Beatification - Russian River Brewing Company

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap

A. Golden pale straw with a 1.5 finger khaki head with good retention and nice bubbly lacing.

S. lemon candies, earthy peaty, Brett funk, bread

T. Closely follows the nose starting with lemon and bready sweetness but accompanied with very funky earth and a quite dry and sour finish.

M. Full body moderate to high carbonation. Crisp

O. Their wild ales are just ridiculous. Amazing spring beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2012 09:29:36 | More by williamjbauer

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.7/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I first had this beer on my first trip to CA, and my original review is below this one. It's been about 2 years (to my detriment) since I've had a bottle of this batch, and I'm kicking myself for it. In any case, here goes - happy birthday, me!

Served in the original RR -tion tulip (this glass is no longer made and is now a whale IMO), this beer is crystal clear, straw yellow and has a dense, frothy off-white head with excellent retention and minimal lacing. The nose makes me smile. Beautiful overripe lemons, an insane level of funk with cheese, sweaty feet and just an incredible explosion of fruit (unripe white peaches, ripe honeydew melons). The sourness is beautifully citric in nature with some lactic acid no acetic acid. In fact, I will go as far as say that this is an impeccable gueze, it really does remind me of the better batches of Girardin 1882, and my all time favorite, the 1999 Oude Gueuze. The only thing that sets it apart is a light sweetness that's present, very mildly corn-like, and this is not something I've found in a gueuze worth gushing about. Even a little bit of white grapes? As I let it breathe, I get an intense, salty, cheesey, funky aroma. I'm starting to see the beginnings of a musty, mushroomy, wet wood-like funk to the nose that I'm going to enjoy revisiting in a year or so.

Opening and closing with a palate crushing sourness that is remarkably clean in its blend of citric and lactic qualities, this is a remarkable beer. Again, there's plenty of unripe stone fruits, semi-raw grapes, mellow melons, all topped off with a dollop of soured yogurt, this some seriously intense and good stuff. In particular, the yogurty sourness is of note, as it exemplifies what happens when the citric and lactic sourness play off each other. The sourness does hide some of the funk here, not really allowing the wet hay and grass to come through( unlike batch 3, which is a better balanced beer IMO). Under all the sourness, a bit of cereal sweetness does come through, a little grainy and a little corn like. Sour with lemons and a brilliant lactic sourness (I can't think of too many better showcases for lactic acid), this beer finishes with some tannic character. Light in body, medium-high in carbonation, this beer is wonderfully carbonated and wonderfully executed.

This beer , and this batch in particular, is probably the best lambic-type beer brewed in the US. Yes, batch 3 is a better drinking sour, but this batch has a certain je ne sais quoi to it. Far better than Duck Duck Gooze, on par or slightly better than Isabelle IMO. I traded too many of these away, but at least I got to make some friends in the process. A remarkable beer that I'm going to be sad to see gone.

**Original review 05-24-2008 02:30:10**
Batch 2 4.5/4.5/4/4.5/4

A: Straw yellow with a frothy and lively off-white head. Lots of carbonation. Pretty!

S: Complex with notes of sour, vinegar, spice (black pepper), oak and a mild sweetness. There's an earthy slant to it. This is a great gueuze ! As it warms up, there's a hint of vanilla too, if you swirl hard enough.

T: Massive sourness with a lot of acidity. There's a hint of fruitiness that comes in - apple? The finish is dry and puckering tart. Definitely among the sourest beers i've tasted - it leaves my mouth watering

M: Lively carbonation on the tongue, sour and incredibly so with a dry finish.

D: I'll be honest - this is a new style to me and the acidity is in your face but i know this one's a gem as it keeps me coming back

These sours are growing on me and i'm glad i have a couple of bottles stashed away to come back to when i better appreciate the style

**Edit 12 May 2012**
I got a couple of these from Chebyshev. Thank you, Aaron! Batch 5 (aka 011012)

Pouring lighter than I remember it being, but still with excellent carbonation and head retention. The nose is a beautiful bright citrusy funk, with grass and hay. Combining the pure grassy funk of batch 3 with the bright acidity and melon and fruit notes of batch 2, this is a beautiful blend. A little bit of honey, graham crackers and a whiff of ethyl lactate (fruity, coconutty. No acetic acid is perceived, though the lactic acid esters do contribute a fruity sharpness.

Like batch 2, this is pretty hugely sour, but not as intensely so. Prominently lactic with some lime rind and citrusy acidity as well. Mild tannins and the lactic acid really brings to mind unripened stone fruit (yellow freestone peaches, nectarines). The funk level is tempered by the sourness, but grass, and straw are quite prominent. Mildly cheesy as well. Drying on the finish with lingering lactic acid, some oak tannins (that lend a chewiness), this beer is crisply carbonated. Highly sour, this is pretty excellent 4.5/4.5/4/4.5/4.5

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2011 04:20:25 | More by DefenCorps

jethrodium

California

4.45/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Public House in San Francisco. Pours a clear amber with with a small white head that has decent retention and leaves a bunch of small spots of lacing on glass. Aroma is very funky with big grapefruit and a mineral presence. Also a big of oak and some champagne yeast. Initial taste is huge tart grapefruit which goes into some lemon and mineral. Some light oak as well. Very dry and very sour. One of the most sour beer I have had. Mild astringency. Light-medium body. Medium carbonation. Right up there with the best beers that Russian River (or anyone else) has to offer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2011 22:16:59 | More by jethrodium

juhl31

California

4.33/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

-golden color, on the yellow side of gold, with a white head that yields some lacing and head retention

-not a ton going on in the nose. there is a bit of a lemon rind smell to it, but that was about it

-this beer stabs your tongue with the sourness right off the bat. but then the sourness melts in a bit and then grows back at the end for a final pucker. there is a big straight up lemon taste to the sourness as well, but not much else for tasting notes

-cant really say anything bad as far as the mouthfeel is concerned. it coats the mouth a bit...which is fine

-this beer is crazy sour, but not in a way that is over the top. it is really hard to explain. all i can say is that for how sour it is...it is extremely drinkable

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2011 06:45:11 | More by juhl31

nataku00

California

4.7/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A 2008 keg tapped and poured into a fluted glass. Golden yellow and mostly clear with thin white soapy head, barely half a finger initially. Some light carbonation floating up from the bottom of the glass, but not too much to maintain much of a head. Light swirling forms a small amount of foam, but it dissipates quickly leaving no lacing.

Nose is sour apples, light citrus, earthy, wet hay funkiness and a bit of fresh herbs. Tart but fruity, grassy, and just really good.

Taste doesn't disappoint at all, tart and sour apples, lemon juice, astringency from skins of plums, fresh soil, rosemary, wet animal hair. Nice complex mix of sour, sweet, and earthy funk. Lingering sour fruits on the tongue.

Light and crisp with good small bubble carbonation that gently tickles your tongue. Refreshing and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2011 04:32:43 | More by nataku00

marikoangel

California

4.2/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a small port style glass at Toronado

A: It poured a medium clear golden yellow with a small thin white head that disappears quickly, leaving a light white ring around the sides of the top.

S: This beer has nice sour funky notes, lemon and something musty. The smell is light and makes me excited to try it.

T: Definite intense sour, like biting into a lemon. Yum! It's a wonderful sour that lingers in my mouth and on my lips. I can pick up notes of barnyard funk once the sour subsides a bit. A nice little bit of vinegary acidity. There's just such a nice complex yet simple sour tartness to it.

M: Low, barely there carbonation, a medium mouthfeel with a nice zing

D: It was wonderfully drinkable, but one I really wanted to savor. I got about a 6oz pour of it which was perfect. It's one I would definitely drink again and again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2010 22:39:34 | More by marikoangel

femALEist

California

3.85/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at Toronado during SF Beer week.
Beatification by RR is a wild ale that is 100% spontaneously fermented beer using the oldest barrels that no longer have any wine flavor or oak flavor left in them. 5.5% abv. It poured a cloudy sun yellow. It smelled of sour, oak and Brett. It tasted sour! Lemon, lemon, lemon sour, Brett and super dry. It is one tart beer! Reminiscent of Isabelle Proximus, a one note incredibly sour beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2010 19:23:22 | More by femALEist

WesWes

New York

4.65/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a pale gold color with a 1/2" white head that fades to lacing. The aroma is outstanding. It has a light, pale and wheat malt scent with a mild sourness; very well done. The taste is awesome as hell. Wow, what a great sour flavor. It's light and easy drinking with a mouth-puckering sourness. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low bodied beer with adequate/good carbonation. This is a damn fine wild ale. It's no secret why this one is in the top 100.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2010 23:17:56 | More by WesWes

SurlyDuff

Oregon

4.55/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this wonderful ale at their pup. Pours a light apricot gold with some suspended particulation.

Great lactic and tart wild brett funk right off the bat. Lemon and grassy citrus.

Oak and some wonderful layers of barnyard and slight bandaid rubber. It's acidic and tart, with the malt barely to be seen. The carbonation is not quite champagne quality, but it's tingly and satisfying. Crisp tart apples in here too. Slight sulphurous match, but other than that quite clean and flawless. Yum! The little snifter half-pint was gone before I knew it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2009 15:40:34 | More by SurlyDuff

paytoplay

California

3.88/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sour Bomb! Add sour to sour and you get this beer. Newest batch, on tap at O'Briens SD for the 15th annv party. Not much of a nose, funk and brett a bit. Would go killer with food. Also very interested to see how this will age. Should the texture soften and the brett and other funk develope this could turn out to be something very special.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2009 00:19:33 | More by paytoplay

Halcyondays

California

4.85/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On-tap at O'Brien's,

A: Pours a lightly hazy dark yellow with a mild white head.

S: Sour apples, light malt, similar to a gueuze, light funk to it.

T: Just a beautiful beer. Light fermented fruit plays with the acidity in a complex, great mix. Almost a champagne quality to it, reminded me a lot of Cantillon with the high acidity. If I tasted this blind I would have thought it a Belgian gueuze, no doubt about it.

M: Very sour, not as dry as I thought it would be, it has a light sweetness that carries it through. What I want in a mouthfeel for a wild ale.

D: This is really good. Had to almost chug my first one since I had to order 3 beers at a time and couldn't carry them all. The second time around I got to really get into the beer. This is my first time having this one, and it shows Vinnie really knows what he's doing. This with Supplication are my favourite RR sours. Edit 2/2010 - I just had some batch 2 of this that may be the best beer I've ever had, the complexity and flavour is incredible and delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2009 05:08:35 | More by Halcyondays

LilBeerDoctor

New York

4/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 7/26/08. On tap at Blind Tiger. Pours a clear orange with no head. Aroma is sour and quite funky (barnhouse funk, horseblanket). Flavor of initial tartness, sweet tart candies. The flavor is less funky than the aroma. This is sour but not puckering sour, so it is quite drinkable for its style. Awesome sour that I can't believe I got the chance to try on tap!
8/4/8/4/17 (4.1/5)

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2008 22:58:04 | More by LilBeerDoctor

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a very slightly fogged gold with basically no head. Nose is citrus and sweet. The funk is there too. Flavor is, well... Flavor is holy ----! Sour to the core with evident citrus. Pretty amazing stuff. Feel has a light and smooth carbonation to it. Liquid is good. Lovers of sours unite! The American lambic lives!

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2008 03:45:09 | More by RblWthACoz

TheEremite

California

4.05/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch 002 at the RR taproom.

A: Very cloudy, yellow/straw color. Small ring of small bubbles. Not much head there.

S: Not much aroma surprisingly. There's some funk/acidity and some apple aromas. Also some funky spicy and "barnyard" brett character.

T: Heavy on the Brettanomyces/wild yeast. It's sour for sure. There is some malt in the background and there seems to be some hop bitterness. Bitterness could also be some slight spicy yeast character. Interesting. I like it.

M: Dry, lively. Great carbonation for the beer.

D: Very drinkable for the style I suppose. I'm not sure I'd have two, but it is refreshing. It's not as clean as many lambics, but it tastes good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2008 21:06:18 | More by TheEremite

jasonjlewis

Texas

4.47/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm sorry this review will not be detailed. I sampled this at the GABF. You say oh dude, one ounce sample. NOT THE CASE. My gf had a glass too and I got a lot of samples and poured them on top of each other and let them warm. I had to review on my cell phone so I didn't get a whole fuck load of notes.

This beer has a crazy funkiness. Sort of like a belgian sour. Sort of citrusy undertones. I did not get the best notes on this beer, but I have to write these notes so that I am sure to have this beer again. My first wild ale. I love this.

This beer was superb, sorry I don't have more notes on the flavor characteristics, but I have to write what I have down so I don't forget that I must buy this by the case in california when I visit.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2007 23:01:22 | More by jasonjlewis

objectivemonkey

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

My notes were a little messy here, but I'm sure htis is the right beer.

Pours a lovely gold with a lingering white head. Having a hard time picking out this aroma ... cherries? Nice aroma though. Taste is delicious and lingering and a highly drinkable beer.

Not many notes on this, but it was freakin good.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2006 23:18:32 | More by objectivemonkey

ElderPuma

Wisconsin

4.78/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is a rich straw yellow color that is a bit murky with just a slight brilliant white head that just sits around the edges. Not the prettiest out there but certainly not ugly. All in all the appearance is neither good nor bad but in all honesty I couldn't care less for this particular beer.

Nose is tart citrus with a touch of earthy grass notes. Smells fantastic overall with a slight spice, I can't wait to taste this.

Wow, fkavor is amazing, straight sour up front but in the perfect way and it gives way to just a slightly sweet and spicy base. It is like the perfect lemon warhead in a glass. Without a doubt this is my favorite sour beer I have ever tasted.

Mouth feel is an effervescent and light yet mouth puckering dry finish, nearly perfect for the flavor.

By far the best sour I have ever had and I am really only sorry that this is my only crack at ever trying this.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:00:52 | More by ElderPuma

tectactoe

Michigan

4.78/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Batch 005, big, big thanks to Tim for pulling this one out of the cellar and sharing it. Definitely a nice surprise. Pours a somewhat dull, golden-yellow blend with a mild chill haze, leaving the beer translucent with very mild clarity. The small, eggshell colored head builds up to almost a half-inch before quickly fizzling away into thin air.

Just from the aroma, I can already tell that this is gonna be one tart and sour MF'er. I bring my nose to the glass and my nostrils are immediately assaulted by an army of acidic and tart aromas; pure lactic acid in a glass. I'm kidding... But, seriously. Green apples, grapes, cherries, tart vinegar, mild oak, and a light but noticeable funk in the background. Probably one of the most sour "smelling" beers I've had the pleasure of sniffing, so I can only imagine how this one is going to taste. It's already got my saliva glands bubbling.

The taste is a brilliant collaboration of everything picked up on the nose, only amplified about a hundred times - extremely fruity and zesty. It's super sour and extremely tart, right from the beginning. Definitely one of the biggest lip-smacking, puckering beers I've had. Juicy, sour apples, lemon juice, white grapes. Huge acidity with heaps of vinous and vinegar flavors. Every single nook and cranny of my mouth is coated with this incredibly sour flavor. It's got me salivating like Pavlov's fucking dog over here. Some light wood and oak comes into the beer near the end and into the aftertaste, along with a light bit of funk, yeast, and musk. Thin-medium bodied with a huge bout of carbonation.

Whew! Now that's a sour beer. Huge sour flavors - so incredibly tart and puckering. Suck a lemon or drink pure lactic acid and you're right on par with Beatification. Nice little addition of funky and Brett notes, too. Thanks again to Tim for breaking this one out, it was incredible.

EDIT: 5/12/2013

Had an earlier batch at Jeff's house (thanks, Jeff!) and this stuff was even better than I remembered. So impossibly sour and so incredibly drinkable. I've never been more sad to see an empty glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 18:47:51 | More by tectactoe

Lakemonster

5/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

My friend in San Francisco broke one of these out as my introduction to sours. I was blown away. This is a sour that is truly sour without any overtones of fruitiness. It finishes leaving you wanting more and more and more. Impossible to drink quickly because after the first sip you know you have come across something special. This is my current favorite beer, if you have a chance to taste any of the Russian River sours try this one first, it will blow your mind.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 21:46:50 | More by Lakemonster

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Special thanks to DaveHack for opening this one tonight.

This poure out as a hazy golden color with a pretty decent white hea on top. The lacing was thin but the retention held up pretty well. The smell is strong as hell, lots of powerful sour notes on top of some subtle vinegar. Very acidic aromas. The taste follows the nose. I nearly had tears in my eyes from how sour this was. The flavors of violent oak aging with Brett and vinegar all come together in this beer. The mouthfeel is light bodied, nicely carbonated and leaves me with a salavating pucker after each sip. Overall this is probably one of the most sour things I've ever had. It's brutal and not something I would ever drink a lot of. Still it fits the style and is sure to please anyone who seeks these type of beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 03:41:36 | More by Knapp85

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

4.95/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from bottle into a Krombacher glass.

A - Gold with a bit of head and bubbles rising to the top. Champagne like effect

S - Lemon, orange, sour candy

T - Very, very sour. Lots of grapefruit and orange. Incredible sour.

M - Light body with lots of carbonation. The sourness lingers.

O - Great beer. One of the best I've had and every bit as good as Supplication.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 00:02:45 | More by RoninTK3

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served from a 12oz bottle into a Krombacher Pils glass.

Appearance- Cloudy yellow/orange with a beautiful bone white head that lasted a good while.

Smell- Lemon sour patch kid. Light oaky notes. Lot of lemon! Some cider vinegar present.

Taste- Incredibly sour. Mouth puckering sourness. Huge lemon. Some mild grapefruit. Nice bitterness.

Mouthfeel- Very carbonated. Champagne-like feeling in my mouth. Very tart.

Overall- Incredible! I liked Supplication more, but never the less, this is awesome.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 23:50:12 | More by Seanniek91

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle, 6,0% Abv.
Served lightly chilled in an over sized wine glass.
Batch 5
Bottled on: 01/10/2012

Thanks to Futura123 for hooking me up with this bottle.

Appearance: Beatification pours a lightly hazed golden orange and is topped by a good sized white head. The head displays good retention for a sour and leaves a few small patches of lace clinging to the glass as it recedes.

Smell: The nose is dominated by fruity notes, including: lemon, orange peel, white grapes, tangerine, under ripe stone fruit (apricots) and even a hint of under ripe granadilla, Beatification is not the funkiest beer around, but it is certainly not forgotten. There is a distinct musty character as well as notes of old dusty sacks, old wood, old dry grass, a good dose of oak and a very light earthy note.

Taste: I have been told that Beatification is one of the more sour beers around, but I am not sure I expected it to be quite this sour - that said, I love sour so this is right up my street! After the big mouth-puckering sourness, flavour notes include: Tart citrus fruits (lemon and a little orange), green apple peel, tart white grapes, a little apricot, cider vinegar, a touch of white wine, oak, musty notes, old wood, some earthiness, a little leather and surprisingly a hint of horse.

Mouthfeel: In almost all the -ation beers I have had from Russian River, Vinnie has nailed the mouthfeel and this is no exception. Medium bodied (high for the style), with a medium-high level of wonderfully smooth carbonation.

Overall: Beatification is a fantastic geuze (yes, I consider this a geuze, not an American wild ale) and is one of the few American sours that I think will stand up well to its Belgian counterparts. I would love to see how this one develops over time.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 08:56:27 | More by Thehuntmaster

merc7186

New York

4.68/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 5. Bottled on 1-10-12.

12oz bottle into snifter glass.

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Mild Lacing

S: Apricot, Sour Mash, Mild Lemon

T: Sour Mash, Lemons, Apricots

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Bitter, Sour

Overall, one of the most sour beers I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 05:05:35 | More by merc7186

Luk13

Quebec (Canada)

4.6/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle. Deep hazy golden like the tipical Cantillon. Minimal head though. Aroma is barnyard, brett and leather but also very fruity (mango, oranges and apricot). Very wild and expressive. Taste is citrusy tart, but not very dry. It reminds me of a lemon pie with candied zests. Lemon is puckering but sweetness lingers in the aftertaste. Slight musty feel. It sure ain't a perfect beer but it taste goddamn good. It feels almost like a pure lambic and is definitly one step ahead from the regular american wild. I slightly prefer Temptation to this one, but it deifnitly hit the spot in its category.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 05:29:04 | More by Luk13