Beer Review: Founder's Brewing Co - Red's Rye Pale Ale

Rye is a cereal grain that is up in coming in the microbrew world. It lends a smooth mouth feel, a rye spiciness, and helps with head retention. I highly recommend trying out some flaked and/or malted rye if you are a homebrewer. I have a recipe for Denny Conn's Rye brew in the recipe of the week section.

Red's Rye Pale Ale

6.6% ABV | 70 IBUs

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.

Appearance: Pours a deep amber to ruby, a gorgeous color. A big pillowy head forms then reduces to one finger with beautiful lacing.  

Aroma: Bread, spicy, rye goodness is present throughout. Also touches of orange peel, roses, and a hint of pine. Very fragrant, one of the best smelling beers I have had.  

Flavor: Strong grapefruit present up front leading into a mellower orange peel. The hop flavor is rounded out with a bit of pine. Bready rye undertones are present throughout and show more of themselves near the end of the sip. The sip ends with a drying tartness that is very refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Very creamy as it slides across the tongue. Medium body with low to medium carbonation.

Overall: All I can say is WOW. This is an outstandingly balanced beer. The warmth and spiciness from the rye are the perfect compliment with the flavor and bitterness from the hops. I will give this one a big recommendation and only hope I can find it out here one day.