Framboise For A Cure - Russian River Brewing Company

patm1986

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

epic. flown back from vacation. finally opening this baby into a lindeman's flute.

ruby red. glowing under the light. pink head--which is entirely poignant considering the hue is actually identical to the pink that represents breast cancer support. truly beautiful.

smells like a really young, fresh rosé--or how i'd imagine one would smell. the temptation base has an incredible presence. it varies slightly with more sweetness, otherwise, blindly, i'd label this temptation; anything involving temptation is GLORIOUS. unripened raspberries, barely some oak. AWESOME.

sooo tart. so tart. more than expected. epic tartness. raspberries are very young, borderline cranberry-type sour. a little baking apple and chardonnay qualities also.

thin, carbonated, and dry as anything ever. no, really dry though. this is a "-tion" beer. definitely a "-tion" beer in every ounce. 6.5% abv is not noticeable at all, though it is high for a classic framboise, but it yields much complexity to a style that can be labeled "juicy."

undeniably worth the 20 bucks that supports ANYTHING, let alone breast cancer.
i bought this for my girlfriend, because she adores the "-tions" and framboise, but she thankfully let me have a bit. it's divine. one of the most sour of "sour beers."
cheers, russian river.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 02:04:01 | More by patm1986

petesuphi

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Thanks to scottfree for the trade to stormking47 for these beauties.
A- strawberry in color.thin white lacing, tons of carbonation.
S- very tart, lots of fruit esters. WILD
T-very tart, very acidic,
M-WOW IM SALIVATING
D-its really really tasty. i could drink this all night long.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 06:19:25 | More by petesuphi

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.93/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

a big part of of our tasting last night, i was thrilled to have been able to provide this one for the group. poured into a few glasses i think we were all happy to finally see this one.

the pour was a fantastic light pink color with a light haze to it and a smallish pink head that momentarily sat on top of the body.

the aroma is simply heavenly as the wonderful mouth shredding sourness immediately took hold. light fruit notes are evident underneath the wonderful sour apple, vinegar like sour flavors. dry finish with a taste that was nothing short of simply amazing.

overall i could not say enough good things about this beer. a massivily wonderful addition that i really wish i could try more of. this was just amazing.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 15:17:36 | More by mikesgroove

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.93/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I couldn't get a bottle in a trade so I went the Ebay route.

It pours a distinctive pink colour with a 1 finger head of pinkish foam. The lacing is outstanding.

The smell, well, if you want the aroma of the freshest raspberries that combines sweet and tart notes, this is it. Before I go any further, let me say I have a definite bias towards beers brewed with raspberries *if* they are done right.

First sip in and a bit of sweetness starts things off followed by a huge blast of raspberry tartness. Wow, just wow! The barrel aging here isn't very obvious but a tarty fruit like raspberries can mask it and truth be told, I don't miss it at all. The beer as is, is knocking my socks of with its deliciousness.

Fairly light bodied with a perfect level of carbonation, the mouthfeel is fitting and superb for the style.

I gotta say, it's going to be tough for any new beer I try in 2012 to top this one!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 17:02:40 | More by Bitterbill

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.9/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Did not expect to roll into the liquor store (Ledgers) and find bottles of this! And then Toronado, and then City Beer store!

Beautiful and vibrant pink color, just like Rose de Gambrinus, but even cleaner and plenty carbonated to perfection! Yummy raspberry and sour aromas, just a great tartness and fruit so present. Stays away from horse blanket funk type of descriptions, this is clean, berryful and sour.

Taste, jeez, this just doesn't let up! Incredibly flavorful, rich raspberries, seemingly picked at the height of sweet and tenderness. Somehow neither the immense fruitness or sourness envelope each other. Russian River really outdid themselves on this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 02:01:25 | More by Beerandraiderfan

julian

Washington

4.88/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Bright passion red color - absolutely stunning! Minimal head that fades quickly to nothing. Yup, no trace of head anywhere. Looks gorgeous but would have liked to see SOME pinkish hued foam at least coating the surface, and maybe some lacing. Can't really complain though, this shit is amazing - read on.

S: Smells like a Cantillon at first - barrel must, brett, funk, barnyard, and just generally awesome sourness mixed with a healthy heaping of tart raspberries that tickle the nose with a sweet playful fruitiness. As it warms you get more wood/barrel/oak and must and a bit of solventy alcohol. Swirl it around and BAM more raspberries!

T: Mild tartness, raspberry flavor definitely noticeable and vaguely sweet attempting to balance out the tartness (very nice!), light funk and barrel must. Very nice brett and fruit character and combination.

M: Dry, crisp, medium-high carbonation.

O: This is pretty much everything I was hoping FfaC would be, and more. I think this is now my favorite RR beer and quite possibly a very close 2nd to Rose de Gambrinus. Very pleased with this. Very good beer and one well worth the price of admission. If you haven't tried this and like sours and/or fruit beers and like supporting good causes, GET THIS BEER! I could seriously put a dent into a keg of this...if not finish it off within an almost medically unsound timeframe.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 06:48:47 | More by julian

jegross2

Illinois

4.84/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Reviewing the Framboise For A Cure from Russian River Brewing Company out of Santa Rosa, California. Batch 3 of this brew is the same as Batch 2; it uses Temptation as a base and is 6.5% ABV. Russian River describes this beer as a "sour barrel aged beer with raspberries." 100% of the profits from this beer's bottle sales are donated directly to the Sutter Breast Care Center of Santa Rosa. You can make a direct donation to the cause of curing breast cancer through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by clicking here.

Score: 98

2012 vintage bottle (batch 3) served in a Bourbon County Brand Stout snifter and enjoyed on 02/11/13.

Appearance: Pours a gorgeous, slightly dark rose color with a finger-plus of frothy pink head that settles to a thick (half finger?) layer atop the glass. The beer is on the opaque side of translucent and "clean" in appearance. No noticeable army of floaties or any haze. Average, soapy lacing with awesome cling. Truly a gorgeous-looking sour. 5/5

Smell: The minute the cork popped of the top of the bottle, a "wild raspberry" aroma became immediately apparent to my nose, which was perched a couple of feet away from the bottle. Smelling from the glass, I get sweet and tart raspberry, strawberry ice cream, cranberry and a little bit of "all berry jam" akin to what they serve/sell at the Egg Harbor in Lincolnshire. There's a faint amount of that straw-like sour funk (my friend humorously calls this "Cantillon Dust") that you get in beers Cantillon Classic Gueuze present as well. Absolutely delicious! 5/5

Taste: Tastes just like it smells, but a little less bold. Tart raspberry, creamy strawberry and a little bit of that "Cantillon Dust" funk in the finish that faintly lingers with a hint of raspberry. Truly delicious, simply magnificent! Not very complex, but boy is this beer tasty! Although not very tart at cellar temp, this one grows in tartness as it warms up. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Has a juicy juice-like mouthfeel that moistens the palate while also slightly drying out and inflaming the gums after the swallow -- which makes for a really interesting mouthfeel. Nice blend of sweet and tart here. 5/5

Overall: One of my favorite sours consumed to date. This one can roll with the big boys (Fou Foune, Beatification, Tornado 25th Anniversary Ale, etc.). Give the average price one must pay for a quality sour, I would absolutely recommend this brew at the price point (even though it breaks the $1/oz retail threshold).

Cost: $15 for a 375 ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 05:28:31 | More by jegross2

russwbeck

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: This beer is so pink you should worry about it staining your white clothes and carpet. Hardly any head, but what is there is pink and laces well.

S: Raspberries, barnyard funkiness, and quite tart. A very typical sour smell, if not more sour than average.

T: Wow the taste follows what I'm getting on the smell. Very sour, but it is balanced by a ton of raspberries. The fruit is on a different level than other American Wilds that I have had. The balance between fruit and tartness is just unmatched in flavor. This very much so lives up to the hype.

MF: Tart and acidic, the mouth on this is carbonated well and has a medium to light body. No hint of alcohol at all.

O: Best sour of the night, including the Goose Island 3 Sisters and Bruery Oude Tart. One of the best American Wilds I have ever had the privilege of tasting.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 06:56:21 | More by russwbeck

StormKing47

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This will probably be one of the few beers I actually take time to review. Huge thanks to scottfrie, for hooking me up with two bottles of this delicious concoction. So here we go, reviewed from notes.

A- Looks almost neon pink like ripe, freshly picked raspberries or almost ready to pick strawberries. Thin, white head with very apparent carbonation visible from the constant stream of bubbles. It really is an amazing looking beer that I almost didn't want to drink, but where is the fun and enjoyment in just looking at such beauty, it had to be tasted and experienced.

S- Right away a ridiculous punch in the face or raspberry, fruit esters, funk and sourness that lets you know it is a wild ale right away. Smells like a beatification batch 2 fell into a barrel of raspberries and decided to stay there for awhile before crawling out to smack you right in the face.

T- This beer tastes absolutely phenominal, it's unbelievably tart and sour at the same time with a very nice acidic character that is not like the heart burn inducing acidic character of many cantillon lambics. The funk, sourness and raspberry tang meld very well to create a highly enjoyable dance on your tastebuds.

M- Wow I'm honestly salivating, I want to drink more and more because the prickly feeling it's leaving on my tongue has reminded me of the absolute bliss that splinter blue left me feeling. It really does coat your entire mouth and leave you anticipating the next sip, like a fat kid patiently awaiting a freshly baked twinkie.

D- It's unbelievably tasty and I can't believe they have only brewed it once and may never brew it again. I could honestly bronski a 3 liter myself and still be ready for more. Hopefully it is brewed again and possibly a 3 liter.

Definitely an experience that I am glad I shared with petesuphi, cmurren25, Jwiss22 and therealnomayo. I think the CA BAs are too critical of some of the ridiculous beers that have been produced in their state.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 01:50:39 | More by StormKing47

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

4.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Kurtis, thank so much for bringing this to share! Poured into tulip... Batch 2

A- Pink. Bright beautiful pink color with a red tint. Small finger of pink head that settles quickly to nothing. Just everything about this is pink.

S- Kick in the nose! Damn, I feel like my nose hairs are burning. Very lactic with a touch of brett character on the back end. Sour fruit, light berries. Raspberries fo sho...

T/M- Absolutely stunning. I'm almost speechless. I used to pick raspberries for a farm where I grew up, and this honestly has a fresh off the bush raspberry flavor. As soon as the flavor passes, the sour rips through the teeth and leaves the mouth salivating for more. A touch of funk finishes on the palate. Nicely carbonated, light tingly body. Very great body to support the beautiful flavors.

O- Best sour I've had to date. Just absolutely incredible. The sour was pungent, but didn't detract from the fruit flavors one bit. Not quite as sour as Cuvee de Jacobins, but close. Officially an always want of mine!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 21:18:11 | More by TheGordianKnot

Overlord

California

4.78/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Jerz for hosting an awesome tasting, and for so many generous beer connoisseurs who made the event possible.

Pours a light pink. Large white fizzy head. Pink with a slight orange hue to the edges. Champagne-esque bubbles.

Smells like soured, fresh, razor acidic raspberries. Smells puckering.

Insane, intense flavor. I'm sorry, but this beer is really underrated on this site. Wild puckering raspberry (picked just before ripening), crazy oak, great lingering semi-sweet aftertaste, the bubbles really cap it off. There's some funk/barnyard zest, but it's very mild. This (at least at this point in its aging) is all about the fruit. Bit leathery tannins and some lemon peel lingering about, but you have to fight the raspberries to find it.

Loved it. Pity it's so rare. The mouthfeel is superb.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 05:26:10 | More by Overlord

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.73/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Massive thanks goes out to mikesgroove for sharing this one with myself, beeruser, and funkydelic at one of our weekly tastings! Batch 001! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller flute. Poured BRIGHT orange with a half finger pure white head that had a slight pink hue that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, fruit, sour, tart, and funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, apricot, sour apple, tart, sour, funk, and raspberries. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this brew was nothing short of excellent! Holy Christ I have been wanting this beer on my palate for so long it is not even funny! It did not disappoint at all... Excellent flavor profile going on in this one. The sour and tart aspects on this are quite strong and almost bring on the duck-face HARD, but I resisted (even though I shouldn't have). The smell on this one is nothing short of phenomenal either. An absolute must try even if you have to trade BIG for it. Thanks again Mike for bringing this one out to share as it was QUITE the experience!
Appearance= 5.0 Smell= 5.0 Taste= 4.5 Mouthfeel= 4.5 Overall= 5.0

Big thanks goes out to MSquared2 for sharing this one at a recent tasting! Thank you SO much Morgan!!! Batch #2! Served from bottle into a Sweetwater 15th Anniversary snifter. Poured a vibrant blood red with a half finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, tart, sour, tart cherry, and funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, tart, sour, tart cherry, funk, and fruit. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a great brew. Having had the opportunity to have had Batch #1 (thanks mikesgroove) I can honestly say that Russian River is doing GREAT things with this brew on both batches. Everything is very well balanced and it definitely brings the pucker factor. If you call yourself a sour head you need to get this on your palate as soon as you possibly can. If you want to step your game up a notch get down on a Batch #1. You won’t regret doing so with either,[Men’s Warehouse owner voice] I guarantee it [/Men’s Warehouse owner voice].
Appearance= 4.5 Smell= 4.5 Taste= 4.5 Mouthfeel= 4.5 Overall= 4.5

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 13:21:38 | More by thagr81us

ngeunit1

California

4.7/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011

A - Pours a hazy ruby-orange with a thin finger of frothy pinkish head. The head fades fairly quickly leaving behind a bit of lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet raspberries with some tart light fruits, white grape, oak, vanilla, and some Brett funk.

T - Starts off with some tart raspberries and light fruits with some white grape, some acidity, and a bit of vanilla. Through the middle, some oak comes through with some Brett funkiness and some more vanilla. The finish is a mix of strong sour raspberries with some oak, Brett, vanilla, and white grape.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a tart, acidic, and sour finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really great tartness from the raspberries on top of the temptation base. The extra flavor adds some great complexity and sharpness to the beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 05:22:52 | More by ngeunit1

nhindian

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle graciously provided by russwbeck, split and poured into a Russian River '-tion' glass.

A - A vibrant, electrifying pink beer fills the glass, unlike anything I've had before. It's unique and almost intimidating in how special it appears. Only about a finger of light tan head grows, with somewhat low retention.

S - The aroma alone implies a very tart beer, full of fresh raspberries and sour funk. The barrel is prominent in terms of oak and vanilla, but still subtle enough to have the fruit dominate.

T - Straight away the flavor brings a strong, astringent funk, but the fruit and raspberry is just as potent, and doesn't have a malty or vinegar presence that detracts from the fruit. There is just a bit of barrel, but this doesn't rely on that to provide the bulk of flavor, and the raspberry easily drives the flavor.

M - Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with high carbonation. Not heavy at all and the carbonation drives a zesty and active body that moves easily and swiftly across the palate.

D/O - Drinkability is high. During a night which we had a good amount of sours, this one stands alone as one of the highlights of the night. It doesn't rely on the oak barrel to provide the flavor even though it was present, and the tartness is just prominent enough to deliver the strong raspberry flavors but keep it balanced and enjoyable. One of the best Russian River beers I've had and one of the best sours I've had period.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 06:58:36 | More by nhindian

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Huge thanks to one who doesn't wish to be named for this one. Poured from a 375ml corked and caged bottle into a Duchess oversize wine glass. Shared with schen9303.

A: Standard pour yields a .5 finger coarse white head that dissipates quickly into a thin white cap atop a clear orange brew. Lacing is thick and stringy but with little cling.

S: Nose is wonderfully musty. Raspberry puree is prominent along with cobweb and band-aid Brett. Lemon rind adds a tickle of sour. Not the most aromatic but very all the flavors are incredibly appealing and appropriate.

T: Opens tart lemon rind that sets the tone. Raspberry comes in strong towards the middle, lending a certain sweetness that intensifies the sour. Brett background and a slight yeastly bitterness. Raspberry fades out rather quickly leaving lemon rind and slight woodiness. Finishes yeasty with a clean, slightly dry, puckering aftertaste.

M: Light bodied and highly carbonated. Lively and bubbly in the mouth and abrasive around the edges. Tingly. Slightly dry right towards the end and puckering. Finishes pretty clean with a dry, slightly oily and lingering aftertaste.

D: I'm really thankful to have gotten the chance to have this one as there was a bit of craziness when it first debuted. I have to say though, this one lives up to the hype. An amazing creation by Vinny and his team. Worth the trouble to seek out.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 22:12:05 | More by SpeedwayJim

madvermin

California

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 edition, bottle. Thanks Ledgers Liquors for having such an awesome selection!

Appears a rich candy red, like maraschino cherries. Head is coarse and average lived.

Smells of funky, sour raspberries. The seeds are also evident in the smell in the form of an earthy dirt note.

Taste is a strong sourness without being unpleasant. If you let the beer sit on your tongue it moves from sour raspberries to more sour raspberries ...but eventually to a slightly sweet crushed seed element. Funk evident throughout

Mouthfeel is puckering, but doesn't destroy your mouth with acidity. Sweetness keeps it incredibly drinkable. Seed aspect is incredible on all levels. Overall there are not too many other sours I've had that can measure up to this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 21:31:51 | More by madvermin

illidurit

California

4.58/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared at the December iteration of the Santa Cruz tasting series. Pours a vivid magenta color without much of a head. Absurd raspberry aroma, fruitier and more tart than even NG Raspberry Tart. Really the most realistic, eye-popping recreation of fruit in a beer that I’ve ever smelled. Great balance in the flavor between sourness and fruit. Divine.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 08:18:47 | More by illidurit

auroracrisis

Kentucky

4.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

375ml into a Russian River tulip, this is batch 2.

Vibrantly pink upon pouring with a head that quickly dissipates into a ring of foam around the edges of the glass that sticks around for the duration of the session. Sporadic bubbles can be seen dancing to the top with no rhyme or reason to their pattern. A touch of lacing as it is drank down, but the lacing disappears after it rests a bit.

Opens with horsey funk and raspberries. Hay and bandaid follow, with subtle hints of cobwebs and more fruit. Also something that I can't quite put my finger on that I can only compare to nuts soaked in pickle juice? Possibly from the tiny raspberry seeds. Does not disappoint on the nose one bit, pretty complex.

A burst of raspberries at first that quickly move into mouth biting tartness with a hint of the same raspberry flavor. A touch of cheesey funk with some highlights of barnyard. Not as subtle as the nose, but I believe this beer just needs time to really open up.

Sticky and crisp, with a tingle of carbonation. Some drying with a thin-medium body.

Brashly fruity and tart with a good funk. An awesome example of an authentic framboise by Russian River. Glad it became more available this year so more people can taste it, even if the base beer isn't the same (last year Beatification, this year it's Temptation). Trade for this if you can, it will not disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 06:26:25 | More by auroracrisis

Chriscrundwell12

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

375 ml bottle corked and caged poured into a Darkness snifter, sharred with a fellow BA.

Batch 2

A- Wow incredibly pinkish purplish red, really attractive color, no head at all, some bubbles coming off the bottom, splotchy lacing, thin layer on top.
S- Wow big barnyard aroma, sour, funk, cob webs, fresh raspberries, really looking forward to trying this bad boy.
T- Really enjoyable, nice funkiness, barnyard, love the fresh raspberries, vinegar, sour apple, oak, really complex.
M- Medium mouth feel, decent carbonation, dry finish, nice puckering taste.
O- Really impressed with this beer, I had high hopes and was not let down, love the sour tartness that comes out, I also love fresh raspberries, which came out upfront in this beer, extremely grateful to have traded for this gem, and would love another opportunity to try it with some age.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 02:40:45 | More by Chriscrundwell12

jethrodium

California

4.53/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

375 ml bottle batch 1, opened on February 9, 2011. Pours a clear pinkish amber with a couple of bits of yeast floating in it despite a gentle pour. Small white head with decent retention that leaves a few spots of lacing on the glass. Aroma is strong grapefruit with a bit champagne yeast. A lot of funk with a light mineral and oak smell as well. The raspberry appears on the nose as well and is integrated quite well with the other aromas. Initial taste is very sour with the grapefruit as the first taste. This transitions into more of the berry on top of the mineral and oak. Funk very apparent on the finish as well as some tannins. Very dry. Medium body. Medium carbonation. Another great sour from Russian River. Not sure if it was worth the hysteria around the release, but I'm certainly glad to have tried it. I would say that I found it to be slightly better than beatification.
4.0/4.5/4.5/5.0/4.5

375 ml bottle, batch 2. Opened November 19, 2011. Pours a clear cherry red with a small white head that disappears quite quickly and leaves no lacing. Looks like soda in the glass. The aroma is big, sweet raspberry, some lactic acid, a bit of cherry and, some white wine. The taste is relatively sweet with tart raspberry , some cherry, and some lactic acid. Pretty tart overall. The finish is decently sour with a lingering raspberry flavor. Medium body. Heavy carbonation that feels fizzy in the mouth. This was enjoyable, but didn’t quite compare to the first batch. It was a bit unique among Russian River sours in that it was very fruit forward and didn’t have much brett funkiness. It was still enjoyable, but didn’t quite reach the heights of their other beers. I’ll be curious to see how this one ages.
3.5/4.0/4.0/4.0/4.0

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 22:54:43 | More by jethrodium

Arbitrator

California

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

Fine, I'll be the one to add it. Picture courtesy of cpferris.

A: Pours a glowing reddish-pink body in the glass. It's adorned by a finger of foam that retains well and leaves streaks of lace as I drink; definitely an attractive beer, better than Veritas 006 (which I thought looked great, and nothing else).

S: For a framboise (or whatever terminology you'd use for a wild ale to distinguish it from a gueuze), the beer has a surprising bouquet of tart citrus and lemon peel. I've seen scattered comments that compare this to Beatification aged on raspberries, and I'd agree; the nose has a mild funky, sweaty, saltiness that is reminiscent of batch 003. It's lightly cheesy. There are raspberries, of course, but they're not as pronounced as the cherries in Supplication. I don't mind.

T: The funk character is young, and it seems a bit unfocused. There's a mild cheesiness and sweatiness throughout; a touch of leather. Soft lactic sourness (grapefruit, lemon), oak. Raspberries are present, but they're not overwhelming and jammy like in Framboise de Amorosa. The emphasis here seems to be on juggling the balance of these various nuances. Its base seems closer to the more gueuze-like Beatification batch 003 than the bracingly sour batch 002. Definitely a beer to sip and pay attention to.

M: It is light-medium bodied, with good effervescence. It finishes relatively clean, with only a mild tannic astringency. There's a dry mineral note in the aftertaste, which I don't care for. Otherwise, I'm impressed; I find a lot of fruit sours produce a harsh, slick buildup after a few oz (see Framboise de Amorosa for an example). I find this one has a great balance.

D: The beer drinks very easily (an extension of the comments I made re: mouthfeel). I wouldn't have any trouble or problems putting down a full 375mL.

On a big-picture note: I like it. It doesn't revolutionize my world, and it's not going to measure up to Cantillon Lou Pepe Framboise. But it's another top-notch wild ale from (IMO) the best wild ale producer in the US. Definitely worth trying. I'm also happy to support the cause, as the son of a cancer survivor.

EDIT: I've had the pleasure of sampling a few more bottles since my review. I like it more and more each time. I don't know if it's just developing well or if bottles vary, but my impression rises steadily. I wish this weren't so rare.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 10:33:06 | More by Arbitrator

HopHead84

California

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

10/26/10

Bottle shared by good old Chris (largadeer) at Black Tuesday 2010, and on this particular evening it was the tick to end all ticks (my last review of the night).

A: Vibrant pinkish red orange with a white head. Great color.

S: Nose is great. Complex and funky Sonambic base with an overarching yet not overshadowing raspberry presence. Lots of citrus with some acetic character and strong horse blanket notes. Slightly musty. Raspberry character is moderate. Very nice.

T: The flavor reveals a bone dry beer with moderate raspberry character backed by complex Brett and lactic notes. Compared to other American renditions of this style, it benefits from a more complex base (Sonambic) than its peers (thralls). The Raspberries and citrus notes are quite nice, but the complexity of the Sonambic makes this beer about more than just the fruit. Citric acidity is mouth watering and acetic character is moderate and well integrated. Notes of musty barnyard are apparent in the finish, as well as tannins, moderately tart raspberry, and oak (oak throughout, actually).

M: Dry and tannic with spritzy carbonation.

Overall: Reminiscent of a drier, funkier Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa. A complex and delicious American sour fruit beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 18:24:50 | More by HopHead84

kbutler1

Minnesota

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

Bottle. Big, big thanks to EliottJW from BA for grabbing this one for me. Poured into a tulip glass a very bright, vibrant reddish grapefruit color with a with fluffy head. Some yeast sediment floating around. Did someone say raspberries were in this?! The aroma is strong tart raspberry with some underlying brett like florals. Light mouthfeel. Holy tartness batman! The raspberry tartness takes center stage on this with some additional notes of barrel and floral. Highly carbonated but surprisingly it doesn't take away from the flavor of the beer. This is such a nice drinking beer, clean and crisp with strong fruit and sour qualities. An excellent beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 03:28:26 | More by kbutler1

cbutova

Massachusetts

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

2011 bottle.

Celebratory beer for last night in CA, San Diego and SF are great!

A- Beautiful rosy red with a small pink, fuzzy head. Head dissipates to a small but nice ring. Lace is nowhere to be found.

S- Strong aroma of sour raspberry, think sour first and then raspberry. Also some virgin oak and funk notes. The bugs also give nice fruit notes like grapes and apple.

T- True raspberry wild ale, just a bounty of fresh raspberry. The berries blend with funk, oak, lemon zest, apple and white grape. Slight barnyard.

MF- Foamy light lambic body. A nice level of moderate sour which enhances but also allows fruit to shine.

Fresh raspberry dessert sour. Drinks very easily and each sip brings complex deliciousness.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 06:44:30 | More by cbutova

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

A session filled with Russian River's Beatification, with raspberries, for a cure... that's today's beer scene at it's best and I'm happy to be a part of the story...

This special edition framboise pours with an eruption of lavender-colored beer that quickly separates a light pink head from the liquid. With remarkable retention and sparse lacing, the beer keeps it's foam character much deeper into the session than is expected from these low pH beers.

Mouthwatering aromas of tart raspberries, sharp lemons, limes, crab apples, and a medley of under ripened berries and cherries fill the olfactories with clean tartness, moderate must, and a lush wood-filled dusty note.

Flavors are all that but do so with capturing the flavor of the fruit and without the associated sweetness from the fruit. The clean and dry sour base is the perfect under pinning for such fruit additions that put the raspberries on prominent display it their most juicy and bright portrayal. The clean lactic sourness is met with the briny sour-salty interplay of lemon, lime, sour apples or grapes, and a musty-dusty earthiness that's reminescent of dried and decayed woods, musty malt, and pungent sharpness. Background malt notes of vanilla, cream, and almond softens the fruit and wood in a very elegant and understated way. All this complexity is delivered in such an effortless taste that it seems unrealistic to expect- but here it is.

Light creaminess to texture is quickly forbade in favor of a quick transition to clean acidity, light vinegar-like penetration, and ultimate dryness by the time the beer reaches the middle palate. But the finish of vinous tartness, mild pectin tannin, and soft bitterness leave the palate with a stripped sensation that allows for a quick return to the glass.

This framboise is all about what makes the raspberry fruit shine and what complements it in what intensity. The riddle is answered with this well controlled taste in one of the best ales of its style!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 06:35:55 | More by BEERchitect