste of rye, bready finish; Pleasant lingering bitterness.

M - Full body but very drinkable. Fluffy in the mouth with ample carbonation.

O - Very solid spicy pale ale that I would definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 15:06:31 | More by thlayli87

WSGosset

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Not too much in the way of head here. That said, this is a pretty beer. Deep red, slightly translucent.

S: The aroma does not knock you over the way it does with some IPAs/IPA variants, but the floral character of the hops is immediately right of the bat. The rye is also noticeable, but it takes a bit of a backseat to the hops.

T: There is a nice balance between the bitterness of the hops and the spiciness of the rye. I really like the malt profile: it adds a subtle bread-like character to the taste.

M: Medium-bodied. Though not without the crispness I typically think of when I drink IPAs, this beer also has a little bit of creaminess to it.

O: I would definitely have this again. The rye bread-like features of this beer make fora nice twist on a solid IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:21:46 | More by WSGosset

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on January 17, 2013.

The pour is a decent looking amber reddish-brown with a slightly cloudy mist and a long lasting beige-tan head.

The aroma espouses earthy hops and grainy malts in that order balanced with a sweetish tone.

The body is about medium but it has smooth when it coats the back of my throat.

The earthy hops are noticed up front in the taste like the aroma with a classic balance of grains moderating the overall flavor. There is a huge bitterness at the end. Rye PA's are not high on my style list but this was a fine example of it.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 00:00:47 | More by puboflyons

LeRose

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Twelve ounce bottle, dated 11/17/12.

Poured a lovely caramel color with a nice ruby red hue. About a quarter inch of foam that decreased to small rafts of foam, laced nicely.

Aroma was intense. Floral, pine notes, sweetness, a bit of bread, vague citrus, caramel sweetness. Very strong even cold.

Taste was sweet and bitter layered together. Then pine like notes take over in the taste with a little floral note. No acidity to speak of. Don't find a very strong rye flavor, but some bready grain taste. Citrus bitterness takes over at the end, but reasonably balanced with the sweetness. Not a grapefruit bitter to me, but citrusy maybe lime-like. A little peppery note comes in late for me. Interesting layering in the flavors, not sure I can pick everything out.

Mouthfeel was just enough carbonation, medium bodied, a little oily but not a tongue coater. A bit astringent, so drying on the finish. Clean taste, the aroma actually lingers. Makes the mouth water, but then dries on the end. Interesting.

Overall? Big aroma, visually great, taste maybe overly busy, but enjoyable as a different take on an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 04:16:46 | More by LeRose

zombiebeergut

Indiana

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I think that some people are incapable of liking this beer because they dont like the taste of rye.. Atleast I have read that in the reviews.. I personally have liked every single rye brew ive had.. And this one is fantastic!

Serving type 12oz bottle

A-Pours an amber red with a half inch of off white cream colored head.

S-Aroma is floral hops and caramel with citrus notes and very pleasing to me.

T-Taste is sweet with a lot of great floral and pine hop flavor and spicy rye notes. Amazing balance of bitter and sweet but more of a sweet taste and a bitter finish id say.

M-Bubbly with a good amount of carbonation very pleasant.. Medium consistency.

O-This is an AMAZING brew from an AMAZING brewery and an AMAZING style.. I feel this beer is greatly overlooked and underrated!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 04:20:46 | More by zombiebeergut

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

jsisko01

Michigan

3.46/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a dark copper/amber color with a centimeter thick, off-white head that dissipates quickly. Leaves a creamy, spotted lacing.

Smell - Has a slight sourness and rye smell to it.. I honestly can't pick up anything else..

Taste - There is a lot going on here.. First of all, the hops taste very piney and floral. The rye and sourness are very noticeable as well. It's VERY sweet with some dark fruit characteristics and maybe some citrus. There is a small alcohol bite and feint traces of pepper present. And finally, this beer is much more bitter than your average pale ale.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with high carbonation.

Overall - This being my second rye beer experience.. I know now for a fact that I do not like the flavor of rye. Lol

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 04:33:51 | More by jsisko01

Maltmaiden

Alabama

4.6/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Orange/dark amber. Tad murky. small head. Good amount of lacing.

S: Floral hops. Toasted caramel malts. Lots of honey. orange peel. not getting the Rye but this is a huge and delicious bouquet.

T: All of the smells are there in the taste except maybe the orange. The rye does come through a little. Wow! this is delicious. Great balance of bitterness and sweetness. On the hoppier side for a Pale.

M: Outstanding. Thick and crisp. Perfect amount of carbonation.

O: Very good but I wish I could could taste the rye more.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 18:27:22 | More by Maltmaiden

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

mfnmbvp

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle. Bottled on my birthday this year, 05/14/2012, so this beer is about 7 and a half months old. Poured to a Boulevard tulip.

A - Non-aggressive pour yields virtually no head whatsoever, except for a thin wispy lacing around the top of the glass. Very murky, almost a bizarre orange / brown hybrid. Orange on the outer sides of the glass but dark brown in the center. Looks very robust and strange.

S - Hops. Rye. Vanilla / oak. Bready malts, and a strong scent of dark fruit sweetness. Raisins. Cranberry bread. More rye. Cinnamon. Some other spices that I can't identify. There is a lot going on here.

T - Very smooth, pleasant, cherry vanilla rye bitterness on the first sip. Very dry in the finish. The subtle oak / vanilla is lovely. The dark fruits like raisins and figs are definitely very prominent as well.

M - Bitter, hoppy aftertaste. The toasted rye lingers on for a bit along with vague notes of the vanilla.

Overall, extremely tasty and flavorful, backed up by a modest 6.6% abv. Try this beer.

Founders Red's Rye P.A. ---4/5.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 04:14:21 | More by mfnmbvp