Consecration - Russian River Brewing Company

Kshock

California

4.47/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Deep Brown color, but bright and clear. White lacing that subsides to a ring quickly. Very nice color.

S- Very nice sour tart up front with some citrus tagging along on the back end.

T- tart berries with some lactic pucker on the palate. REally nice balance of intense flavors. Very well put together., and dangerously drinkable for 10%

M- Light and soft with some sour pucker on the insides of your cheeks. Really nice feel.

O- Awesome sour, one of the best and certainly very consistent.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2011 03:32:52 | More by Kshock

tmoneyba

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft. Poured a clear brown color with an average fizzy off-white head that mostly lasted with fair lacing. Moderate to heavy sour and yeast aroma. Medium to full body with a smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium to heavy sour flavor with a medium to heavy sour finish of moderate to long duration. This is a standout beer for style.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2011 01:53:44 | More by tmoneyba

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: bottle at Eulogy, Philly, PA

First had this in a 750ml bottle, but I have had it on tap as well. A tasty, dark, sour ale wood aged with black currants. After Pliny the Younger, this is my favorite RR brew.

Pours an attractive vermillion-mahogany color with a delicate beige head with some tinges of ruby here and there. Sour aroma, dark fruits, leather, and vinegar. Flavor starts out sweet almost like a kriek or framboise, with notes of cherry, blackcurrants. Soon turns more tart with the more sour qualities of cherries, red wine, and hints of vinegar coming through. In turn moves to more dried fruit--figs, prunes, dried cherries--soaked in wood-aged wine. Finishes acidic and bitter overall, yet still smooth. Medium body, complex, and very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2011 15:26:46 | More by Rifugium

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served on tap at the Russian River Brewpub into a snifter

A- Poured an opaque dark brown with ruby highlights with no head, but tiny carbonation bubbles around the top.

S- The aroma was very strong of a cabernet, it was pretty surprising at first, I did not expect the cabernet aroma to be some prominent. Also a nice sweet cherry aroma

T- Strong cabernet taste, strong very sour cherry taste, and dark fruit, and vinegar acidic notes

M- High acidity and very high carbonation, my tongue was in heaven

O- This beer is unlike anything I have had before. The wine characteristics were so prominent and the sourness and acidity of the beer made this a very tasty and memorable beer. This is the first beer my wife has ever enjoyed too, so I was pretty impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2011 04:09:44 | More by Hoptometrist

oline73

Maryland

4.8/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had this on-tap at Capone's during the Russian River event. Poured into a goblet. This was Batch 1.

Appearance: Pours an opaque reddish brown color with a layer of off white head that goes away completely.

Smell: Sour fruity vinegar with a hint of sweetness. I'd say it is very wine like.

Taste: Just like the smell, I'm picking up sour fruit and vinegar notes, but much smoother here than in the smell. I can taste oak, and red wine. All the flavors are in perfect balance. The finish is warm from the alcohol, very nice.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly mild carbonation. The finish is dry and woody.

Overall: I haven't found a sour beer that I like better than this one. The flavors are so well balanced, and the alcohol isn't anywhere to be found. Very smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2011 21:20:29 | More by oline73

aglose45

Pennsylvania

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

Batch 001 on tap at Capone's

A: Pours a very dark brown with a cherry hue. The head is ivory to tan colored, and leaves a thick lacing on the walls of my glass.

S: Funk up front, leaning towards barnyard, not much leather. The signature 'Tion aroma follows the funk. The currant and raisins wrap up the nose and give it a nice balance.

T: The funk and sour are muted compared to the nose. There fruit flavors are muted a little, but what has seemed to have faded the most over time is the funkiness. More recent batches have a more pronounced flavor.

M: Medium bodied, with nice prickly carbonation, and a lingering sourness.

D: This is a great beer, but not as good as fresher batches, IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2011 15:48:14 | More by aglose45

socaltay

California

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Aroma is very sour with notes of fruit. The appearance is a brandy color with red hints coming through. The taste is sour, but in the best way possible. It is a perfect example of a wine-barrel aged beer. My favorite sour ale at the moment by far. Hopefully my local store will have some more soon. Russian River Brewing really has their act together with a great variety of top notch beers coming out, I have yet to be disappointed.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2011 04:41:00 | More by socaltay

patm1986

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

from the notebook

Hulmeville Tap, Poured into 10oz Goblet.

A- purple, maroon, dark, dark red. no head. just settlement. it sits in the glass, ready to unleash some fury. staring into it, it resembles a mystical well from a fairy tale; jump in.

S- pungent. initially, highly fermented prune, grape, fig, orange. alcohol tininess. the aroma is deep. put your nose right inside the glass and inhale greatly. the sourness of grapes and citrus, a little vanilla, dominate the deeper, nose-in-glass inhalation. medley of sharp fruit aromas.

T- acidic, tart fruit. very dominant combo of grape, cherry, and citrus, like an old fruit salad with orange zest. the alcohol is present throughout. though as a wild ale, alcohol presence is to be expected, however, the pure phenol flavor just isn't there; it's in the fruit, which is pleasant.

M- it has a great deal of carbonation, which is nice, but it seems to taste more of a fruit/veg beer in that carb body rather than having a thicker body like a gueze like i don't know why i expected; it's somewhere in-between the two.

D- the carbonation makes this pleasant and on-going-ly interesting. the flavors and aromas are really nice, and it's great to end with or sit-on for a while just staring, swirling, and smelling. but i don't think i could have more than one. maybe i could.

consecration would be nice with some food--thai, indian, duck confit, gelato, chocolate?--actually, that sounds good.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2011 17:19:51 | More by patm1986

FosterJM

California

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

267th review on BA
Draft to chimay goblet

App- A very dark amber with ruby highlights. No head on this one. Just a thin outlying ring of bubbles that was quick to dissapate.

Smell- Muted grape juice with a tinge of tartness. Has a small funk of some brett mixed with some hay.

Taste- Take some Welch's grape juice and mix a bunch of booze to it. This damn thing was smooth, tasty and pretty complex for my basic simile.

Mouth- Had a perfect medium body with a pretty high carb level for not having much head or bubbly activity.

Drink- Damn, I could drink this all day, fall off a bar stool and keep drinking some more. Was tastefully crafted with well blended flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2011 06:27:44 | More by FosterJM

notchucknorris

California

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

On tap at O'Brien's

A: Hazelnut brown. The color actually reminded me a lot of maple syrup.

S: Shows a lot of effects from the aging in cabernet barrels. Along with the smell of cab, I picked up dark fruit aromas, currants, black cherries, blackberries and a hint of caramel.

T: Jammy with an oaky presence, brett, a nice sour bite, currants, raspberry, black cherry and some of that wonderful cab flavor. This is a wonderful beer and shows absolutely none of its high ABV. Scary drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2011 01:10:51 | More by notchucknorris

mithrascruor

California

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at O'Brien's, San Diego.

Pours a dark reddish brown color with no head. Aroma full of malts and cherries; slightly sour, but not overwhelmingly so. Dark malt flavor with some nice sour cherry flavor. Medium-bodied with minimal carbonation. Darker than most sours I've had - I like the additional malts here, it works well.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 23:09:44 | More by mithrascruor

cavemanlawyer

Oregon

4.78/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap today at Saraveza in Portland.

While I will state up front that I prefer Supplication, having this on tap was a real treat. It is my #2 Russian River sour.

On the initial whiff, you get light sour cherry / , currant-sweetness . It is surprising how sweet it smells compared to the taste. You can detect hints of the funk and sour to come, but it takes a moment to develop. Nice and musty, complex, and very pleasant aroma.

My only complaint is that it is a bit effervescent, at least straight from the tap, which affects the mouth feel and taste just a bit. I found that by holding it in my mouth and swirling a bit, it really reduces tha carbonation and brings out the flavor.

It is impossible to tell this is 10% just by drinking it. No alcohol hits the palate whatsover. Amazing drinkability on this one.

Love this and all of the RR sours. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up...

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2011 00:54:25 | More by cavemanlawyer

trodersark

California

4.85/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a dark amber color with a nice 3/4 inch light brown head.

S: RIght off the bat, I could smell a lot of funky Bretty smells. You can also smell a little but if the currant and fruityness that goes into the sour

T: Very effervescent, and extremely tangy and sour. You can definitely taste the sourness from the currents and the oaky flavor lingers as an aftertaste.

M: Medium body, yet very light, enjoyable, effervescent mouthfeel

D:10%??? Doesn't feel like 10% at all, extremely easy to drink!

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2011 04:44:46 | More by trodersark

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

Came out brown with red hues to it. Minimal head to the beer. Aroma of funk, cranberry, cabernet, cherry and oak.

Taste, excellent, tart, yet substantial, tannins dry out the mouth, wood flavor melds with everything else. Slight cherry flavor. Even though very red and brown in appearance, comes off very dry. Currants, brown sugar.

Extremely drinkable, alcohol doesn't seem to be present at all. Couldn't give it a perfect 5, it is just too expensive to get a perfect score.

Loved having this in the bottle as well, the cork was all twisted to one side, so you knew there was lots of carbonation in there (not too much though).

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2011 17:51:30 | More by Beerandraiderfan

tobin

Michigan

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

On tap at the brew pub

Came to the table with a nice looking dark brown with a thick tan head that dissapated to about 1/4" and stayed there. Not alot of sticky lacing though.

Smells of alot of bret funk with tart cherries and some oak.

Taste is wonderful hands down best sour I have had so far. You can really taste the wine notes from the barrels and the oak and bret mixed with the malts is sublime. Wonderful

Mouthfeel is perfect for this beer. Couldn't ask for more.

Drinkability is high and is a beer I wish I had more of!

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 20:06:04 | More by tobin

OBeerMeGreatOne

California

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

From notes: (Have also had by the bottle.)
Had on tap at Toronado. Pours a deep amber/red with minimal head and no real lace. Not too surpeizing for the ABV. Smells like sour grapes and funk with a sweetness at the end. Taste-wise it is hard to pick things out through the sour. There is some sour, some funk and bread (along with a few things that I can't put my finger on. I'm surprized at the lack of booze being that it's the big 10. Perfect mouth for a good sipping beer. I've been enjoying the slowly fading aftertaste.
I prefer Temptation or Supplication but I'll rate this high anyway being that it is still an amazing sour. Thanks again Russian River (and thank you bartender for the free beer!)

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2011 23:17:05 | More by OBeerMeGreatOne

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had this on-tap at Toronado in San Francisco. Pours an amber-brown colour with thin off-white head. Great head retention and lacing down the glass. Smells of sour cherry with some vinegar and maybe some raisin. Huge sour flavour, but also a little bit of candy sweetness. Smooth mouthfeel. I think I finished this off a little bit too quickly.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2010 16:37:36 | More by kwjd

Estocker

California

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

Pours a deep, dark scarlet. Not much head but a thin lace shows up later.

Smells like a sour wine but made with currants. There is a bit of a grape aroma that I'm detecting as well, but it's mostly sour currants and I'm okay with that.

Tastes like a sour-lovers dream. One of the sourest beers I've ever had, tart currants and grape-skins invade the pallet and the wine barrels come through in the taste as well.

For 10%, this is one of the most drinkable beers I have come across, and I will continue to do whatever I can to get my hands on this even if I have to drive 300+ miles every month.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2010 06:21:51 | More by Estocker

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on-tap in a tulip at TJ's Restaurant and Drinkery's 7th Anniversary.

A deep crimson color with blood red/copper hues and light orange accent with good clarity for the style. The cap of beige appears when swirled in the tulip, the bead is ultrafine-pin sized bubbles with gentle spots of lace sticking.
The smell of currant and dark wine grapes is immediate when the glass nears my nostrils, there is a sublte sour scent which combines with spice and mild oak aspects but there is mild sweet odors adding to the complex sour aroma w/ mild currant/berry and grape aroms.

The feel is so highly acidic it seems astringent and sharp up front. The sour lingers and makes me pucker and then the acidity and slight alcohol move forward only after a spice tinge do you get any type of sweetness, the effervescence is moderately high. The flavor mirrors the nose and mouthfeel with sweet tarts and bitter grape flavors with a dash of currant sweetness and slight tannic fruit skin elements. The light sour apple flavor adds dimension to the depth of sour and acidic tastes going on here.

This is not a wild ale for the faint of heart, it is strong puckering and I consider it only above average drinkability-wise overall, just not something I could see have many back to back of, a good wild brew and I guess Vinnie has us spoiled because this is great, just not outstanding like his other American Wild ales.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2010 17:27:25 | More by Slatetank

Chincino

Massachusetts

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

I had this beer on-tap at the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, CA in August 2010 as part of a sampler of the beers they had on-tap that day.

The beer was amber in color and smelled of berries and spice. The beer's alcohol content was well-hidden in this beer. It was tart, but no strong bitter aftertaste.

This beer is very different from its counterparts Damnation and Supplication and I would rank it second amongst the three. I would definitely recommend this beer-so good! Enjoy!

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2010 17:37:21 | More by Chincino

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap into a mini pint at TJ's 7th Anny. Party. Number one of three in my Russian River flight. An amazing party with amazing beers.

A - Pours deep amber with a thin film of white head that leaves minimal lacing down the glass.

S - Strong tartness up front, strongest of the three. Hints of spices, berries, and oak. Aroma's don't linger for long but they leave a lasting impression.

T - Not the first time I have had this one. Starts with a bit of spice from the currents quickly giving way to a blast of strong tartness. Finish is a lingering funk with a bright acidic note. I prefer the other two, supplication and temptation, but I still like this one a lot. Still one of my favorite wild's.

M - Medium body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Tart finish lingers but not for too long. It wears you down after a full glass.

D - Fairly high. I really like this one but when you put all three of these together you really see how different they really are. I would rank this one last out of the three but it is still so good that you can not go wrong. Glad I have a few bottle of this in the cellar.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2010 03:14:25 | More by orangesol

jneiswender

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this beer on tap at Toronado's in San Fransico. Served in a wine glass cool.

A-Garnet body and a white wisp of a head.

S-Sour fruit smell, fruit stone

T-Sour, fruit stone and quite dry

M-Light

D-Good. Nice representation of the style. I would drink this again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2010 01:23:12 | More by jneiswender

cbarrett4

Oregon

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

Poured from tap at Belmont Station into snifter ~ comparison tasting with Consecration, Supplication, and Temptation.

This was my personal favorite of the trio. This is one strong mother! Absolutely amazing.

The appearance is lovely with a dark, deep hue and decent carbonation for a barrel aged sour/brett beer.

Nice aromas of currants, oak, spice, and red fruit delightfully frame the funky brettanomyces core.

The palate is lovely and takes the drinker through a magical land of red fruits, tart cherries, fig, and yeast. Lots of complexity and many layers of flavor evolve and change as the beer slightly warms towards room temperature.

The beer has a lovely medium body, with just a slight overbearing kick of alcohol (hence the 4.5 not 5.0 for mouthfeel). A little more body or slightly less alcohol perhaps? Nonetheless, near perfection here.

So delicious and packed with flavor that you can't put the glass down! And I recommend that you NOT put your glass down if you won't want to share! (as I found out)

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2010 23:24:05 | More by cbarrett4

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Eulogy Belgian Tavern, Olde City during their sour week.

Poured into a tulip, dark ruby red color with about one finger of hesd which dissipates quickly leaving very little if no lacing.

Aromas of dark fruit, cherry/fig. Red wine gone bad.

Taste is sour and tart. A slight bit of sweetness for balance.

Mouthfeel was medium bodied with some carbonation, dry, very dry.

Very drinkable, you hardly notice the 10% ABV on the finish. Becomes more funky as it warms. I like this beer...

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2010 17:09:50 | More by InspectorBob

mfunk9786

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

From notes (2010 Capone's Black Friday event). Menu noted that this is from Vintage Batch 002:

A: Hardly any head, beautiful dark ruby red. Sort of like an expensive wood used to make high-dollar furniture.

S: Smells like sour candy. Strong cherry, sugar, red wine vinegar, very slight oak.

T: TASTES like sour candy! It's amazing, considering the time it spent in an oak barrel, how little the oak is present, and how little edge it actually took off. Many people who tried it at my table compared the taste to challenging one another to keep several Warhead candies in their mouths at once. Hardly any funk detectable, more like a lambic than anything.

M: Maybe it's because I had a well-aged batch, but there was no alcohol heat, burn, no sign of the 10% whatsoever. The sugary candy characteristics might make your back teeth hurt, though.

D: It's really a lovely flavor, but it is not a beer that should be paired with dinner, nor is it one that you should expect to finish a glass (however small) of within a short period of time. It is far more interesting than any dessert wine I've ever had in my life though, which makes it well worth its high price by default.

A lovely beer, and it definitely makes me want to try Supplication - I'm curious as to what a year or so more oak aging does to this formula.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2010 01:21:09 | More by mfunk9786