Russian River Consecration

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

Batch 002X2: According to Russian River’s log it was brewed on 6/18/08 and bottled on 3/31/09. Pours dark reddish brown with a creamy off-white head. Currant aroma up front which is quickly superseded by the familiar barnyard brett funk and hints of oak. The oak is much more assertive, almost dominant, on the tongue; definite currant presence in the middle after which the lacto and pedio make their presence known. Slight astringency from the oak but it adds a pleasing complexity. Medium, fizzy body. A very good beer but I think it may have been better if the brett was more dominant.

750 ml bottle shared generously by footbalm. Pours out a dark but clear red/brown color with a large off-white head. The aroma is lightly tart, some cherries or perhaps currants and wood. The flavor is initially a scary tartness, some woody, fruitiness, lots of depth and a nice noticeable alcohol warmth. Very well made and nice. Great.

Poured at Malt and Vine bottle shop in Redmond, WA. Real nice sour, but not over-the-top. Don’t do one of these if you have acid reflux, as this is a heartburn inducing mother. A little hide-and-seek with the alcohol, which could be a good thing or a bad thing.

Sampled at Night of Funk. Ruby red pour with thin white head. Fruit sour aroma. Oak tart fruity flavor. I liked it and I am not a fan of the style. Reminded me a little of wine.

Colour is deep brown-red with rapidly dissapating head. oaky cab sauv aroma. currants, cab, tannins and oak in the flavour. Intense sourness. Quite light with a tannic aftertaste. Delicious!

Bottled, thanks Vode! Deep red color, sparkling appearance. Rich sweet and sour aroma with cherry, strawberry, blueberry, red currant (cabernet sauvignon), oak and vanilla. Sweet and sour flavor with acidic fruitiness (strawberry, red currant) and oak. Very firm vinous, acidic and complex flavor. Perfect level of oakiness. Perhaps slightly too acidic for me but I’m perfectly happy with this.

Bottle shared by beastiefan2k. Thanks Eugene. Pours a cloudy, reddish brown with a thin ring of beige bubbles. The nose is of sweet, dark fruit, spicy red wine and light tobacco. Medium-bodied and effervescent with a tart to sweet finish. The flavor is of tart, dark fruit (black currants?), Cabernet Sauvignon and an odd chemical note. This one is interesting, but it’s not as amazing its reputation would’ve made me believe.

Bottle: Poured a hazy reddish color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some good lacing. Aroma of oak and tart notes with some blackcurrant notes – very complex. Taste is also a very complex mix between some blackcurrant, some tart notes and some pedio with light sweet figs at the end. Body is quite full for style with good carbonation and no signs of alcohol even though it does pack quite a punch. Very well done.