Deviation - Bottleworks 9th Anniversary - Russian River Brewing Company

alcstradamus

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to the "King of Beers" Ben for sharing this one.

Poured into a 5 oz. taster glass. Not a proper vessel for reviewing appearance, so my rating for this category is adjusted to create an accurate overall score.

Pours a crystal clear amber color with effervescent carbonation. The aroma is musty attic up front with a very large amount of nuttiness, earth, and hay.

The flavor is mostly hay and orange peel, with various other earthy notes playing around in the background. Lacking world class complexity, but not world class flavor.

The finish is juicy and a bit dry but not bone sucking. The carbonation is low and appropriate.

Overall this is just a fantastic beer and one of the better American Wild Ales I have had the opportunity to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 00:02:44 | More by alcstradamus

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

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

Review 1300. My biggest Wale.

Pours an off-white head. Color is cloudy copper gold. Active carbonation in the glass.

Aroma: Grapes up front with the russian river funk. Has some cherry notes. The brett really sticks out a lot. A lot of oak in this beer. Reminds me a lot like the other RR beers' aroma.

Taste: Yep. It is there. Big sour notes with cherries and grapes. A lot of oak and tartness. It does have some vanilla and sweetness which I really enjoy. A nice dose of frunky brett as well.

Mouthfeel: A bit fizzy, but in a good way. Very tart and funky. Light dryness. Medium bodied with a higher amount of carbonation. A really nice feel to it. Ends sour and tart.

Overall, a great RR. This beer combines some of the best components of the RR beers I have had. The spice, oak, and tart blend together well and the brett provides a funk that is spot on. No medicinal notes. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 00:22:12 | More by mothman

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow! This has got to be in the top 3 beers I've ever had!! Freakin' incredible! Bottle shared with me from Douroguy...thanks Rick!!
Big thanks to Wetherel and StFun for the bottles.

Poured from a cork and caged 750ml bottle poured into my snifter glass. Pours a reddish, orangish, copper color...haha, that's a lot of colors huh? Its a very nice color regardless. Head is an off white, creamy...with very decent retention...and excelent lacing. Lacing stayed on the sides of the glass long after the beer was finished...which went way too quickly!

Aroma is mouthwatering! Loads of tart and funk! Reminds me a lot like Beatification. Not much else to say here...just excelent! Wow, if only all American Wild Ales smelled this good! The tartness is super sharp!

Here we go...
Wow, again...wow! I could drink this, and only this for the rest of my life! Major tart sharpness with a long lasting funk on the back of the tongue. Lots of carbonation and oak/wood notes. The fruit notes are similar to lemon, mixed with an odd sweetness about mid-flavor. Mouthfeel ends slightly dry. I'll say it again, an excelent sour...one of the best I've had! Medium mouthfeel, booze is very low. Thanks again Douroguy!

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 16:23:15 | More by ShadesOfGray

jrallen34

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Nate at out most recent tasting, served into a tulip...Pours light copper peach with an off white head, really good retention but the lacing is a little lacking...Medium aroma that is very musky to start and shows off a lot of oak, very similar to most RR (think consecreation and supplication)...The taste is very oaky as well, some tartness comes through but this is not overly oaky. Not very complex either, oak and funk, wish there was more going on here...A wonderful feel, full, tannic, grape skin...Easy to drink.

Great to try this treasure and its very good for a wild sour. However, doesn't compete with a great Belgian and its not very different than any other Russian River so might as well grab on of those.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 02:23:10 | More by jrallen34

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottled shared my masterchiefMD at my tasting on August 7, 2010. Thanks Chris! Served alongside six other Russian River wild ales.

A: This beer appears a hazy orange hue with a small head which fades and leaves some decent lacing on the glass.

S: The aroma is wonderful. I was surprised and pleased to detect citrus notes with a musty, funky sourness. Also subtle aromas of oak.

T: Wow. This wild ale lineup is remarkable, and Deviation is among the best of the best. The beer is very pleasantly sour and citric. The taste profile is very complex, with differing degrees of tartness, certainly from the blending. Sonambic Ale, PH1, Orphan Ale and Sanctification batch 001 have been woven masterfully to create this gem. I'm very thankful to have tried it.

M: Very tart, with a slight acetic sharpness in the finish. There is a nice, lingering aftertaste I enjoyed as long as I could.

D: Totally drinkable. I really hope I have an opportunity to enjoy this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2010 01:33:57 | More by Huhzubendah

drabmuh

Maryland

4.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks Chris for providing this for the Russian River sour tasting at Matt's. A very special treat for all of us.

Beer served in a snifter. Beer is yellowish to amber with a mild haze to it. Forms a momentary head that fades away. Carbonation is low and there is some lacing left on the glass.

The aroma is complicated. Very citric acid leading with decent lactic and a biting acetic note later. There is more acetic in the nose than I expected. There is some oakiness to the whole beer as well. Appropriately leveled sourness for the entire beer.

This beer brings the sour and finishes with the tart, it hits me in the back of the mouth pretty hard. Pretty light in body overall, some mild cherriness to the finish. Strongly acetic though, lactic and citric up front. This was a blend of PH1 and batch 1 supplication, two beers I have not tried individually, this could be one of my favorite sours but if it gets more acetic it may turn the corner on drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2010 22:46:20 | More by drabmuh

womencantsail

California

4.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A big thanks to Shane for sharing this one at Sour Fest. One of my biggest wants.

A: The pour is a clear dark golden color with some hints of orange and red and a nice white head.

S: Lots of cherries, lactic/lemon acidity, green apple, and maybe some grapefruit too (in terms of all the fruit notes). The oak is wet, musty, and tannic. And there is a solid funk that is earthy and dry.

T: The lemon acidity is bright and clean. The cherry and green apple notes are really intense and provide a nice fruit character on top of the base tartness. Quite dry, both from some brett and oak/tannins.

M: The body is medium with a moderate to high level of carbonation. The finish is dry, acidic, and slightly puckering.

D: I see why this is such a whale, it's absolutely delicious. I am very pleased to have try it, and hope I can do so again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 05:55:43 | More by womencantsail

DaveJanssen

British Columbia (Canada)

4.53/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Split a 750 mL three ways as part one of a night of impressive sours. Big thanks to brian for giving me the opportunity to try this one. Poured into a tulip glass. Reviewed 6/9/2010.

Ar: Tart and beautiful, funky, green apple, heavy sweet floral, cherries, very fruity, great brett character, soft and refined, very sour, peach and apricot, complex and subtle fruit, light alcohol

Ap: Golden amber, very fine haze, white head, great retention and lacing

T: Tart, lactic, funky barn sour with citric end, green apple, tart cherries, very sour, lemons, tart citrus, beautiful melding of rough funk and tart, one of the more acidic geuzes i've had, no acetic acid, acid not too aggressive, soft and polished, brett funk is up front, starts with fruit (peach and apricot) and acid, then floral, then brett funk with tart acidity, ends with long lemon and brett with mild fruit, not especially dry

M: fine high carbonation, prickly acidity, thin mouthfeel, ends with warming acid

O: Not bright but strong and polished, great funk and fruit mix, very strong (but clean and pleasant) acid, darker than expected

It's hard to have a beer of this caliber with an entirely open mind. There were big expectations and i'll admit that i could have been positively influenced by the name of the beer, but it was quite good.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2010 23:01:13 | More by DaveJanssen

Chambic

California

4.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Upset that Icelandair doesn't have daily flights to Reykjavík and that the only one that worked for my schedule caused me to miss Toronado's Russian River Night during San Francisco Beer Week 2010, I had to console myself with a bottle of Deviation at Seattle's Brouwer's Cafe.

Thanks, Nate and Mandy, for making my day.

A: a spectacular, clear cigar brown that sparkles with copper effervescence. A fluffy head sits at the tulip's lip, which clings just enough as I sip.

S: a lovely brett bouquet with a bright, fruity background, it smelled exactly like what I wanted -- and then some

T: the level of funk is perfect, balanced by lots of citrus zing and crisp fruit

M: incredible, this thing is just right. Its beautifully rounded with its medium body, ideal level of carbonation, and the finish is just dry enough

D: I could have this all the time -- and I really wish I could

02.09.10 Brouwer's Cafe in Seattle

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2010 17:09:29 | More by Chambic

ucusty

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Carolina Crew Gathering Greenville, NC.Thanks turdferguson for sharing! Hazy orange pour thin fizzy head. Fruity aroma mostly green apple, and grapefruit. Medium bodied acidic treat! What a great beer and a real treat to taste! I really enjoyed this and look forward to trying this again (hopefully)

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2010 16:22:49 | More by ucusty

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Big thanks to Treyrab and CoolJosh for busting this one out at the 2009 PSU Graduation Celebration!

A-Cloudy golden hued copper wtih a thin off-white head that hung on tenaciously and left streaky lace.

S-Lemon zest, apple cider vinegar and must with oak dryness accenting in the background. Very complex and quite mesmerizing.

T-Super sharp and very tart. Pronounced lemon zest zing and Granny Smith apple combine for a one/two attack on attempting to peel the enamel from your teeth! A touch of oak aged apple cider vinegar in background. Simply outstanding!

M-Light to medium-light bodied super sharp and crisp with long lingering tartness with a drying oak finish.

D-Well, Vinny does it again! Without question one of the finest blended wilds I have ever had. So full of flavour and tartness this is a sour lovers dream!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 11:53:19 | More by Deuane

bulletrain76

California

4.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Draught at Toronado for -tion night. Orange with a medium white head. Super funky aroma with lots of lemon and oak. The flavor is super sour but has a relatively robust malt base to support it. You can tell there is sonambic in the blend because that crazy funk comes through beautifully, with all its bretty glory. Lots of lemony sourness and a touch of grainy malt sweetness. Medium bodied with tight, spritzy carbonation that complements the acidity perfectly. This takes qualities from other RR sours and marries them beautifully into one balanced package. After lucking into a full pint of this (I love you Toronado) I still had to go back for another. Probably my favorite sour ale from RR at this point, and I hope they make another blend like this in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2010 04:27:23 | More by bulletrain76

popery

California

4.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft, Toronado. My first beer from Toronado's RR -tion night. The beer pours dark orange with a sour-ish fizzy head. The aroma is fruity and deep but fairly subtle. I smelled peaches, apples, funk, earth, candied lemon peel, oak and an assertive sourness. The sour is definitely present in the flavor but it's restrained and allows the fruitiness to come through in a very pleasing fashion. The beer is quite dry from both sourness and oak. The balance between oak, fruit, sour and funk is what really made this beer special for me. Most sours seem to favor certain notes, but I found Deviation to be quite balanced in that respect. A very fine sour that I'm happy to have tried.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2010 22:17:07 | More by popery

Sean9689

Illinois

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

Celebrating my move to Chicago. All the stuff is almost packed in the moving truck and my house is pretty damn empty. Heading to Chicago for a new venture in life! Figured this would be a great way to start things off. 750ml bottle purchased a while back at Bottleworks. Poured into champagne flute.

The blend combines the oak aged diversity of PH1, Orphan Ale and Sonambic Ale with 100% Brettanomyces Ale (Sanctification) and is bottle conditioned with additional Brettanomyces."

A - Pours a burnt orange color with a white fizzy head that quickly disipiates into a thin ring around the glass. There's a thin spotty cap here and there on top of the beer, but just barley.

S - I could smell the funky awesomeness right when the bottle was popped open. I knew I was in for a treat right away. Sitting here typing this review, the glass is on the table a couple of feet away and I can still smell it. Tart/sour notes, cherries, apples, grapes, nice barnyard characteristics.

T - I can't take it any longer, I must sip on this nectar! Nice oak and sour notes right up front. Not much of the sweetness I was expecting with the fruit notes I picked out on the nose. Sour apples and cherries come to mind, along with straight up funk. A nice funk/bitter finish that I haven't experienced in any other wilds I've ever had. Just absolutely phenomenal.

M - Light, crisp, and clean. A champagne-esk feel and drinks wonderfully out of the flute. A nice dry finish that leaves you wanting more!

D - Holy crap, I'm glad I have the entire bottle to my greedy little self! Probably one of the best, if not the best, wild ales I've ever had. EPIC.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 04:54:31 | More by Sean9689

tpd975

Florida

4.35/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big Thanks to Fogdog for this rare treat.

A: Pours an amberish brown with a tall cream colored head. Very nice retention and lace.

S: Nice and fruity. Lots of grape, peach, and apple. There is a large citrus component as well. Big blast of funk and tart.

T: Tart and funky for sure. Nice wood component with grapes and lemon standing out. There is a big blast of acid with mild cheesy notes.

M; Medium in body, nice carbonation, tasty brew.

D: Very good, a beer I would love to try again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2010 02:19:57 | More by tpd975

PeprSprYoFace

California

4.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Just cracked open my first and only bottle of this beer with BA's Gilmango and colonelforbin because they got me into the Bruery Reserve Society Event. Thanks guys

Poured into my Stone Sample glass and had about 3 fills. Pours with little to no head and very little lacing. Nice color to it though. A light redish color.

Smells wonderful. Lots of Bret funkyness. Some smells of sort of peach mango almost.

Tastes awesome although not the best sour I have had this is in the top 10. Lots more Oak than all others I have had which works well for the beer. Again some flavors of tropical fruits.

Mouthfeel is perfect. Nice carb and thin like most sours.

Overall an amazing beer that I was glad to have. A little on the dissapointing side because of the hype because it's not as good as expecting but still awesome.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2010 00:56:58 | More by PeprSprYoFace

Arbitrator

California

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

Chilled bottle into a glass. Shared by ipa247 at his recent sour tasting. Thanks, Jeff!

A: Pours a murky apricot-tinged golden yellow body in the glass. Great head, good retention with a thick collar that adorns the brew.

S: Apricot, lemon, soft hay funk, grass, mild oak.

T: Nicely fruity with apricot, lemon, and apple. Hints of cherries. It has a pretty finish with a mild acetic burn to it. I'm impressed by the restraint, though; it doesn't tip in one direction or the other, just a nice showcase of various wild flavors.

M: Acetic, bretty in the finish (which is overall semi-dry). Light-medium body, with moderate carbonation.

D: This is one of the easiest-drinking sours I have tasted; it shows off the flavors, but still goes down well.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 22:16:15 | More by Arbitrator

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks noliberty for sharing this one...
Appears a hazy light gold with a small white cap that slowly fades into tiny bits of spotty lacing. Small streams of CO2 slowly rise to the top.
Smell is of tart pineapple, hops, citrus, and raw sugar.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with excellent mixed fruit and a touch of funk.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, tart, sweet, acidic...really nice stuff!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 19:30:52 | More by weeare138

aerozeppl

New York

4.83/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to drseamus for sharing.

A: Very clear golden amber color with tons of visible carbonation. Thin layer of white head.

S: Brett and appled. A little bit of oak with a touch of lacto in the back.

T: Insanely complex. Bret is all over this. Hints of apples. The barrel gives a healthy dose of oak. As the beer warmed tartness came out more and became more pronounced. Very subtle and not that sharp.

M: Super light and refreshing. Well carbonated. Little bit of a milky mouthfeel as well.

D: This is a straight 7 for drinkability. At 6.83% I could drink this all day long.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 19:11:46 | More by aerozeppl

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Huge thanks to Jeff for busting this out at our epic sour tasting.

Pours a very dark hazy golden orange that's almost light caramel brown with some ripe banana hues when held to a light source and a one finger frothy off white head that slowly fades into a thin lasting ring.

Musty earthy aroma with a good bit of barnyard funk along with some wooden tannis and dry brett efervescence. I'm picking up some wood notes but something other than oak. It smells more like cedar. Slight lactic creaminess and subtle light fruit. Apple cider and pear.

Soft carbonation up front with a nice bit of funkiness that is not acidic at all or overpowering. Incredibly smooth and dangerously drinkable. Very complex and funky yet I find myself pounding down my sample. Lots of dry bretty efervescence toward the finish. Again there is a nice earthy wood presence that isn't quite oaky and is more cedar like. Subtle hints of vanilla and light crisp fruit notes especially a lot of apple, almost cidery even. Amazing sweet lingering slightly vinegary finish. As soon as I put the glassdowm I'm immediately salivating for another sip. Amazing beer that everyone should seek out.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2010 00:54:32 | More by corby112

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to KRAMER17801 for sharing this retired 750ml at his holiday party.

A - Poured a hazy apricot-colored body with a thin, wispy white head, which yielded spotty lace that slid down the sides of the glass.

S - Initial aroma offers a sour citrus twang with moderate band-aid notes and a subtle alcohol presence.

T - Flavor is quite acidic with plenty of sour citrus fruit and grape character, tart apple skins and band-aid notes. Some sweet notes emerge in the backend to counter the intense sourness.

M - Thin to medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a sticky mouthfeel. Finishes with lots of pucker on the tongue.

D - Good Wild Ale, but they all start to taste the same after a while. Glad I had an opportunity to sample yet another RR creation, though.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2009 20:50:36 | More by ffejherb

gford217

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with this bottle, provided by a very generous BA.

Initial pour is crystal-clear amber (subsequent pours are cloudier and cloudier) with a steady stream of bubbles feeding a small creamy white head, allowing it to remain a small cap for the duration with spotty lacing.

The aroma is a perfect blend of sweet, sour and funky. There is an underlying sweet/tart green apple aroma with some apricot as well. There is a solid but very understated brett presence that doesn't dominate the aroma at all. On top of all this is the oak character - stunning nose on this one.

The initial tartness of the taste completely puckered my lips - big lemony tartness with a hint of vinegar sourness as well. The fruits are still in the taste, with pears and green apples, but the scale is tipping more on the sour side than the sweet side in the taste. The finish is very dry, with the oaky tannins and brett taking a final bow.

The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and almost effervescent with lots of carbonation - a very wine-like feel overall.

Well, I've been waiting a long time to try this one and it is definitely one of the best wilds I've had this year. I don't think I'd put it up there with my favorites (J&J Blauw, for example). Still, a damn fine beverage.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2009 01:07:40 | More by gford217

bmanning

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Consumed 11/20/2009.
After have a very difficult time removing the cork, the beer pours hazy golden yellow with a thin, white head.
Aromas of barnyard funk, lemongrass, musty hay, orange, candy apple, grapes, oak, and vanilla.
Flavor has very nice gueuze flavors - funky, musty, and sour with a very complex set of flavors. Upfront there is lemon and apple along with background flavors of mint, green tea, and tropical fruits. This is an excellent American gueuze and one of my favorites (I still prefer Isabelle though). Way to go Russian River for this superb beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 19:47:52 | More by bmanning

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Beer poured a cloudy amber color with a pretty large white head that stuck around for awhile, fluffy. Nose was tart, a bit dried fruit and wood. The taste is dry, tart with some pepper on the tongue. Very present and complimentary oak notes in the background. There is also a nice citrus character. Excellent beer that I am glad I was able to get a bottle of.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 13:15:16 | More by ggaughan

beachbum1975

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared by pwoods at RoyMunson's house. Thanks a bunch for sharing!

The cork popped aggressively and with it came a slightly murky, orange/yellow and brown beer with a wispy white head. Head retention is good, leaving an 1/8 inch top on it for quite some time. Great, thin spotty lacing seen, as well.

The nose is complex. Sour, light vanilla, wood and leather. The nose is big on this one...

Wow, lots going on with this. I am in the midst of a sinus infection, so my palate isn't what it normally is. What I did gather was great. The wood blend in this beer is sublime. The sour character is spot on, as well.

This is a fantastic beer, reminiscent of the much more recently released Duck Duck Gooze.

Thanks again, pwoods - you rock!

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2009 18:49:26 | More by beachbum1975