Consecration - Russian River Brewing Company

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4.61/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

375ML corked bottle poured into a snifter glass. 01/31/13 bottling date

Pours a gorgeous copper red color with a ton of bubbles, but the head is not out of control like you would expect from the amount of carbonation. Thousands of tiny white bubbles shoot from the bottle of the glass up towards the top, quite a sight to behold. Just about the perfect looking beer. Aroma is out of this world. Its got sweet cherries and grapes that you can smell from feet away. Taste is so tart, i love it! Sour raspberries, cherries, grapes dominate the palate here. I cannot believe this is 10%ABV, i'm blown away. A lingering tartness on the tongue after you swallow allows you to enjoy the flavor for quite some time. High carbonation, medium bodied. Goes down smooth and leaves you desiring to have another sip right away.

Overall we have a world class beer right here. Russian River really knows what theyre doing and may hold the top spot as best brewery in the world with so many quality offerings. I return to this beer again and again.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 21:31:40 | More by Axnjxn

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Completely opaque caramel brown color with some visible carbonation and a fizzy light tan head.

Aroma: A tart bouquet of light fruits with a hint of black cherries. There is a very slight oak presence that rounds out the aroma nicely. Something about the aroma feels reminiscent of the warmer summer months.

Taste: A very gentle sour that rewards the palate with hearty flavors of fig, apple, raisin, and black cherry that are all moderately tart. The oak character comes out near the finish and the aftertaste is both sweet and tart with a small amount of heat from the otherwise undetectable 10% ABV. The tartness is at its most aggressive at the start and becomes less and less present from the finish to the aftertaste. Quite a nice balance overall.

Mouthfeel: Lighter than medium on body possible part of an illusion created by the soda-like carbonation. However, it does have quite a smooth and easy drinkability.

Final Thoughts: This is only the third or fourth sour I've had but it was very good and easily approachable for any craft drinker. I would hazard a guess that the oak aging has really smoothed out the flavor. Would I drink it again? Yes, but it's definitely a special occasion type of beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 23:38:36 | More by JamesMN

Gameover170

Indiana

4.93/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

My second sour, this is fantastic!

Smell of cherries, raspberries, currants and spice.

Taste is delicious, fruity, sour but yet can taste the cab in the back of throat.

Mouthful is medium, lightly carbonated.

Overall, really digging sours, and this is at the top of the list of must haves

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:19:50 | More by Gameover170

gcamparone

Rhode Island

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip. Acquired in a trade from chalupa_batman, thanks!

A- Pours a clear amber body with a fizzy white 2" head that rises and reduces quickly to leave zero lacing or head.

S- Smells similar to the other RR wilds, but it's a little more wine-forward. I get an acidic berry/cherry/fermented fruit aroma with leather, wood, must, and dry red wine. Some spices and vinegar are in the background. Smells awesome.

T- Quite tart with sour cherry, green apple, and woody oak notes upfront that develop into red wine (cabernet is definitely present). Red wine vinegar and musty notes are in the background. Leaves a sour taste on the palette. No booze detected.

M- Medium-light body. Medium-low carbonation.

Another world class impression of the American Wild by RR. The cabernet barrel aging really adds a whole new dimension of complexity to this beer. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 22:27:09 | More by gcamparone

writerLJBerg

Oregon

4.21/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

375mL bottle. Batch 008.

A: Cherry coloration with a very thin lacing of head. The beer is actively moving in the glass; a geyser rises from the middle and and turbulates the beer. Light legs.

N: Sour cherry, currant, powerful acids. Very vinous, plenty of wine grapes, and the oak is noticeable. Light blackberry. New leather and some funkiness.

T: Wow, lots of currants. There's a pleasant sour pie cherry in the background, and the oak and acids are moderated well. Some tangerine /lemon zest. I do get some light tobacco/leather flavors. Grapes and a little bit of raisin. Has a lot in common with the cabernet sauvignon barrel.

M: Light and very, very well carbonated. I am getting a surprising amount of alcohol, though.

O: A sterling beer that I've passed over too many times to count. While off chasing the newest sour from around the block, Consecration beckons us back to its sublime, balanced fruitiness. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 22:51:21 | More by writerLJBerg

wogreen

Arkansas

4.84/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Batch 005X1E

A - reddish brown, 1st pour was very clear, though the bottom definitely had some murkiness

S - a very pungent sour smell

T - sour cherries, a hint of wine flavors. id note that i originally drank 1 from this same batch 1 year ago and the wine notes are much more pleasant and mellow than they i remember

M -tannin-like mouthfeel, tart though again mellower than i remember

O - a phenomenal sour if you like sours, a nice blend that blends the best of wines and beers

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 23:46:07 | More by wogreen

emyers

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 091412. Poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear blood red with a short burst of off-white head dissipating almost immediately. No lacing.

Smell: Oak, red wine, dates. Good strong acidity to the smell. Definitely some barnyard in there as well. Very strong, delicious aroma, and stays nicely balanced.

Taste: Acidity hits right away, accompanied by red wine, oak, raisin. A little bit of subtle caramel actually sneaks in at the end, which surprised me, but adds to the complexity. The pungent tartness sticks all the way through. No alcohol presence - I had no idea this was 10% abv when I first tasted it.

Mouthfeel: Pretty full-bodies as far as sours go, but still finishes very dry. Acidity clings to the palate and puckers you up as you swallow.

Overall: Phenomenal sour. Brings a strong pucker without being overwhelming. The wine barrels are very complementary to the base sour, and it results in a very complex, delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:28:28 | More by emyers

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375mL bottle into tulip. bottled on 09.14.12.

A: clear. beautiful bright mahogany brown hue. slightly off-white head has fantastic retention. lacing however is non-existent.

S: lactic acid. I can feel the acid burn in my nose. impressive. lots of barn. fruity, red grapes in particular.

T: super vinous, tart, acidic. finish has plenty of unfertmented sugars that try to sweeten this massive sour bomb out, with limited success. some dark fruit flavors. little bit of ethanol. after the acid dissipates, there is a slight cereal linger, which is a little surprising seeing as the b

M: a lively carb on a medium/full body. I say medium just cause of how much it has dried out, however knocks you as a 10%'er though.

D: a nice treat of a wild here. so much acidity, the bacteria really went nuts on all this sugar producing vinous tart flavors and aromas by the boatload. would have been nice to have an aged version to do a side-by-side. maybe next time.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 14:39:33 | More by Jimmys

MCain04

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Acquired in a trade with WestCoastBrew2 - thanks a ton. 375ml bottle, shared with a friend, 09/14/12 bottling date, poured into a 10 oz snifter glass.

Appearance: red-brown color, opaque. lackluster 1/2 finger light tan head dissipates quickly. No lacing.

Smell: Compared to supplication, a less fruit-forward smell. Still nice presence of sour grapes and apples, a hint of red wine.

Taste: Awesome tart taste, sour grapes, granny smith apples, dry cab sauv really comes through and adds to the dryness. 10% ABV very well-hidden.

Mouthfeel: Extremely smooth and drinkable. Smooth, very nice dry finish, not cloyingly sticky.

Overall: A very different beer than supplication, which speaks to the creativeness of Russian River, in my mind. This beer highlights the balance and smooth texture of the ideal AWA and is well-complemented by cab sauv barrel aging. Equally as good, in my opinion. World-class. Enjoy whenever available.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 21:06:25 | More by MCain04

Braseltonage

Missouri

4.28/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Corked 375ml bottle poured into a Blvd Smokestack tulip. No date, but marked Batch 008.

A: Pours a deep ruby brown, something like dark amber maple syrup in color. Absolutely zero head, some residual rising bubbles, but no head or lace at all.

S: The cab barrel jumps to the front on the nose, leather, sour cherries. Cider vinegar, sea water. Pungency really pops as it warms.

T & M (I think it's hard yo separate them in sours): Sharp acidic punch up, buggy, funky, crazy dry. Wisps of sweet and sour fruitiness wane in and out. A dusty basement kick, like the most pungent blue cheese you've had. Really contributes to the puckering Warming up, the wine characteristics show up, oaky tannins, tobacco, hints of smoke. In a word, wild.

O: Still can't handle these all the time, but this certainly is a treat.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 04:00:14 | More by Braseltonage

jvillefan

California

4.98/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Batch 001

A: A dark ruby brown with a pure white head that disappeared very quickly.

S: Very sour aromas coming off. There was the aroma of grapes, sour apple, and esters.

T: Very rich grape, caramel, and apple flavors. There is a perfectly balanced sour flavor to go along with the sweetness from the other flavors.

M: Very heavy for a sour with excellent carbonation.

O: Consecration that has been aging for 5 years is the single best sour available. Better then the 6 Cantillons, Duck Duck Gooze, Cable Car, and 8 Cascade beers I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 23:06:25 | More by jvillefan

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.74/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from tap into goblet at hulmeville inn pa. Pours a ruby brown with ever so slight rim of thin foam. Awesome funky wine barrel oak and currant aromas. Taste is pefect tart cherry and currant with perfect funky oak barrel. Some hints of wine but is so smooth from the oak. Its nearly perfect in every way...
I was so pumped to have this...way more than worth it!

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2013 21:08:05 | More by DrinkSlurm

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle to Ommegang flute

A: dark dark red to brown colored with almost no head and a thin white to gray lacing. This stuff is dark but looks clean despite being completely opaque, the fruit clearly has a effect here

S: There is a slight smell of alcohol that i first detect along with the must of a cabernet barrel that is pretty powerful. I think I can smell some dark fruit in there, but its not pungent and might be a stretch. More barrel then other RR beers I've had but not much else.

T: The first thing i notice is the cabernet barrels give a lighter wine taste then the other RR sours i have had but it is there with plenty of strength and works well. I have never had currents before but you can taste the dark fruit in there as it is quite tart though it is not overwhelming. There is a little sour in there and this reminds me of fruit juice, but the sour lasts through the finish.

M: It is thin and oily but not super oily, there is a small bite from the yeast/barrels but not that much and it could be stronger. Regardless it goes down very easily considering the abv which I can't taste or feel at all. The carbonation's there though lacking as this has more of juice feel.

O: So I really liked this beers but it is not my favorite RR sour. It has some sourness and tartness but not enough imo and could do with a little more carbonation. Though that is really just nitpicking as this is a fantastic beer that I highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 02:59:49 | More by Pinknuggets

Immortale25

Florida

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Dogfish signature snifter. Label says 091412.

A- Pours a rubyish light brown color with a 1/2 inch tan head that doesn't retain long at all before fizzing away to a thin ring around the edge of the glass and extremely active patterns of surface foam. Minimal lacing.

S- Moderately sour, crisp aroma with some sweetness and a hint of spice. Mainly fruit notes like cherry, red grape and, of course, currant.

T- Strong tartness, but not too strong, with a decent amount of fruit such as plum, cherry and grape juice. There's a hint of rubbery solvent but it's actually quite complimentary. Also, I couldn't really tell that this is 10% what with the burst of other intense flavors.

M- Lots of pucker and dryness. Medium carbonation with a body on the full side for the style.

O- Yeah, I definitely dig the darker sours more than the lighter ones. Probably my favorite RR sour to date.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 05:50:51 | More by Immortale25

tectactoe

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to GetMeAnIPA for this one... my first RR sour! Consecration pours a pretty damp and dreary copper-brown color with some very slight ruby-red highlights when held in front of a bright light. The head is a murky beige color, borderline light-tan, and dissipates quickly into thin air leaving behind only a little bit of wet legging. I'll tell you this, it's not much to look at really. Kind of dark and musty looking - I guess it fits the style. I was just expecting something a bit more vibrant. The aroma is heavy fruit; currants, grapes, cherries, mixed berries. Very tart on the nose alone. The aroma makes up for the vibrance that was lost on its appearance. Slight wet, woody smell trailing in the back somewhere, but not much (if any) funk or brett. Just straight up tart and sour fruits and vinegar.

Aaaaand the taste is an explosion on the tongue. It is the aroma in "taste" form. You get hit right up front with a strong acidity and balsamic-like vinegar character. Starts off just a bit sour, then quickly the tartness overcomes every corner of your mouth and becomes nearly pucker-inducing. Grapes, berries, plums, currants, cherries, and even a touch of apricot in the finish. Juicy, juicy, JUICY ass fruits; authentic, quenching, tart, and satisfying. I'm sure there are plenty of fruits and flavors I'm missing, as there are plenty of things I can't quite identify - but the harmony between them is pretty amazing.

About halfway through and even earlier when the beer gets warmer, the wood flavors come out - wet, damp, deep oak. Slightly musty and corky, but still, not much on the funky or barnyard side of the spectrum, which might be a good thing - I don't know if I'd want anything else distracting me from this delicious onslaught of gushing, sour fruits. Vinegar becomes even more prominent at the end in the fruity and sweet aftertaste. Alcohol? What alcohol? This beer is 10% ABV? Are you fucking kidding me? No idea how the alcohol is masked this well, but it is. Watch out, this beer will put you on your ass if you're not careful. Medium bodied, crispy and slightly dry with a heavy load of carbonation.

My first RR wild ale, and hopefully not my last. This was some seriously good shit. So satisfyingly tart, sour, and sweet with a perfect flavor profile of authentic fruits. Insanely drinkable for such a high ABV. Ridiculous.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 04:59:23 | More by tectactoe

Labeorphile

Texas

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

Poured from bottle into Tulip glass with a really thin head that quickly disappears. The beer is a rich amber color.

Aroma is definitely unique. You can definitely smell the sour yeast and the wine aroma from the aging, an interesting yet beautiful combination.

The taste is a bit of a shock for those not familiar with sour ales. You instantly feel the pucker and the sides of your cheeks being sucked in. This quickly fades to the dry flavor of Cabernet while the sour lingers on the palate. I like the concept, but I'm not 100% sold on the flavor. I know it is a sour ale, but the sour is a little overpowering of the really good wine backing.

The mouth feel is a little bubbly. I think this would work better with a little less carbonation.

A good beer, but not one I am inclined to drink regularly.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:46:05 | More by Labeorphile

abenf

4.46/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured out of a bottle into a wine glass. This one was bottled in September 2012.

A: Thin layer of bubbles instantly disperses. Murky dark orange color. It's pretty.

S: The first thing is wine, some acidity, a little lemon and a little cherry, the wine thing is pleasantly sweet. The sweetness and the lemon together make me think of lemonheads.

T: Not as sweet as the nose. It's bittersweet and it tastes really good. Starts off enjoyably sour, my mouth got used to it pretty quick and it turned into nice tartness with little kick of acidity at the end. I can tell there're a lot of flavors going on but I'm not discerning enough to say what they are. Overall it tasted kind of floral. One weird thing I tasted in the beginning is Worcestershire.

M: Not as smooth as I'd like. I noticed the carbonation. Not thin but I'd prefer it a little thicker than it is. I can tell that it's 10% in the back of my throat.

Overall I enjoy it. I'm fairly new to sours but this reassures me that it's a style that I reeeaally like. I really enjoy the wine character and it makes me want it to feel more velvety. This was my first Russian River and all of the hype I've read and heard seems merited to me!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 21:45:41 | More by abenf

Patrick2012

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark red amber with a quickly dissipating white head.
S: Red Wine, dark aroma. Very Sour smelling and intense.
T: Sour wine, cabernet sauvignon. Intense flavor. Very bitter.
M: Bitter aftertaste sits in your mouth for a while.
O: A delicious Sour Ale by Russian River.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 02:25:21 | More by Patrick2012

hitter114

Colorado

4.7/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: No head at all glowing amber mahogany in color
S: Fresh and a bit funky (funky fresh) cherry
T: Fantastic Cab, Cherry taste... 7/10 sourness
M: Nice and grippy but also refreshing
O: really liked it, very unique but to the point, very good bench mark for sours in russian river family

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:55:48 | More by hitter114

lordofstarside

Nevada

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

Bottled in September, 12oz to snifter

Pours a muddy red with high carbonation, no head at all and moderate lacing. Aroma of sour cheery, apple, citrus, with a sweet malt backbone. All the standard ingredients to a sour. Taste follows the nose well, sour cherry, tart apple, grape, oak, berries, sweet malts, and some alcohol. Feel is full bodied with a good tingle on the tongue. Very juicy, makes my mouth water. Overall a solid sour from Russian River. Can't wait to see how this beer ages

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 01:01:52 | More by lordofstarside

fatmusic14

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Its days like this that I wish I had a tulip glass.

Pours like a shaded version of burnt sienna. Head generated quickly resembles that of a Soda, and disappears just as fast. Zero Lacing

Smell blasts scents of pine and berries. Smells like a Spring morning.

Tastes tart, but no overpowering - with a really hard to define flavor profile (sour, bitter, hint of sweet). Aftertaste leaves something to be desired. Mouthfeel lacking.

Very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 03:59:04 | More by fatmusic14

BilbosNuts

California

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

Poured from a 375mL bottle (bottled on 9/14/12) into a tulip glass.

A: Pours a clear garnet color with light bubble streams rising slowly to the surface. It has no head and appears kind of still.

S: A blast of sour funkiness blends well with dark fruits and a light tobacco aroma. Very inviting.

T: Nearly identical to what was promised in the aroma. It is a wonderful blend and balance of sourness, dark fruits and a minor tobacco characteristic.

M: Medium bodied and an essentially still feel. It has a dry and puckering finish.

O: This is a pretty amazing wild ale. It is perfectly balanced in its flavors and is a fantastic example of the style. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 02:16:34 | More by BilbosNuts

ElSid

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The Beers of California

#36

Bottled Date: 9/14/12

A: Magohony brown with hues of currant red. Slowly poured into a large wine glass with minimal head but active carbonation.

S: Acetic acid berry sweetness with layers of wood and tobacco in the background. Mostly a sour prickling sensation in the nose which let's me know that there is going to be a sour astringent kick to this brew.

T: Sour berry sweetness with a balsamic vinegar astringency up front. There are also notes of sea salt, wood, leather, prunes and tobacco with a middle layer of chewy brown bread. Some warming vinous alcohol comes through in the finish. Overall mostly sour with a pleasant sweetness, hint of saltiness and beautiful layers of subtlety from the Cab barrels and malt.

M: Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation which really adds to the overall experience of the brew.

O: I love the Russian River sours which really showcases the ingenuity, creativity, and wine background of brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo. Consecration marries a dark sweetness with a balsamic vinegar bite with wonderful subtleties inbetween.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 04:23:26 | More by ElSid

Hatzilla

California

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark brown, mostly clear body, head settles quickly. Smells sour and funky. Tastes sour and has nice notes of currants and Cabernet Sauvignon. Palate is alive and bubbly. Overall much better than the first time I tried this 3 years ago. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 01:13:03 | More by Hatzilla

MrVonzipper

California

3.98/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, tawny-amber color with a bubbly eggshell colored head. Average retention and spotty lace.

Smells of lemonheads and cherry clan like most of RR sours but this is heavier on the cherry side. A touch or tart Chardonnay as well.

Taste is much different than the other RR sours and opposes the nose. Quite the variation of flavor ranging from Chardonnay and wet horse blanket to mildly tart cherries and finishing with a dry wheat like character.

Mouthfeel is light bodied with high carbonation. Pretty dry yet fairly tacky.

Overall this is far better than I thought it'd be. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 10:53:29 | More by MrVonzipper