Consecration - Russian River Brewing Company

unclejimbay

Florida

4.43/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Consecration is a dark Belgian style ale aged in American oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. Not only do we use Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, & Pediococcus, we also add currants to beer while it is aging in the barrels.

Thanks to troywhittaker for gifting this bottle during Rare Beer Night 9/2010.

Appearance is tawny amber in color with off white head that slowly fades to thin lace.
Smells of aging fruit, red wine, dash of vinegar.
Taste as it smells with solid caramel and dark fruit malt support. Less sour quality that expected, perhaps this is more vident with age. Alcohol is well hidden and light tart sourness works as a respectable distraction.
Medium body, medium+ lively carbonation.
Very drinkable as a mellow and malt balanced sour. This may chnage over time, but much more enjoyable and approachable than I expected.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 18:06:09 | More by unclejimbay

dar482

New York

5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The color is a red brown bubbly beer. It almost looks like a dark Shirley Temple. Tons of big bubbles and carbonation.

The aroma has a sour funk, but there’s tons of wine tannins, lots of vinous, oak, a bit of dark fruit. However, the tartness does really stand out on this. It’s vinegar and Flanders sourness.

The flavor is vinegar tart, but then there’s tons of red wine and then some oak character. The tartness is actually hidden away as the beer warms up and blossoms to become a very red wine flavored beer. There really is not an alcohol flavor as it is like 10% ABV.

The mouthfeel on this is almost like a Coke-Cola. Tons of large bubbled carbonation that just rolls all over the tongue.

The huge wine flavors mean that you want to share this beer. I wouldn’t want 375ml myself. A good amount is to share it with someone.

This beer really stands out for me having had it next to Supplication. I preferred this actually. It’s so interesting because I’ve never had a beer that has had more red wine character in it that this. This for me is probably the best Wild Ales I have had. What a treat. It’s so different and amazing.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2013 05:35:30 | More by dar482

tun

New York

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-20-2013 02:11:39 | More by tun

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.74/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from strang. Batch 008. From notes.

A - Deep red colour, cloudy with one finger of light brown head that fizzled away fast. Quite effervescent. No lace, no retention.

S - Grapes, plums, Brett, some wood, lemon candy, mustiness.

T - Tart with grapes and not much else. Musty, tart, lemons, not much 'dark' to speak of, it's mostly just a Brett assault. Maybe a tiny bit of dark fruit was there. No alcohol.

M - Strong carbonation, medium to full body, puckering tart finish.

O/D - Enjoyed it. Too bad there couldn't be more malt complexity with the Brett dialed back. Carbonation was also a bit much and made tasting a bit difficult. Not bad for a wild ale though and was pleasant to drink, but didn't seem to break new ground for the style .

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 17:33:52 | More by tbeckett

t_carterb

Georgia

3/5  rDev -32.9%

06-19-2013 15:47:55 | More by t_carterb

JasonFromLA

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-19-2013 07:06:15 | More by JasonFromLA

Johnny58

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

06-19-2013 06:42:52 | More by Johnny58

chaseabeer

Oklahoma

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-19-2013 03:09:08 | More by chaseabeer

profbobo

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

06-18-2013 23:58:11 | More by profbobo

bcm75

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-18-2013 23:57:05 | More by bcm75

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-18-2013 23:05:46 | More by taylor714914

TheGoof

Michigan

4/5  rDev -10.5%

06-18-2013 19:27:32 | More by TheGoof

Jpirkle2715

California

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

06-18-2013 01:53:44 | More by Jpirkle2715

KyleMA

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

06-17-2013 23:52:11 | More by KyleMA

SteeleWright

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

06-17-2013 03:46:07 | More by SteeleWright

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a relatively clear crimson red in color with some heavy amounts of active visible carbonation and some ruby red highlights. The beer has a finger and a half tall fizzy yet creamy tan head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to heavy aromas of tartness/sourness with dark fruit (cherries and currants) and heavier smells of red wine and oak.

T: Moderately tart upfront with some vinous notes, hints of balsamic vinegar, and a moderate amount of sour cherries. Light to moderate flavors of oak and red wine along with some dark fruits (currant). Moderately tart which lingers in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Relatively dry in the finish with a heavy amount of acidic prickliness.

O: Reminds me more of drinking a slightly tart red wine than a beer (so to speak) but it is definitely an enjoyable experience. Due to the tartness, it was one that I needed to enjoy by sipping rather slowly but it is definitely a phenomenal beer. Nice job of balancing the sourness with the red wine flavors.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 17:58:34 | More by dbrauneis

craft_shannie

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-16-2013 12:01:33 | More by craft_shannie

cjs61679

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-16-2013 04:29:21 | More by cjs61679

stogirelli

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

06-16-2013 01:10:00 | More by stogirelli

jaxon53

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

06-15-2013 19:08:45 | More by jaxon53

metter98

New York

4.49/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is very dark crimson red in color and has a moderate to high amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger and a half high dark beige head that gradually died down, leaving wispy lacing on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels are present in the nose along with a slight amount of sourness.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, except that the wine isn't as prominent and there are also notes of oak and hints of cherries.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little acidic on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has a good balance for an barrel aged beer and doesn't seem too winey.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 17:32:20 | More by metter98

jnolan

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-15-2013 01:36:07 | More by jnolan

ACB

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

06-14-2013 22:36:56 | More by ACB

striker2160

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

06-14-2013 00:04:14 | More by striker2160

djre4orm

Virginia

1.5/5  rDev -66.4%

06-13-2013 18:40:21 | More by djre4orm