Toronado 25th Anniversary Ale - Russian River Brewing Company

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Geist for sharing this one. The pour is a light maroon with a thin, bubbly tan head that doesn't stick around for too long.

The nose is dark fruits, cherry, and moderate acidity. Some Consecration character in the background, along with a touch of oak as it warms up. The flavor is a bit more fruity with some additional oak. There's a general fruitiness alongside the acidity throughout, but to me there's nothing that really stands out about this one.

Honestly, I would prefer a bottle of Consecration to this one. I think the blend ended up with something that is tasty, but not all that memorable.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 15:42:01 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

4.3/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Rado for sharing this one at Wowcoolman’s tasting.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy beige head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour and tart with some fruit, vinegar, and acidic aromas. Taste is much the same with an acidic finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer that is tasty and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 01:01:18 | More by UCLABrewN84

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The nose on this beer is like super gueuze. Flavor profile is sour to the extreme. And I know that isn't saying much considering the brewery, but this goes all the way. (Possibly, a bit too much really.) Hard to get any subtle nuances at all. But hey, as a sour, I can dig it. I mean, who can create a wild ale like this? Not many people. I would certainly like some more nuance to this, but I will take it how it is. Because it's still good. Happy birthday Toronado.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 21:23:55 | More by RblWthACoz

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -7.7%
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 -0.7%
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

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Big thanks goes out to funkydelic for sharing this one at our Labor Day tasting! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured a deep red-orange with a one finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, tart, frunk, sour, chocolate, and fruit. The flavor was of sweet malt, tart, sour, funk, fruit, tart cherry, and earth. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a great brew. Really never expected to try this one based on what people are asking for these in trades. Luckily one found its way to me out of dumb luck. I have to say, I can see why it is trading so well as it is nothing short of excellent. All the flavors and aromas are very inviting and almost mocked me as I knew I would likely never get to try this one again. Very well balanced with a nice acidic touch to give you just a little bit of pucker on each sip. Definitely a well done brew that I would be more than happy to try again in the future if it presents itself. Thanks again for this one Cam! Now where can I get a T20???

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 14:59:18 | More by thagr81us

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

The beer is hazy murky orange with a small head. The aroma brings oak, citrus, currants, funk, berries, yeast. The flavor offers citrus, funk, yeast. A touch of lactic and acetic character. Good stuff. Perhaps not above the regular Russian River lineup.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 01:04:03 | More by Huhzubendah

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +0.9%
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

FosterJM

California

4.08/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1651st Review on BA
Bottle to RR -ation glass
750 ML C/C

2012 Release
Thanks to my branch manager Jim Smith for this one

Split with GuruDel

App- This was a very nice glowing orange. A nice bit of a couple colors in the glass. A darker top with a light highlighted middle and the bottom was a bit of a yellow. The head was a bit small but quite fluffy. For a sour cant really complain. A nice bit of cling as this feel.

Smell- This like more barrel aged sours had a lot going on in the nose. For the most part retained a bit of the wine like characters that I associate with RR. A good bit of the currants came out and a bit of the malty thick and smoky porter notes were there. A little bit sweet and a bit grassy with the pale ale.

Taste- This is was a big sour. The ABV is well put in this one with all the barrels. The flavors really balance itself out and contribute a very unique beer. The porter adds a thick malt flavor and then all the pales really add a grassy flavor to it. The sour adds a bit of a funk/dryness to it as well.

Mouth- This was a very full medium bodied sour. The carbonation was a bit full as well. The residual flavors are of the currants and a thicker malt flavor. The pales add a nice grassy flavor to it as well.

Drink- A good sour. Kinda hard to get, but well worth it. Wish I would have a second to horde like a glutton and pop in 5 years with T30. Oh well.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 18:12:16 | More by FosterJM

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

champ103

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A big thanks to Dajtai007 for hooking me up with this.

A: Pours a murky reddish/orange color. Plenty of suspended yeast. A two finger white head forms, and recedes in a second to a ring. Some sticky lace is left.
S: Tart acidic cherries, vanilla, and light oak aromas. The sharp acidic quality is cut by a great bready/biscuit/cracker aroma. Love the nose, and it lingers on forever.
T: Tart and acidic up front as one would expect. The sharp acidic bite lasts throughout, but never becomes overbarring. Tart cherries and plums. Vanilla and oak flavors intermingle. Again, love it.
M/D: A medium body and very crisp carbonation. The effervescence tingles on the tongue, and a nice puckering going on. A great beer to sip on. The bottle is all mine, and I will savor it.

The acidic and tart punch asserts itself, and makes its presence know. Though that is never out of wack or unbalanced with anything else. A great blend.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 00:26:14 | More by champ103

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.26/5  rDev -3%
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

oline73

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -5.5%
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

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

About 3 oz. from a bottle.

3.5 A: Moderately hazed dark orange color. Just a small off-white head.

4.0 S: Currants, hay, oak, lactic tanginess, and tons of lemon.

3.5 T: Tons of lemon and lactic funk. This is one of the most lemony beers I've had. Currants, oak, peach.

4.0 M: Lighter body. Good spritzy carbonation. Light and bubby.

4.0 D: It's tasty, but it's a little too close to straight up lemon juice than I'd like. I'd love to give this a try with a fresh palate, but I doubt I'll be searching for a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 18:44:22 | More by DavoleBomb

illidurit

California

4.65/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared at Sante Adairius Rustic Ales. Pours a nice glimmering chestnut color with a thin tan head. Aroma is lactic sour watermelon and cherry, with that trademark RR funky acidity. Flavor is similarly fruity with a nice tart malty middle. Another fantastic RR sour.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 03:32:53 | More by illidurit

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -4.8%
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

claspada

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +0.9%
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

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.28/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle opened on 8.18.12.

A - Pours a dark fizzy brown with a one inch cream-colored bubbly head with good retention.

S - Tart barnyard, earthy. There is lots going on here. More layers keep coming as I smell.

T - Tart up front, then the barnyard funk, then some wine barrel, then a dry sweet finish.

D - Great carbonation with a medium body.

O - A nice RR brew. Different then their other stuff, but still very nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 06:25:03 | More by HuskyinPDX

Arbitrator

California

3.18/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had on tap at the T25 anniversary party. Admittedly not the best circumstances -- it was loud, a bit crazy, and I was wearing a wig. But before I got drunk, I had the chance to sample this, think it over, and give it a score.

A: This is well-carbonated off the tap; I ordered a Cable Car Kriek at the same time and the latter arrived almost flat (lol), but T25 held its carbonation for a good 20 minutes. Hazy maroon body capped with off-white foam.

S: The baby Consecration is evident in the aroma; it contributes a dominant currant tartness and currant skin tannins. The aroma hints at clean, lactic sourness. Lemon, oak, and a touch of acetone are noted.

T: As the nose suggested, the baby Consecration component is the most dominant. There is a dark fruit presence with mild roast that suggested that a stout went into this; I later found out it was a baltic porter. Lemon juice, oak, and currant skins bring the beer out to a dry close. Unfortunately, it's a bit simple in flavor, which becomes more evident next to beers like Cable Car and especially against true blended gueuze later on (when someone opened an Armand 4' Lente). There are no flaws, but there are no standouts, either; it's a satisfactory wild ale.

M: Good mouthfeel; the carbonation works with the dry body and tart, puckering flavor to create a very drinkable beer. The acetone touch in the finish is off-putting, but I imagine that will vanish with time.

O: I'm a big Russian River fan, but I've felt that their sours (especially Consecration) have started to go downhill, and I'm disappointed to say that the trend holds here. This probably would have been better back when there were fewer wild ales to choose from, but RR's own lineup bests this one. It's also not very impressive considering the bottle price point ($30).

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 02:57:05 | More by Arbitrator

Sean9689

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
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

scottfrie

California

4.18/5  rDev -4.8%
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

cosmicevan

New York

4.23/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Notes taken from a bottleshare at the Phoenix Sun in NYC. Thanks kindly to Mike for sharing.

a - looks like an amber ale a bit.
s - nice brett like smell. some sour and funky currants.
t - tastes like supplication in a wine barrel. some funk, but not as much as the nose suggests. tastes better than it smells. good one.
m - fairly smooth, good carbonation. not fruity or too sour.
o - pretty good. doesn't blow my mind. tastes like a russian river sour. solidly made but nothing light years ahead of RR's regular lineup.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 20:02:39 | More by cosmicevan

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle poured into taster - thanks goon

Pours a hazed amber, copper color with darker hues. Coating of off-white head slowly fades into cloudy film and some spots of lacing dotting the glass.

Smells similar to a combination of RR beers - red wine, oak, bretty funk, lactic sourness, currants. Light warmth, slightly earthy, touches of grapes and dark fruit.

Acidic sourness with oaked red wine notes, grape skins and dark fruit. Hints of currants, cherry and raisin with a bretty, yeasty funk. Soft leather and earthy backbone. Finishes aggressively sour and dry on the tongue.

Lighter medium body, higher carbonation, dry and lingering on the tongue. I expected a world class wild ale and that's exactly what I experienced - I might have to seek out another bottle of this for down the road. We all agreed this reminded us of Consecration/Supplication, but with more components.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 16:12:18 | More by xnicknj

Gobzilla

California

4.8/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: poured a copperish brown in color with golden yellow highlights and a half finger of head with good retention which left a little bubbly lacing sticking to the glass.

S: definitely was able to detect a variety of berries such as strawberries, cherries, blueberries, and cranberries with good oakiness, some wine barrel vinous character, acidic notes, a little brett funk, citrus and a little orange rind.

T: lots going on in the taste but like the nose suggest, I was able to get lots of berry character mostly cherries and strawberries, good acidic citrus coming through, nice oaky accents, a hint of vanilla, vinous wine barrel character, great inviting brett funkiness with a touch of horse blanket and mild mango fruit; whoa.

M: the brew was medium in body with a fair amount of bubbly carbonation which had a fruity, oaky, vinous, acidic, sour and slightly dry finish.

O: very glad my boy beezler opened this sucker up. This one definitely lives up to the hype IMO. Solid american wild all around with an exceptional taste. Mmmm.. I want more, someone hook me up. Ha!!

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 21:08:13 | More by Gobzilla

birchstick

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - pours a rustic orange without much of a head on it

S - nose consists of vinous oak bubblegum. Not exactly what I was expecting, but it smells good.

T - starts off super sour and locks up the jaw (can't say many sours I have tried have actually done this to me). Some noir wine flavors mixed in with sour lemon citrus flavors are up next. Ends with funk, straw, sour notes, and a little fruity. Very nice!

M - full and well carbonated

D - nice American wild ale here. Beautiful blend of a beer here...the most sour American wild I have tried to date...

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 02:38:54 | More by birchstick