Maker: Founder’s, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Style: Rye Beer (in an IPA style)
ABV: 6.6%
Appearance: Big foamy head that sticks to the top of the glass. Body is pretty, slightly cloudy auburn.
Nose: Sweet, and fruity with a bit of spice
On the palate: The promise of the nose is brought to fruition: like eating a slice of slightly overripe mango with black pepper. The sweetness gets sweeter and the spice gets spicier. This beer has a big impact, but is never obnoxious or overbearing, to me anyway. As it sits in the glass, the spice component gets bigger and bigger and it starts to become more of a conventional IPA, albeit a very tasty one.
Finish: Long, and pleasantly bitter, with spice notes lingering as long as the hoppy bitterness does.
Parting words: This is a very well-executed beer, and for once that is not intended to be a back-handed complement. The big hops fit with the big spice and fruit rye brings to the party. I’m not a hop-head, but even I enjoyed it. Red’s Rye PA is recommended if you need some spice in your life.
Sipology 