Founders Rübæus - Founders Brewing Company

keoki182

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Rübæus pours a nice vibrant red with just enough brown notes to suggest this isn't artificially colored. Minimal head; just white lacing five minutes after pour into glass. Aroma is very subdued raspberry, mildly sweet malty aroma. The sip has an exquisite tartness that I wasn't expecting. Really a unique beer. There is just a really nice low-key sweetness from the raspberry, but the sourness is what makes me want to keep drinking. Hides the almost 7% pretty darn well. The drinkability numbers are a pinch lower than they should be because the raspberry sweetness might get a bit cloying after too many of these. Very nice fruit beer from the good folks at Founders.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2008 21:01:31 | More by keoki182

Nutleybeer

New Jersey

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

Founders never seems to disappoint. At $9 a 4 pack, this better be good. It was. Poured with a cloudy, pinkish color. Slight head retained. Lacing is present. Mild carbonation seen.

A pleasant, tart scent. The taste matched the smell. Fruity, but not sweet. The sour tartness is clear in the flavor, but not too much, yet enough to leave your mouth slightly puckered after a sip.

It falls somewhere in between a raspberry lambic and a sour ale. Not fully either, though. Quite drinkable, in moderation. Would probably pair well with cheese and nuts, not necessary a full meal.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2008 20:44:01 | More by Nutleybeer

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

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

A - no head to speak of, light barely visible carbonation through the ruddy reddish-brown eliixir

S - raspberry predominates the aroma, it really takes over, there is a discernible malty backbone however

T - as imaginable, raspberry flavors dominate the taongue as well as the nose, very fruity, were not talking frozen mushy raspberries, real, fresh raspberry flavors. once again there is a hop/malt balance in the background providing support. This beer avoids the pitfalls that other fruit beers fall prey too, in that it's not too sweet

M - smooth and easy down, this was stolen by the girlfriend. she very much enjoyed, no offensive qualities to speak of

D - incredible, it really acheives a superb drinkability, would compliment dessert quite well, especially pie ala mode, mmm...

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2008 15:24:59 | More by sinstaineddemon

number1bum

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I stole this bottle from a box intended for my brother, his beer winnings courtesy of mymrrnngjkt courtesy from our fantasy baseball league. I've had Blushing Monk so I had to try this one, too.

Pours a bright reddish color with one finger of pinkish/ivory head. Head settles to just a thin lace.

Smells like raspberries and not much different than Blushing Monk, really. Nice, clean, fresh raspberry aroma.

Taste is a bit more tart than the smell, with plenty of raspberry flavor with some light sweetness and some sourness. There is some earthy bitterness through the finish. Mouthfeel is medium, with a crisp carbonation.

For a fruit beer this is quite good. I like the raspberries, and if I had to choose a fruit beer this would be toward the top of my list. It's just like Blushing Monk but not as strong; a perfect little brother.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2008 02:39:55 | More by number1bum

soupyman10

District of Columbia

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

Got this one cause I've always been a fan of Founders brews, and I was in the mood for something raspberry-y. This one is basically exactly what I was looking for. Pours a reddish color with a small tan head. Nose is raspberries, sweet malt. Flavor is lightly tart, with a strong sweet raspberry flavor as well, and a light hop background. I'm a fan of good fruit beers, and I think this one qualifies. Very similar to the Blushing Monk (just $10 cheaper), glad I grabbed this one and would again if in a mood.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2008 15:14:09 | More by soupyman10

Gavage

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a ruby red color with a 1/2" head. No lacing develops.

Smell: raspberries and some soft vanilla tones are easily detectable and enjoyable for the nose.

Taste: loads of raspberries, bits of grass, some red grape sweetness, and some soft vanilla notes. Bitterness is very mild.

Mouthfeel: very crisp throughout. Medium bodied. Aftertaste is bold but short-lived.

Drinkability: very good for the style. This is one of the best fruit beers I have had. The fruit flavor seems fresh, not the usual syrupy or fake flavors most fruit beers have.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2008 11:50:26 | More by Gavage

rye726

Colorado

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

Pours a rich raspberry color but the head is lacking. The nose is of sweet berries and light grains. Taste has a good amount of tart raspberries followed by some subtle malts. Body is a little fizzy, but goes down well. A nicely balanced fruit beer. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2008 02:37:36 | More by rye726

blackthistle

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brilliantly clear raspberry red color (imagine that) with a small white head of tight creamy bubbles that dissipates rather quickly. Raspberries are very apparent in the aroma with a sweet, slightly husky/grainy smell in the background. This medium-light bodied ale has a tart raspberry flavor balanced with a clean malt sweetness and a clean but spicy low hops bitterness. Tart raspberry flavor from beginning to end. Very effervescent, crisp carbonation. Not your typical fruit beer and not especially complex, but quite refreshing and very enjoyable especially on a nice summer day.

12 oz. brown bottle w/ twist-off cap; no freshness date

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2008 20:33:34 | More by blackthistle

Nipitato

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Purchased a bottle at Julio's Liquors in Westborough, MA.

A: A cranberry colored hue. Pinkish head is thin, practically not there. Opaque.

S: Wow. A really nice balanced aroma. Fresh raspberries is only a nice compliment to the aroma that includes a nice earthy hoppiness as well as some caramel malt character.

T: Tartness from raspberries finishes out the end. Raspberry flavor is noticeable but not overpowering. Malt base stand up well and provides needed sweetness to strong bitterness.

MF: Medium heavy mouthfeel. Lightly carbonated. For a higher ABV no alcohol warming.

D, notes: Not overly sweet or cloying, which makes this drinkable. Fruit derived bitterness adds to drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2008 16:09:07 | More by Nipitato

smcolw

Massachusetts

2.63/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Red orange color, cloudy. Thin head but it leaves decent lace.

Very berry aroma. It's raspberry but slightly artificial. There's also a metallic smell behind the sweetness.

More sweet than tart, but all raspberry. One dimensional--you could call this a raspberry beer cooler. Needs cheese or something spicy to cut the soda aspects of this. The body is an improvement to the taste but typical.

To close to carbonated Kool-Aid for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2008 02:22:45 | More by smcolw

ckeegan04

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a hazy reddish-pink color with foamy light pink head. Decent retention and lacing. Granted, not what a normal beer looks like, but with raspberries added it seems appropriate.

S - Sweet smell of raspberries with just a little tartness. No other discernable aromas.

T - Light sweetness initially, primarily raspberry in flavor. A lip-puckering tartness comes through mid-drink to provide an excellent balance to the sweetness. Finishes slightly tart. Nothing artificial tasting at all about this fruit beer, excellent job Founders.

M/D - Medium bodied and slightly sticky/syrupy on the feel. Very refreshing and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 23:14:22 | More by ckeegan04

roadhouse

Florida

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

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass. I know I've always said I have a disliking for fruit beers, but I just tried a sour ale last night after thinking I didn't like them and loved it, so I became inspired to give something else I think I don't particularly like a shot. We shall see how it goes.

Appears an orangish, peachy red color with a half inch bright white head. Very fine particulate floating around, but only visible when held up to light. Leaves a decent amount of lacing.

Aroma is pretty much pure raspberry. A slight tartness as well. It's pleasant but not really something that makes me scream with joy.

The taste is fair as well. It begins with some tart raspberries, and well it finishes about the same. This is what I don't like about fruit beers. They are not very complex. I certainly give props for the taste in either case, despite it's lack of complexity it is quite good.

Mouthfeel is medium-light, a little slick. I usually don't have much to complain about in this department unless it's glaring and this is no exception. It certainly works with the style.

Well I am not converted to fruit beers from this, but it's certainly not too bad. One dimensional as I said, but still. If there was a keg of this and I got free beers I could drink quite a few, but then again what does that prove?

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2008 07:16:53 | More by roadhouse

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy red body, topped by three fingers of level white foam with a slight pink aura.

Plenty of raspberries in the nose.

Taste is sweet juicy raspberries, far more real than the "typical brewpub raspberry (American) wheat". And there is enough quality craft beer present that this is not like some super sweet wine cooler. Just don't look here for a detailed description of the non-raspberry portion of this potion.

Light to medium mouthfeel. Good drinkability - if you like raspberries.

If you're looking for quality fruit beers, definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2008 04:09:39 | More by RonfromJersey

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle received from moose3285. Thanks, Mike! Into my Duvel tulip

A: Crimson with a solid one finger head that's light red in color. Head recedes to a disk rather quick. Leaves some lace on the side of the glass as I swirl. Looks like what I'd expect a raspberry beer to look like

S: Pureed raspberries with no artificial anything. A hint of malt in the back, kind of like a cracker-like. Intriguing.

T: There's no hiding the raspberry flavors in this one. Raspberries all the way, start to finish. Mild alcohol presence on the finish. This reminds me of a diluted NG Raspberry Tart

M: Light with nice carbonation - maybe a little thin for the sweetness?

D: This one's a treat but if i want a raspberry beer, I'd grab the NG one

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2008 05:50:24 | More by DefenCorps

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

2.28/5  rDev -41.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Thank You Gnomefest!

A - Deep red almost purple body with very thin light tan head that fades away very fast. The look of the body is interesting but the consistency of the whole appearance doesn't become a good rating.

S - Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, I wish it had some Halle Berry. I bet that would smell good.

T - There's a strong raspberry flavor in this brew followed by a bitterness and a finish leaving much to be desired.

M - The brew is wet at the lips but finishes quite dry. Impressive.

~ Unfortunately I'm going to struggle finishing this because of the flavor. It is far too fruity for my liking, or to even really be a beer in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2008 01:22:00 | More by cdkrenz

Duffman

Minnesota

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

My first thought when pouring this beer was of rhubarb and the color could be called a rhubarb. Not really brown at all or as dark as I would expect it is actually fairly pale in color. Sweet, tart raspberries rush my nose. It is a a very focused and highly sweet aroma almost like a mead. Smells a bit of rhubarb as well and a garden too for that matter. The taste itself is actually not that sweet at all. Fairly tart and it tastes of rhubarb as well. It has a rather vegetal taste to it. The finish is actually a bit sweeter with the characteristics of the nose finally manifesting themselves. Mouthfell is on the light side of medium. Mildly chewy and rather easy-going. Nothing special but not bad either this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2008 00:35:25 | More by Duffman

emerge077

Illinois

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

Bottle served at the Handlebar with a snifter.

Dark red overlayed against a brown body. A flurry of foam settles to a compact head. Some visible carbonation under the surface. Clean, fresh raspberry aroma that definitely comes across as authentic. It's fairly light, and the malt underneath is tangible.

Berry flavor comes through in a fairly understated way, a touch sweet, not all that tart. Malt flavors are a little bready, giving this a suprisingly full body for what might be expected for a "fruit beer". There's some slickness on the palate, and a touch of bitterness after the swallow. It's thirst quenching due to the fruit element. The full body would limit me to one or two, although it's not overbearing, just a little filling.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2008 18:46:15 | More by emerge077

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

12 oz bottle into a flute.

Pours a hazy deep rose color with 1/2 finger of fizzy brite-white head. This peters down pretty quickly but then retains around the edges (with thin wisps across the center) and flares up very nicely when swirled, leaving a huge cascade of lace down the sides of the glass. The aroma is lush with fresh raspberry character as well as some addittional underlying sweetness and floral hops in the back.

The taste is once again a big, fresh, raspberry presence along with another level of backing sweetness, like maybe caramel malts. A solid tingle of hops runs through the backbone of the beer and kicks things up a bit, providing some needed bitterness. Finishes a bit sticky on the lips. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a lively carbonation and easy feel. Very drinkable even though there is a touch of alcohol beef to it, comparable to what you would find in a well balanced 7% IPA or something similar.

This was a very well crafted Fruit Beer that mixes fresh raspberry character with a great drinkibility that belies it's higher ABV. I'm sad to hear that this will be going on a hiatus. Drink up while you can!

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2008 16:26:09 | More by Kegatron

MiScusi

California

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

A- good clarity, strawberry red. very small pink head, fades really fast.

S- very nice raspberry smell. Smells real fresh.

T- very light base with a good raspberry flavor. Not as tart as I thought it would be just from the raspberry flavor, but still quite good.

M- very light, carbonation on the higher side, as expected.

D- a good fruit beer. One of the better ones out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2008 01:49:25 | More by MiScusi

jwc215

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours pinkish red with a thin pink head that becomes a white creamy cover leaving some trailing lace sliding down the glass.

The smell is of raspberries - real - not "artificial syrup" as many Am. fruit beers have. There is a tartness/sourness, caramelish maltiness and a touch of earthy bitterness. It smells like a nice beer with fresh raspberries.

The taste is of raspberries - again, real - not the artificial syrup-like fruitiness - with light tart/sour and a bitterish dryness in the finish. There's a slight alcohol warmth.

It is on the fuller side of light-bodied. The carbonation is light to begin with but hits towards mild/moderate as it progresses.

It's no "lambic", IMO, but better than the typical syrupy American fruit wheat beers. It comes in a four-pack at the same price as six-packs of other styles from this brewery. While it didn't particularly excite me, it's nice that it held it's true fruitiness.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2008 21:48:51 | More by jwc215

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a clean reddih/ orange color with a light pinkish head. In the aroma, a small tart raspberry fruitiness. In the taste, small tart, and small raspberry fruitiness, yet quite clean. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry, small raspberry aftertaste. Kind of faint flavors, and a nice small tartness, ok, but expecting more flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2008 14:53:25 | More by OWSLEY069

kmeves

Wisconsin

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light red with a tiny white head. Aroma is tart raspberries, grass and some dough. Flavor is wonderfully tart and somewhat grainy. Finishes short and tart. Light to medium bodied, sticky texture. One of the better fruit beers I have enjoyed in recent years.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2008 18:42:28 | More by kmeves

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

Billolick

New York

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ouncer, twist top, no freshness/brewing date info. Pours quite low carbonation , next to no head sticking around and then zip lace. Lovely raspberry nose, fresh and fruity. Fine quality fruit beer, raspberries up front, middle and through the long tasty finish. Tart/sour/sweet all going on and dancing with each other. Nice summer refresher. I'd like to try it with a fruity light dessert, would make a nice beer to do a before meal toast with, instead of champagne.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2008 21:04:22 | More by Billolick

drxandy

Michigan

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

12oz to standard pint, pours a bright red/slight pink shade, head fades to nice lacing.

smells of sweet raspberries, slight malts, bitter cotton candy

tastes of raspberries! malty alcohol, as drinking continues the alc presence is less noticable and becomes more of a sweet raspberry nectar, sourness, malts compliment nicely, bitter, tart, nicely done - blushing monk is even better!

mouthfeel is light, sweet, crisp, easy drinking for a high abv of this style

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2008 14:56:14 | More by drxandy