Founders Black Rye

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

(12 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with Pailhead, thanks Kevin!) Having just sampled Founders American Black Ale, the Black Rye isn’t quite matching up for me. It smells more like a dry stout to me; it’s roasty, but not as roasty as most stouts. It also smells moderately hoppy and grassy, and also a bit yeasty to me. The flavor is very roasty, fairly bitter, and even a bit hoppy while showing only a mild sweetness. Medium "plus" in body, with a dry palate throughout, and a fairly crisp finish. Dark brown in color, with mahogany highlights at the edges, the body is capped by a small, quarter-inch head, light-tan in color, and that demonstrates amazing persistence. I’ve taken my sweet time savoring this beer, yet there is still a full coating atop the beer. Lacing is modestly dense for awhile before dissipating to spottiness. A relatively straightforward, but solid, well-crafted beer that’s been pleasant and enjoyable. However, it’s close enough to your basic dry stout that I don’t feel the need to trade for more bottles. I can get something "similar enough" in local stores.

12oz bottle. Pours a black color with a fizzy white head. Nose is very hoppy and grassy. Taste is hoppy, wheat like notes, finishes bitter.

Medium viscosity, black and nearly opaque in color with a frothy, anamorphic and dark tan head. Aroma makes me its bitch. Flagrant rye does combat with a motherload of freshly harvested hops. Some chocolate, dark cigar wrappers and wet birch wood harmoniously assault my nose as well. Flavor seals the deal. Rye and chocolate malts are curt, layering on black licorice in a silent but deadly sequence. Some burnt pumpernickel dinner rolls, rye Chex Mix chips and a hearty Turkish coffee bite. Oozy fluidity and a palate rapist. Everything balance-wise is amped-up like it should be, almost as if I special ordered it. Burnt walnuts come in on the finish, along with bittering agents, espresso sludge and an oily layer on the palatary playing field. Very impressive. I don’t think this beer could have been brewed any better.

pours a very dark almost black with a thick creamy head and lots of off white lasting lacing. smells like a (mild) stout with roasted coffee and a very warm/rich aroma. flavors of roasted coffee, hops and a slight hint of bittersweet chocolate lingers at the end. very smooth and mellow and quite enjoyable.

From a 12-oz. bottle, pours a coffee-black with medium tan head. Clear with a faint red tinge around the edge. Fairly mild rye aroma. Tastes for all the world like a slice of dark rye bread. somewhat roasty and smokey, with a fair amount of hoppy followup. Porter-like consistency and heft. Pretty good!

Very near black, stiff tan head, nice lace. Aromas include toast, malt, fruit, hops, alcohol, chocolate and coffee beans. Flavors of dark roasted malt, coffee, herbs, dark fruit, and toffee/carmel with a nice bitter hop finish. Great creamy texture and chewy mouthfeel.

Bottle. Clear dark brown in color with a nice tan fluffy head. Roasty and hoppy aroma. Coffee like roast. Big and malty flavor. Malty and hoppy flavor. Chocolate and caramel notes. Full bodied. Well balanced. Smooth. Finish is malty. Enjoyable.

From bottle. pours dark with little head. sweet roasted aroma. coffee notes, medium body. Another great beer from Founders.