Toronado 25th Anniversary Ale - Russian River Brewing Company

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap with good friends at the party at Toronado 25th party at Russian River. Pour is dark copper with orange edges and a creamy tight slightly off white head. Nose is red grape, Cabernet barrel, nice oak presence, dark fruits, sour and light lactic. Taste is well integrated, red grapes and cab barrels, nice sourness an lactic notes, great mouthfeel, strong clean carb and easy drinking, dry finish, superbly integrated.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 16:54:31 | More by cpetrone84

AgentZero

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - A deep, copper colored beer with a white head that rose up about a finger and left some sticky lace on the sides. Nice reddish hue to the beer when held up to the light.

S - There is a significant amount going on in the nose of this beer. It's a meatier sour, which does remind me a bit of T20, but there is a lighter, fruitier note on the end. Some Consecration influence, oak, vinous qualities, and tartness. Quite nice.

T - A bit puckering, has a good tartness to it. You can tell a lot of thought and trial went into this blend, as the taste is quite complex. Decent acidity, a bit of dark fruit that end tart, and some appropriate barrel. It tastes like it will age interestingly, and has a nice fruity/sweet finish that brightens it up a bit.

M - Medium bodied with decent carbonation.

O - A nicely complex beer. It doesn't blow your socks off initially, but it is quite good and gets better the more you drink. I can see this aging well. Seems a bit under appreciated at the moment.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2012 20:38:05 | More by AgentZero

MaltaIndia

Maryland

4.48/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I got to drink this on tap at the Russian River when I visited.

The beer is brown with some red around the edges and a tan head that rises up about a quarter of an inch.

I smell something like wine with vinegar notes and a bit of malt and smoke. There is some tartness and fruity sourness as well that opens up to something sweeter on the end.

The taste is nice, it has a some sourness and some malt character. There is wine influence but it's nice and fruity at the end. It changes a lot throughout drinking it and gets better as it warms up. It isn't the lightest beer I've ever had but it has a good feel to it for how big the taste is.

I think it's a great beer and had two glasses, wine drinkers might like this quite a bit and it's sweet as well which keeps it from being too overpowering.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 15:32:52 | More by MaltaIndia

elNopalero

Texas

4.98/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This was absolutely fantastic.

Pours a ruddy reddish hue with nice foaming.

I enjoyed the challenge of figured out the aroma. I got a lot of immediate sour, tartness, with dark ruby red grapefruit and some cherry essence. Mouthpuckering flavor—intensely so—with some sour tart cherry essence and some oaky tannins.

Wonderfully rounded flavor. I get some dried stone fruits—raspberries, blackberries, a touch of honey and a hint of vanilla. This warms wonderfully. In fact, it just becomes amazing as it warms, with a rounded sweetness that emerges. Great effervescence and surprisingly sweet on the finish.

Incredible. Can I have another?
(Review #650!)

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 08:29:43 | More by elNopalero

animortician

California

4.9/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this several times at the bar and got a few bottles to age.

A: Deep Rusty Red in color, Good clarity. Maintains a pretty decent head depending on the pour, we saw some really nice heads and some not so good ones. Lacing was as expected not as sticky as Pliny but still appealing.

S: Not as sour or pungent as I was expecting and marking the only thing in this beer that I feel could be improved upon. Subtle citrus, spicy, some Bretts and other Belgian yeast notes.

T: WOW. So complex. Really cool to drink a few glasses over an hour or two and pick out the brews that make up this amazing beer. Consecration being right up front but you get hint of Beatification as well as oaky damnation. So many flavors, combined so well. This beer is worth pursuing and worth aging, i can't wait to see how the flavor develops! Dunno this doesn't have a better review so far but I think over time it will climb.

M: Amazing, light on the alcohol well hidden, Carbonated perfectly.

O: Vinne has done it again, another World class beer that knocks your socks off!!!!

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2012 16:02:29 | More by animortician

drgarage

California

4.33/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on draft at Toronado 3 or 4 times over the course of more than a week.

A: Pours a deep reddish-brown, with a bit of glow to it. One-finger head quickly dissolving to an off-white ring of bubbles around the edge. Minimal lacing.

S: Pungent sour and funk. Some red fruit and a little oak, though less than I would have assumed.

T: Basically sour, currants, astringency, and a hint of something dark. This is much more sour at release than T20 was. Really intriguing flavor but challenging also. I could not drink this all day (as opposed to, say, Beatification), but I do finish my glass wanting to drink more, in part because I feel I haven't fully grasped its flavors yet. Lots of elements, not all working together.

M: Perfect for a blended sour. Layered, a little slick, and beautifully carbonated. Russian River never falls short here.

O: A very good effort, but not as excellent as I hoped. I think it will continue to improve in the bottle, and some of the harsher flavors will mellow. If this integrates with age, I think it can become something special.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 17:00:53 | More by drgarage

kayalla

California

4.55/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This review is for the draft offering only, I have not drank out of the bottle yet. Poured into a small tulip glass dark amber with a purple glow. I had a couple glasses and really let the second one sit a while. When it warms aroma is bright lime acidity, red currants, some red berries and a mild yet refined barrel presense. The flavor was huge and bursting with fresh limes, lemons, meshed in neatly with currants and wine barrel. Lots of wild yeast but so well weaved into the beer. This is way better than T20 in my opinion. Warming and letting this open do wonders as the bright acidity starts to shine and the fruits just wash over the mouth. Mouthfeel is perfect, quite fizzy but nails it like most RR sours.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 02:17:48 | More by kayalla

jethrodium

California

4.2/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Toronado anniversary party. Pours a dark amber with a small white head that has decent retention and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The aroma is quite fruity with raisin, grape, quite a bit of oak, a hint of apple, and some mustiness. The initial taste has a light sweetness with raisin and a bunch of oak and a decent tartness. There is also some grape and mustiness. The finish is dry and funky. Medium body. Medium carbonation. Quite enjoyable. It certainly reminded me a bit of Consecration. I would say this is on par with the regular Russian River lineup. Not better. Not worse.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 22:00:33 | More by jethrodium

Sean9689

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at RR & Toronado...a bunch of them...while celebrating T25 all weekend long.

Pours a ruby reddish color, off-white head, thin collar. Smells like dark sour cherries, light acidity, dark fruit, oak..."Consecration Light". Tastes likes Consecration, but perhaps a little "easier" to enjoy. Dark fruit, oak, stone fruit, light cherry, some funk, and nice acidity.

I like this beer better then Consecration but not T20 (when fresh). I was able to enjoy some pours at RR and the Monday following Toronado to really think about this one. I think it will improve with age and lose some of oak, but we shall see, I guess.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 04:56:10 | More by Sean9689

nataku00

California

3.9/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap poured into a goblet glass. Beer pours a dark brown/maroon color, with some darker reds at the edges with a half a finger of soft soapy off white head. Light lacing as I drank from the glass, with a few bubbles clinging to the edge of the glass.

Nose is fairly mild, and being described as a lighter Consecration is fitting. There is a light red berry and currant combined with fruit vinegar acetic acid tang. Some sweeter light brown sugar and dark caramel as the beer warms.

Taking a sip, an initial small acidic bite, then mild red berry and currants sweetness. A bit of barrel comes through mid tongue, light oak tannins, woody and almost orangey, along with sweeter brown sugar. Finishes dry with some light currant sweetness and lingering red wine vinegar.

Medium body with decent carbonation, enough to engage the tongue without being overly present. Pretty easy to drink, but the flavors weren't as bold as I thought it would be given the darker ale components and barrel aging. Had a bit of the current batch of Consecration side by side with this and the flavors from that were a bit more prominent, though this beer has some nice nuances and isn't as fatiguing on the tongue.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 22:55:07 | More by nataku00

litheum94

California

4.08/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Russian River.

Bright, copper body. Scant brown tinged head. Good retention and nice lacing.

Acetic smelling, with vinegar aromas and some lemon sourness. Oak and grass. Green apples.

Big tartness, green apple at first, then tending towards a lemon tartness. Some cut grass in the back ground. Berry fruit flavors, with a hint of caramel. Dry, with lively carbonation.

A very nice sour. Not the best example from Russian River, but a very good one. I really like the bold tartness. Love to see how this ages.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 19:01:47 | More by litheum94

claaark13

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Light ruby with a hint of orange, creamy white head. Oaked and light tart cherries and currants. Notes of leather.

Tart red grapes with lemons and the combined acidity. Mild sweetness and malt in the middle. Finishes with dark fruit and lemons, malt and light oak. Belgian Pale seems to carry the the rest of the flavors well.

Overall is very good. There is a noticeable Consecration-like note that seems to be the most dominating flavor of the blend. The Beatification base shows as well in the acidity, although it is such a small component of the blend.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2012 20:19:28 | More by claaark13

scottfrie

California

4.18/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the brewey on release day. Damn you TurdFurgison.

A: Cloudy deep current/iced tea color with a soft film of head. Great sheets of lacing left down the glass, great film retention.
S: Smells a bit like Consecration with a bit more fruit diversity. Tart smelling with good dry oak barrel quality. Stone fruits, maybe peach, and lots of dark fruits come through.
T: Definitely stone fruits mixed with dark fruits. I get a touch of lemon, currents, oak, acid, and a faint hint of acetone. The finish is fruity and dry.
M: Drying yet smooth mouthfeel. Tartness is clean, refreshing, and mild. Extremely drinkable. The tartness is acidicly citrus.
O: A very sold sour beer. It's no better than RR's year round sours but it's no worse, just different. I'd definitely buy this along with the other regular 375ml sours if this was available year-round.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2012 19:30:47 | More by scottfrie

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub, $6.50 per glass. Deep copper color, clear with thin legs of lace. Complex is an understatement, lots going on in the aroma. I didn't get a chance to try the component beers but it seems evident that they contrast well. Definitely a darker smelling sour, more like Consecration than Temptation...

Assertive bite in the flavor, nothing too agressive but it gives a slight pucker which I appreciate. I get dark fruits like plums, possibly some lighter apricot as well. Not so much acetone.

This drinks very well, I had to pace myself. Very happy to try it, and I drank many glasses of it over a 3 day period, but many of RR's standard sours are equally good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2012 19:23:58 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Thanks, Chris.


Pouring a clear mahogany red with a thin but lingering off- white head with excellent retention and modest lacing, this beer looks pretty good. The nose is brightly fruity and sour with Red wine, grape skins, currants, as well as a little balsamic vinegar. There's a touch of a light fruity brightness that really brings to mind Temptation. Oak character is reserved. While reminiscent of Consecration, it doesn't have the deeper leathery and earthy notes. A touch of lime is present as well. The funky notes are a blend of barnyard, hay and maybe some pot pourri?


The palate opens bright and citrusy with lime and a modest lactic acid bite. Acetic character is minimal on the palate. Quite a bit of fruit is present, with cherries, currants , white grapes ( closer to verjus, really) red grapes and even some plums. The sourness is intense, probably more than it needs to be, but it is tastefully done in that it does complement the fruit notes, as well as the moderate sweetness, one that again brings to mind fruit, in an enjoyable way. The sweetness is a blend of cocoa and buckwheat honey, very enjoyable. Oak character is minimal , though the sourness does sensitize the palate to the mild level of tannins present. The sourness does whelm the funk notes that are present on the nose, which is unfortunate. The finish is long, juicy and moderately vinous, with a strong lactic sourness. Ultimately, this is an excellent addition to the Russian River pantheon of sours, really bringing to mind a blend of Consecration and Temptation with the unexpected sweetness that's at a modest level really working.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 06:53:42 | More by DefenCorps

macrosmatic

Florida

4.54/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

**REVIEW NUMBER 400**

Big thanks to Reja for sending this bottle! Reviewed from notes. Poured from corked and caged 750 mL bottle into a Peg's snifter glass.

A: Almost completely clear dark amber - reminds me of a really dark apple cider in appearance. About a finger's worth of white head - big bubbles. A moderate amount of visible carbonation crawling up the sides.

S: Funky barnyard and mouth-puckering tartness. Dark fruit, some apples and grapes...and oak tannins galore.

T: This is complex, and I'm not real sure how to approach it. Sour and tart (starts with an acetic acid sharp burn, then more lactic and lemony sour spread throughout the mouth) up front. Big tartness in the middle of the drink on the center of my tongue. Oak tannin dryness as well throughout, but I don't get big vanilla flavors from it. Lots of Brett funkiness throughout, although maybe less than I expected. Belgian fruity esters are here too, but they're everywhere and I can't quite nail down a certain fruit profile. Almost makes me think of eating too much fresh pineapple with the amount of burn down in the belly. Maybe some sour cherry as well? Finish is oak, sour and fruity, and I'm left with the description of "sour banana", though I realize that doesn't make a lot of sense.

M: Medium body, and a mouthfeel that's incredibly tingly (lots of carbonation plus the sour tingle). Alcohol is noticeable but melds nicely into the rest of the beer.

O: This was really, truly outstanding the the most literal sense. They got the blend right, and I spent the entire snifter worth really trying to work through the levels of complexity. It is seriously sour though, and it toes the line of almost too much - not for someone starting into sours. Very very enjoyable, and I wish I had a couple more bottles to see how it would change.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 16:29:47 | More by macrosmatic

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Opened at TN whales tasting 3/16/2013. Thanks to CurtisMcArthur for sharing.

Pours a reddish amber color, decent head. Not a standout appearance but looks nice.

Smells pretty tart, bit of ketchup, some brett, maybe some cardboard.

Taste is nice and sour, some ambiguous vinous fruit, but I get a bit of woody cardboard--could this be a little oxidized already or is it just confused from the blend? Tastes good, great sourness, but the flavor is unfocused and hard to describe in detail.

Nice fizzy mouthfeel, pretty drinkable despite the acidity.

7.5/10

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 16:48:14 | More by AlexFields

claspada

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light beige/maroon color with a thin, tan bubbly head that recedes at a decently fast pace leaving some spotty lacing.

Aromas begin with dark cherry, dark red grape skins and a touch of oak. Some light acidic acid is also present but the fruity aromas are much more in the forefront.

The tastes pop so much more than the aroma let one. Tons of sour fruit, oak and yeast complexity. Dark cherry, apple skin, vinious red grape and currant flavors mix with some light oak and the funky, earthy Brett yeast. Slight acidic pedio yeast flavors as well in the background.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is perfectly balanced between sour, sweet and dry.

Overall this is absolutely fantastic. Reminds me as if a Vintage Rodenbach was aged on some sort of dark fruit and rebottled with more Brett. I was worried I wouldn't enjoy this as much as I should because of the pain in the @$$ is was to acquire, but it was well worth it. I dont often seek out beers these days after I sample them, but this fits that bill.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:00:38 | More by claspada

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.29/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle generously shared at the Peg's tasting on 3/8/13.

A- Pours a caramel/maroonish color, thin off-white head.

S- Tart aroma of dark fruits, cherry and red wine, some oak.

T- Similar to the aroma, tart flavor, nice lactic acidity with lots of fruit and vinous flavors. Has a nice musty funkiness to it with wet oak.

M- Medium-bodied, nice carbonation with a dry finish.

O- A damn nice beer, probably one of the better sours I've had from Russian River, really tasty stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 00:25:20 | More by WillCarrera

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.26/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to jedwards for breaking this out. 750ml corked and caged bottle served in a taster. Pours an amber/honey hue with a slightly hazy clarity. Nose expresses notes of vinegar, sour cherries and a trace of funkiness. Taste is tart and vinegary with some acetic acid and no real fruit presence. Mouthfeel is light and lively with an acidity that stimulates the salivary glands and continues to linger between quaffs. Finish is pleasant and semi-dry, but not puckeringly so. Overall, a very good American Wild Ale. I'm not sure how this beer will age over time (I suspect the fruit character in the nose will diminish); however, it's drinking quite well right now.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:39:27 | More by Jwale73

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a very hazy, dark amber color with ruby red edges and a one finger frothy  white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring.  Streaks of soapy lace left behind.

Earthy aroma with lots of oak and musty barnyard funk.  Subtle acetic character with prominent barrel notes and similar qualities of an oude brune.  Slight sulfuric presence with cheesy funk, berries and other vinous dark fruit notes.  Really musty with lots of barrel, barnyard and funky bugs.  A bit too much acetic vinegar but it doesn't overpower the other notes.

Tart and puckering with strong sourness that isn't overly harsh or acidic.  That sulfuric elements comes through but not as strong as in nose. Strong barrel preence with lots of dry oak which is nicely complimented by musty brett notes. Lactic presence in the finish adding more funk.  Berries, currant and other vinous dark fruit also come through in the finish.  Sour, dry and funky but not harsh.  Acetic element isn't as prominent as expected.  Could use some more sweetness but it's still a really solid wild ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 02:27:08 | More by corby112

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to Orangesol for the share on this one. 750ml cork and caged bottle into a snifter. The brew appears a clear light copper color with a white finger of froth. Some spotty strings of patchy lace hang on the glass. A swirl revives about a finger back to the surface.

The aroma is fruity with notes of mildly funky/footy cheese. A nice contrast of citrus fruit is also present with a mild amount of medicinal character. As it warms up, it displays a little bit of tropical quality blending to vinous with a hint of oak.

The taste is tart and fruity with some herbal qualities and mild raw oak. There is a bit more bitterness than I was expecting that comes across rindy like grapefruit juice with an addition of something more vinous. The aftertaste brings in a bit of funk like cheese which was more prevalent in the aroma.

This is a light bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is overall pretty darn easy drinking and deeply complex/enjoyable. The comment was made during the tasting of this that it carries quite a bit of consecration quality. I can sort of buy into that idea. It certainly carries some familiarity about it with regards to the batches of consecration that are "on" and not harsh around the edges. I look forward to enjoying this one again with some age.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 16:33:00 | More by stakem

oline73

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a tasting snifter.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a small amount of off white head that goes away completely.

Smell: There is a mild tartness with a nice vinegar note. A good amount of malt sweetness underneath.

Taste: More sourness here than there was in the smell. I'm getting some tart lemon and vinegar like notes. There is just a touch of funk to compliment the sour notes. There is just enough sweetness to balance the beer out. The finish is sour.

Mouthfeel: The body is just on the syrupy side of medium with mild, tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

OVerall: I thought this was a very nice sour. I'm not sure it stood out among Russian River's other offerings, but I enjoyed it. It has a nice tartness to it. I'd have more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 03:39:02 | More by oline73

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.96/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to Mike for this one. 4oz. pour into a Cantillon flute. Reviewed from notes 1/12/13.

Pours a thin, white head with little retention. Spotty lace with little stick and thin legs. Beer is a clear, pink-bronze. Pretty average. Nice color though.

Nose is vinegar, cherry and other fresh, red fruit and hay. Pretty mild with moderate funk.

Opens with fresh cherry tartness. Cinnamon spice, mild tartness in the middle with a slight hay and woodiness towards the end. Tart red fruit finish with a cherry pit and strawberry seed tart-bitter aftertaste. Nice.

Light to medium bodied with high carbonation. Dry and prickly in the mouth and dry going down. Clean finish with a sticky, slightly lingering aftertaste. Really lively and true to the style.

It was really nice to have this side-by-side with T20 and the difference is dramatic. A real solid beer all the way around that displays a great fruit bouquet and nice funkiness. T20 in comparison is a shell of this. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 16:39:40 | More by SpeedwayJim

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

pours a slightly ruby brown, fizzy head, crisp and bubbly. great retention and lacing, which tossed my rating to a 4.5.

bright fruit, currant and sour cherry. a hint of oak and lemon.

similar to nose, lots of bright sour fruit. mainly cherry and currant. a sour candy aspect going on. through out there is that signature RR sour and yeast. malt body seems to stick out a bit. light oak.

nice light body with a near perfect bite. carbonation is spot on. slight dryness in the finish. a little more dryness and i'd nail this a 5.0. lip puckering sour, curls the lips and tongue.

a fine beer, missed out on T20 so when this dropped, I laid down trades and would do so again. great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 22:07:08 | More by hooliganlife