Supplication - Russian River Brewing Company

falc0n2600

California

4.95/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I was incredibly spoiled for this to be the first sour beer I ever tried, on New Year's Eve 2012. $12 for a 12 oz bottle, and worth it. Dark red in appearance with incredible champagne-like bubbling that didn't stop. The bubbles felt great without being overpowering. The various yeasts combined to create a not-overpowering sour flavor mostly of cherries and wine grapes with some slight wood flavors from the Pinot barrels. Such an awesome beer. Having now tried a bunch of Russian River sours, this is still my favorite, although Consecration tastes very similar and is somewhat stronger.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 06:01:19 | More by falc0n2600

steeb

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

A: Pours a copper/brown with a thin white head. Slight opacity

S: Grapes, cherrirs, and sourness. Like grape candy.

T: Tart. Deep robust wine character. Cherries. Amazing

M: Light bodied really let's the flavors shine.

O: Just another great Russian River sour. Cherries and pino noir are a very nice touch

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 06:53:16 | More by steeb

MCain04

Illinois

4.66/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

375ml bottle, Batch 010, split with a friend, poured into a snifter glass slightly below cellar temp.

Appearance: Hazy dark orange/red with creamy white head, great retention and lacing.

Smell: Sweet tart fruit, a lot of sour cherries, a little of the pinot peeks through nicely.

Taste: Sweet, tart, cherries, the taste lingers and coats the tongue pleasantly. If the pinot was a little more forward it'd be a 5/5.

Mouthfeel: Smooth with moderate carbonation. sticky finish.

Overall: One of the best AWAs you'll ever have. A real pleasure to drink. Pretty close to perfect.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 20:26:39 | More by MCain04

BreweryRun

California

4.44/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ruby color with a small head. Smells strongly of tart cherries and sour grapes and tastes the same. Not an offensive flavor, very tasty. Overall, taste is dominated by a pleasant tart cherry flavor. Of all the sour beers I have had (which is only about 5) this is far and away the best. I would eagerly have a full pint of this which is more than I can say with most sours.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2013 05:47:32 | More by BreweryRun

brewskis

Indiana

4.46/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy, dark brownish ruby color with a half finger head that dissipates very slowly and leaves a blanket of lacing. Tons of sediment, but that is expected with the amount of yeast added. Smells of funky, sour cherries, oak, vinegar, grapes, lots of funkiness. Lots of dryness that really does give it a wine-like smell. Smells almost like a cherry warhead. Taste starts with a very astringent, dry, sour cherry flavor, as well as some oak and funkiness. Then get some of the brown ale qualities: slight breadiness, maybe some cocoa (but i could just be imagining that), some carmel malt. Then the astringent sour notes from the brett and bacteria come back even stronger, along with lots more cherry, grape, funkiness, vinegar, oak, some carmel. Extremely dry finish that blends the wine and the beer qualities nicely. So sour, yet extremely balanced. High medium body with a creamy mouthfeel. Very lively carbonation from the refermentation that does give it a very champagne-like crisp finish. Very complex and so delicious. Just getting into this style, but I have a feeling I won’t come across many sours better than this one. Hope to try this again someday.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 02:46:59 | More by brewskis

jvillefan

California

4.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A: Deep copper color body with an ivory white head.

S: Dar sour grapes with pleasant sour esters.

T: Very rich sour dark grape and sour apple flavors. There is a slight sweet caramel malt character as well.

M: Thick body with a great bit from both the alcohol and the carbonation.

O: Great beer. Russian Rivers best rotational sour.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2013 17:56:16 | More by jvillefan

ElSid

California

4.73/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

The Beers of California

#64

Batch 008

A: Gorgeous deep amber to burgundy with an off white head of foam which dissipates quickly to a faint cling to the glass.

S: Mostly balsamic vinegar and wood with some tart cherries with touches of sweetness.

T: The base is wood, leather and earth, which loses itself in notes of acetic acid, cherry tartness, green grapes, sprinkles of sea salt, and sour funk from the yeast and bacteria. The pleasant sour bite is the focal point of this brew which is the base for the complexity from the Pinot barrels, cherries, and yeast / bacteria blend.

M: Medium bodied with a nice syrupy linger that is at the same time smooth with faint carbonation and almost no lace on the glass.

O: The melange of flavors sums to an indescribable concoction that grays the area between beer and wine. The product is a sour ale with flavors that are boldly distinct yet combine together with synergism. A wonderful brew that is a must try for all beer lovers out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 04:08:06 | More by ElSid

Immortale25

Florida

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

Poured into a snifter. Label says 082712

A- Pours a rubyish light brown color with a 1/2 inch tan head that bears little retention time before fizzing away to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a small patch of surface foam. Non-resilient lacing slides quickly down the glass.

S- Bright fruity nose with some lactic acid sourness. Notes of cherries, grape juice and plum. Slightly effervescent.

T- Semi-heavy sourness plays off the cherry and other fruit notes well with some vinegar in the aftertaste. Not much else going on but there doesn't need to be. Very straightforward.

M- Prickly and crisp with a tartness that causes the mouth to salivate after every sip. Medium-low carbonation is a surprise but doesn't detract from the overall experience. Medium body.

O- Finally starting to truly develop a palate for sours. This one isn't my favorite, but it drinks well and has enough sweetness to balance.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 02:13:39 | More by Immortale25

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.61/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottle to Ommegang flute

A: Orange to brown in color it has a small tan to brown head that leaves a thick lacing around top of the glass. It is semi translucent but not cloudy, it looks clean and there is some carbonation that can be seen.

S: you can smell the wine from the pino barrels for sure and there is definitely the smell of sour cherries (I only know they are sour cherries because it says so on the bottle) they have a sweetness to them and they become the dominant smell. There is also a little bit of that yeasty funk but you have to really try to smell it.

T: to start you can definitely taste the pino barrels and other yeasts, but then there is a sweetness that kicks in and mixes with that tart wine flavor. Then the sour starts to kick and you realize that the sweetness was definitely the sour cherries as the cherry flavor is apparent. The finish is that sweetness which is then taken over by the pino and yeasts that leads to that wine/champagne flavor that lasts for a good five seconds.

M: It is smooth and somewhat carbonated with the refermentation process giving it a light champagne like feel. Though the thing that makes this goes down really easily is the fact this thing is super oily, but not overwhelming.

O: I continue to be extremely impressed with russian river sours I would go as far as to say I love this beer it is delicious, has so much depth and so many flavors. It pretty much has everything as advertised cherries pino and yeast/sour taste, I can't think of how to improve it. Its not the best beer I've ever had, but its definitely up there I highly recommend this beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 01:18:20 | More by Pinknuggets

bmwats

Louisiana

4.11/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a tulip.

A: Golden amber. Not much head and no real lacing to speak of.

S: Sourdough bread, and raspberry.

T: Flavor follows suit.... bready, raspberry and fermented cherry. A little alkaline

M: Slightly bitter with a dry finish.

D: Enjoy....

Atmosphere is pretty solid. Nice appearance although not much in terms of head or lacing. Nose is a basic but a strong fruity bready combo. Flavor is fruity, but only a little sweet, white bready. Overall, this is a great quaff.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 07:45:42 | More by bmwats

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A-Pours a lightly turbid brownish hue. The body is misty, yet semi-clear. The head retains its stature proudly and doesn't waver much. Foamy lacing patches cling to the glass.

S-When initially served, it was a bit too cold and the aroma was stunted. However, as it warmed I really was impressed. A triad of wine, ale and sour yeast. The tart cherries are eccentric and enticing. The distinct Pinot Noir aroma rises and strengthens as the glass warms. Musty, dusty and oaky. The base ale also lends some pleasant malted aromas as well.

T-The flavor wowed me as well. The initial tartness of the yeast and cherries stunned my palate. As my tongue became accustomed to the flavors, I was able to pick up the delectable offerings of the barrel-aging process. Supplication is vinous and bretty while also staying sweet and ripe. I love the must, dust and oak that is found both in flavor and aroma. Perfect level of sourness.

M-Lighter side of medium bodied. Whizzing carbonation. Off-dry. No hints of alcohol. Supplication drinks with epic ease. I licked my lips and they even tasted tart.

O/D-What a success. One of the best Sours I have come across. Deserves its nearly godly reputation. This could turn any wine lover into a beer lover with one quick sip.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2013 20:48:17 | More by VelvetExtract

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.08/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

6/2012 vintage

A - Color is a burnt orange somewhat carmel-y colored. Poured a little cold, about 2 inches of foam rises from a down the middle pour and dissipates quickly. Quite a few strings of champagne looking bubbles rise through the glass.

S - Smells awesome. Lots of dry wood, some fruit-y type character that I cant quite pint point. This is one of the first beers I've tried (admittedly not a lot sours) where I get that funky barnyardy type smell. (at least I think thats what it is) just a slight funky-ness to it. Not offputting, really great in fact.

T - First sip is a kick in the teeth of sourness. Lots of tart dark cherry. Some sweet apple cider vinegar type notes as it warms up. Oak. Clean and crisp sour finish on the end.

M - Nice level of carbonation for the medium its working in. Some nice bubbly carbonation. Nice light-medium thickness.

O - This is a really great sour beer. On the sour side of balanced, I think lots of people could enjoy this, as it really plays all the bases well. I'm interested to see what its like after some time in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 22:59:08 | More by Beerandboards

themind

New Jersey

4.91/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

American wild ale aged for 15 months in pinot noir barrels. Well that about sums it up! this brew is an excellent variation of the style. Great aroma, taste and mouth feel I could drink several of these in a sitting.If you love wine and beer then this is right up your alley. Top notch World Class beer worth the trouble of attaining.

Bottom Line: World Class offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 15:52:49 | More by themind

tut2528

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a huge shout out to matttYce and beachstrength49 for this biggin'

A: the pour is an awesome amber mixed with ruby hints (moderate transparency). i got about 1/2 fingers worth of head formation on a semi aggressive pour, but it was so carbonated (like cola) that it quickly dissipatated

S: the aroma just spews out during the pour. immediately, i get huge aromas of sour and tart cherries, vinegar, and funky yeasts. there is an aweome wood character in the backbone that holds this brew together. its just an awesome aromatic brew to be honest

T: damn! this brew is simply delicious. there is such an aweome balance betwen the wine/barrel characteristics and the sourness, it is truly hard to describe. there is big tart fruitness in the body, that is well balanced with vingear. i get some funkiness but its so well intergrated into the beer!

M: with each and every sip, the salivary glands freak out. highly carbonated, and on a lighter side of medium bodied. it leaves a delightful tartness yet alcohol-heatness on the palate that consistently provides salivation.

O: this is a brew that I honestly wish I had access to everyday. It is truly phenomenal, and something that I will consistenly seek out. My only wish was that it was bottled in 750ml bottles. i want more!!!

Again, thank you so much matttYCE and beachstrength49 for this brew! you guys are awesome!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 03:27:32 | More by tut2528

ElderPuma

Wisconsin

4.61/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 12/17/2012

Pours a dark orange with ruby highlights. Bubbly finger worth of head with a foamy thick top. Head does dissipate rather quickly. Appearance is opaque/hazy with some residual sediment from the bottle. Overall a very pretty beer but certainly not brilliant.

Aroma is sweet with the characteristics of the cherries, pinot noir, and oak barrel really shining through. The sour bretta notes provide a perfect compliment to the sweet fruity notes provide by the cherries and pinot noir.

Sometimes the aroma of a beer sets you up for a rather disappointing tasting experience. That is not the case with this one as the aroma probably undersells the taste. Heavy bretta, vinegar notes, sour goodness all up front that transitions through to the cherry and pinot notes before finishing crisp and clean with the wooded oakiness and slight vanilla notes really shining through. This is a world class example of what can be done with a with bretta, fruit, and used oak barrels.

Body is light to medium as expected due to the residual sweetness. Highly carbonated and champagne like which really accentuates not only the flavors present but also the transition through all of the notes, especially the sour ones.

Overall this is an excellent beer and one of my all time favorite sour types. It is easy to drink and carries a handful of different flavor profiles which means this one never gets old.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 18:56:00 | More by ElderPuma

sommersb

Tennessee

4.49/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 01-18-2013
Freshness: Batch 082712
Packaging: 375ml brown bottle, corked and caged
Glassware: Teku
Purchased: Mail order

Appearance is a clear, burgundy color (very pretty) with a thin white head that dissipates quickly and leaves little in the way of lacing. Subsequent pour shows some yeast cloudiness.

Aromas are strong and very wine-like, of the red grape variety, plus cherries. Smells suggest a dry and sour beer, with woody and tannin characteristics.

The taste is a shock in a sense, due to the sharp sourness, more so than Temptation I had earlier tonight. Sour fruit (cherries), plus wood/oak notes and funk. The dark grapes lend an acidic quality as well.

Mouthfeel has a very high carbonation level on a medium body. The beer finishes super dry and sour, with some red wine acidity as well.

Overall, this wild ale has some similarities to the Temptation, but is more sour and has flavors of red grapes/wine vs. the white. The aromas and taste are stronger/bolder and more sour here. An Outstanding beer

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 05:50:37 | More by sommersb

davey101

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Batch 062212. 375ml bottle into a tulip glass. Huge thanks to WesM63, this is a huge want of mine!

A - Pours a clear dark ruby body. Lots of rising carbonation and one finger of off white foam. Minimal lacing and retention.

S - Cherries, oak, vanilla, red wine, and some tart vinegar. Quite nice.

T - Tart cherries and oak. A bit of vinegar and moldy cheese with a long sour finish. Not very well balanced and a bit harsh. Aftertaste is clean with a lasting acetic bite. Not quite at the level of a flanders our bruin. Super sour and just a bit jumbled when it comes to the flavors

M - Crisp and lively, medium bodied.

O - Super sour with a nice cherry presence, but this one did not live up to the hype for me. Glad to have had the chance to try it though.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 03:28:12 | More by davey101

kevanb

Illinois

4.56/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle, Batch 010, poured into a Russian River "-tion" stemmed glass.

Russian River Supplication (Batch 010)

The beer pours a very nice burgundy color, hues of medium amber, orange and ruby, a touch of fizzy off-white head rises out of the glass but dissipates instantaneously leaving no lacing. It's fairly clear, a touch of haze, lots of bubbles rising to the top of the glass, certainly looks to be a lively beer. The aroma is very intense, strong cherry presence with a nice amount of red wine behind it, earthy wood and funk with some mild vinegar also leap out of the glass. The flavors are simply wonderful, especially as the beer warms and decants, nice juicy cherry, tanin heavy red grape that brings out a bit of a leathery flavor as well from the barrel. The oak flavors really come to form on the tongue, smooth, a bit sweet and just a touch chewy, a bit of tobacco comes through with the wood as well that quickly gets faded out by an assertive but not dominating vinegar presence that brings out the acidity in these flavors, balancing out the earthiness a bit. The body is very lively, high levels of carbonation, prickly on the tongue and as it goes down with a nice dry finish.

Verdict: A truly world class Wild Ale. One of the more complex beers on the market and one of the finest examples of what a sour beer can become. Everything is in harmony with each sip, a beer everyone must try.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 22:29:30 | More by kevanb

caseyscarb

4.89/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Russian River Supplication Barrel Aged Sour

From the get go this beer is impressive. After popping the cork you see a beautiful deep amber cherry color, with a nice creamy pinkish-white head, and as the bubbles rise, the sediment cascades downward like a snowglobe.

On the nose I get the soft, yet complex smell of pinot as well as acidic cherry.

The first drink is sure to shock the palate a bit, however thereafter they are received much easier.

The taste is briefly a soft fruit flavor with lemon, followed by the tart punch from the brettanomyces in which you get several flavor profiles of bitter, acidic and sour cherry, and it then begins to fade abruptly into an impressively long and complex after taste that has a floral essence and leaves an oaky mouth feel that ties the whole thing together quick wonderfully.

Overall this was very great well crafted and enjoyable beer.
I guess if I were to find a negative it would be in the price, while I fully expect a barrel aged beer of this quality to cost a bit more, I still felt this was at least $2-$3 dollars over priced for such a small quantity.
But then again maybe not.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 08:07:26 | More by caseyscarb

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375mL bottle into tulip. bottled on 08.27.12.

A: amber hued. slightly hazed. carbonization bubbles everywhere, carefully making their way to the surface. head is a reddish white hue and tightly bubbled. retention is solid. some lacing.

S: acidic. tart. sour cherries. floral. there is a mild chocolate aroma in there too. dry hot chocolate powder. however, mostly barny and beautiful. the cherries add a nice layer of depth.

T: wow, that is sour and then some. after the initial slam, my palate adjusts to the flavor. vinous. sour cherries impart a sweetness as well. reminds me of a cherry pie pastry. hard to discern between the super sweet flavor and the acidic tartness. the finish has a meaty graininess to it. lingering pie crust.

M: carbonation is spot on. bubbly, but not too much to distract from the body. medium bodied.

D: super solid brew. understandable why it is becoming the benchmark for American wilds. great complexity and balance. glad to see the grain peek its head out from a blanket of acidity. if you have the ability to get this, get it.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 06:30:20 | More by Jimmys

matttttYCE

Arizona

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

Not clear on the batch, maybe that indicates 3, but the date is 082712.

The head is a light tan color, creamy, and less than a finher high. It sits atop a clear red amber colored liquid. Retention is light, but otherwise favorable appearance. The aroma is Pinot Noir woodiness, sharp tart cherries, vinegar, sweet and sour/lemon juice, hints at vanilla pleasantly. The taste matches the aroma and then some. Plenty of vinegar, tart cherries, lemon bite, with plenty of Pinot Noir and oaky characteristics, and more undertones of vanilla. Finishes with a mix of sharp sour, oak/vinous, and subdued tart notes. The mouthfeel is light and almost bubbly but not quite. Medium-round carbonation, velvety smooth consistency, and a medium body.

Overall my expectations were high (probably because it's Russian River) but once again they were exceeded greatly. I've now had almost all the RR sours/wilds now and while they differ in certain aspects they have all been nothing short of fantastic. It's like they have different sours to fit your different moods, much like there are types of wines (and the barrels they age these in). Is there a better brewery for this many quality American Wild Ales in the country? I think not.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 22:37:58 | More by matttttYCE

magictacosinus

California

4.8/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

Poured into a wine glass from a 375ml bottle. Label states it was bottled on "08/27/12."

What a beautiful color this is! Reminds me very vividly of the Cantillon kriek I got to luckily try when I lived in Europe. Because it's a brown ale rather than traditionally a wheat ale, there's a darkened overtone that surrounds the reddish-plumb color. Reflected in the light, delightful amber orange shades reveal themselves. Tiny bubbles of carbonation rise in droves at the sides of the glass, but this is as clear as these Lambic-style beers can get. Jewel-like in appearance, and even with yeast added in, any cloudiness it gains gives it the appearance of an aged, refined beer. Perfection.

The smell is quite tarty - not as much as actual Lambics I've had before, but often reminiscing them in full form. The Brettanomyces phenols are not as overpowering as I'd expect, yet at the same time the elements seem to come together in full form here. The woodiness from the Pinot Noir barrels come in droves, but the lemon rind and apple/pear/cherry tart achieved by the Brett strands and cherries are wholly fantastic. It may not be overpoweringly tarty overall, but there's barely anything here that resembles beer, which is always a fascinating experience.

The flavor is spot on to tart-like sours, and every sip brings me back to my favorite takes on the beer style. The initial taste is consists of citrus, slight wine-like fruity characteristics, as well as a smooth yet flavorful cherry finish. The sour tart finish is awesome, and the yeast seems to crawl all over the palate with each gulp. The alcohol becomes finally a bit present here, and adds sweetness, but it is the sour flavors that win here completely. The beer is characteristically dry, but the the finish is refreshing in part of the fruits and yeasty finish.

What a beautiful concoction that Russian River has once again delivered. Words cannot recommend this more. It's really complex, but all the flavors meld together that it is really balanced. It's not too yeasty yet nicely sour, not too malty yet quite thickened, not too fruity yet deliciously tarty overall. Will be trying more of these wild ales from RR in future for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:28:13 | More by magictacosinus

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Shared with RoninTK3. Served from a 12oz bottle poured into a Krombacher Pils glass.

Appearance- Amber/red with short head that faded into beautiful lacing.

Smell- Lemon, vinegar, vanilla/oaky, very very very mild cherry. Light bready yeast.

Taste- Very tart. Lemon, mild cherry, lemon rind.

Mouthfeel- Quite carbonated. Very smooth. Salivating.

Overall- This is incredible. Glad I have another bottle!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:20:17 | More by Seanniek91

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

375mL bottle batch # 005x3 consumed 12/19/12

Appearance: Deep bourbon-y brown with a nice tan head

Nose: Cherry candies, tart cranberry juice, sweet caramel, and toasty oak. Really nice combination of aromas.

Taste: Cherry forward, with the caramel and oak underneath. Some of the tart cranberry and strawberry from the Pinot Noir barrels are evident. Complex and a nice balance of tart and sweet.

Mouthfeel: Medium with a hint of tannic dryness.

Overall: The cherries get to be a bit much when it warms up but sipping it slowly reveals a complex combination of tasty flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 20:06:52 | More by fdig23

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

4.9/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Not following regular format here:

FUNK, Pinot, dry grassiness, puckingly sour but not overly so. Acidic. I've had Beatification and I'm not sure it's better, just different. They are equally as good. One is just rarer than the other.

I've had a decent amount of Belgian examples of the style and this trumphs most but weird as it may be, I prefer this to most Krieks. Also, let it be known I've never had a Cantillon Beer so please take this fact into account...

Everything I look for in a sour with cherries added is right freaking here.

Dry, and semi grassy finish allows for this one to be more drinkabe than any other representation of the style I've had but that doesn't neccessarily mean best.

Near perfect beer. Well Done RRBC.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 01:53:21 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME