It Takes A Lot Of Great Beer To Make Great Wine - Russian River Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub. A good dry hoppy beer. Light orange coloured and very lacey. Lightly carbonated. A tad of yeast like a blonde. A hoppy lemony treat. Very good drinkability. Aromas are mildly herbal, malty. This is not a pale, but could pass for one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 00:07:18 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

straw yellow color. golden amber with a crystal clear look to it. A small head of maybe an inch rose up, but immediatly fell back down, leaving a naked top to it.

The aroma was light. Lots of light grain and bready malts abound here. Small light fruit notes and an overall light profile. Taste was more of the same, light grain, light fruits, small doses of grain. A crisp, clean, and refreshing profile. Very light feel with an almost non existently light feel. Super drinkable

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 14:41:35 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks for sharing this, Jason.

A: The beer pours a pale yellow/straw color with a finger of white head.

S: A light citrus note up front, but it fades away surprisingly quickly. The bulk of the aroma comes in the form of pale malt with a bit of a cracker note to it. Light lemon zest and grass notes on the back end.

T: The flavor is quite light. Bread and cracker malt flavors with some floral hops and a light grass. Very soft bitterness on the finish with some hints of citrus zest throughout the sip.

M: Light bodied with a medium level of carbonation.

O: This was pretty good, it was refreshing, and it was definitely something different for Russian River.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 19:01:12 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of daysinthewake, thanks! Served in a Russian River TION goblet.

Pours a clear straw color with a single-finger white head that went down to a collar fairly-quickly, leaving a bit of lacing behind. The nose carried some light grain and faint floral hops. Really delicate, and getting a bit more pronounced as it warmed. The flavor was nice, striking a nuanced blend between mostly-floral hops and a bit of light pilsner malt. Light body with good carbonation and a slightly bitter, semi-dry finish. Very tasty and quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2011 10:24:44 | More by Thorpe429

drabmuh

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by Thorpe, this is a lager so I know it's going to suck beerballs but I figured I'd give it a whirl since it is Russian River and I fucking love lagers unlike the rest of you beer-idiots. While this is not the best beer I've ever had, it is probably a top 10 lager I've had and it was great.

Beer poured into a snifter, beer is yellow and clear with a thin white head, some lacing, moderate to low carbonation.

Aroma is piny / sweet / pilsner.

Beer is light in body, pretty bitter, sweet up front, nice finish, it is like a hopped up pilsner if you can imagine. I'd have this again, I'd have this everytime I mow the lawn.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 02:43:33 | More by drabmuh

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is hazy dark yellow in color and has no visible carbonation but some yeast particles near the bottom of the glass. It poured with a half finger high off white head that slowly died down and left a thin head covering the surface and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of citrusy hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of orange and lemon citrus along with some hints of oak. No bitterness is present.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation along with bits of dryness.
O: This beer has nice aromas and flavors from the hops, especially since it is nearly seven monts old. It is also very easy to drink.

Note: Bottle Date: 08-30-12

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 19:08:17 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Mike for sharing this one. Served in a Cigar City tulip.

A - A finger of white foam quickly settles to some wispy patches, a thick collar, and minimal lace. Hazy white peach flesh body - think my pour was the bottom third.

S - Sharp aroma - cereal grains and perhaps some chaffed wheat as well. A bit of stone fruit sweetness and English herbal hop character rounds things out.

T - Plenty of yeast, wheat, bread, and grain character - lightly toasted with sharp unmalted grains. Minimal hop flavor or bitterness, with a clean and neutral finish. Not bad, just slightly dull.

M - Smooth medium-light body, with lower carbonation, a lightly grainy texture, and a dry, crisp, clean finish.

D - It's a lawnmower lager. Decent stuff, but nothing special or worth actively seeking out. I'd have it again if it were reasonably priced.

EDIT: Apparently this isn't a lager at all. I guess the sharp flavors I was picking up were from the Saison yeast.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 15:14:55 | More by MasterSki

emerge077

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Split a bottle recently, review from written notes. Bottled: 082311

Pours a pale pastel yellow with visible carbonation rising, and a cluster of larger bubbles on the surface. Thin layer of foam fades to a thin cirrus pattern skim across the surface after a few sips. Solid head retention.

Initially lagery and slightly sulfuric, but this passes, leaving some floral tulip notes and grassy greenery in place of that. Slight yeastiness, overall clean.

Light grassy bitterness, lemon, honey, dry crackery finish, slight malt sweetness. Clean and dry feel, light bodied with medium carbonation. Found it to be easily drinkable on a warm day. Simple and utilitarian, a clean bare bones session lager, no flaws. Simplicity is underrated...

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 18:50:00 | More by emerge077

HopHead84

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

8/27/2011

Thanks to Jason for sharing this at Woodshop Classix.

A: Transparent blond with a small bubbly white head.

S: Biscuit and wheat with a touch of sulfur. Maybe a dash of lemon and grass.

T: Dry with wheat and sulfur. I get just a little biscuit and earthy, grassy hops. Finishes dry and pretty clean.

M: Light in body with upper moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is crisp and dry.

Overall: A refreshing and highly drinkable beer, just a bit simple.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 05:54:16 | More by HopHead84

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a layer of white head. Leaves some rings. Color is a yellow gold.

Aroma: kind of fruity. Orange and lemon. Piney hops. Very fresh and earthy. Grassy.

Taste: a lot of lemon zest and bready malts. Grassy with a bit of pine and citrus. More malts than I was expecting.

Mouthfeel: Bitter. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends sticky.

Overall, it's good, but nothing like the other RR ipas. Decent, but not pte, pty, or bp. It's not an apa, but I guess I expected more from RR.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 00:35:41 | More by mothman

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle gifted from drabmuh. Thanks Matt! A new beer from one of my favorite breweries. Very exciting.

The beer is mostly clear, with only a mild haze, and appears a light yellow color. The head is insubstantial, measuring less than a quarter inch, even after agitation. Minimal lacing.

I like the aroma. Bready and malty. Smells like a lager. Nice sourdough bread scents.

Thirst quenching, refreshing, easy to drink. Lots of flavor in a low alcohol, sessionable beer. Malty, with only a subtle sweetness that sneaks in, adding s little something to the bready, lager flavors.

Thin body, but not too. Goes down easy. No trace of alcohol.

Overall, I would like a keg of this at my house next summer.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 02:27:41 | More by Huhzubendah

largadeer

California

3.9/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pale blond hue, clear initially but cloudier in subsequent pours. The head doesn't show a ton of retention or lacing.

Great bready pale malt aroma with some yeastiness beneath it. White pepper, bread dough, herbal hops - really quite nice.

The palate exceeds the aroma and is surprisingly delicious. A great sweet pale malt foundation with some spicy overtones, grassy and herbal hops, a bit of peppery bite. Very mild bitterness. This is a beer you really need to enjoy a large pour of to truly appreciate, I think. It's very clean, balanced and sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 21:32:48 | More by largadeer

AgentZero

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I'm sure there's something clever about this long name, but I'm too lazy to find out what it is. Bottle from penniwisdom in a trade.

A - Clear, pale yellow beer with a bit of a white head. Some decent lace left on the glass.

S - Some pale malts, light grains. Bit of lager yeast. Nice.

T - Exceptionally clean tasting with light grains, pale malts, bit of yeast, hint of floral hops and hay. Easy to get down in mass quantities.

M - Lighter bodied, clean and crisp. Nice carbonation.

O - Can't complain about this one. Great refreshing lager that would be awesome on a hot day and you can just drink continually. Great for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 03:23:35 | More by AgentZero

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.99/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottled 083012

A: Pours a hazy golden apricot in color with moderate amounts of large particles of sediment near the bottom of the glass, light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation, and some golden yellow highlights. The beer has a two finger tall sudsy off-white head that slowly reduces a medium thick patch of medium to large bubbles, a thick film covering the remainder of the surface of the beer, and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Upfront there are some light aromas of bready and pale malts. Moderate amounts of citrus hops with some notes of orange, lemon, and just a hint of grapefruit along with some light grassy hop aromas.

T: Upfront some light amounts of pale and bready malts with a touch of graininess that is followed by a light to moderate flavor of oak. That is followed by light grassy hops and some moderate citrusy hops - notes of lemon zest and orange. Light bitterness which does not linger for too long.

M: Just heavier than light bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Very light notes of dryness.

O: Even after probably not getting drunk as quickly as it should have, it still had really nice hop presence and was quite nice to drink/enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 19:05:54 | More by dbrauneis

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Served a clear golden-orange with a thin finger of white head. The head fades fairly quickly leaving behind some nice lace.

S - The aroma is mix of corn, grain, light malt, and a touch of yeast. There is just a hint of earthy hop.

T - Starts out with some light citrus with some grain and corn. Through the middle, some malt comes through with some yeast esters and a bit of bread. The finish is a mix bread, grain, light citrus, and a touch of earthy hop.

M - Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth and very crisp and refreshing.

D - Very drinkable. Very nice session ale. It is fairly light bodied but does not feel overly empty or watery.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 06:51:13 | More by ngeunit1

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Bdige for sending this along in a recent trade. Always love Russian River. Need to get there someday.

Bright/tight white head forms slowly collapses and is quite creamy in the process. The beer is a bright gold/straw color with just a hint of carbonation rising to the surface.

Aroma is grassy with a touch of sulphur and with bread dough just below the surface.

Flavor is quite bready and nice. The sulphur is just there, but not a problem. Dough sweet bread notes like the center of a fresh baked roll. Almost a sense of white pepper and some white grape. As it warns slightly the depth of the malt bill really comes out.

Crisp and refreshing. A touch more sturdy than “delicate” but still an overall light body.

Good little beer. Well built and spot on for the style. For what it’s made to be, they nailed it.

Thanks Brandon.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 23:07:13 | More by Reagan1984

harrymel

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks again daysinthewake.

Pours a lovely hazed copper with a solid quilt of soapy light yellow foam. Smells of plenty of resiny and grapefruity hops with a slight lagered, english malt background. Taste is more malty than I had anticipated and the hops are present, albeit reserved with a very crisp and easy feel. The malt seems slightly oxidized, which would be better complimented with a few more late hop additions. Medium bodied with liberal carb and a slightly slick finish. I like this beer overall, although I don't think it meets the usual standards of the RR lexicon of beers. I would drink this with a simple meal like barley soup.

Serving type: growler

10-25-2012 03:53:21 | More by harrymel

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.83/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a Duvel Tulip glass.

A - A very light, clear orange with a two finger off-white head. Solid retention and lots of lacing.

S - Wheat, light malts.

T - Wheat, pilsner-like tones, some light citrus.

D - Good carbonation, light body.

O - Light and refreshing. Great beer? No, but good.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 06:28:27 | More by HuskyinPDX

Sean9689

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Mike (AgentZero) for this one. Poured into Kuhnhenn tulip.

A - Pours a clear straw yellow color, thick head, spotty lace, thin collar.

S - All very light and crips. Floral, grains, slight touch of bitterness. Really nice and easy going...fits the style well.

T - Freshly cut grass, some mustiness, hay, grains, touch of hops, some malty sweetness. Again, nice and easy to drink.

M - Light, crisp, smooth, refreshing, slightly grainy finish.

O - A nice Pale Lager that's just super-chugable. This one is just easy to drink a lot of and fits the style nicely. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 15:35:43 | More by Sean9689

scottfrie

California

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

505ml bottle in nonic pint glass.

A: Pours a very light yellow with a huge, fluffy, bright white head that took its time to slowly fade into a thin greasy film that left strands of bubbly lacing down the glass.
S: Crackery notes of pale grains and spicy herbal hops. I also get notes of citrus including lemon juice.
T: Follows the nose with dominate flavors of pale malt, spicy hops, and light lemon citrus. The finish is very crackery, and the aftertaste is just barely bitter.
M: Clean and crisp mouthfeel, light body that isn’t watery, and smooth even carbonation.
O: Just as refreshing as it was on tap. I’ve had no problems working my way through a half dozen bottles of this beer, and would buy this constantly throughout the year if it were available. Great drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 23:31:06 | More by scottfrie

armock

New York

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to scottfrie for hooking this bottle up

A - Poured a clear golden color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of bready malt with some light spicy hops

T - Follows the nose with spicy hops dominating the flavor with bready malt in the background

M - This beer has a light body with higher carbonation to it

O - For what this beer is its pretty damn good I could drink a few of these on a summer day if it was more widely available without thinking about it worth picking up to try if you get the chance

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 19:35:18 | More by armock

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a growler (filled 30 September at the brewery) into a tulip glass.

A: Several fingers of head fade quickly atop a hazy-opaque straw yellow beer.

S: This smells great! Crisp and very hoppy. Fresh pine and a strong dose of lemon peel.

T: Light and pleasant. I'm not sure I see the saison yeast...It's thin-bodied (crisp would be more flattering) with a very clean yeast. Almost pilsnery. The finish is dry as well. That said, the main appeal lies in the excellent (and potent) hops used. Something European perhaps? Quite bitter and quite delicious. I am enjoying this pale ale, even if its best qualities are tragically ephemeral.

M: Light, crisp, and clean. Nicely carbonated to highlight the spiciness of the hops.

O: Great pale ale! Highly recommended. I'm glad I decided to buy this over Happy Hops, even if HH is still my preferred Russian River pale ale. Would try again.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 03:33:29 | More by AgentMunky

Phelps

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle shared by whiterascal, poured into a tulip. Brewed in celebration of the Sonoma wineries and the tradition of serving the vineyard workers ale with their lunches.

Pale, perfectly clear buttercup gold. A wispy, airy and very short-lived head of white pops away to nothing. Thin, delicate — looks like a lager.

It also smells like a lager. Sweet baking bread, a touch of sourdough and zesty, floral hops. Some interesting sweetness is in there as well — marzipan? Ginger?

The flavor leads with spicy, floral Czech or German hops. Crackers, touch of biscuits. Some grainy bitterness sweeps in at the finish. Very clean, very light.

Weird in the mouth — kind of dead, watery. Flashes of peppery carbonation in the light to medium-light body. Insubstantial.

Pretty much every reference to the beer’s style I’ve found refers to the beer as an American pale style, but my mouth found this sitting firmly in the lager camp. Even as a lager, ITALOGBTMGW isn’t impressive. It’s a decently drinkable lager, but it’s also very boring, and doesn’t live up to the excitement a Russian River bottle produces.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 00:06:35 | More by Phelps

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased at the brewery, consumed later back in the hotel room in SF. Bottled 08/23/11, 2 months old on the nose.

A- Pale yellow body with a one finger white head. Decent retention and creamy texture. Small cloud and ring = silky fine lace.

S- Light biscuit and cracker malt. Some sweet sugar hints as well as yeast bread and citrus zest hints.

T- Crisp light lager flavor. Sweet light malt with sugar and biscuit hints. Bread and fruit hints, apple and white grape. Grassy and leafy light hop profile.

MF- Silky smooth light body with high carbonation. Slightly creamy feel.

Not bad for a pale lager. Good flavors but still has that sweet light malt and yeast feel found in many other light lagers. Interesting especially with a better mouthfeel for the flavors.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 04:42:57 | More by cbutova

aasher

Indiana

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle is courtesy of BrewerB, thanks Brian! Bottle dated 8/23/11 and poured into my brand new RR snifter.

This one pours a light bodied, bright honey gold in color with a one finger traditional white head. The aromas consist of pale malts, light honey, and a nice subtle hoppiness. It has a clean citrus, yet very light hoppiness. For the style, it's pretty superb. The flavors are pretty heavy on the pale malts. I get a lot corn. There is a moderate amount of honey sweetness and a light citrusy hop presence. It's good but still a little heavy on the corn for my liking. It drinks very light and finishes clean. It's a nice intro beer for anyone getting into craft beer. It's definitely an easy drinker. Overall this is a nice beer and definitely one of the better of the style. I'd recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 23:27:53 | More by aasher