Founders Rübæus - Founders Brewing Company

12vUnion

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rübæus pours a gorgeous red. Dark, maroon at it's thickest. Ruby up to the light. Stunning. There is a foamy mountain of white/light pink on top. It fades quickly. Very carbonated.

Smells of raspberry, alcohol, a sort of soap and roasted malty goodness. It doesn't smell real sweet. With a good whiff I can almost taste it.

The taste is something different all together. What's actually in here is not like a roasty stout, but somewhat like a dopplebock in the malt. The raspberry is bitter and tart. Fully tastes like a raspberry. It adds a long, tart taste. Not very sweet. It's in there, but I more expected a Belgium level of sweet. The more I drink, the more I like the balance. It bubbles up into my nose. Very nice. Not at all what I would have expected. It's very unique. A good drink to go with a salad I think. Or maybe a sorbet. The roasted malt and lack of sweet make it fit for a meal. But the raspberry makes me want to call it dessert like a lambic. Not close to a lambic at all. Pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2005 06:19:30 | More by 12vUnion

chimney

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: with a hint of amber it has a very "berry red" almost dark pink look to it with a very light pink foamy head.

S: very strong raspberry immediately upon opening and after pouring

T: starts sweet and very fruity and ends with a nice lingering tartness.

M: lots of small bubbles, but not effervescent (flat champagne, is the best i can think of) by no means flat, kind of thick and syrupy.

D: wonderful to try, but too sweet for me to have multiples of. something i could have every once and a while, especially with a good vanilla or chocolate ice cream.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2007 19:15:46 | More by chimney

Mgrad92

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

This brew poured almost flat, but tasting revealed a light carbonation upon drinking. The color was a very nice raspberry tinted amber. Just what you might expect from this kind of brew.
The taste was much better than most fruit beers I've experienced. The hop profile actually made itself known, but the raspberries were not hiding behind them. Overall it was a nice balance between fruit and beer.
The body was light, but since I don't know the underlying beer for this brew, it's hard to say if they hit the mark here. All I will say is that it was very refreshing and drinkable. I could have a few of these on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2008 16:32:59 | More by Mgrad92

Bellabananas

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Probably the last time I will ever drink this! I tried this when it was still part of the line-up and fell in love. I nearly cried when it was discontinued. So obviously this bottle is past its prime...
A-Darker pink tone, nice fluffy white head.
S-Lovely waft of raspberries, at this point a slight hint of funk
T-slight sweetness, I seem to recall it tasting better and with more clarity in taste when it was fresh. Taste is now flat with some sweetness.
M- Carbonation doesn't come across in the taste anymore, very flat and one dimensional. I remember it being sweet and glorious a year and a half ago though!
D-This would be so easy to drink glass after glass of, and if it was still around I probably would!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 23:15:16 | More by Bellabananas

areitz

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I bought this beer because I was interested in comparing this to Dogfish's Fort and, of course, I enjoy many of Founder's beers. Upon popping the bottle cap, I immediately smelled a rasberry field which was very pleasant. Upon pouring the beer, I noticed the deep rasberry hue. It was very heady, which lead me to believe that it was getting a little old. Mind you, I only bought a bottle from the store and it doesn't have the born on date on the bottle, so I have no idea if it's getting up there in months. The smell was very rasberry and also a little sharp. My first taste was again very heady and somewhat tangy. I didn't get a lot of hops out of this beer and to me it was somewhat wit-like because it had a dryness to it. Predominant taste was rasberries. I also paired it with Ceviche which wasn't a bad pairing. Overall, it wasn't really balanced, it was very heady to the last drop and I'm still tasting it hours later. I may try this again because I have a feeling the beer was a little old and it should have been colder.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2007 00:07:26 | More by areitz

rteis

Michigan

4.78/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Great fruit beer. I typically prefer a little more carbonation, but still very good. Rasberry flavor was very balanced with the beer. Comparable to some of the Belgian Lambics. If you've never been to Founders, it's definitely worth the trip. Come thirsty, but not hungry because they don't serve any food.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2005 02:43:27 | More by rteis

DurtyNellie

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Rubaeus label is awesome! I knew this was going to need specialty glassware... I chose a tall footed pilsner.

The pour got away from me - I wasn't expecting the framboise carbonation. You will need to pour very slowly using some drama and you're sure to get lots of ooohs and ahhhs. Once I got the head under control I found the perfect raspberry body with a pink-tinged giant head. (I'm thinking Lindemans now). The aroma is of fresh raspberries, not syrup. Hmmm, what's up with this beer?

Another unexpected surprise; the taste is clean, a little malty on a medium-light body. Then the finish - I was expecting hops (this is Founders, right?), but noooo... A tart (not mouth puckering) finish with the real raspberry flavor. A nice heady, relaxing feel from the 6.9%. Would that be too much in the direct sun?

Overall this is a beautiful package. It is a great drink for summer and would show well in a specialty glass the looks of the beer alone would sell it to onlookers in an instant! As for style, I guess it has to go with the Fruit beer, but it is so much more. Much better than Lindemans Framboise (which is too sweet)--a "training wheels" beer for the Belgian Lambics.

This beer is a real attention-getter!

I'm ordering a case from my distributor tomorrow and will try out on my adventuresome Bud drinkers next week and will report back.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2005 00:42:08 | More by DurtyNellie

dave1822

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a great red/pinkish color. The smell is very sweet and filled with raspberries. It has a great taste and is perfect for a summer night. My only complaint is that it is almost too overwhelming with fruit but only after the first few. Great beer give it a try.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2008 23:34:12 | More by dave1822

cyborgmexican

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

It's backin on tap at Founders tap room as of today 2/13! Last had this beer when I was just starting to get into beer several years ago.
It looks gorgeous in the glass. Deep hazy purple with a thin head that remains for the whole glass, lots of lace.
Smell is pure raspberry fruit.
Easy drinking raspberry flavor with a hint of lemon.
Pure silk in the mouth.
Great overall. One of my all time favorite fruit beers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2013 21:25:08 | More by cyborgmexican

CameronCosby

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer drinks really easy and isn't very filling, which is what I liked the most about it. Have it on tap at my bar (Old Chicago in Okemos Michigan). Nothing to complain about with this beer except the price. Founders makes great
beers, holding it down in the Midwest market.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2008 01:23:12 | More by CameronCosby