Consecration - Russian River Brewing Company

RedSpecial1

Florida

4.73/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a reddish caramel with a fair bit of tan foamy head initially which rapidly dissipates.

S: Oak dominates, but there are also notes of red currant, caramel, and a touch of alcohol heat.

T: Strong burst of sweetness quicly overtaken by a lactic tartness. This fades into an astringency with notes of oak and vanilla.

M: Thin, but also a bit syrupy. Very sharp on the palate.

O: It has a depth of flavor that is much more interesting than many in this style. These different flavors play off of each other well enough that it doesn't overpower you with any one of them.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 03:56:01 | More by RedSpecial1

rfbenavi80

Missouri

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

Picked up at the brewery. 375ml bottle poured into a Tulip.
Batch 008.

A- Pours a clear, deep reddish brown mahogany color with very fizzy light tan head that very quickly went away leaving no lacing, ring, or cap on this beer.

S- Smells vinous, funky, and tart all at once. Lots of wooden oak characteristics. Very unique.

T- Wonderful sourness mixed with a dry red wine. Nice woody, oaky, earthiness flavors that are sticky.

M- Medium body with a lively amount of carbonation that dances on the tongue.

O- I love these wine barrel aged beers from Russian River. They really do take brewing to the next level of creativity.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 03:58:53 | More by rfbenavi80

AgentMunky

California

4.05/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a footed 'Belgian' glass at the brewery. From notes. Reviewed 14 April 2012.

A: No head. Translucent brown; a glowing honey-amber.

S: Fruit and Brettanomyces. Winey/grapey. Not amazing.

T: Hmmm. Very puckery-tart, with a vinegary aftertaste, but there's some very nice fruit right in the middle. Deep, rewarding, wine-like flavours. Sparkly mouthfeel.

O: Good, but not great. I'm not sure I understand the fuss. Not worth the price, but worth drinking. Good wild ale!

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 21:29:41 | More by AgentMunky

cfrances33

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Good Dog Bar in Philly on 7/6/12. Served in a wide mouth tulip.

Pour: Reddish copper with no head at all. Decent carbonation.

Smell: Funky cherries all the way. Some must, but really the cherries dominate.

Taste: Tart cherries and hay must. Cabernet oakiness provides a woody aspect.

Mouthfeel: Slick and oily, much like a cabernet. Not overly sour, but tart for sure.

Overall: Good, but probably my least favorite of the RR sours I have so far (sanctification > supplication > consecration)

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 17:07:28 | More by cfrances33

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

4.1/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch 006. Poured from a slightly chilled bottle into a New Belgium snifter. Very dark ruby-amber pour with low carbonation for a bottle conditioned beer. The head is thin and dissipates quickly. The nose is sharp with tart dark fruit notes like cherries and currants. There is also a grapey, wine-like tone to it.

The beer has a medium body, firm mouthfeel, and a strong sour character. Cherry and currant flavors provide a fleeting sweetness and are quickly overtaken by intense sour oaky flavors. The beer finishes dry and acidic, just like a wine, and leaves you salivating for another sip.

Like all of their sours, this gem from RR is worth seeking out. As good as it is, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Supplication, which for my palate has a nearly perfect balance between sweet and sour. This beer is probably more for fans of intensely sour beers.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 20:35:16 | More by deadonhisfeet

gonzowestwood

Connecticut

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

375 ml bottle, batch number 007

A- Dark cherry, deep amber with a small head that leaves quickly

S- Plum, raisin, oak, sour cherry and a touch of booze. Smells like an corked wine in a good way

T- The taste is jaw dropping. Dark fruits, Cherries, Plums, Currants, pipe tobacco, an nice oaky pinot noir with a touch of sour

M- Medium to full with lively carbonation

O- More of a wine then a beer. Must say i like this more then 'Supplication' the taste and smell will blow your hair back.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 15:30:39 | More by gonzowestwood

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A-clear mahogany color with no head or lacing

S-tart cherries, dark fruit, hints of wood and earthiness

T-dark fruit, sour grapes, cherries, very light malt presence, light wood, slight earthiness as it warmed

F-medium body with very fine lively carbonation

O-another tasty sour from RR which I enjoyed even more as it warmed

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 02:19:09 | More by MDDMD

vandemonian

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had consecration out of a crappy plastic cup in the physics department at Melbourne University. It was a delicious. Like always, a super smooth wild ale from Russian River. Sour and bitter to just the right degree with notes of funk and lemon.

A: Cloudy brown colour with a crappy head. 3.5

S: Bitter funk and lemon. 4

T: Sour lemon flavour with some bitterness. Bitter and delicious. 4.5

M: Foamy 4

O: 4.5

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 03:09:27 | More by vandemonian

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375 ml bottle, batch number 008, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours a dark red mahogany color, produces a thin tan head that recedes to a thin collar, leaves no lacing.

S- Fruity and tart, currants and cherry, also woody with oak and some vinous aromas, the aroma is really nice.

T- Incredible flavors on this beer. Considerable tartness, which is lactic and minimally funky, very nice oak barrel and red wine flavors, fruitiness from currants, beneath all of this is a really nice caramel malt center. I'm not getting any booze at all on this, which is pretty awesome for 10% ABV.

M- Medium-bodied, well-carbonated, smooth and a bit sticky, dry finish, great job on this.

O- An incredible beer, hugely complex, blends tartness, barrel character and malt perfectly, this is really excellent stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 05:28:49 | More by WillCarrera

DelMontiac

Oklahoma

2.55/5  rDev -43%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Brought this batch 005 bottle back from Colorado Summer of 2010. Allowed it to rest for a year. At last, poured into a New Belgium Globe.

Color is good - a garnet red hue that reminds me of a dark cola. Was denied any type of foam at all even though the cork popped off like a bottle of Dom. I'd prefer to see some bubbles here, but not even as much as a glass hugger. No lace of course. Really blows the appearance for me.

Some serious aromas here - it's best attribute. Red wine, dark fruits, sweet pipe tobacco, and woody. The sourness is evident, but not what I'd call inviting. The alcohol is not at all hidden. All this makes for an interesting aromatic ride.

Now for the deal breaker. RR's description of this beer does not deliver the message of "sour bomb", which it is. The sour takes over all the other components found in the aroma and shoves them out the door which is really too bad. Worst tasting brew I've had in ages.

The feel of this beer is pretty chewy, but also lacks the carbonation to balance it out.

This over-hyped concoction was a major let down for me. After wrestling this thing for several swallows of varied volume...it ended in drain pour. A good brew should not make me pucker and salivate profusely. Consecration lacks the all-important balance I search for in a good brew. Now I can say, "Been there. Done that."

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 04:40:44 | More by DelMontiac

beergod1

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 750 ml. Pours a transparent dark amber with a thin, light tan head. Complex aroma of sweet dark cherries and oak. Starts with nice biting carbonation and tart complex oak and cherries with some other dark fruit notes and good acidity toward a slightly warming finish. Shared with 3 other people, Damn I'm a nice guy.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 15:17:39 | More by beergod1

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap (had bottled as well) served in nonucal glass

A - clouldy Garnett brown with one finger rose head with poor rentention and minimal lacing

S - Cab Sav. Currants, funky fruity yeast, cherries.

T - Drink a currant cherry lambic, a cabernet Sav, and a tastes if tobacco and you have got this gem. Sour and warming

M - med body, mod-high carbonation, sticky

O - Yum. A gentlemans beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2012 21:15:43 | More by williamjbauer

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark ruby with ample bubbles into my Russian River glass. A little bit of light brown head at first, fading after a few seconds.

Tart smell with lots of sour cherry and a little bit of the red wine barrel present. A little musty brett blanket as well.

Taste follows although it's not quite as sour as I would expect from the nose. Lots of deep red wine characteristics. Heavy oak, dark fruits and a little leather along with a musty brett presence.

Medium mouthfeel and carb.

Great sour although I still prefer Supplication. If you are a red wine fan as well as a wild fan, this will up your alley.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 21:39:00 | More by jmarsh123

yamar68

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, dark lively cranberry/mahogany with a short lived inch of off-white head. Perfect, beautiful lacing and just wisps of retention remain after a few short seconds.

The nose is exceedingly tart... subtly funky bits of red wine, fresh grassy notes, overripe fruits, lemongrass, and so much more. I can hear the beer fizzing and hissing as I take each whiff.

Dark and sour indeed. Very dry wood character smothered with tart wine notes. Sour grapes, abstract acidity, funky preserves, the woody/earthy notes tend to linger.

A beer that's hard to really describe concisely in words. It's a must-try for anyone even remotely interested in the vast creative potential of this beloved liquid we call beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 03:35:25 | More by yamar68

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12.68oz bottle served in a snifter.
batch 005

review #400

pours a deep amber / borderline chestnut tone with ruby highlights while yielding a very short-lived 1/4" tan head. no lacing. bold nose opens with a blast of currants. sour / tart with notes of cherry, vinegar, and maybe a touch of oak.

wow, flavor really impresses, following, even exceeding the aroma. wild ales have never much appealed to me on the whole, but this beer demonstrates what one can be if done right. leave it to russian river to accomplish that feat: just very impressively crafted. sour to the point of slight puckering but not overdone. virtually no trace of the 10% ABV. medium bodied with lively carbonation.

overall, a hell of a sour. of the few dozen or so different wild ales i've sampled, this is on a very short list for overall best. neck and neck with temptation.

(originally reviewed: 09-20-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 22:19:04 | More by BostonHops

Bottlebomber

California

4.78/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Imbibed from a Cabernet glass

A: a dark garnet red, no head whatsoever. No lacing on the glass. The bugs have decimated any head-forming proteins on this one. No flaws that I can think of considering the style.

S: Wow. Vanilla, oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, tobacco, cedar cigar box... Fruit. Prunes, plums, cherries. I could smell until it got warm trying to name all the smells coming off of this. Easily the most aromatic beer I have ever tried. More like wine than beer.

T: A sour for sour lovers. This is one of them tooth enamel grating beers. It takes a few sips to re-calibrate for this beer. My first reaction was not that it was delicious. It took me a full 3rd if the beer to get in the mood. And then, once my mouth became accustomed to the low PH, I started getting pulling out what this beer is famous for. Again the smell was so intoxicating that is is hard to tell where smells stop and flavors begin, but this beer has it all. Pie cherries dominant, balsamic vinegar, burnt sugar, stone fruit, dried cherries, currants( obviously), ever so faint of a biscuity malt character is the only indication that this is beer. It's almost overwhelming really. On the complete opposite side of the spectrum from Pliny. My only criticism - and this is a matter of personal preference - is that the beer could have been a couple of points sweeter. The bugs are going to do their worst and best to this so this is largely out of the brewers hands, and I know RR would never back sweeten, but I think just a touch more sweetness would have brought more out of the beer, and helped to moderate the sourness. No trace of ABV whatsoever, amazing considering 10%

M: Thin, dry, Puckery, but with a little silky smoothness.

O: This is not beer, it's wine. After I finished this I had to switch to wine for the night, there is no way to transition to an IPA or any kind of malt driven beverage after you have one of these. A masterpiece. Thank you.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 05:11:15 | More by Bottlebomber

StJamesGate

New York

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

A second of beige froth over a clear oxblood body. Soil, grape skins, and oak on the nose, plus cherries, dates and tea brack - crazy complex.
Balsamic, vanilla, cherries with hint of other dark fruit, growing wood notes as it opens and a touch of funk.
Sherry tang to end and long twisty linger. Light, crisp, tart.

Insanely complex yet drinkable. The wood very wisely doesn't overwhelm. Almost like a mellowed Rodenbach Grand Cru.

Continually impressed by RR wild ales.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 10:54:46 | More by StJamesGate

quirkzoo

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful dark ruby color with a thin head that recedes very quickly.

Lots of lush, ripe berries up front. Currants, very wine like, some tart raspberry and cherry smells. A touch of oak behind the fruit, but it is almost all fruit.

Taste is nicely tart, with the berry flavor really opening up.

Mouthfeel is dry and tart, but very smooth for 10%, very close to wine in it's mouthfeel.

Overall, another solid offering by Russian River, glad I picked it up, a must try for any fan of sour beers with berry characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 22:45:28 | More by quirkzoo

ngeunit1

California

4.53/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours an almost clear ruby-mahogany with a thin finger of frothy off-white head. The head fades down fairly quickly leaving behind a touch of lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of sour dark fruits and currants with some Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, oak, earthy smells, and just a touch of booze.

T - Starts off with a mix of strong sour currants and dark fruit with some dark grapes, vanilla, and a touch of tobacco. Through the middle, oak flavors come through with some more dark fruits with some sour cherries and plums. The finish is a mix of sour dark fruits, dark grapes, oak, some earthy flavors, and some booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sour and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. I really like how sour the beer is, but at the same time the balance is still very good. The dark fruits really compliment the sourness nicely.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 04:05:02 | More by ngeunit1

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Cellar temp bottle poured into a snifter. BAtch number 002X1 which means it was bottled 3/30/2009.
The beer pours a rich chestnut with deep ruby highlights and fizzy beige colored head foaming up about 2 cm and fading to the thinnest of edge layers at a rapid pace.
Aroma is dominated by tart fruit, cherries and red grapes with some deeper raisin notes. I actually get a little bit of sweetness mixed in on the nose as well. No hops or ABV hits on the scent.
First sip reveals an average body with fine tingly carbonation. Easy drinking physical traits on this beer.
Flavor is tart and sour fruit through and through the sampling. I get red grapes and plums, unripe plums anyway. A little bit of sweet sugaryness but finishes very dry and tart after each swallow.
the 10% is well hidden by the tartness, making this beer go down a little quicker than may be advised.
A nice sour brew, a little one-dimensional, but it is what it is a fruity tart brew.
Definitely worth trying if you like mouth puckering beers!

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 03:42:42 | More by sulldaddy

kevanb

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Consecration Batch 001x2. 750ml bottle poured into a Russian River tulip glass.

The pour is a nice dark, opaque, burgundy color, hints of brown and garnet when held to the light. There is a bit of tan colored head, very bubbly and light that comes to the top of the beer as it’s poured, but it dissipates very quickly leaving behind a few speckles of film and a nice off white ring around the glass with no additional lacing. The aroma is great, loads of currants jump out of the glass, moderate vinegar and acetic acid with a hint of funk, some vinous wine aromas with some nice sweet oak aromas from the barrel. The fruit is really dominant in the nose, which is great news considering the age of the beer and fruits tendency to fade out of the both the nose and the flavor profile of an older beer. The flavors are a bit harsher, still a strong amount of bitter, tart currants, dark plums and bing cherries are all noticeable fruit flavors. There is more vinegar than the nose suggests, the nice layer of grape-like wine flavors comes out as well but while this beer is certainly sour, it’s definitely more tart than an off putting, mouth puckering sour. The finish is a bit more astringent, sweet yet oak plays with the dirtier red wine-esque flavors, a bit of alcohol warms the throat as it goes down, and the bitter currants make a final appearance. The body is nice and carbonated, very prickly, which doesn’t help the astringent finish to the beer, but isn’t overly sharp and abrasive, still retains a nice level of smoothness.

Verdict: This is fantastic, this beer is aging gracefully although I would be weary of aging it too much further as the currant flavors could easily drop off leaving behind a bit of a vinegary mess. The fruit flavors are nice and tart and impressively potent which is all one can hope for in an aged beer. If you have the opportunity to try a vintage sour from Russian River, make no mistake, you will be well rewarded.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 04:01:51 | More by kevanb

bump8628

Oklahoma

4.83/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

More amazing from the bottle than on-tap. Deep mahogany with a perfect dose of bone-colored foam on top. Sour certainly. But deep and complex. Cherry, plum, and toffee at the base with a nice spicy Brettanomyces note. Leather, shortbread, vanilla, and red wine vinegar as it warms. Great balance between fruit, sour, and malt. The price is steep, but the beer is nearly perfect. American craft beer at its finest. Oh, and the 10.5% ABV is silent.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 19:00:55 | More by bump8628

zaphodchak

Virginia

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

Red brown body, no head.

Tart, Flemish nose, rich.

Awesome, Flemish red type ale with powerful tartness which is not very dry because a lot of the tartness is coming from currants.

Just the right amount of body.

Pretty great; much like what I hoped it would be.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 23:42:39 | More by zaphodchak

chocosushi

Oklahoma

4.48/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

C&C->Flying Dog Chalice
A ~ Pours a very deep ruby red w/ crystal clarity & scraps of lace on the sides of the glass.

S ~ Tart Currants...Very Wild Nose w/ hints of aluminum/metallic notes. Oak rounds the fruit out very well.

T ~ More tart Currants w grape-y notes following suit..sour wheat & lilting light malt notes. The lactic acid & pedio is ever present.. Apple cider vinegar w/ Metallic notes fade into lemon zest & wood. There's twinges of flavor reminiscent of Pixie Stick. It's wild!

M ~ A syrupy-sour body w/ stinging lactic/pedio sourness w/ tang & tannin from the copious amounts of currant, all rounded out w/ oak undertones. DANG!

D ~ Damn fine sour ale that showcases how well it can pair w/ fruit. Wild & refined complexity here. One of the greatest.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 01:46:51 | More by chocosushi

Offa

California

3.95/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep red brown, it has a small pale tan head, fizzy, soon thinning to a ring.

Aroma is rich fruity sour fruits, vinegary turned plums, caramelised prunes, wet earth, wet dark bread. It is excellent.

Taste is good but not as exciting as the aroma. It has tart-sour fruits and wood up front, light winy sweetness. It is very drinkable, has a good, lively feel. However, it is rather one-dimensional and not interesting, lacking in complexity or depth of character and thus gets somewhat boring rather quickly.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 05:16:54 | More by Offa