Mortification - Russian River Brewing Company

Corkpuller

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

This beer approaches perfection - and easily the best Quad I've had.

I'm not even going to try to describe it, but the balance and complexity are ridiculous. The finish is super long, spicy and classy. Would drink this at every opportunity.

An awesome beer. My favorite RR.

Serving type: growler

02-04-2013 13:21:46 | More by Corkpuller

Jemonster

California

4.78/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: A deep root beer color and opacity. Thin white head. S: Rich toffee, hops, coffee and sugar. T: Toffee, raisin, some sourness and hops. It's on the sweeter side. M: Full and round, smooth. O: Pretty awesome beer on tap at Russian River. High ABV makes it hard to drink more than one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2011 21:12:29 | More by Jemonster

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.6/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another great beer from Russian River. Pours like an Amontillado in color, with a huge creamy head that fades to a thin cap and leaves some nice lacing. Impressive for a growler. Smells soft, vinous, of red fruit, and brambly; followed by the slightest hint of sour cherry. Tastes as fantastic as usual. Vinous, complex, tannic, brambly, smooth, and very well hidden alcohol. Delicious!

Serving type: growler

08-20-2010 13:27:12 | More by Georgiabeer

MisterClean

California

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the Toronado in the City.

A - Dark amber pour with maybe one finger of head mahogany-white head, that dissipates quickly, leaving a small amount of lacing.

S/T - Dark fruit, brown sugar, dark belgian sugars, oak, and slight grapefruit.

M - Well balanced, with a full mouthfeel, but slightly malt dominated of course. Slightly dry finish, with a light amount of alcohol.

D - This was excellent. Rarely disappointed from RRs offerings.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2009 04:17:15 | More by MisterClean

beermeSD

California

4.55/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had on draft at Tornado SD. Great coming off the tap, but it's heavy and should be enjoyed without the Mac N' Cheese plate served there. Reminded me a lot of traditional winter beers with a dark color, fruity smell and flavoring, and heavy feel to it. Definitely worth a second go the next time I'm there.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2009 21:13:59 | More by beermeSD

Jmoore50

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is another beer that I kept revisiting during my recent trips to Russian River. I am a firm believer that this is one of the top three American Quads in the U.S.

Served too cold and without any head, this still looked like a solid Quad. It has a caramel and brown sugar color to it that is solid throughout. Its not overly dark, actually more on the lighter side of the Quad spectrum.

Once this beer warms, which is key, it smells a bit like baking bread. It has a nice grainy smell paired with a clean Belgian yeast flavor. It is somewhat roasted with hints of sweet sugars.

Absolutely delicious. Its not Belgian, I drank this thinking that its a good American representation of the style. It has a great overall taste, very rounded. The grain bill is represented nicely and the yeast profile counteracts accordingly. Some raisin bread in there with a sweet caramel and toffee. I enjoyed this a great deal and was surprised to read the reviews of it.

A great solid mouthfeel that makes this drinkable at 10.5%. It has no noticeable alcohol notes in it other than a strong buzz in my head after drinking three glasses. It could do with a lighter carbonation, but criticisms about the sweetness are invalid in my mind. I thought this was a solid beer and would order anywhere available.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 03:01:19 | More by Jmoore50

monitorpop

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep dark amber/ruby with a half finger off white head. Decent lacing.

S: Candied sugar, brandy, sweet cherry.

T: Starts off sweet. Some dark fruit (figs, cherries). Malts & bready belgian yeast. slightly burnt sugar a touch of hops in the finish to balance it out.

M: Smooth with medium carbonation and a warming mild alcohol burn.

O: A top notch quad. Up near my favorite quads (Westvleteren 12 & De Struise St. Amatus 12). They should start bottling this one.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2012 01:21:08 | More by monitorpop

NWer

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed at the brewery during the PtY frenzy. Growler to go gave me the opportunity to enjoy it in a more subdued setting - like at home under dreary Seattle skies that refuse to go away. A CofC nightmare.
Pours dark tastes smooth masking the alcohol content. Unlike many reviewers, I thoroughly enjoy this beer.
Difficult to pick out individual flavors but suffice it to say it is delicately balanced with no cloy. Totally drinkable considering the ABV.
Can't wait until next year to repeat the cycle but now I have my own RR growler to refill.

Serving type: growler

03-29-2011 19:45:35 | More by NWer

gford217

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to a very generous trader for this growler, shared with the usual suspects at the Brick Store.

Pours a deep, clear brownish amber with a big creamy beige head that sticks to the glass on the way down and remains a cap for the duration. The lacing is good and overall I was surprised at how light this one looked.

The aroma is fairly subdued but opens up a little more as it warms. Either way, it's on the sweeter side of things with lots of dark fruits and some caramel malts and candi sugar to compliment things.

The taste is a bigger version of the aroma with a huge fruity sweetness from figs, raisins and candi sugar. There is a sturdy caramel malt backbone that gives way to a slightly dry and wine-like finish that has a hint of alcohol burn as it goes down.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied for the style with lots of carbonation, especially from a growler.

This is one of the more drinkable quads I've tasted as it's on the lighter side of things and with a noticeably vinous quality to things. Another terrific brew from Russian River.

Serving type: growler

03-21-2009 00:42:15 | More by gford217

mjl21

California

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Russian River. Poured into their 14 ounce Belgian glass. Listed on the board as being 26 IBUs and 11%.

A-Pours a dark brown with a half finger off white head.

S-Smells sweet. Stone fruit, caramel malt, and candy sugar are predominant. Also getting a tad bit of funk on the nose.

T-It tastes of rum soaked fruit. Pick up on lots of dark stone fruit and pineapple. It reminds me in a lot of ways of a tropical drink. The candy sugar and caramel malt give it a nice sweetness, but it is by no means cloying. The hops stay in the background.

M-Super creamy mouthfeel. It is thicker with a soft level of carbonation.

D-The 11% is very well hidden. I had no problem drinking this one.

A deceptively drinkable 11% beer. I was surprised by how much pineapple flavor was in this one. The citrus gives it a uniqueness to most quads that are dominated by raisins and other dark stone fruits.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2009 23:57:17 | More by mjl21

animortician

California

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Deep Dark Brown, medium head that didn't last long.

S: Spicy, Cinnamon, Sweet, Appealing.

T: Everything the nose hinted at and more. Nutty, malty, well hidden alcohol.

M: Light for how how the ABV is. Still rich and satisfying.

O: This Quad is really good, well balance, very drinkable and complex enough for you to want to keep coming back.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2011 00:09:44 | More by animortician

surfer4life

California

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Toronados

A - Dark copper with minimal head that quickly recedes to a thin film which does however leave some lacing to be seen.

S - Raisins, Plums and light citrus character. Very big caramel maltiness in the nose. Alcohol smell dominates.

T - Is it a barleywine or is it a quad? Vinnie says both. I can see the where you could get that, it does have the fruit and light bitterness that comes with the quad, however I get the great amount of sweetness that comes with a BW. The is a fine tasting hybrid. Raisins, figs and oakiness.

M - Carbonation is just right here, very crisp however it coats the mouth well. Leaves the palate yearning for another baptism.

D - Very much so, but what from Russian River isn't?

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2009 07:33:58 | More by surfer4life

femALEist

California

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Toronado during SF Beer Week
Mortification is a quadrupel and 11% abv. It poured a nice dark chocolate with some red highlights. It smelled of sour malt, toffee, cherry, dried plums and vanilla. It tasted like roasted malt, plums, cherries with a hint of sour funk. Pretty tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2010 19:24:54 | More by femALEist

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Served a brown-ruby color with a finger of finger of frothy off-white head. Fades at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is full of sweet dark fruits, raisins, dark cherries, and plums. Also some candi sugar and rich sweet malts. Bit of booze comes through as well.

T - Starts off with some sweet rich dark fruits with plum and raisin coming through. Some candi sugar and a bit of earthiness. Through the middle, some dark cherries and a touch of booze starts to come through. Finish is a mix of rich dark fruits, candi sugar, and some booze alongside with a touch of Belgian yeast.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a big sweet warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice balance of big sweetness and warming earthy flavors. Not overly boozy.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2012 19:35:02 | More by ngeunit1

DovaliHops

California

4.3/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown with a hint of red, almost a purple color with a tiny white head. Scent is heavy with dark fruits. Biscuits and caramel malt are present as well. A little bit of candied sugar and prunes. Taste is initially sweet malt flavors, immediately followed by dark fruits and Belgian yeast flavors. A little bit of bread-like flavors with just a hint of booze. Mouthfeel is full bodied and creamy-smooth. Drinkability is high. Overall, this is a fantastic Quad. I love it, and if not for the high ABV, I could have a few of these in one sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2011 07:51:05 | More by DovaliHops

Bubba83

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had a 3oz sample at the 2009 Toronado Barleywine Festival. Even though this isn't a barleywine, it was still somehow in the competition? I'm not complaining.

Sort of a cola colored concoction, maybe a little darker, with some purple and dark reds. Thin rim of fairly vibrant white head with a tiny little bit of lacing.

Smells musty and a little bit cheesy at first, which seems odd. Plum is there too with some roastyness and smokeyness, but the whole thing seems like it has been barbecued, I'm confused, but it does smell nice.

It doesn't taste much like the smell. Starts of sweet and caramel-like, with some dark fruits driving in hard toward the center, then follows with some roasty malt and finally some alcohol and even feint apples int he finish. A little mustyness is present all the way through. Interesting is an understatement.

Mouthfeel is always at a very high standard with RR beers and this guy is no different. Pretty smooth, yet lively and not too heavy.

Outstanding drinkability. Pretty dang easy to quaff really. No alcohol heat is present at all, sort of just like liquid candy... At 11% that's no small feat. Nice all around Quad but a little odd...

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2009 07:33:28 | More by Bubba83

Gobzilla

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured a dark brown in color with burgundy highlights and a half finger of head that left some good bubbly lacing sticking to the glass. Plenty of dark fruit is noticeable upfront in the nose with nice belgian yeast sweetness, slight candi sugar, booze is present and hints of brown sugar. The belgian yeast character was more apparent on the palate alongside dark fruit accents, welll balanced booze that was not overwhelming, subtlt brown and candi sugar but with mild spice. The brew was medium in body with good amount of carbonation which has a sweet, yeasty, dark fruity, slightly boozy and sticky finish. Finally got to tick this beer after some years of chasing. Yeeahh!!

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 19:17:18 | More by Gobzilla

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Toronado, San Francisco, CA on 7/21/09.

A - Really pretty ruby/copper-colored body with burgundy and royal purple hues and a thin alabaster head that receded into a thin ring of retention, leaving attractive lacing around the glass. Head flared up with each swirl of the glass.

S - Dark fruit reminiscent of raisins, currants and plums with a prevalent boozy presence. Slight waft of magic marker. Pretty strong, pungent nose with slight sour and oaky notes around the edges.

T - Again, the flavor is heavy on dark fruit and alcohol, although the latter isn't too heavy for a Quad weighing in at 11%. An array of dark fruits akin to raisins, currants, prunes, dates and black cherries come to mind. A slight oaky, sour character emerges in the backend, followed by an earthy hop tinge in the finish. Overall, the dark fruit character dominates the flavor.

M - Medium to full bodied with a very thick, syrupy texture and bristly carbonation. Hint of sweetness with warm alcohol notes and just a tinge of sourness on the palate.

D - Glad to get another "tion" brew from Russian River under my belt, and a rare one to boot! While I don't have a whole lot of Quad experience, I found this one to be pretty damn good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2009 00:36:30 | More by ffejherb

mithrascruor

California

4.22/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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

Pours a very dark, yet clear, ruby-red color. Has a big light tan head with good retention. Aroma is light, but has hints of malt and some smokeyness. Nice malty flavor with hints of cherries (not sour), chocolate, and smoke. Smooth and medium-bodied. Strong ABV, but no real taste of alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 22:54:00 | More by mithrascruor

JWD

California

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at RR

A- Golden with fairly high carb, this is a quad.

S- Yeasty, bready and very belgian, i was very interested to try this as it replaced the barleywine that i really like and i had heard that it was kind of a blend of the two, not the case this is a quad straight up.

T- outstanding, i would put this up with any other quad out there.

M- Good, nothing out of the ordinary here.

D- Very good, I could drink several of these but the ABV is dangerous to most.

Overall, i tried it because it was there, good but not something i will quest after but that is just my personal preferance.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2009 20:25:23 | More by JWD

Floydster

California

4.2/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

250 ml serving in a Chimay goblet at the Pizza Port Belgian Beer Party on 3/29/09, reviewed from notes on my cell phone

A-Medium to dark brown color, 3/4 inch creamy off white head that stays around a few minutes, some lacing
S-Floral hops, caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon, toffee, roasted nuts, dark fruits, candied sugar, and red grapes
T-Starts off with a bitter hop welcome, some sweet malt in the middle that is mostly caramel, more sugar is present later on when it warms, finish is dry and bitter with hoppiness, nicely balanced, get a lot of raisins and toffee later on, also a little alcohol burn
M-Dry, sweet, nutty, and fruity mouthfeel, medium bodied, soft carbonation, taste lingered a long time
D-Could have drank another glass of this, strength is not very hidden, can also be filling, hops do help provide balance against all that sugar, malt, and fruit, decent drinkability

I was really hoping this would make it there and I am glad it did, it was actually the only Russian River brew on draft, got quite lucky with this one, would not quite call this quad, it reminded me more of a barleywine especially with its hop profile, I would like to have this again, recommended

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2009 19:38:17 | More by Floydster

glid02

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a growler courtesy of gford217 - thanks!

Pours a slightly hazy light brown color with a one-finger off-white head. The head dissipates slowly into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of sugar-coated dark fruits - plums and figs - with solid malt aromas.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sugary malt flavors are joined shortly by dark fruits before ending with just a touch of sweetness. The booze is noticeable but not as strong as the ABV would indicate.

Mouthfeel is very nice. It's got a nice thickness with solid carbonation. Very smooth.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass and could have a few more. This goes down very easily.

Overall this isn't as complex as some of the world-class quads, but the flavors all work very well together. Certainly worth a shot.

Serving type: growler

03-22-2009 03:35:25 | More by glid02

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got a growler of this and shared it with a bunch of heads at Capone's 2011 PTY event. Then I used the remains to get drunk late at night at the crib.

A- A loud pop from the lovely RR growler, Mortification comes oozing out a bark brown color with some hazy specks of red on the edge. Alot of foam for a 10 percenter, off white/beige in color, leaves a cap and some streaks.

S- Malt forward would be the smell and Im surprised that Im not drowned out by candi sugar sweetness. Some dark fruits and caramel/biscuit malt, hops don't make a dent and the alcohol is hidden very well.

T- I was really surprised by this one, a very balanced quad without the signature Belgian candi sugar addition, which kills alot of quads for me. I like Vinnies vision for this style. Dark fruit, plum, caramel that is not overstated, morning biscuit and bread, a box of chocolates but no werthers. Balanced and not overly sweet, SWEET!

M- A smooth quad that leaves a lasting impression for a nice while. Semi coating and not hot at all. Medium bodied with present carb that does not bite, or bark for that matter.

D- Another solid take on a style by the RR crew. I don't see why this is not rated higher, it's more drinkable than most authentic Belgians in the same vain. I don't want to sound like a RR fanboy, but they can do no wrong.

Serving type: growler

04-03-2011 18:41:35 | More by onix1agr

RomanW70

Rhode Island

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3/20 @ Russian River. Pours cloudy caramel with a small than head that quickly fades into lacing. Aroma of dark fruits, candied sugar, cocoa,and caramel. Taste is similar with a slight vineous quality. Vineous and caramel finish with some alcohol. Medium carbonation with a medium thick mothfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2009 20:37:30 | More by RomanW70

impending

California

4.13/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A

At the source. Crystal clear, rich deep red stained mahogany. Lighter in color than most quads. Served with minor head, nice lacing.

Aroma is unmistakable, thick and heavy. The dark fruits include a hint of black cherry and a touch of sour for good measure.

Taste is sweet, hint of a barleywine. Nice flavor evolution from tip of the tongue to the quietly lingering aftertaste, delicious. While the hop taste is significant for a quad it is relatively minor but of particular note for this style of brew. The alcohol is very restrained, I would not have minded it if it had been more forward. Mouthfeel is viscous without becoming cloying.

One of those brews that I really enjoy yet want to like it even more!
cheers
jd

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2010 23:44:31 | More by impending