Russian River Beatification (Batch 002 +)

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Santa Rosa, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Bottle; Pour is murky medium golden with a one finger fine bubbled white head in this glass; there is some light spotting here, with moderate retention present. The nose is lemongrass, pepper and spice, modest funk notes here, along with hints of pear. The flavor profile was initial quite tart for me; a little unexpected - it moves into citrus zest, grasses, sweet tart, a bit of funk, moving into the peppery spicing, and a touch of lactic. This was a puckering sour that met my expectations, which were quite high

Pure assault on the taste buds. Lots of lemon, some pineapple, coconut. The most sour beer I’ve ever had. Probably just easier to drink vinegar from the grocery store. Why do I like that? I’m not sure. Probably the same reason I eat things that are too spicy. Great beer. Awesome to try.

Pours a beautiful golden apricot color with a thin creamy white head. Smells of an authentic gueuze, beautiful. Rich, sweet, sour, fresh. This nears the perfection of Drie Fonteinen. Buttery, silky, creamy smells mingle with crisp, sour apricots, apples, blood orange. That juicy, zesty sweetness brings an exciting twist, not something I would expect from Brussels. Mouth-watering, though, and shows the terroir of the first true American lambic I’ve ever smelled. Onto the palate and POW! That mouthfeel is intense. Carbonation is extremely fine, no fizz, more of a soft tingle accompanied by the punch of sourness. Again, big juicy apricot and blood orange are the surprising and welcome elements of this beer. This is the real deal. The flavors are intense, lambic-like certainly, but with their own dazzle. Rich, buttery, fruity. Beautiful sour raspberries appear as the beer opens up. As I drink it today, April 2013, this bottle (750ml batch #003) has lost some of its springy carbonation, but it’s safely among the best sour ales made today. The first true American lambic worthy of that name.

An American sour as good as lambic? Oh Hell yes. Fuck you, Belgium. If we could brew a decent tripel, we’d have no use for you. Dry and sparkling and deeply funky and wild. Very good beer. Drink it.

Bottle. Pours hazy yellow with a small, creamy, white head. Aroma has funk, citric, light funk, some oak. Grapes and light lactic. Low carbonation, very dry and mild oily mouthfeel. Flavour has lots of citric tartness, oak dryness, orange peel, grapefruit, light funk. Sticks a lot to my teeth. Very nice.

Batch 5 375mL pours a clear golden/orange with a small white head. Aroma of funky Brett, lemon, grapefruit, white wine, and oak. Taste is sharp acidic puckering sourness and tartness, funky, white pepper, lemon zest, grapefruit, white wine oak, with an earthy dry finish. Lively and complex, delicious!!

Poured from a 375ml bottle. Huge thanks to Craig. Notes of citrus, acidic, lemon, earthy, wild. Very good, thanks Craig.

Bottled 1/10/12: Easily one of the best sour ales I have ever had. Immaculately complex. Clean and snappy. Interesting elements of tart citrus (lemon, sour cherries, grapefruit) and faint funk. Hints of white wine and oak. Extremely bold yet refined sourness. Fresh yeast esters from start to finish, and well into the aftertaste. Amazing beer. Must. Get. More.

Batch 2 and 5. Appearance: not much foam, but the scent of ’geuze’ comes your way when pouring. Nose: ’geuze’, wine, summer-like, fresh, horse blanket, citrus. Batch 2 seemed to have more herbs and less of ’geuze’. Taste: amazing beer! nice sour, white wine Altogether very good beer, thx Joris for sharing!

Pours a nice golden color. Very nice yeast tart taste with a sweet cherry afyer taste.