Black Rye
Founders Brewing Company
- From:
- Founders Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Rye Beer
- ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 8.21%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 460
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Sep 24, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 17, 2004
- Wants:
- 122
- Gots:
- 297
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
78 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DIM:
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I've wanted to try this for years, glad to have the chance.
Black body and a large light tan head.
Nice combination of ashy coffee grounds, prickly rye, and earthy hops in the nose. The flavor profile is largely the same. This drinks like a hoppy stout to me; roasted to the point of char maltiness with a spicy hop bite. It's hard to tell the rye notes from the hops. I just know it all works well. I loved the lingegring bitter ash. The mouthfeel was on the oily side.
Jan 26, 2015Black body and a large light tan head.
Nice combination of ashy coffee grounds, prickly rye, and earthy hops in the nose. The flavor profile is largely the same. This drinks like a hoppy stout to me; roasted to the point of char maltiness with a spicy hop bite. It's hard to tell the rye notes from the hops. I just know it all works well. I loved the lingegring bitter ash. The mouthfeel was on the oily side.
More User Ratings:
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
4.05/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
RB transfer
Sep 24, 2025
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.77/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours black with a medium-sized head. Aroma of roasted malt, coffee, some bread and citrus hoppy notes. Roasted caramel , nuts, and coffee in taste. Decent mix of hoppy and roast bitterness in the finish.
Feb 27, 2025
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts
4.17/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
FOUNDERS BLACK RYE 6/16/20
Bought a fourpack at Kelly's in Dalton Ma. Sunday. Bottled 12/6/14!
a: Mostly opaque black with some clear ruby towards the bottom. Half finger beige head receded to thin surface foam and dense lacing.
s: Slightly sweet mild dark malt.
t: Follows the nose along with a light to moderate hop bite (light for 78 IBUs) on a sweetish finish.
m: Medum, very good body and some carbonation tingle.
o: This was a great find. Officially it is BA archived and the most recent review is three years old. Could be the aging helped like many dark malted brews and muted the hops, but however, this was excellent; balanced, smooth and substantial, easy drinking, surprisingly refreshing and flavorful. Enjoyable in any season.
Jun 16, 2020Bought a fourpack at Kelly's in Dalton Ma. Sunday. Bottled 12/6/14!
a: Mostly opaque black with some clear ruby towards the bottom. Half finger beige head receded to thin surface foam and dense lacing.
s: Slightly sweet mild dark malt.
t: Follows the nose along with a light to moderate hop bite (light for 78 IBUs) on a sweetish finish.
m: Medum, very good body and some carbonation tingle.
o: This was a great find. Officially it is BA archived and the most recent review is three years old. Could be the aging helped like many dark malted brews and muted the hops, but however, this was excellent; balanced, smooth and substantial, easy drinking, surprisingly refreshing and flavorful. Enjoyable in any season.
Rated by Nash39 from Florida
2.46/5 rDev -38.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
2.46/5 rDev -38.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
Not too impressed with the Black Rye or maybe I am just not a fan Rye IPA's because I have not found one that I liked. Cheers! C-
Apr 02, 2018
Reviewed by Can_if_you_can from Minnesota
1.92/5 rDev -52.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2
1.92/5 rDev -52.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2
This beer was horrid, all the bad characteristics of the ingrediaents came out in this one. Taste like sweaty, dirty socks. The rye, malts and hops all worked against each other and instead of balancing and highlighting each other it was just a big stinky mess. Worst founders beer to date.
Nov 21, 2017
Rated by Fizzer from Michigan
4.25/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Got this it was bottled 2.5 years ago. It basically resembles black licorice in every senses, which is cool cause I like black licorice.
Sep 30, 2017
Rated by BEER88 from North Carolina
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Rye is a good malt to use for an added spiciness
Sep 05, 2017
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