Consecration - Russian River Brewing Company

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.72/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 002x3

Consecration has a deep ruby-colored body that appears to be brown in the absence of light. The tan head is very fizzy, appearing and disappearing more quickly than head on a soda would.

The aroma has a lot going on, with all kinds of wild yeast providing musty and sour notes, a little bit of sweet malts, some wood and a dose of currants.

Two distinct flavors that I notice right away are the piquant sourness of the lacto, and the musty, horsey flavor from the brett. Between the two, the sourness from the lacto is definitely more powerful, as the brett lingers in the background, adding complexity. Next I notice a little bit of oak and a good currant flavor that I would guess has faded over the couple of years since this beer was brewed. A little bit more sourness comes next, but it is more acidic and a little less sharp than what I encountered in the beginning. A bit of moderately dark sweet malt pops up, but only for a second before the finish is big and dry, with notes of dry red wine in it.

The carbonation is fairly high and almost champagne-like when it first hits your mouth.

Having bought this bottle in PA, I paid quite a bit for it. Looking back, I wish I had bought a whole case of the stuff. It certainly isn't the type of beer you could drink a few of in a night, but it is the type of beer you could drink one of all night. 10% ABV? I would have believed it was 6% if someone had told me, the alcohol is nowhere to be found amidst the layers of yeast, barrel character and malt.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 20:56:49 | More by Hojaminbag

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -16.1%

05-25-2013 01:52:53 | More by schnarr84

Dirksen

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-24-2013 18:14:40 | More by Dirksen

MNishCT77

District of Columbia

4.53/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12.68 oz. (375 mL) bottle purchased at Ales Unlimited in San Francisco, bottled on 1/31/13, poured into my FFF Teku glass and drank over ~30 minutes.

A: 4.5 - dark (almost blood) red-brown coloration, moderate clarity, quickly dissipating yellow fizzy suds that resolves in seconds to a thin glass lacing, moderare alcohol legs for 10.00% on swirling that reagitates the carbonation

S: 4.75 - lots of cabernet and tannin, lactobacillus sour notes, alcohol aromas that are actually more present in the aroma than the taste

T: 4.5 - as expected, little-to-no hop flavors or bittneness; initial flavors that I'm pulling out are sweet malts with sour flavors on the back end, pleasing aftertaste of sour grapes and tannins; little-to-no alcohol flavors, which is impressive for a 10.00% American wild ale

M: 4.25 - high carbonation that pops flavors into your mouth; lightly bodied; again, the alcohol remains well-masked in the mouthfeel

O: 4 5 - one of the better American sour ales brewed with a concoction of yeast and bacteria; there are some really nice flavors and aromas imparted by the aging in cabernet savignon barrels; however, I am a little underwhelmed after seeing a 99 rating on BA; I picked it up for $13.99 in SF, which, to be frank, is too steep for the quality and have seen it for as much as $30.00 in D.C., which, to be franker, is insane

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 03:34:20 | More by MNishCT77

IHyphySF

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-24-2013 00:33:16 | More by IHyphySF

Michael_20P

California

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-23-2013 23:08:06 | More by Michael_20P

thegoon55

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-23-2013 22:04:51 | More by thegoon55

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-22-2013 22:05:19 | More by randylangford

KANE3

California

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 21:23:28 | More by KANE3

BAsbill

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-22-2013 21:04:45 | More by BAsbill

CEDAMA

California

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-22-2013 20:20:52 | More by CEDAMA

pmoore311

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-21-2013 22:06:57 | More by pmoore311

dcloeren

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-21-2013 20:50:11 | More by dcloeren

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-21-2013 19:02:22 | More by Beerandboards

drrone

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-21-2013 05:56:45 | More by drrone

Envelopes

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-21-2013 05:47:06 | More by Envelopes

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-21-2013 04:13:51 | More by CosmoHopHead

ackeeper

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-21-2013 01:48:34 | More by ackeeper

baybum

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-20-2013 17:16:45 | More by baybum

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-20-2013 15:24:52 | More by Daniellobo

AL89BR

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-20-2013 14:55:03 | More by AL89BR

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-20-2013 01:30:17 | More by Ctrauty

jloomis

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-20-2013 00:23:45 | More by jloomis

GuzzLah

Illinois

4.46/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - pours a fairly clear dark amber with an ephemeral head. No lace. No bubbles.

S - pedio/lacto sourness, big oak, vanilla, currants, pineapple and red wine.

T - follows the aroma. Acetic. Assertive barrel note. Very smooth 10%.

M - light-medium body. Creamy and slightly oily. Dry. Sour, but not super sour.

O - I consider this to be an Imperial Flanders with a twist and a very tasty one. Certainly not the most extreme sour, but that isn't a negative coming from a sour head. Brewed with careful restraint, but far from being bland. Very good beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 18:39:28 | More by GuzzLah

jl28r1

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-19-2013 18:03:47 | More by jl28r1