Black Rye
Founders Brewing Company

Black RyeBlack Rye
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From:
Founders Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Rye Beer
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 8.21%
Reviews:
459
Ratings:
1,606
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 16, 2020
Added:
Sep 17, 2004
Wants:
  122
Gots:
  297
78 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Jadjunk:
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
No label information. Founders' Black Rye is brewed in the style of a Black Rye beer. Available as a seasonal release in 12 oz. bottled 4 packs and on limited draft. Re-released after a multiple year-long hiatus.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a snifter glass. Served above 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a creamy mocha brown over a near jet black body. Retention is very good and lacing is light and patchy. 4

(Smell) Toasted caramel grains, peppery, bready and mildly tangy notes of rye malt, a hint of roasted barley, chocolate and coffee bean combine for a potent above-average bodied Rye ale. Secondary notes of spicy licorice and molasses with an earthy and piney blend of moderately bitter hops, although the density of the specialty malts in the body provides sufficient balancing power to match the sweetness of the malt profile. Potency is medium+. 4

(Taste) Flavors of full bodied malts forward, bready, tangy rye and biscuity caramel with a side of black patent and cold roasted grain rounded out with a touch of earthy licorice. The resinous and earthy hop notes are modest enough in flavor by comparison although there is a perceivable bitterness on the midsection, finishing shortly thereafter with a lasting note of heavily roasted barley. Very flavorful and well presented. 4

(Mouthfeel) The texture is faintly oily slick, lightly viscous, smooth and mildly dry. Carbonation is moderate, with a medium frothiness and a modestly crisp finish. Body is medium/heavy for the style and shy of heavy overall. Balance is nearly even bitter to sweet. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters. 4

(Overall) An all-around enjoyable dark ale with lots of malt density and flavor, nearly thick enough to come off as a stout, but just flavorful enough all-around to remind the consumer that there's more to this beer than simply roasted malt. The rye malt doesn't thoroughly stick out through the malt profile, but contributes considerably to the malt complexity as well as to thickening up the mouthfeel. It seems to sit a bit heavy on the palate but I find the balance and respectable alcohol levels easily warrants a second or third glass. This is a beer I applaud Founders for revisiting, as it seems to be a fitting ale for the palate of today, although this must have been a distinctively stand out beer a decade ago when other breweries were merely dipping their toes into "too much" flavor for the consumer. Black Rye is a solid beer and recommended. 4

Founders Brewing Company's
Black Rye
4.00/5.00
Mar 25, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of scotorum
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts

4.17/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
FOUNDERS BLACK RYE 6/16/20

Bought a fourpack at Kelly's in Dalton Ma. Sunday. Bottled 12/6/14!

a: Mostly opaque black with some clear ruby towards the bottom. Half finger beige head receded to thin surface foam and dense lacing.

s: Slightly sweet mild dark malt.

t: Follows the nose along with a light to moderate hop bite (light for 78 IBUs) on a sweetish finish.

m: Medum, very good body and some carbonation tingle.

o: This was a great find. Officially it is BA archived and the most recent review is three years old. Could be the aging helped like many dark malted brews and muted the hops, but however, this was excellent; balanced, smooth and substantial, easy drinking, surprisingly refreshing and flavorful. Enjoyable in any season.
Jun 16, 2020
 
Rated: 3.93 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Apr 04, 2019
 
Rated: 4.12 by BrewsOverHoes from Georgia

Mar 20, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by Ale_Lover from Georgia

Apr 07, 2018
Photo of Nass
Rated by Nass from Florida

2.46/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
Not too impressed with the Black Rye or maybe I am just not a fan Rye IPA's because I have not found one that I liked. Cheers! C-
Apr 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.55 by red_5_sooner from Oklahoma

Mar 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by BenHoppy from Michigan

Dec 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.24 by ADKbeerguy from New York

Dec 17, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by DanJ1979 from Michigan

Dec 02, 2017
Photo of Can_if_you_can
Reviewed by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota

1.92/5  rDev -52.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2
This beer was horrid, all the bad characteristics of the ingrediaents came out in this one. Taste like sweaty, dirty socks. The rye, malts and hops all worked against each other and instead of balancing and highlighting each other it was just a big stinky mess. Worst founders beer to date.
Nov 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.02 by cmukid87 from Michigan

Oct 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.11 by buzzedup from Pennsylvania

Oct 13, 2017
Photo of Fizzer
Rated by Fizzer from Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Got this it was bottled 2.5 years ago. It basically resembles black licorice in every senses, which is cool cause I like black licorice.
Sep 30, 2017
Photo of BEER88
Rated by BEER88 from North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Rye is a good malt to use for an added spiciness
Sep 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by sethcroisant from Nebraska

Aug 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.38 by GeorgiaBeerMoose from Georgia

Jul 19, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.85/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The appearance was a black color with a quickly dissipating one finger white foamy head that didn’t leave any lacing. The smell had a sweet sticky roasty coffee and light citrus bitterness combining nicely. The taste took those previously mentioned flavors to combine and spark in a light roasted edged citrus aftertaste leading into a slightly sticky finish. There also was a light spice in the initial taste probably from the rye. On the palate, this one sat about a medium on the body with a fairly decent sipping quality to it. Alcohol not felt but might have assisted in preserving the mouthfeel a bit as a light spice came rolling out over my tongue. Overall, I say this was a nice dark rye beer that I would have again.
Jun 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by axf4129 from Indiana

Apr 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Timc32 from Michigan

Mar 02, 2017
Black Rye from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 1606 ratings