Russian River Beatification (Batch 002)

375ml $15 Russian River Batch 002 Courtesy of errantnight, thanks Derek! Beatification pours a murky, pale straw yellow with a minimal head. The clean white head grew to a finger but fell rather quickly to a ring around the glass. Random carbonation bubbles rise here and there to the minimal head. I would have liked to see a better head on this beer. It’s almost nonexistent after it settles and swirls won’t even bring it forward. The smell makes my mouth water immediately. A big hit of brett sourness right off the bat. Damp hay and earth are the first things I pick up, a bit of vinegar shows up half way through and becomes the dominant figure before being joined by a slight damp oakiness. Although the swirls don’t produce any head they do release enough carbonation to bring forward a peppery peachiness that only stays for a short time. Good depth with a great tart note. Beatification will make you pucker. The puckering tartness hits immediately but calms down mid-palate. As this beer warms the flavors really start coming together nicely. The sourness shows signs of vinegar throughout but there’s a good deal of pepper and stone fruits. Not as much earthiness as the nose suggested but it is present. At first this was simply a decent beer, after more warming it becomes very tasty and much more flavor sneaks through the sourness. The mouthfeel is a bit of a let down; I expected more carbonation and that light airy feel. The lack of carbonation leaves the mouthfeel a little heavier then expected. The body is medium and leaves a slight stick on the finish. Causes a nice pucker and makes my mouth water but I would like a bit more dryness. Just me being picky again I suppose. Very easy drinking. The tartness leaves your mouth watering for another drink as soon as you swallow the last. It feels like I’ve been drinking this slowly but I look at my glass and it’s about gone. A solid beer from Russian River. Not one of my favorites but all the flavor is there. Seems to me like a better carbonated brew would take care of most problems. I can’t wait to see what a couple years will do to these bottles 6/2/08

Quite heavy on the funkiness. Super sour. Aroma and flavor like lemons went rotten in the barn, but in a good way.

Bottled sample via (and shared with) oakbluff. Pale gold in colour with medium and somewhat spritzy carbonation. Huge funky aromas abound, with notes of outhouse, horseblanket, lemony citrus, and a bit of wood. Very sour in the mouth, with more lemon, "rockets" candies, and wood. A great refreshing tart quality to this one. Huge thanks to oakbluff for sharing this rarity.

<b>Bottle: Batch 002</b> Yellowish-brown color with no head...seemed a bit flat on the pour. Notes of tart lemon, bread, cheese, hay and some light oak. Very crisp citrus tones come through as this warms. Tart, lactic sour taste hits almost immediately with the lemon and grapefruit zest notes...the oak comes through as well with some grassy and dirt notes. Very dry and seemed a bit one-dimensional, not overly complex.

Pours a murky golden amber in color. Decent head on the pour. Smell is very tart and funky. I had this right after drinking the Supplication and this is vastly more sour than the it. Perfect amount of carbonation. Very good citrusy, sour fruit flavors. Perfect amount of carbonation to go with the sourness. I very much prefer this to the Supplication. Highly recommend.