Founders Cerise

Brewed by Founders Brewing Company
Style: Fruit Beer
Grand Rapids, Michigan USA

Serve in Flute

I was in a bit of a dour mood when I tried this cherry ale and I found it rather charming and delightful -- never the main attraction, but something has to prime you for a good time. At first glance, the color was a bit too pink to me, but in better lighting it had a less fluorescent tint to it and looked more ’legitimate,’ whatever that means; head was nice and comfy on the lips. The aroma is pretty straightforward -- obviously cherries, but some little hints of bubblegum and a touch of something floral. The carbonation and body are nice -- not too light and not too syrupy -- a crucial quality that gives this ale some seriousness. It could be a bit more tart to balance the sweetness some and I wouldn’t mind some more complexity, but I really did like this.

(Old BA rate - tap) Ruby, light red grapefruit juice color (kinda pink almost), with decent spidery lacing. Light tart-sweentess; pretty yeasty/bready; definite cherries. Nice snap of tartness up front; only a little sour; fruity as expected with cherries being the dominant flavor, but in a fresh non-fake way. Not overly sweet was very appreciated. Thinner MF, subtle prickly carbonation...might’ve have been better if just slightly more body IMO. Just OK for me, nice and refreshing and could visit this one on a muggy evening. However, just a little too much fruit for my palate (yes, I know it’s the style). Overall, this was a nice change of pace brew for me but nothing that I would pick up regularly...just don’t dig most fruit brews.

Bottle. 12 oz. Split with Vin. (Though neither of us finished our glass). Pours a slighty reddish clear amber with a thick, foamy, off-white head. Aroma of tart cherries, cream, farmhouse funk, yeast, and sweet malts. Medium bodied with a moderately sour, intensely sweet palate. Finishes with a crazy amount of tartness. Very good for a fruit beer, but I do not enjoy the style by and large.

Bottle. Light reddish brown with white head. Aromas of cherry, rose, and watermelon. Flavors of cherry, pie crust, strawberry, apple and plum. Some citric sour. Medium-thin body with soft mouthfeel and low, lively carbonation.

It doesn’t have a whole lot of smell. Floral, rose petal taste without being hoppy or bitter. The color of blush wine. Lightly sweet, lightly fruit, lightly tangy.

Pours red, clean, and clear with a solid off-white/pink head. Leaves lacing all the way down the glass. Tart cherry, malt, dough, cherry pie spices in the nose. The palate is clean and crisp, medium in body with a refreshing finish. The taste is sweet up front with malt and cherry. As it moves along the sides of the tongue the tartness of the cherry emerges. This is a wonderfully enjoyable and refreshing beer. It’s close to a cherry cider, but it’s clearly a beer.

Murky orange pour with a small white head. Aroma is barnyard, cherry, hay and yeast. Flavor is cherry, sweet malt, sourness, cherry skin. I get some bretty character also. Lower carbonation keeps any cloying sweetness at bay all the way to the dry finish. I had this last year and it wasn’t very good. This year and on draft it is great!

Clear red pour. Nose is floral cherries. Taste is almost pure cherry juice. Very tasty, but not the brewery’s best.