Russian River Compunction

DLD guest tap: Glowing deep golden hue with a lasting frothy white head and left excellent lace upon the glass. The aroma has notes of plum, tangerine, spicy white wine (Gewurtztraminer?), grass, wild yeast funk, some clean oak, and dusty yeast esters.

Starts with and mostly ends with a dry acidic tartness, sour fruits and funked up yeast all over the place. YEP, it is a Russian River beer alright! Some light biscuity pale malt and wood as well with a touch of white pepper to round out the palate. The mouth feel is highly refreshing and sprite. Outstanding offering and something I wish I had a bottle of the enjoy in the future. Every bit the equal of the Supplication IMO!

Hand bottle from Hellomynameis. Very good bottle, still has full carbonation and doesn’t appear to have lost anything in transportation. Holy lord, this is delicious. Though the aroma is mild, horsey funk, carrot, a touch of fruit, the flavor is an onslaught of woody sour with just the faintest touch of fruit sweetness. Freaking amazing flavor. I must have more of this.

On tap at the brewpub in Santa Rosa. Gorgeous hazy pale gold color with light orange highlights and a light, thin white head. Sweet earthiness in the aroma with a sour acetic edge, ripe stonefruit, and some faint wood and oxidative barrel-aged characteristics . Very tart flavor with sweet stonefruit notes. Light body with sharp a prickle of fine bubbles that really lifts up the flavors which come across light and nimble on the palate which highlights the multi-dimensional. This is very well constructed, sophisticated, and intellectual beer.

12oz hand bottle acquired in trade with tytoanderso (thanks!). Poured a medium and slightly hazy golden color with a smaller sized head. Aromas of mustiness, dusty, funky, tart fruitiness, and some citrus. Tastes of funky tartness, green apples, plums, tart cherries, fruity, and some citrus. Nice tartness.

Growler. Skin of glassy white on a fully hazed blonde pour. Sunny, bitingly acidic aroma of pineapple and apricot with some basic sugars; brilliant funkiness of white cheeses, mildew, wet socks and grasses beneath. Light bodied balsamic. Suitable softness and balance. Gewurtztraminer and tropical fruit flavor carries a zingy tart punch, but comes across softly with a silky film of vanilla. Seems to ring of a tinny honey presence at times, mostly landing on a firm resonance of apricot, plum, pineapple, guava and extended juicy fruitiness. Dries out a little, before blossoming in full furious acidity; tanginess of musty vinaigrette and pepperiness. Surprisingly full mouthfeel with sparkly carbonation; very punchy, demanding and confronting especially for its leanness. Raw lemon juice finish that doesn’t gather the typical funkiness. Streamlined and scrappy, which makes up for its relative simplicity quite kindly. Thanks for sharing, Tyler!

Growler. Near heavenly nose. Tart and lightly funky aroma. Citrusy, slightly musty. Tart apples. Apricot skin, dry and dusty basement. Slightly cheesy. Pours a bright, hazy gold with a thin but lasting white head. Tart and acidic with some juicy fruit undertones. A hint of basement. Slightly spicy. Vinegary with near stinging acidity. Some hints of a Flemish sour but with a lot more acidity. Absolutely wonderfully funky, albeit lacking the complexity of Deviation. Lush and creamy with lively carbonation. Excellent lasting vinegary, tart and acidic finish. Thanks a ton for this kick ass beer Mark!

hazy yellow/orange with a larger white billowey head. Quite nice aroma, sour nose with some yeast and fruit. Damn this tastes great, soft on the palate with a sourness that gently rolls over tounge. Nice soft fruit with some high acidity. Lots of balance put into this beer. Really enjoyable.

Pretty golden pour with a oil slick of a white head. WOW...is that tart, or what? Big green apple, sour orange, and maybe sour lemon (I’m wingin’ it here, bro!) I’m enjoying the puckering effect (painful though it is) enormously. The sour funkiness continues unabated right through the finish...no apologies here. Very, very, nicely brewed!