Founders Reds Rye P.A.

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

Sampled at From The Vine beer tasting Jan 14th, 2005: Two beers in a row that exceeded expectations. This beer is a light amber color with a medium thin off-white head and minimal lacing. Rye is prevalent in the nose, along with some hops and caramel. Medium-bodied with a blast of citrus and floral hops flavor. Rye and grain is much more understated than in the aroma and it works well. The finish is lightly sweet with a touch of spice. Well-done.

pours a gorgeous mahogany color with a two finger off white head. Dangerously quaffable, this brew has a good balance between bitter and maltiness. Thx santa

It really does qualify as a true "American Strong Ale." The category is nebulous but the brew is not. Well defined and consistent it is. Which is something Founder’s has difficulty achieving at times. It is unique and almost undefinable until tasted. Much like Founder’s Centennial IPA it is very difficult to describe in relative terms because the flavor is so unique. But unlike the Centennial IPA, Red’s doesn’t have the quality control problems. When the Centennial is on it’s one of the very best, but when it’s off it’s undrinkable (stale, sour tasting, or even worse, totally blown CO2-wise... hmm, very unusual in a "modern" brew). Red’s hasn’t suffered from any of these nonsensicalities. Red’s Rye is good swag.

Thanks to Leopoldstoch for the trade. Pours a hazy deep orange with a sticky beige head and awesome lace. Aroma is thick and pungeant with tons of hops and sticky sweet caramel malts. Flavor is citrus, orange, grapefruit, and lots of caramel, toffee, pine and a great sharp bitterness. Damn good mouthfeel- smooht thick full with a great bitterness. Fresh hops all the way through. (thanks again brandon)

Bright reddish-brown body with a creamy off-white head. Spicy rye, caramel malt, fig, and cinnamon aroma. Nice toasty, warm and spicy malt qualities marry nicely with the hop varieties. Great aftertaste and medium, palatable texture. This is like Arrogant Bastard with refinement. I dig it.

Huge citrus hop aroma, lots of grapefruit. Nice red color, decent tan head. Great balance to the flavor, big hops, lots of caramel and toast in the malt aspect, unique spiciness from the rye. Solid bitterness. Medium-full body, very smooth. Hoppiness and bitterness is like an IPA, but with a really nice malt component to balance it out.

Shared with CBA. Rich head on red copper. Red grapefruit aroma with spruce edges. Warm malt and enjoyable grapefruit flavour. Delicious malt.

Beatufiul bright red body with a thick, frothy white ehad. Potent, hoppy aroma, citrus/grapefruit and very crisp. Very hoppy flavor, with a slight sweetness -more true to an IPA style. The finish has a crisp, grapefruity and well-defined sharpness.