Russian River Consecration

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

Profuse thanks to Uncle Jimbo!! 1 sec. of head over hazy amber-red beer. Vinous, winey-fruity nose, with fine citric & lactic acid; lemon, pomegranate. More delicate fruti and - rather than currant - especially pomegranate kernel flavours, mixed with citrus, fusels (if restrained), apples, grapes and a sharpish lactic spike at the end. Very spritzy, but not overcarbonated, lively. Aftertaste returning with a vengeance as from old Bordeaux wine. Another absolute masterpiece by Vinnie!

On tap @ Belmont Station. Deep dark chestnut brown, broken soapy white head. General fruity aroma mixed with light acetic sourness, sour plum, slight alcohol. Taste seems to remind me of the acetic qualities (though much milder) of Supplication and the rich fruitiness of Salvation. Rich fruity middle, dates, tartness. Fantastic. Interested to see if any differences with the bottled version.

Pours redish brown, with a small head. Aroma is oak, funk and sour fruit. Flavor is fruit, oak, alcohol, red wine, and is both tart and sweet. Medium body, with a slightly tart and sour finish. Very well done.

Pours with a red brown body topped by a medium thick, fizzy head with some lacing left behind. It’s Sour with underlying sweet fruity notes and a touch of oak. Light to medium bodied and dry.

Unlike other beers that people rate highly simply do to a name, or it being a special release for a certain store, this one actually lived up to the hype. I had it the night before in the bottle and was feeling it, but not crazily. Then I had it on tap. Awesome aroma of oak, sour funk, tart berry notes. Pours dark red with a really nice softer red hue and a decent head. Tart and oaky up front followed by some fruity earthy berry notes on the mid palate. Lingering oak and tart citric sour notes, but not in a shock to the taste buds kind of way, but more in a this works very well together kind of way. Nice and smooth body, no hints of booze at all. This one could be dangerous really. The bottled version seemed more effervescent, way more oaky, more boozy, and lighter bodied, and while it was nice, the tap version is simply amazing.

Pours very dark! Deep brownish ruby color. Aroma has lots of oak, some red wine (there’s the cab), tart fruits (currants are there, but cranberries and tart blackberries came to mind first). Flavor gives it some funk and lets the cabernet and the fruit shine. Perfectly tart. Not too astringent, but definitely pucker-worthy. Silky smooth - this feels like velvet in your mouth. I’m seriously impressed - this is delicious.

On tap @ O’Brien’s: Wine like aroma accompanied with alcohol, wood, and dried fruit. No formation of head while the color is a solid dark wood brown. The flavor is sour with similarities to sour green unripe grapes and has a woody aftertaste that finishes dry. Definitely a drink to be reckoned with and appreciated and now I must compare how the bottled version measures up to a fresh tap glass pouring.

On tap at Naked City. Pours a dark burgundy-brown with a minimal off-white head. Aroma of oak, black currants, spice. Flavor is very tart with a subtle brown sugary sweetness.