Supplication - Russian River Brewing Company

TheFightingMongooses

New Jersey

4.73/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottled poured into a tulip. Batch 082712.

Appearance – Reddish/brown with glowing orange highlights. Deep red-orange glow when held to the light; dark honey. Slightly cloudy from visible yeast particles; 1 finger white head dissipates quickly to a lasting ring of thin foam with nearly no lacing. Very active carbonation.

Smell – I was hit with the sour aroma as soon as I uncorked the bottle! The smell starts with a sour fruitiness from the cherries which gives way, as I soon detect some fairly strong oak that is almost buttery (if that makes sense).

Taste – Taste follows the nose, starting with sour black cherries. The oak comes in at the back end, with distinct vanilla overtones. Very nice. It finished dry with some more, extra tart fruit, making me want another sip.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability – A fair amount of carbonation on the tongue, putting this beer at the very thin side of medium bodied. The sourness is there in a big way, but not overpowering, playing a huge role in this beer's drinkablitly.

Overall – An awesome beer that is complex, but not overly so, and very tasty. I only wish I had another bottle!

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 01:38:33 | More by TheFightingMongooses

claspada

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Monks for $5 during Zwanze Day 2012.

Pours a a hazy, dark amber/light brown color with little-to-no head and some spotty lacing.

Aroma begin quite sweet and tart. Initially you get the Brett with a little bit more sweet on the nose though then some of the recent sours I have had. Cherries and other tart fruitiness become more apparent as it warms close to room temperature. Funky yeast continues to evolve more with some light woody aromas as well now as it gets a little warmer; this was turning out to be very nice indeed.

The taste begins with the funkified Brett tartness with a surprisingly substantial pilsner malty sweetness. Deep sour tastes join the party, but not as much as I was expecting. Maybe this is still too "young". Nice notes of dark cherry throughout. As it warms you get some more cherry sweetness with some nice tones of wood mixed in throughout.

The mouthfeel is average with appropriate carbonation for the style. Brett and traditional yeast really help this to finish quite dry with a nice lingering taste of sour Brett. It came off a little bit fuller then some of the other sours I have had, with more of a rich feel despite the loads of carbonation.

Overall this is a really great sour beer. I don't believe it is the best I have had by far but I cannot deny the extremely high drinkability this possesses. Normally I do not seek out this beer because of the high price tag and "average" flavor profile for a sour but for $5 on draft, I'll take that everyday of the week and 2x on Zwanze Day.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 21:08:39 | More by claspada

bergdj

Colorado

4.85/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A delicious beer with just a hint of sourness. The fruit from the Pinot barrels is not overwhelming. Very well balanced. I just wish it wasn't so expensive.

I got a bit too much head and resulted in a little flatter then i think it would have been otherwise. Really a great beer though.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 02:18:41 | More by bergdj

srandycarter

California

4.2/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Was hoping for Cable Car on tap at Toronado, but sold out before I got there.

A - Clear copper, small head, spotty lace.

S - Sharp tartness. Don't really discern much else.

T - Nice medium maltiness followed by nice balancing tartness. Slightly band aid.

M - Medium body, low carb, nice balance.

D - Nice substitute for what I was looking for.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 18:42:35 | More by srandycarter

MrVonzipper

California

4.35/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a coppery-ruby color with a short bubbly eggshell colored head with short retention and little to no lace.

Smells like a mixed box of cherry clan and lemonheads.

Taste characteristics follow the nose. Quite tart of front but very cell balanced with nice flavor. Very well balanced with tart up front transitioning into a mild fruity sweetness.

Mouth is effervescent, light bodied with high carb and a fairly dry finish.

Overall this is one of my favorite RR and/or sours. Well balanced. Better than Beatification IMO.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 06:14:03 | More by MrVonzipper

JamesShoemaker

New York

4.1/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375 ml bottle poured into my snifter. Big thanks to Tarheel4985 for this one!

A - deep, much deeper than I would expect. Brown, almost like a brown ale. I know the bottle identifies this beer as a brown ale, but I find that hard to believe, considering the smell and taste. This is actually my first sour/wild ale since I started drinking crafts. Quite a bit of head, considering the carbonation.

S - super vinegary. A lot of sour emanating from the glass, but also the sweetness you'd expect from a fruity beer.

T - I taste a lot of the carbonation here; plenty of fruit, but mostly the bitterer aspects of the sweetness, if that makes sense. Almost tastes like a soda.

M - despite the overwhelming carbonation, I like the mouthfeel. There's hardly any indication of the alcohol here.

O - this beer might not be worth the price tag, but it's definitely solid. I'm going to attempt to age a couple of bottles.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 03:54:48 | More by JamesShoemaker

Fux

France

4.28/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Clear amber with red / ruby glints. Quite thick foam which quickly let room to a thin collar.
S: Subtle aromas of red fruits, cherry. Woody with a some floral scent (violet) .
T: Light tartness, a bit vinous, woody. Red fruits among which cherries, grapes, redcurrants. Sweet caramel malts come after. A bit of astringency too. A bit rough on the aftertaste.
M: Slightly light carbonation. Quite velvety. Quite dry also.
O: A well done sour ale through its woody, slightly vinous aspect. Quite sober all the same.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 01:50:03 | More by Fux

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Supplication 062212 into tulip.

Crystal clear brown pour with ruby highlights. Half finger fizzy snow white head. Lacing is spotty.

Brown sugar, sweet and tart cherries, vanilla, subtle wine notes. Slight acidity, oak notes are subtle and add a wonderful depth too it. Very nice candy aroma.

The sour from the base beer is not over the top, slightly sweet. Throw it in with cherries in a wine barrel and you get a sweet and tart masterpiece with wine and cherry notes fighting for supremacy. Brown sugar, vanilla, oak, red wine and a slight Brett presence. Lingering finish.

High carbonation, light body, slightly sticky on the lips

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 02:04:42 | More by korguy123

MadScientist

New York

4.83/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: A pale copper with excellent clarity, which surprised me after wresting the cork as much as I did I was sure I'd have stir up the sediment. The off-white head with a touch of pink/orange is quick to fade leaving a ring of fine bubbles around the edge of the glass.

S: An intense sour aroma with moderately-strong fruit aromas mostly of black cherries and currents. There is some of that velvety red grape aroma layered on top of the vanilla and oak notes. Nothing in the way of malt or hops aroma; no diacetyl either.

T: Lots of fruit most red currents and oranges with a moderately-strong sourness. There is a little bit sweetness but the balance is pretty tart, like a sweet tart with twice the tart. There aren't any hops to be found here either but there not needed; very low bitterness and no flavor. The finish is very dry, there is a tartness left in the aftertaste but its mostly fruity with oranges, dark cherries and even a touch of strawberries.

M: moderately-light bodied with moderate carbonation. It's not cream nor crisp. No astringency.

O: Wow! A complex, fruity sour with a whole lot of balance. Well worth getting a hold of. This beer could easily substitute for light to moderate red wine when paired with food. There a quiet a few beers with more sour than this but Supplication has elegant refined flavor, I want nothing more out this beer than say a few more bottles.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 00:56:14 | More by MadScientist

gtermi

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: The beer pours a reddish body with a thin tan head that instantly fades.

S: VERY SOUR AND TART! I absolutely love the smell of this beer. It just really reminds me of sour candy. Best smelling WIld Ale I have ever smelled.

T: Wow this is an absolutely amazing flavor. The beer punched my mouth with sour flavors and then goes to a tart bitterness. Like the smell, it reminds me a lot of sour candy.

M: This beer is so sour that it sort of makes my jaw tingle. There is a good amount of carbonation and a strong amount of tingle all inside of my mouth.

O: This beer is absolutely delicious and makes me want to come back for more. This is by far one of the best beers I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 06:31:28 | More by gtermi

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle from iguenard, batch 009. 375ml into a tulip.

Browned red, witha finger and change of eggshell head. Moderate retention and good lacing. Nose has oak, cherries, light acetic, mild vinous character, and some underlying sweet malt predominantly masked by the acid. Some underripe apple as well. Taste has sweet oak and malt character initially, and opens up immediately into really juicy cherries, acid and finishes with a subtle pucker. More acidic than directly tart/sour. Shred of alcohol.Mediumhigh carbonation, slight spritz in the conclusion. Complex and fantastically delicious, has all of the qualities I love in a sour.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 02:56:34 | More by liamt07

MagicJeff

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a corked bottle into my RR Belgian glass.

Appearance: Deep amber/ruby/almost reddish brown. See a lot of carbonation with a decent head. Head eventually recedes to an 1/8 head.

Smell: Cherries, yeast. Not impressed by the smell or appearance honestly.

Taste: This is where it gets better. Tartness hits you immediately. Immediate cherries into some sweet and sour apple. You can taste the wine from the wine barrels. It all works really well. Love the complexity.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation initially intimidated me but it all works really well. Medium bodied.

Overall: Not for the faint of heart. Wouldn't recommend this for someone's first sour. At the same time, I love the pinot barrel taste and the complexities. Not necessarily the best sour I've ever had but I would certainly recommend. Don't get why so many find this one "world class"...had many European sours that trump this one. Either way, I woould love to try this one on tap to see if I spot anything else. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 00:09:13 | More by MagicJeff

Maddmartagan

4.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow, what a beer.

Just getting into sours and my buddy brought me one of these back.

Pours rich amber, almost reddish with fluffy white head that stuck around. Good retention.

Great smell. Tart, cherries, oak, and some good funk. Hints of oak as it warms a little.

Flavor was off that charts. Super tart up front, hits the back of the teeth aggressively, then it smooths out. Cherries, some lemon, Brett funk, all kinds of stuff going on.

Good carbonation that keeps all the complexity and flavors slightly at bay. Balances on the tongue.

Overall? One of the best beers I've ever had. Sours might be my new favorite thing. Not sure any will ever beat Supplication though

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 15:34:16 | More by Maddmartagan

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.85/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Dipping into my cellar for my birthday
Bottle from batch 10, poured into a snifter

pours a very dark reddish brown with a half finger of head which has receded quickly leaving a thin ring of foam. good lacing along the sides, thick and consistent

smells strongly of sour cherries, tart apple, pinot noir and the oak from the barrels, alcohol, a bit of citrus and some bready yeast

taste is incredibly sour cherry, wine, apples, following through with a nice malty finish. incredible

the mouth is my favorite part. the flavors come in layers, the first one hitting you being sweet cherry apple, quickly changing from a sweet to neutral, and finally to a strong sour finish leaving a great after taste of cherry, grape, apple, and a trace of malt. Finishes very dry and waits until the very end to make your face twist. Leaves a nice tingle on the tongue, very reminiscent of a good champagne

Overall the best sour I've had. This is the first of my russian river sours, and definitely going to make it challenging to continue aging my other RR sours in my cellar. Still amazed how all the different layers can separately and clearly present themselves as you drink the sips down

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 01:19:39 | More by lordofstarside

spoony

Colorado

4/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 375 ml bottle (Batch 10) into a tulip.

A-The beer poured a brownish red color that was mostly clear except for the few floaties that dribbled out of the bottle towards the end. The khaki-colored head was pretty solid and left a nice cap.

S-A pleasant, if not complex, smell of red fruit and berries. I thought of sour cherries and cranberries. There was a bit of oak noticeable.

T-The taste mostly follows the smell, sour cherries and tart cranberries. I also picked up some tart lemon (it may have just been the tartness I was noticing ) and a nice oaky undertone to it all.

M-There was a nice, prickly carbonation. The long finish left my mouth watering, but it wasn't all sour, there was a just a bit of sweetness.

O-A good sour brew, but not my favorite Russian River. The beer was concentrated and had a good flavor (if you like sour cherry), but a bit one-dimensional to be truly world-class. Perhaps I had too high of expectations, but I thought this one lacked a little of the complexity (oak, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, etc.) that I was hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 00:39:49 | More by spoony

jimilayne

New York

4.03/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After drinking the Temptation earlier in the week I thought it would be very similar. At first blush it seemed to be, but once I got into it it really became it's own animal.

Appearance - clear amber with a tiny head that dissipates quickly

Smell - sour, dry cherries

Taste - It's sweet but doesn't have any kind of bitter or sour after taste, which is a pleasant surprise. After you get into it a little bit and let it breathe it becomes much more drinkable.

Mouthfeel - light carbonation, tiny bite. Pleasant.

I'm surprised how much I enjoy this after being so-so on the Tempation. Hats of to Russian River.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 00:19:02 | More by jimilayne

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my first experience with a sour and I must say that I really enjoyed it. I, too, spent $18 dollars on this but I won't let it effect my review. This poured with a very thin head with little carbonated look. The color was cloudy, grainy, red and brown. I love the scent, it's tart and sour with a wine like aroma but a sweet cherry scent. After the initial shock of the tartness I became very comfortable and savor end the flavor. It was like an ale mixed with a red wine, which is very close to what it is. Overall I'm delighted with this experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 00:04:26 | More by KYGunner

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12.68oz bottle into tulip.

A - Deep orange amber with a small off-white head.

S - Tart cherries, red wine vinegar, oak, earthy dark fruit. Very nice.

T - Sour cherry up front, followed by oak, apple, and sweet red wine. Finish has a nice blend of tart dark fruit, nuts, and woody malt flavors. The sourness is huge initally, but it quickly fades allowing the other flavors to shine through.

M - Smooth, sharp, crisp. Medium bodied and dry.

O - The best sour I've had yet. The balance is perfect and the flavor is incredible. Extremely sour at first, but tamed by a light sweetness and mild tartness.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 03:21:59 | More by mooseo

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

2.88/5  rDev -37%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

375ml bottle into a tall tulip, batch 005x4

A: Pours a clear dark amber color with a finger of dense white head. Good retention.

S: Intense lactic and acetic sourness with faint sour cherry in the background. The lactic and acetic nature is balanced, but a bit over the top. Not much else.

T: The sourness is toned down from the aroma, but it's still pretty strong. The sour cherry is very faint in the flavor. There honestly isn't a whole lot going on in this beer.

M: Medium mouthfeel with faint carbonation.

O: Not great - I don't really understand the praise for this beer. It's not terrible, but it reminds me of everything I don't like about AWAs. Overly sour with little complexity.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 23:32:53 | More by coreyfmcdonald

mgironta

New Jersey

4.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

First of all, yes, I paid $18 for this beer, which I think is outrageous, but I always have to grab up Russian River beers when I see them. This beer poured a cloudy reddish-brown color with lots of active carbonation. The head was one finger and pure white and lingered around for awhile, although it didn’t leave much lacing on the glass. On the nose, there was a definite presence of cherries and funk. Minor notes on the nose included oak and a bit of red wine. Complexity much? On the first sip, the first thing I think is that this beer is crazy tart. It took me a few sips to get used to that. It also didn’t have as much funk as I thought it would. After I got used to that, there was definitely oak and cherries in the taste. The carbonation is definitely active and goes well with the brew, which is much lighter than I thought it would be. This brew almost reminds me of a red wine, which also could be because it was aged in Pinot Noir barrels. The finish lingers with tart cherries. Although this would not be a beer I could have every night, the complexity really makes it an amazing beer. I would have this again in a second.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 01:33:49 | More by mgironta

stoutluvr420

Vermont

4.55/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours copper hued than brown with a very good head and lace. The aroma has big funk and cherry notes with some earthy and dusty character, light notes of caramel and bready malts as well. The taste starts with tart cherries, soft oak undertone, and biting brett nature. The Pinot Noir does show, but only at the finish, along with some subdued spice. Bright and dry mouthfeel, very lambic in nature. Did not expect the sparkling texture from how she looked in the glass. Gorgeous.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 01:19:40 | More by stoutluvr420

jeonseh

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle poured into Mikkeler tulip. Batch 5.

A - Resembles a darker Felmish red ale as it is a dark reddish brown. Has a glow about it that almost makes it resemble a spirit. Small head head slowly went down to just a layer of foam on the sides.

S - Tart cherries, sweet sugar, oak lemon, red wine tannins, and a slight Brett funk.

T - Cherry, slight Brett funkiness up front. As it moves on, there is lemon, slight orange peel, wheat grass, oak, red wine tannins. There is a slight sugary sweetness as well that keeps it nicely balanced from being too tart. Well-balanced and complex as each sip brings a slightly different experience.

MF - Nicely, medium carbonated. Slightly thick body with a slight stickiness. The carbonation helps bring the tart flavors that leave a tingle in the tongue. There is a slight astringency that hangs on in the finish.

O - Probably the most complex of the Russian River sours that I've had. Each sip brings something new as it is tart, sweet and funky all in one beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 02:25:45 | More by jeonseh

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.93/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Pours a hazy, copper brown hue. Slightly darker than copper. Larger, 2.5 finger fizzy head. Retention is good, lacing is pretty good too.

S- Tart with prominent cherry flavors. Smells a lot like a Flemish Red. Definite sour scents mix in with a slight oak profile. Hints of malt and Belgian yeast bready/earthiness mix in.

T- Moderate levels of sour right off the bat. Big fruit profiles, mostly cherry, but hints of citrus acidity. Hints of the oak peek in right after the sour flavor. Ends fairly dry and with lingering grain tastes. Almost a bread flavor there in the end. Definitely one of the most complex sours I've had.

M- Light, highly carbonated, and hides the alcohol. Almost a champagne-like consistency. Would love to session this one, but after about 2, your palate would not be getting all of the flavors.

Overall, another sour that I love. Definitely world class, and after having PtE and Supplication, I'm really looking forward to Consecration.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 01:34:11 | More by boilermakerbrew

tarheels86

California

3.93/5  rDev -14%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375mL Batch 4 at Carolina Goes Sour thanks to SpencerDB! Pours a cloudy orange with a very nice nose buttered waffles, oak, spices, almost whiskey barrel notes instead of wine barrels. Taste is a powerful lacto/pedo sourness that sits in the back of the throat. Not too much else. I was really unimpressed. Will need to try this a few more times.

375mL Batch 4 courtesy of ajm. Pours a cloudy blood orange with a towering, rocky, tan head that leaves insane lacing. Aroma of cotton candy, lacto, sour cherries, baked cherry pie. I’m still not too keen on the taste here. The body is thin and spritzy. And there is a massive oak dryness, tannin, leather quality that distracts from the cherry and sour elements. It’s damn good, but I would take Beatification, Consecration, or Temptation over this any day. 3/22/2010 9/5/7/4/14=3.9

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 17:45:09 | More by tarheels86

uustal

Rhode Island

4.63/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a cherry-wood stain color with a slight off-white head. Aroma of delectable cherries, berries, green apple and hints of red win vinegar. Flavor begins with sour cherry awesomeness. Good tart mixed berry notes, hints of apple, oak, very small amount of funk. Finishes with pleasant vinegar and red wine notes, which help out the very dry, wine-like finish. Perfectly blended. Awesome combination of sweet and sour, funky, tart and dry. This is a sour which leaves you coming back for sip after sip.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 03:16:17 | More by uustal