Founders Barrel Aged Reds Rye

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Specialty Grain
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Draft @ Founders: Pour was a deep bronze color with almost no head. The nose on this is so ridiculously complex...notes of tropical fruits, coconut, vanilla, rye malt and some woodsiness all make themselves apparent in a big way. Body was slick, silky yet still retained a dryness. Flavor was equally as complex, starts relatively sweet and fruity with noticeable barrel compliments and finishes on a dry rye malt note. Very good brew.

Draft sample @ MBGSF 08. Pours a slightly hazy reddish brown color with a small beige head. The aroma had fruity/citrus, spices, caramel malt, vanilla, wood, and light bourbon. The flavor had an apricot fruitiness, moderately sweet caramel, rye, spices, wood, vanilla, and light bourbon. The finish had a nice bitterness. I enjoyed this one, but I am a big fan of the regular Reds Rye as well.

On tap at founders. Hazy dark red with small beige head. Aroma with fresh red fruit and drier malt, some orange and grapefruit as well, only subtle barrel. Flavor is bitter grains and red fruit with some barrel, mostly tanic bitterness, dry but sweet and not cloying in the least, some overripe fruit, very tasty. Medium, well carbonated body. Very well balanced and all around very well done.

tap at founders. first visit to the new brewpub and first stop on our way up to mackinaw, mi.... semi-opaque, dark redddish caramel brown pour with a circular film of a soapy white ring around the edges.... aroma of vanilla and light bourbon notes, wood, as well as some spicy and peppery rye.... flavor maintained the essence of red’s with its spicy rye notes and some lingering hop bitterness combined wit sweet vanilla, bourbon, and wood. not overly barrel-aged which was nice and would gladly have again.

On tap at the brewery: Pours brown with little head. Aroma of hops, spices and bourbon (which you can barely taste). Very good.

Great Taste 2008. After drinking a lot of the regular, then trying the charred, I now had the chance to taste the BA. Strangely enough, I think the others are better. This was a solid with the great notes of spice and the wonderful color I’ve come to appreciate so much about Red’s Rye. Notes of butter, orange peel, and nutmeg contributed. However I thought the barrel distracted from some of the complexity, not because the barrel ageing overwhelmed the beer, but simply because I found it a bit distracting. The hops were a lit out of sync with the barrel.

Draft sample at MBGF Summer08. Poured a dark brown color with a moderate frothy off-white head that mostly lasted with excellent lacing. Moderate to heavy roasted, citrus hop and woody aroma. Medium to full body. Medium to heavy bittersweet flavor with a medium bittersweet tingly finish of moderate duration. Solid drinkable brew.

On tap at brewery. Aroma of citrus hops, caramel, spice, and bourbon. Deep dark amber hue with a nice average sized off-white head that mostly diminished and left little lace. Flavor is resin pine hops, caramel, bourbon, oak, and a little spice. Palate is medium body and soft. A pretty good bourbon brew. Should try again.