Russian River Depuration

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

My Bottom Line:
A farmhouse attic opens its yeasty trap door onto a bushel of ripe white grapes which is progressively brushed by gusts of tartness. This is yet another classy and musty Sour Ale from Russian River.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-There is barely a ring of foam atop the hazy pale golden.
-Carbonation is quite low, increasing drinkability and taking it even closer to white wine territory.
-Wooden barrel notes fit in with the tartness perfectly.
-That farmhouse character is earthy and corky at times.
-We had matched it against Captain Lawrence’s Cuvée de Castleton, another funkified Belgian-style golden ale with white grapes, and Depuration was outshined in many aspects even though its white grape character was more evident.

Bottle; batch #1.

Bottle generously shared by JoeMcPhee: Thanks Joe! Beautiful hazy golden pour with consistent white head. Very aromatic. Tons of funk; it’s got swiss cheese lactic notes, lemon, dry vinous qualities, oak and leather. Has that staple Russian River brett quality to the flavor. Leathery, lemon-rind, a dry vinous character and a bone dry finish. Complex, tart, and amazing!

Cloudy yellow colour with a white head. Tart fruity aroma with yeasty and earthy notes. Sweet malty and light fruity flavor with some tart notes and hints of yeast and earth.

Bottle, batch 001. Pours pale golden, with a small off-white head and some sediment. Aroma of wild yeast, grapes, acid, and earth. Very tart, acidic flavor, with wild yeast, malt, funk, wood, and fruit. Really nice sour ale, with interesting contribution from the grapes.

375 ml bottle, via mail order. Pours a slightly cloudy orangish gold under a small very fizzy white head. Lots of visible carbonation. The nose is brett dominated with a nice barnyardy funk. Some white wine and pale malts. The grapes and funk are really at parity right now, a spritzy white wine with just a hint of tartness. The finish is all Russian River, with lots of subtle funk. A little yogurty note coming out at the end. Mouthfeel is light bodied with a spritzy fizzy carbonation level. Just enough dryness on the finish to give it a crisp feel. Overall, pretty great beer. Heads above Cuvee de Castleton in terms of drinkability.

Bottle courtesy of irishboy. Pours a hazy copper with a white head. Smells of funky brett along with some tarte hints. Lots of funkiness on the nose. Tastes lemony with some underlying sugary hints and more funk. An interesting beer that yields some oak and white wine on the finish.

bottle....appearance: crystal clear light orange brown elexir with a fluffy white head that dissipates quickly after the pour....aroma: velvety white wine like characteristics, grapes, oak and a general sweetness....taste: grapey wine flavoring dominates and accompanied by a terrific oak tartness. furthermore accentuated by a perfect level of carbonation. bottomlilne: a great sour ale that combines the qualities of wine and beer.

I really love these oddball RR creations. Light color bubbly grape ape, grape ape. Nice fruity citrus chardonnay aroma. Similar taste. Lots of bubbles, needs a little room to breathe for a while. Opens up and some of the bubbles dicipates. Nice white winey grapey taste with some citrus fruits.