Russian River 2011 Symposium Sour Brown

Formerly brewed at Russian River Brewing
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Santa Rosa, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Flat as heck, but very drinkable. The acidity was spot on IMHO. Now to find another bottle

Thanks to the kind soul who shared this at PaulUnwin’s sour tasting. Pours a deep amber with an off-white head. Nose is tart fruit, some malt, some vinous character, and some grape character. Flavor is similar with grapes, some oak, some vinous character, and some oak with hints of earthy fruit. Medium in body and nice overall.

375ml corked and caged bottle courtesy of Doodler (thanks Scott!) poured a clear reddish brown with a lingering ring of tan foam. Aromas of carmel, vinous notes, cherry, citrus and light barnyard. Palate was light bodied and crisp with a dry tart finish. Flavors of carmel, citrus and oak with a crisp dry lingering tart finish.

Bottle. Hazy amber pour with medium white head, Aroma has plenty of oak to it with minimal cherry tartness. Flavor is mild of cherry, more sweet than tart, and oak. Nice full mouthfeel. I’m not used to Russian River sours not being terribly sour. Slightly disappointing in the lack of acidity, even if everything is there.

Treated by friend. Thx for serving this rarity. Pours a cloudy light Brown with a tanned head. Mild sour aroma with fine traces of wood. Balanced sour grapy taste with notes of sulphur. Has a long sour aftertaste ending up in some buttery mouthfeel. Bares clearly the trademarks of Russian River. Mouthfeel is lively with High carbonation and rater thin texture. Lovely beer that are easy drinkable

375mL Bottle. Thanks for sharing, Bil! Ruby brown cotton and oak aroma. Interesting. There’s a unique play between brown malts, wine barrel, and funk here. In the flavor, the acid is pretty light. Not single funk seems to dominate and it almost feels like a regular brown ale in the middle. Not that fruity or acidic in flavor or texture. I like this, it’s a little more gentle and nuance with less of that hit you over the head blazing harsh acidity so many American sours can have.

Bottle pour at the RR/SN dinner at Monk’s. Pours light, fairly clear chestnut brownish amber with no head or lacing. Aroma of graham cracker, cinnamon, sour cherries, oakiness, and some funk from the brett/lacto. Medium, almost thin, bodied with a dry, tart palate. Flavor is very similar to Lost Abbey’s Red Poppy with a bit more sweetness and a bit less cherry in the end. Good sour ale, but nothing special.

UPDATED: JUN 2, 2012 2011 Bottle pour at the Russian River / Sierra Nevada Dinner at Monks Cafe. Pours a flat red wine plum color. Zero head and lacing. Aromas of vinegar, brett, cherrym wood, sour funk, barn, and kriek. Taste is sour cherries, oak, currants, lactic acidity, lemons, cabernet vino, vinegar, and leather. Slightly warming in upper chest. Reminded me of a lighter consey with an abundance of cherry/cabernet notes. Amazing salivating sour ale.

Bottle. Medium dark brown with a foamy head. Pungent sour brown ale. Somewhat funky sour mostly overpowers everything else. Some weird nylon funk. Juicy red fruits hiding underneath. Interesting mix.

Arbitrary score 4/5 for Appearance, as nighttime conditions prevented correct assessment. Plastic, lactic acid, fruitacids, berries, milky. Soft sourness, lactic acids and some lightly coloured malts; fruity and lactic character. Medium bodied, quite slick Quite nice, if also quite discreet beer; A rather uncharacteristic one for Vinnie, as far as I know. Many thanks to both CarlK and Vinnie!