Founders Brewing Company- Red’s Rye P.A: As A-List As It Gets

I have been excited for the new Sunday night line-up on HBO.  Entourage is one of my favorites and the introduction to the new series last year, Hung.  Both are great shows for a variety of reasons but one stands out over the other.  The one thing about Entourage is that the Budweiser product placement makes me want to puke.  I understand product placement but I have never seen such perfect placement as Budweiser has on Entourage.  To my pleasant surprise, on the other hand, was the co-star on the HBO series Hung.  Jane went to visit Ray and low and behold, she comes bearing Founders Double Trouble Imperial IPA.  Being the craft beer geek that I am, I jumped out of my seat and actually cheered!!  It was nice to see a real craft beer get featured on a major series.  This lends to the realism of the show as it is set in Michigan.  This inspired me to try and review another Founders offering as I have drank & reviewed their Double Trouble.  Tonight’s star is Founders Red’s Rye P.A.  Will this brew be an A list star or will it be relegated to the D List.

Founders Brewing Company classifies this brew as a Rye Pale Ale and their website describes Red’s Rye P.A. as, "Serious hop bitterness along with unyielding grapefruit bouquet from the Amarillo dry-hop. Balanced with the malty richness of four varieties of imported Belgian caramel malts. Pours a spectacular crimson with a creamy tan head. A generous addition of rye malt accentuates a spicy crisp finish."

Red’s Rye P.A. pours a reddish/caramel color with a minimal ¼” tan head and has an amazingly beautiful citrus, hop & malt aroma and is 6.6% ABV.

Red’s Rye P.A. is way more than I was expecting.  I was expecting great and got an Academy Award winning performance.  I am so pissed at myself for waiting so long to try this brew.  Let me tell you, I have really liked the craft brews from Founders but this by far is one of the best I have ever had.  Red’s has an almost overwhelming flavor profile that might easily be one of the top 10 craft beers I have ever had.  What’s strange is that it is as sweet and it is hoppy and can only be described as amazing.  My only problem is that Wes only hooked me up with one and I know for a fact that as soon as I can get to the store to get some more I will.  Red’s Rye P.A. is dangerously close to becoming my daily drinker and is easily as A list Craft Beer!!

ABV: 6.6%

Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case

Founders Brewing Company- Red Rye Pale Ale: A new general in the beer wars!

So when you break down breweries it is easy to go state by state. When it comes time to claim a state for total beer superiority Jason and I always come down to two states; Michigan and Colorado. The Red Wings versus the Avalanche, mountains versus lakes, the battle lines have been drawn.

Founders is based out of Grand Rapids. I have actually been there before. They have a fall harvest ale festival that is a can’t miss prospect. Not to mention that GR has an emerging beer scene that is a whole lot of fun, including the Hop Cat which is top 50 world rated beer bar that harbors a beer list that will blow your mind.

Founder Red Rye P.A. pours a beautiful ruby hue with strong carbonation and a solid off white foam. This brew is an extremely, amazing smelling treat, It boasts an awe inspoing hop crispness that is coupled with a punch you in the face citrus explosion. Honestly if you blindfolded someone, they may think you just cut into a fresh grapefruit. Normally I don’t like fruit flavors in my beer, but for some reason it just works with this beer. This brew has a great bitter hop flavor with a one of a kind citrus bite. I LOVE THIS BEER!

Sometimes a beer is just delicious. Man is this one of them. It seems to be the antithesis of Bell’s Hopslam (which I also love), in the sense that instead of cutting the hop flavor with honey to mute the flavor, Founders packs even more bitter flavors on top. Red Rye P.A. just might be the secret agent hiding in the wings to give Michigan the upper hand (bad pun intended) in the on going state-to-state beer battles.

ABV: 6.6%

Consumed: Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case