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    Founders Harvest Ale

    Name – Founders Harvest Ale
    Country – United States
    Type – American Pale Ale

    Appearance – Pours a clear orange color with a small white head but it leaves a good amount of lacing.

    Smell – Citrus and floral hops are pretty much all I pick up.

    Taste – Very nice hop taste that is just like the smell.  Not a whole lot going on in the way of malts but I am really enjoying the malt blend here.

    This was included with my package of Founders brews I was sent and was really happy with it.  The wet hop beers just tend to have this really fresh taste to them.  I don’t really know how to explain it other than it taste like it has just recently been made.  I know that is typically what wet hopping is all about so I guess it works.  A pretty good overall brew.  Kind of bummed I only got one of these.

    Overall Grade – B-

    Ninja Porter

    Name – Ninja Porter
    Country – United States
    Type – American Porter

    Appearance – Poured a dark black color with a nice sized slightly off white head.

    Smell – Smoke is the first thing I pick up with a little bit of black licorice.  Some roasted malts can be picked up too.

    Taste – Very smoked tasted with some roasted malts in the back but has an overall sweetness to it as well.

    A couple friends of mine picked this one up for me on their trip to Asheville, NC.  I found this a lot more enjoyable that the Stone Smoked Porter I had recently.  The licorice notes are a lot more subdued here.  The smokey flavor really stands out and would make this a great beer for BBQ.

    Overall Grade – B

    Red’s Rye P.A.

    Name – Red’s Rye P.A.
    Country – United States
    Type – American IPA

    Appearance – Pours a mostly clear red color with a decent sized white head that left some lacing.

    Smell – Faint citrus hop aroma but not a whole lot else going on.

    Taste – Some citrus and earthy hops with a sweet caramel malt like taste.  Very, very faint rye taste in there.

    I received a few Founders brews from a client of my job last week.  I was really looking forward to this one but I have to say it fell flat.  I was expecting a big rye taste presence like Lenny’s Bittersweet RIPA but it just wasn’t there.  While it was a decent IPA of it’s own I was just expecting more of a rye taste with the word in the name.  But I will push on to the next ones with an open mind.

    Overall Grade – C-