Sanctification - Russian River Brewing Company

ibbjamin

California

4.33/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Paid around $12 for this 375ml corked and caged bottle from Perry's Liquor in Livermore, CA. I poured into my Lost Abbey tulip to review, but I've had and loved this many times before. This is a bottle which could be aged, but I am drinking fresh. Batch 5.

The cork pops with a pleasant welcoming of carbonation. Light, loosely packed white head of about a 1/3" that dissipates slowly leaving a nice layer of retention. Very cloudy yet the carbonation is still visually evident. The beer is a faded corn yellow color. Nice sheets of lacing line the inside of the tulip.

The brett funk aroma fills the area before I even begin to pour. Tons of wild and funky brett giving it a very musky character of barnyard and horseblanket. Lemon, lime, white grape and citrusy hops as well in the mix.

Certainly a sour, but not as ass puckeringly sour as others I've had from them or other breweries such as Cantillon. This one seems more subtle and balanced, a nice change of pace.

Quite dry and somewhat astringent. Vinious qualities, but the carbonation and crisp mouthfeel certainly separate this one from being in the "wine-esque beer" category for me.

All in all, a great beer that I will buy everytime I see it on the shelves. These Russian River sours really have grown on me over the years; I need to go back and re-review all of them as their gradings surely will have improved.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 02:06:58 | More by ibbjamin

IPAFan521

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -36.5%

05-21-2013 22:18:55 | More by IPAFan521

emottram

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -13.4%

05-21-2013 21:27:27 | More by emottram

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%

05-20-2013 01:36:39 | More by Ctrauty

GuzzLah

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A - pours a hazy blonde with a standard head that disappears and forms a ring. No lace. A few bubbles.

S - relatively mild aroma. Leather, white grape, pineapple, green apple and oak.

T - is similar to the aroma. White grape, green apple with a lemony and soft oaky finish.

M - light-medium body. Creamy. Nicely tart and somewhat astringent, but not quite sour.

O - despite being fermented with 100% Brett, I wouldn't call this a funky ale. It's more fruity and tart than funky. That's fine. It's a tasty beer, but it's my least favorite RR sour.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 20:28:42 | More by GuzzLah

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%

05-19-2013 15:27:43 | More by ShawnMH

jakeox

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -19.2%

05-19-2013 00:54:38 | More by jakeox

Stevedore

Wisconsin

4.51/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

375ml c&c dated 11/27/2012, poured into a Russian River stemmed snifter and quaffed today on a 80 degree afternoon in Wisconsin, 5/18/2013. Cork popped hard, forboding great things for this beer.

Aroma: I get tons of Brett funk along with very tart cherry and vinegar. Tons and tons of it all. It reminds me of a funky chardonnay- its got that sweet tartness along with that earthy funk. A bit one-dimensional but definitely brings its game. (4)

Colour: Pours a hazy straw blonde colour with a ton of head- even as I pour slowly it throws up a massive >3cm head that slowly recedes into a supremely thick white film that is about half a cm. And stays that way. The lacing is spectacular on this Russian River glass. Absolutely amazing and appetizing blonde. (5)

Flavour: Woo! Lots of sour funk up front that makes me pucker up a bit, followed by a more subdued tartness reminding me of cherry and grapes along with a sweet breadiness ending in a vinegary and lemony funk. Very unique flavour profile that I cannot help but savor. Delicious combination of Brett funk, tart vinegar and malt backbone. I've never tasted anything quite like this and I'm very impressed. If this kind of beer was its own category rather than an AWA, I can't imagine anything being much better. I actually would like a bit more tartness on top of the funkiness, but honestly it's world class. (4.75)

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied ale with incredible carbonation that isn't too over the top. A bit dry but stings the palate everywhere it comes into contact with a nice tart funkiness that lingers as the aftertaste briefly. It's very quaffable and refreshing- perfect for a 80 degree day in May. (4.25)

Overall: Russian River does it again. I feel they pretty much own the AWA category at this point in my young sour appreciating life. Very quaffable, full of complex flavours that satisfy my palate without overloading it while not being too heavy on any one particular characteristic. I am a big fan and will continue to seek out the Russian River offerings whenever I can get them. And you should too. (4.5)

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 00:03:37 | More by Stevedore

chossboss

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-17-2013 04:53:29 | More by chossboss

OctopusPrim

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-17-2013 04:17:03 | More by OctopusPrim

deekyn

California

4/5  rDev -7.6%

05-16-2013 04:07:50 | More by deekyn

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-15-2013 17:41:23 | More by twenty5

Zbeetleman

California

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%

05-15-2013 03:33:59 | More by Zbeetleman

Absolut

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-13-2013 18:44:40 | More by Absolut

funkyaudio

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%

05-13-2013 17:40:46 | More by funkyaudio

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%

05-13-2013 06:15:36 | More by Bonko_the_sane

FranzBC

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%

05-13-2013 02:07:23 | More by FranzBC

bigcat101

California

4.75/5  rDev +9.7%

05-13-2013 00:40:18 | More by bigcat101

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-12-2013 23:22:05 | More by PlinyBeMiney

lpayette

Vermont

4/5  rDev -7.6%

05-12-2013 20:19:27 | More by lpayette

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-12-2013 17:22:19 | More by mikeburd1128

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-12-2013 15:45:01 | More by ipas-for-life

HopsHopenstein

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-12-2013 01:26:23 | More by HopsHopenstein

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-11-2013 21:08:26 | More by MinorThreat

rolandboy

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -1.8%

05-11-2013 14:11:12 | More by rolandboy