Rubaeus and Porter - Founders Brewery

As we approached Founders Brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I realized it was probably the nicest evening this summer had yet to offer.  The weather was cool, the humidity low, and the sunlight was turning off its heat to just become background color on the buildings downtown. When we sat down at our table, I took a minute to look around to take in the atmosphere.  The front wall to Founders was retractable, so the whole brewery was open to the summer night.  The conversation was loud. Whole tables were talking and laughing loudly together, much like my table was.  The music in the background was a mix of popular Indie artists, like Imagine Dragons and Macklemore.

This is me and my girlfriend Hope.

Notice the wrinkled Chrono Trigger/Doctor Who shirt. Sorry, ladies. Taken.

She has tremendously good taste in beer, while I never strayed far from American Lagers like Budweiser, Miller, etc.  She is more cultured than me, and so I reached out to the members of /r/beer to teach me how to appreciate micro brews and craft beers like the rest of the cultured elites so we could have something to do together.  What started out as just looking for advice turned into a weekly blog idea where a newbie like me could document what these craft beers actually taste like to beginners.  I would also take along a more distinguished person who could tell me what they are experiencing in the brew, which brings me to our guests for the evening - Mitch and Kelli!

Guess which is which. Hint: Kelli knew I was taking a picture.

Mitch has a deep appreciation for brewing. In fact, for Christmas last year his wife Kelli bought him a brewing kit, complete with monogrammed cups that say "Mitchell's Neighborhood Pub."  Mitch is a registered nurse, and Kelli is a talented artist. Her work can be found here.


The first beer was my choice, and I selected Founder's Rubaeus.

5.7% ABV,  15 IBUS

At first glance it looked like a dirty wine.  The proud raspberry color was not at all misleading, but the smell didn't let that on. It didn't have a very strong smell at all, which surprised me.  The beer was unable to foam, and only little white bubbles pockmarked the surface.  It tasted crisp, like an apple right out of the fridge.  It was delicious, and not overpowering in the least. Its coldness combined with its smooth and uniform fruity flavor lent this beer to be enjoyed rather quickly. It was perfect for the summer night we were enjoying together.

Mitch said that this a fruit beer that is perfect for fruit beer lovers and non-fruit beer lovers alike.  You see, Mitch prefers dark beers, but said the Rubeaus was his favorite fruit beer, beginning with the light raspberry flavor and the smooth wheat on the way down.  He drew parallels to Leinenkugels Berry Weiss, but said that while the Leinenkugels felt like it was a beer first and then berries added, the Rubeaus was more like a single entity, with neither flavor overpowering the other or dominating the aftertaste.


The next choice was Mitch's, and he chose Founder's Porter

6.5% ABV,  45 IBU

The smell was the first thing I noticed. It smelled like if you put a hot chocolate in the microwave too long.  It wasn't repulsive, but it was obvious.  It was thick, and took its time going around the glass when I swished it around a bit. The Porter itself tasted burnt, with flavors coming from a cocoa or coffee bean, maybe both. I couldn't tell exactly how much of either was in there, but I knew it was there. It was much more complex than the Rubeaus we just had.  I knew that I wasn't getting the full picture that the beer was trying to convey and that Mitch was clearly enjoying. The way I explained it was the beer was trying to hand me money, but my tongue couldn't make change.

Mitch laughed as I tried to explain the Porter. He explained that during the brewing process, the most dominant flavors are the ingredients that are added last, and that the chocolate was definitely last in this Porter.  "This porter exemplifies the genre. Thick, nice, and dark with a smooth burnt taste to top it off."  He also mentioned that the flavors balance differently depending on the temperature of the beer, and that ice cold isn't always the way to go - something I had never considered as a Bud drinker.



When we paid our bills and parted ways, I started to think about what was yet to come. I didn't know what to expect for the first time, but it was more than just fun that I was having, it was a sense of adventure.  The micro brew scene in Grand Rapids is pretty awesome, and starting out made me feel  like a part of my community. 

Next week - Hopcat
Have a suggestion, or a beer you want me try? Let me know! My choice of beer next time will be the most popular suggestion from Hopcat's Beer List!