Founder's Red Rye IPA

Spring is usually the time of the year I like to put down the heavy beers of winter and lighten up a bit with Irish ales, pale ales and IPAs. But with winter seemingly never coming to an end in the Northeast, I’ve found it a bit difficult to let go of the full bodied beers that always seem more enjoyable in cold temperatures. Because of this, I thought Founder’s Red Rye IPA is a fantastic way to split the difference between Winter and Spring.

Founder’s Red Rye IPA pours a beautifully dark amber color with a khaki colored head. The caramel and rye malts are very prevalent in the aroma, as is a bit of citrus. Upon tasting a rich earthy rye malt immediately flooded my palette. This was complimented nicely by a light grapefruit like finish from the hops.

As I progressed through Red Rye IPA, I became quite impressed with how balanced it was. The aggressiveness of the malt if left to its own devices would have easily made this a chore to drink halfway through the bottle. And if this was a regular IPA the light hop profile would have made this a rather forgettable entry from the Founder’s Brewery. Instead, both the malt and the hops shine in their own way. In fact one of my biggest complaints from a few of the beers I’ve reviewed is that they have left behind an unpleasant lingering aftertaste that over time gradually overwhelmed my palate. Red Rye IPA does leave an aftertaste but in this particular case it was not a bad thing. The lingering citrus flavor of the hops allowed for the more subtle peppery flavor of the malt to come through thus adding another layer of depth to the flavor.

All and all this is a solid beer that is definitely worth a try if you are an IPA fan. Its wonderful balance ensures a great beer drinking experience. And the 6.6% ABV is masked but not undetectable as it, along with the hops, provides a warm finish perfect for these absurdly cold spring nights.

　

Overall I give Founder’s Red Rye IPA an 4/5. If you are looking to give a Rye IPA a try, this is a great place to start.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

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Thanks for reading. Sláinte!