Founders Red's Rye PA - Founders Brewing Company

JamesMN

Minnesota

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

Appearance: Very hazy red/amber hue with a one finger foamy off-white head.

Aroma: Bready malt notes along with that classic peppery rye smell. Some sweet/citrusy hop profiles as well.

Taste: Spicy rye and earthy hops hit the tongue right away and make themselves known. Citrus flavors in the second half and a nice dry peppery finish. 6.6% ABV sounds about right and 70 IBUs is a little bit of a stretch but very nicely done.

Mouthfeel: A tad below medium bodied with average carbonation and good drinkability.

Final Thoughts: Just a straight up good beer and great example of the style. Would I drink it again? Sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 01:07:18 | More by JamesMN

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

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

Served in a pint.

A - A superb-looking, amber-red color, with 2 fingers of head.

S - Wonderful bouquet of complex flavors. Floral, cherries, hints of citrus.

T - Very good taste. Not overly hoppy. Extremely smooth. Goes down really easy.

M - Medium bodied. Good creamy feel.

O - Just another outstanding offeriing from Founders. While I'm not a pale ale fan, Founders has achieved the ability to create balance and keep the hops from being too much at the front. A good thing, IMO.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 02:09:46 | More by Beer-A-Lot

beerme626

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle from Lexington's Liquor Barn, into a weizen glass.

A: A rich, deep red, but with a slight one-finger head that disappears quickly, with only a light film on top. Still a beautiful color.

S: Strong rye, noticeable hops.

T: The sour rye is clear, and balanced decently by the hoppy flavor of a pale ale, but I wasn't blown away

M: Stickier than I would have liked. Not as tingly as many other pale ales I've had, including Hop Rod Rye

O: It was good, but not the best rye beer out there, even from my limited experience. Still, founder's is never a bad choice.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 04:04:01 | More by beerme626

PsilohsaiBiN

New York

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

Appearance: Reddish with some suspended yeast and a minimal white head that recedes fairly quickly.

Smell: Strong biscuity hops just punched me in the face!

Taste: Follows the nose perfectly, but with just enough malt backbone to balance this out. This hop pr

Mouthfeel: Full mouthfeel for the style despite the low abv.

Overall: Founders just does the right thing, can't knock this beer, even if it's not my favorite style. Then again, I could say that about most of their beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 06:55:00 | More by PsilohsaiBiN

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

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

Bottle from the brewery, 12oz into a tulip. Bottling date is smudged off the neck.

Deep reddish mahogany, with a cream coloured head. Nice retention and a good bit of lace. Nose has loads of caramel malts, some citrus, spicy hop qualities. A bit of bready character. Taste has bitter citrus, light spice, very nice fruity hop character and some toasty bread notes. Medium feel, medium low carbonation - delightful feel. Moderate bitterness. A very nice rye pale.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 02:51:23 | More by liamt07

zrbeer1579

Illinois

4.41/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: A nice crimson-amber with a half finger tan head, some lacing.

Aroma: Grapefruit, slightly floral, some sweet malt and some rye spiciness

Taste: Similar to the smell. Grapefruit hops, caramel sweetness, rye and its spiciness and also some light breadiness. The hop bitterness in the finish lingers and is quite enjoyable.

Mouthfeel: Median bodied, Carbonation seems right on. Slight dry finish. Smooth and very easy to drink.

Overall: A great rye ale. Great balance. Very to easy to drink as I said. I would recommend this beer to anyone. A damn tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 02:14:16 | More by zrbeer1579

BasterdInABasket

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle dated 11/17/12 (three weeks old), poured into a NB Globe Glass
A- Pours a very hazy ruby-brown, one finger off-white head, minimal retention, decent lacing
S- A lot of grapefruit, a clean fruity hoppiness with definite sweet malt balance, earthy
T- More of the same from the nose, a terrificly balanced IPA, grapefruit dominates to start, as it warms more spice and pine comes through, delicious hoppy bitterness throughout
M- Not quite, but almost reminiscent of the mouthfeel of a DIPA, Very Smooth and creamy, while very good, could go for some more carbonation to give it a bigger bite
O- Love drinking this one, perfectly balanced flavors, lack of much carbonation is only complaint, regardless its a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 05:02:19 | More by BasterdInABasket

sevenarts

New York

3.55/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Deep, rich amber with a modest off-white head and just a bit of lacing left behind.

S: Sweet caramel malt with an edge of rye spiciness and some hoppy pine/citrus notes.

T/M: Well-rounded and balanced flavor with hoppy, juicy grapefruit, mild caramel maltiness, and a good amount of rye spice and pepper. Nice creamy mouthfeel is the beer's best attribute.

O: A fine, tasty rye ale with a good balance of flavors. Really drinkable and nice without being super-strong.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 00:31:50 | More by sevenarts

TheSixthRing

California

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

Appearance - Pours a deep orange amber with an off-white, 2 finger head. Average retention. Lacing is fair with nice stick.

Smell - Strong aroma of grapefruit upfront. Definite lesser notes of rye coming through with black pepper spice. Faintly sweet caramel notes.

Taste - Less hoppy on the tongue than on the nose. Starts with a faint earth and moderate pepper with subtle, sweetened grapefruit notes, then hits on a strong caramel backbone. Finishes with a twang of citrus bitterness and a more prominent peppery rye spice, while the caramel takes a back seat.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with fair carbonation. Smooth and drinkable.

Overall - Is this a case of entirely drinkable vs. playing it safe? This beer is certainly drinkable, but by that same token, it doesn't do much to excite me. I could definitely see myself buying this beer a handful of times a year if it were available on the West coast, and it'd make for a great session beer... but it's nothing I couldn't live without.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 04:39:56 | More by TheSixthRing

jbertsch

Massachusetts

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

This beer was 15 days old. Poured into a tulip.

Reddish amber in color with a light tan head about one finger in size. Had dissipates to a ring.

Aroma is pleasant. Nice note of grapefruit hits you first. Rye spice is noticeable among the ctric hop notes.

Flavor is primarily spicy with dry rye malt. Pleasant bitterness adds some sharpness. Hint of grapefruit juice is found underneath the rye spice.

Mouthfeel is carbonated well. Fnishes a little short with some drying bitterness.

Overall this is wel made. Nice compliment of rye spice and grapfruity hops. Has a touch of refreshingness to it all, but its 6.6% can creep up on you.

Great rye beer thatnleads the pack in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 19:53:17 | More by jbertsch

Triglycerides

Rhode Island

4.23/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz pour into a tulip. Bottled 07/17/12

A: Pours a dark copper color which is kind of hazy with a off white head which doesn't seem to stick around too long but leaves nice lacing along the side of the glass.

S: Subtle caramel malt aroma with a very familiar piney/hoppy scent. The combination of the two is quite nice.

T: Delicious! The explosive combination of peppery rye, sweet malt, and hoppiness on the finish makes for an extremely tasty brew. There's also a nice hoppy finish which hangs around for a long while between sips.

M: Well carbonated and smooth. Works quite well for the dry finish you get from the hops.

O: A mighty fine brew indeed. Founders has certainly hit it out of the park with this once again. It'll definitely be a beer I'll seek out and I'd definitely suggest doing the same. Plus, at 6.6% it's a easy sessionable beer and one I'll keep in mind for the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 01:09:54 | More by Triglycerides

DelMontiac

Oklahoma

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

From notes. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle dated 04/15/12.

Copper/orange and hazy forming peaked two finger off white froth, half of which stays for the duration of the glass. Lace is thick, super sticky and marks every sip.

Smells very like sweet melting caramel and fresh grapefruit peel. Rye and pepper hit deep in the nose.

Whoa, this beer tastes fantastic! Sweet doughy caramel backbone flanked by peppery rye and topped with a slight sting of bittering hops down the center of the tongue on the finish. Chopped pecans in the after. Very nice.

Love the feel too - quite velvety for an IPA and the carbonation is perfect. Sticky and full.

I love rye enhanced beers anyway, but this is one of the best I've encountered thus far. My friend and I didn't let the six of 'em hand around for long. Why didn't I bring more home...

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 00:29:11 | More by DelMontiac

eatatstokes

3.13/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Very drinkable, refreshing, a nice malt/hop balance. I picked this one by accident, but it didn't disappoint me. I don't usually care for this style, but the malty character followed by a nice hoppy aroma leftover in my nose made this beer enough of a happy accident. I wouldn't do it twice.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 07:58:34 | More by eatatstokes

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 7/10/12
Old, maybe, not new.
my 600th.
Aroma has some hoppy smells. more malty with some spicy rye.
A reddish amber ale with a really tall head on the pour. It's thick and lingering but doesn't have much lacing.
Taste is smooth good and refreshing. Sutle hop flavor over a malty base with some rye crispiness.
Overall I like this but judging from reviews I think it's a bit dated being that I should have a bigger hop presence.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 12:59:07 | More by micromaniac129

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

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

Pours dark amber with white head in tulip.

Smell is sweet malt, caramel and citrus.

Taste is sweet malts, caramel, light bit of rye and nice hops bitterness. Alcohol warming in the finish as well.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation.

Overall an excellent example of the style. Founders never dissappoints.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 23:29:37 | More by TrappistJohnMD

haddon

Kentucky

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

The pour is an amber/red color with a off-white head and has some lacing.

A pine hop aroma with rye spice and the mildly sweet caramel.

The bitterness of the grapefruit and pine blends well with the rye and sweet malts in the beer. I always seem to pick up the malt notes much more than the hops in red ryes.

The carbonation level is moderate and the body is medium to full.

Full disclosure: I am not a huge red rye fan but this is a very good example of the class. Founders always puts out quality beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 23:36:48 | More by haddon

poop_brew

4.78/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Served from a bottle, but poured into a glass. A very very orange-red brew with a haze. Great color!

S: Hops Hops Hops! Hops, Caramel and Rye hit the nose with a wonderful combination.

T: A great crisp rye and hop explosion. A strong hop in the back of the throat in-between sips.

M: A smooth carbonation with a perfect mouthfeel. Tangy and pungent.

O: I love this beer. Happened to fall upon it without knowing much about its Beer Advocate ratings. But man this beer is real good. I love founders.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 00:57:55 | More by poop_brew

sarajayne

4.93/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: amber in color, extremely thin head

Smell: such a great scent! very fruity - grapefruit and hints of peach. The smell of the hops is also very dominant.

Taste: I thought this beer was definitely going to be one of the fruitier beers I've had, but I was pleasantly surprised. The fruitiness I smelled was not over-powering at all - in fact it was adequately matched with dryness of the rye, evening out the flavor very nicely.

Mouthfeel: Smooth & dry

Overall: LOVE IT. Finally, I have found a beer that my husband and I love equally! Thank you Founders for one less argument in the beer isle! Red's Rye PA was very easy to drink - I know this is produced year round, but I could see myself craving this beer in the Spring and Fall, in particular.

Collage girls drink GOOD beer:
www.brewreviewboston.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 01:04:18 | More by sarajayne

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

blackcompg

Illinois

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

Poured from their 12oz bottle...

Appearance - Pours a finger of khaki head, body is a hazy red amber, decent lacing and a solid cap throughout.

Smell - Ripe peach and plum, pumpernickel, and big floral hops, smells delicious.

Taste - Wow, really big fresh rye/pumpernickel bread, bready malt, slight sweet/tartness of plum and peach skins, floral hops abound throughout the sip, and all of this riding a backbone of slight fruit sweetness and a whiff of toffee. Finish is dry pumpernickel crust and carraway.

Mouthfeel - Medium mouthfeel, but not coating - full flavored, but still finishes clean and on the dry side, carb is medium but smooth, providing just enough cleansing and crispness to usher in the clean, dry finish.

Overall - This is such a great example of balance and complexity. Such a tasty brew, and available year-round. This is a must try, not too sweet, too tart, too bitter, too dry, too alcoholic (which is perfectly hidden) - this really is the best of all worlds, 2 thumbs way up :)

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 03:41:16 | More by blackcompg

BuxMontBeerLover

Pennsylvania

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

Bottle purchased at the Vintage Cellar in Blacksburg, VA.

Poured and enjoyed from a DFH Signature Glass

A - Beer pours a hazy, opaque, amber/reddish color. A one finger, beige colored head on the initial pour. A fair amount of lacing left on the glass after drinking.

S - A welcoming aroma that is reminiscent of an IPA. A mix of pine, citrus and sweet malts.

T - A moderately hoppy brew with a sweet, caramel-like maltiness. A resiny, citrusy taste as well. There is a floral-like aftertaste with a tangy earthiness. There is a lingering bitterness after each sip. The ABV is not noticeable.

M - Medium consistency. Light to medium carbonation.

O - I enjoyed this beer. It is very IPA-like which is right up my alley. I'd gladly enjoy this in the future. Founders always seems to impress with all their brews.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 20:40:31 | More by BuxMontBeerLover

JustinAniello

Connecticut

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

A - Pours a foggy copper with a cream-colored one finger head. Dissipates to a nice cap and sticky lacing.

S - Rye bread and citrus hops dominate the aroma. Sweetness shows up as well.

T - Sweet rye breadiness turning to citrus, especially grapefruit, on the swallow. Bit of burnt toffee as well. Strong bitterness in the end and aftertaste, but not too heavy.

M - Medium body bordering on heavy, medium carbonation.

O - A good IPA overall, nice flavor and aroma profile. Has nice malty flavors while still giving in to a nice hop bitterness everyone loves. One of the better IPAs that I have had.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 01:35:10 | More by JustinAniello

fank2788

Connecticut

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

12oz bottle served in a pint glass
Dark amber orange with an off white head that is relatively thin but throws a lot of lace. The smell makes it immediately clear that this is an IPA. Intense hop aroma mainly of the citrus and pine variety are dominant with caramel maltiness and rye spiciness providing the base. The taste too is upfront hop bitterness and flavor with the citrus really packing a punch. Next the malt comes in with a bit of caramel and rye balancing the hops. Balancing may be a bit of an overstatement because this one remains on the bitter end of the spectrum throughout, even the finish is tinglingly bitter. The body of this beer is medium with low to medium carbonation. There is a bit of a stickiness to this but it's definitely not sweet because again the hop character sticks around throughout leaving a dry tingle at the finish. Overall I'm very satisfied with this beer. Maybe not exactly sessionable but I'm having a hard time putting the glass down.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 03:20:13 | More by fank2788

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

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

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

Appearance: Slightly hazed deep copper/amber. Head is decent in size, but drops to a fluffy, off-white cap after a minute or two. Some nice notches of lacing.

Smell: Nice caramel malt body from the get go. Layers of chewy sweetness. Vaguely bready with some nice spicing, but not from spices. Rye adds a solid almost pepper spiciness on the back along with that distinctly rye aroma. Nicely herbal with some good citrus backing from the hops. Orange and grapefruit are mild, but present for balance.

Taste: Resinous hops in solid balance with chewy caramel malts. Big biscuit dough compliment layered with rye spiciness. Herbal with a nice punch of citrus to back it all up. AS it warms the caramel malts keep dropping sweetness. Cooked and caramelized in good measure. Vaguely damp. Nice building and lingering rye spiciness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Moderate carbonation. Smooth and chewy without being heavy.

Overall: You could do rye a lot worse.

Founders makes a drinkable Pale Ale no matter what variety. Nice balance and depth without being too much.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 21:06:21 | More by Goblinmunkey7