Founders Rübæus - Founders Brewing Company

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

mhatters

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at TND - amazed it was available on-tap

Pours a cranberry ose color, beautiful in the glass

The nose is all raspberries - more than any other beer I have had

Light carbonation, tart, sweet - the raspberry is dominant but not syrupy. The malt is around, enough to balance the flavor out.

Crisp, tart, light. Very nice.

Easy to drink, great in the heat, a real shame this is going away

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2009 20:25:52 | More by mhatters

dakid618

Illinois

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

Had on tap from possibly the last keg of this beer left in the world. Poured into pint glass. Pours a clear deep red color with a finger of soapy white head. Smells light and wheaty with strong raspberry smell. Taste is like raspberry preserves. This beer is absolutely amazing. Light mouthfeel. Awesome drinkability. I'm not a big fruit beer fan but this beer is great. Its a shame this is now retired. Another excellent example from Founders.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2009 16:35:58 | More by dakid618

thequeen711

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Found out that Raspberries are too expensive and Mr. Founders is retiring Rubaeus...such a sad time in the universe. This extemely drinkable quaff is unique in the right amount of raspberries added to the beer flavour, not too sweet, not too malty or hoppy. Appearance is slighly pink with light lacing, smell the raspberries as your nose nears the glass rim...the light and flavourful mouthfeel makes this truly a brew worth missing!!
Come Back Rubaeus!!!

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2009 18:12:13 | More by thequeen711

engisch

New Jersey

1.93/5  rDev -50.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

I usually really enjoy drinking Founder's brews. This is the first exception. I have seen this in 4-packs all over the place, and I have been meaning to pick one up, but this was the first time I have seen it on tap (at the Tally Ho in Bethlehem, PA). So I order one.

Watching the bartender pour I immediately notice this beer has an almost unnatural red tint to it. It holds almost no head, but it still looks a little promising. As he places it down in front of me I am overloaded with raspberry smells. It is nice as an air freshener, but I am now concerned. I take a sip and immediately identify the "fake" taste of sour raspberries. It is missing much of the character that Founder's usually has from its selection of hops and malts. I couldn't finish this, as it reminded me of raspberry pucker. Somewhere someone probably really likes this brew, but it was way too sweet for me.

Sorry Founder's, but this seems like you tried too hard and failed. I will never have this again. I'll still have other Founder's brews because of there fairly good track record with me.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2008 14:45:54 | More by engisch

Chinon01

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance is a beautiful cranberry color with a foamy head. The nose is dominated by raspberries and a hint of funk. The taste is a gush of raspberries with a twang and a bit of tartness. The mouthfeel and drinkability are both highly informed by the thirst quenching tartness and acidity. A really wonderful beer. Could have drank several.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2008 01:15:26 | More by Chinon01

daftafne

Illinois

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

Poured into a snifter having a red/orange color and no head. Smelled completely of raspberries. Tasted lightly of raspberries and finishes tart. Not very strong flavor. Kind of a watered-down mouthfeel and light alcohol warmth. It was nice on a summer day.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2008 00:16:16 | More by daftafne

Foxman

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It pours a basic brownish amber, but in the light, it takes a a pink rose blush. A finger of lavender tinged head sustains with a little life. Thin spritzes of lacing sprinkle the inside of the glass.

The aroma is, above and beyond all else, raspberry sprinkled with powdered sugar. A hint of yeast lurks underneath, but this is about the berries.

Upon tasting, again, it's the raspberries taking up the space, and it's a nicely sweet, fresh from the bush berry sweetness, with no sign of extract or concentrate. A mild tartness mitigates and leads into an underlayer of bready yeast with distantly crisp esters. Malt comes through slightly near the close with a residual, more earthy sweetness that is crisped by a general spiciness. The finish lingers with a mild crisp bite. This is what berries can do when done well.

Between light and medium bodied, the carbonation is more pronounced on the palate, lending a pop character to the fresh feel.

Once again, I find another beer that undermines my stale "no fruit in my beer" stance. This is like a peppy, well played berry beer soda, which in this case, is all good. The aroma didn't deliver full announcement of what was to come, so it was a bit surprising, and in the end, it drinks smooth, with a little sugar to the tooth, and with a refreshing finish. So from now on, all beer, even those with fruit, are fair game. Except maybe for apricot. We'll see.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2008 18:09:14 | More by Foxman

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A pretty easy concoction to drink- pleasant enough, sweet, and sparkling. However there's not a lot of beer character in this beer. The attenuation of the beer is super clean, complete, and completely dwarfed by a solid dosage of raspberries. The berry character is all over this beer, from the pink-ish hue to the mouthwatering scent, tart flavors, and mildly astringent mouthfeel. Over-carbonation gives the beer a zinfindale character throughout as well. Not syrupy sweet and the carbonation helps to lift the sugars off the toung. Surprisingly crisp and clean in the finish. I liked the session, but if I want a beer, I'll likely go elsewhere.

Notes from '08 NHC

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2008 17:30:48 | More by BEERchitect

FtownThrowDown

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On draft at the Dilly Deli.
Pours a light, soft, red in color with no head forming. Plenty of carbonation bubbles racing up the glass. Smell is indeed raspberries. Taste is much the same, of course. Not dominating, overpowering, raspberries, but an almost perfect dose. Another warm weather beer, that's perfect for sitting outside and enjoying. This one went down way too fast to even notice the near 7% ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2008 14:00:46 | More by FtownThrowDown

nrbw23

Ohio

2.48/5  rDev -36.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A- Pours a nice bright red color with a pinkish colored head that fell quickly leaving just a bubbly layer and little lacing.

S- Very very fruity. Raspberries raspberries and more raspberries.

T- Again very fruity and that's about all I could pick up. Not over powering just follow your nose.

M- Light to medium. Not too bad at all maybe a little dry to the finish

D- I suppose for the style its pretty nice just not me type of thing. Too fruity for me glad I got to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2008 09:06:35 | More by nrbw23

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Reddish amber with a pink tinged thin white head. Left nice lacing down the glass.

S-Very pleasant twang of sour, tart raspberries.Nothing crazy but it gives you the impression of real fruit and not fake extract garbage.

T-I have always been a sucker for this beer. No annoying cloying sweetness only the sharp, tart tang raspberries. A wee bit of hop bite in the finish...and nicely supported by the pale malt...and not the typical wheat bill!

M-Medium body with a lovely sharp crisp feel. This is a great summer brew.

D-IMHO one of the best sessionable fruit beers out there. Others are surely better but you aren't able to have one after another. I applaud Founder's on making such an outstanding fruit beer!

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2008 18:56:06 | More by Deuane

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

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Founders Rubaeus is a basic raspberry ale but without any extract flavor and not too much wheatiness. It pours the typical very hazy golden body beneath a short-lived head of dark white froth that quickly subsides to an average collar. The nose is fruity and malty, and malty and fruity... with a decidedly raspberry-tinged character - but it's not slap you in the face, it's much softer than that. The flavor follows suit, and it's malt and fruit up-front, with the most dominant sweet-fruitiness at that point. The malt then steps in and mellows it. A tinge of tarness passes quickly, and then it becomes sweetly malty across the middle and into the finish as it warms in the mouth. Surprisingly, it's not sticky in the finish at all. The balance is very good, keeping the bitterness well heeled, and letting the natural tart sweet fruitness of the raspberry ride and bob across the surface of the slightly honeyish malt base. I'd personally prefer a beer that had a little more of an edge to it, but I can't fault it as it's very nicely balanced for what it is. Worth trying? If you like the style, absolutely.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2008 00:37:12 | More by NeroFiddled

SierraGS

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've had this on tap at the brewery, and from the bottle. Both are good, but tap fresh is best.

This fruit beer pours a beautiful deep, dark ruby red with a light pink cap. The nose is unmistakably raspberry. The fruit flavor is intense and tart, and not sticky-sweet. The malt and hops balance the fruit so that it finishes more like a beer than a fruit drink. The alcohol is nearly completely masked by the intense blend of flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2008 05:24:26 | More by SierraGS

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

CraftAle

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at brewpub. I'm not a fan of fruit beers, and have found peach and blueberry brews acceptable---not not repeatable. However, this dark pink brew had an exceptional rasberry smell and taste, with the necessary malt and hops, to make it a beer and not a soda pop! I will buy again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2006 21:54:49 | More by CraftAle

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Unquestionably, the best aspect of this beer was its beautiful, deep, dark pink color. It arrived with no head, but instead, just a white ring around the edge of the glass. The nose was unmistakably of raspberry. The mouthfeel was light to medium with lots of raspberry flavor in the mouth. The finish was dry, but not intensely so. Jonathan let me try some of his Blushing Monk to compare, but the tart dryness was too much.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2006 01:57:58 | More by woodychandler

wingman14

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a bright Kool-aid red with hardly any head by the time it got to the table. It smelled very sweet, a small hint of hops, but mostly rasberry. Tastes like rasberry Kool-aid, the only reason I knew it was beer was for the alcohol. I was least impressed with this beer although it does have its own merits. Maybe I will try this from a bottle, but after having some of the strongest offerings from Founders, this one just couldn't hold up. A decent beer worth trying if you are into the fruit beers.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2006 02:58:03 | More by wingman14

nmyers

Michigan

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

This beer had a light ruby color to it with a nice pink head on it. Raspberries with a hint of hops is the best way I can describe the aroma of this beer.

The taste of this beer starts out sweet raspberry and the quickly turns into a tart raspberry taste. The taste of this one lingers on long afterward.

Almost champagne like feel in your mouth, really felt like and reminded me of a Lambic style beer.

Other than this beer being on the sweet side, I found it rather enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2006 23:18:13 | More by nmyers

francisweizen

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the tap room in Grand Rapids. This one is a dark ruby red colour with an off-white pink-tinged head of foam that held up pretty nicely. Aromas of artificial raspberries and booze as well as some earthy/musty hints way in the background. Taste is cookie malts with a nice boozy raspberry syrup sort of taste. Drinkability is good, although the mouthfeel is a little coating and overcarbonated. A decent enough, higher abv fruit beer. Scarily many of the regulars were mixing this in half and halfs with the breakfast stout, imperial stout, and even devil dancer!

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2006 15:43:25 | More by francisweizen

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

ngandhi

Illinois

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

Despite the pure, bleeding raspberry fruit, Rubaeus is never cloying. It shows the transporting balance of an aged Flanders Red. Tart and austere, yet nearly filling in body and flavor, this beer is in a league with New Glarus' Belgian Red--though, Rubaeus is perhaps a bit more drinkable. Dry, but never painful. Acidic, but never caustic. The finish lingers for minutes.

Relax, relax.
ng

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2005 12:18:04 | More by ngandhi

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The pour is amber in color with a finger of white head. A very sweet fruit aroma to this, as expected. Lots of raspberry with maybe a touch of cherry to it as well. Not much else going on. The flavor is sweet with notes of sugar and raspberry. Maybe just a little bit of lemon in there, too.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 15:57:04 | More by womencantsail

Duff27

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Hazy red-pink body with a short-lived white head on top. Not much lacing if at all.

S- Candied raspberries. Like the smell a lot.

T- Raspberry soda pop! Very different. Somewhat tart. Flavor shows some age/oxidation but still drinkable.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Carbonation is a little low due to age.

D/O- Held up pretty well. Would drink again but don't know how much longer this will still taste good. Per usual, I'm bless I live so close to new Glarus as no other fruit beers come close. Thanks for the cellar save TATURBO.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 21:10:09 | More by Duff27