Here we go again with another beer from the Founders Brewing Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Once again, too, price of the beer is going to be a major consideration on my final rating of the beer. The beer under the microscope today is Founder’s ReDANKulous Imperial Red India Pale Ale. I saw this beer in the bottle at Total Wine. I had heard great things about it, but I passed thanks to the price.

Then, though, I heard more great things about the beer. Founders enthusiasts seem to be blind to the higher than average prices the brewery charges, prices which I however am not so easy to excuse. Still, when I saw the beer on tap at Taco Mac, I ordered up a glass and decided to give it a try.

Here’s what the brewery says about the beer:

reDANKulous Imperial Red IPA is a no frills, bold 9.5% ABV India Pale Ale. It pours a pleasing burnt amber with some sweetness due to the Caramalt and roasted barley used in the malt bill. But hops are the true headliner in this elaborate sensory experience. The spicy, piney, tropical complexities of Chinook, Mosaic and Simcoe hops hit you right away with their dank aroma—and they stick around. Take a sip to have your palate simultaneously walloped and caressed in all the right places. Combined, the hops take the beer to 90 IBUs. It’s not just ridiculous. It’s reDANKulous.

Normally at this point I’d tell you about the alcohol content and IBU count, but Founders beat me to that above. So let’s get to price. I paid a whopping $10 for an 11-ounce glass of ReDANKulous at Taco Mac. The bottle I passed on at Total Wine was $13.99 for 750 ML. How was the beer? Was it worth the price after all?

My glass of Founder’s ReDANKulous Imperial Red India Pale Ale arrived a muddy reddish color with a light head of creamy foam and stewed malts, chocolate and melon grassy hops in the nose. Taking a sip, I got chocolate and stewed red ale maltiness in the palate, plum, apple and pear fruit, and a dry hoppy herbal bitter finish. That bitterness became more pronounced as the beer warmed, and I really liked the interplay between the dark stewed nutty malts, the deep fruit and the robust hop aroma and bitterness.

So yes, this was a very impressive imperial red, but let’s be real: the price is just too Redankulous on tap or in the bottle. It’s so much out of whack, in fact that though I’m glad I tried it, I wouldn’t buy it again. I’d give the beer 4 ½ stars on adherence to style and hedonistic enjoyment, with a full star off for price gouging.

So, if I were not to buy this beer again, what would I buy instead that’s in a similar vein? How about an exceptional Sweetwater Dank Tank Red Hot Mama (or the latest incarnation of it) for just $5.99 for a bomber bottle or $5 for a 20-ounce draft mug? Perhaps a Smuttynose Findest Kind Imperial Red Ale for $6.99 a bomber? Not only were both of these beers much cheaper than Founders ReDANKulous, I found them to be tastier as well. Your mileage may vary, of course, but for my part, I would pick up a few bottles of those beers versus one bottle of ReDANKulous.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 



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