Russian River Deviation (Bottleworks IX)

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

Courtesy Oakes and Beershine. Murky dark orange-grey color, thin sparse white foamy head. Soft acetic nose, oak, lemons, the acidity relatively soft, and gains a more barnyard note as it warms. A lot of citrus and oak on the taste, the acidity not aggressive, but has a nice mild dusty component to it. Nice long dry finish.

25.4 oz bottle. Misty golden brown with white froth. Nose is crabapple, kiwi, oak, spice, honey and light funk. Glancing at the bottle i see the foam rising almost to the neck. Time for another pour. Medium body, verging on syrupy, with a muted tingle. Taste is lemon peel, green apple and pineapple. Dry, puckery finish with hints of custard. Classic.

750ml bottle consumed on 5/25/08 with a huge thanks to drewbeerme for sharing this gem. Pours a clear orange with an off white soapy head. Sour cheesey and bretty aromas that are very inviting. Fizzy palate. Sour tart cheesey leathery flavors dominate with lemons, oranges, and oak. Finishes dry and tart. This is so drinkable and delicious. I’d love a couple cases of this stuff.

Courtesy Oakes and Beershine. Copper with a bit of off white foam. Barn funk, tart acidity, tree resin, and citric notes on top of a soft, lightly bready grain base. Medium body, just a bit more carbonated than balanced, but it works with the flavor profile. Excellent.

draft @ brouwer’s - hazy orange with big white head; aromas are crisp and tart and mix of citrus and sour apples; i haven’t had many brett beers, but so far i’d say it has quite the zing to it, both on the nose and on the lips; medium body and becomes creamy mid-way through the glass; rich flavor mix that is almost different from sip to sip; brett and sourness is never overpowering

draft @ Brouwer’s Big Wood - dark gold with minor carbonation; texture is very light and there is still some zing from the brett, but this is certainly not very sour; not as good as it was fresh; wish I had some bottles to see how it’s aging there b/c in the keg it’s pretty tame and I’ll get some hate from folks not in Seattle, but I’ll be passing on this from now on when on draft

Huge thanks to largadeer on BA for picking up this awesome rarity! Nice hazy copper color with just a small amount of white foam and great lacing. Aroma is bretty funk, honey, wild tartness, and oak. Flavor is fairly tart, but not overly so, with dry white wine, oak, lemon, and brown sugar. Incredibly well-balanced and tasty. Great sharp yet smooth palate with long finish and an biting acidic sensation lingering on the palate. This is another awesome sour beer from Vinnie at RR.

750ml bottle. Thank you ever so much for your incredible generosity Bruce!

Insanely layered in it’s complexity. From initial nose to finish, the textures are incredible. Cellar floor and wet cedar come to the nose initially. Highly acidic without relying too much on funk. Mild horse blanket and barnyard notes come to the fore as the beer opens. Faint phenolic notes emerge the longer the beer sits and warms. The pour is a muddy bright caramel with a thin ring of a white head. Near bracing in it’s acidity. Massive tartness with a gueuze-like band aid finish. Loads of wet wood and tart grape tannin all over the palate. Slightly antiseptic and medicinal. Funky and acidic as all get out. Very tart and dry. Acidic fruit rind. Wow. Dusty cellar. Lush and creamy with spritzy, lively and not too overbearing carbonation. The finish lasts forever with notes of basement, dust, rubber and boatloads of structured tannins. One hell of a beer. Thanks again Bruce! I owe you one!

Poured from a 750 ml bottle. Chunky rusty orange body. Vivacious tartness and citrusy fruitiness in the aroma; tangerines, cherry, banana, white grape, and honey, softly feathered with a reticent, gorgeous funkiness. Vinaigrette, minerals, oak, vine stems; lots of earthiness beneath all that ebullient funk and glowing tropical fruitiness. Flavor is just as thick with vibrancy and insane complexity. Balsamic vinaigrette and searing acetic acid follows an initial, crippling burst of sunny pineapple juice. Softer touches of apricot, mango, and grapefruit fill in the mid palate with this beautifully pure and real fruit essence.

First pour unswirled yielded alot of barren, dry mineral flavor that lent a slightly harsh bitterness to rub against the sourness. Second, yeast ridden pour was full of that perfect, just-ripened and still on the vine fruit character. Glorious and nearly perfect on that additional drop.

Medium to full palate with a healthy sparkle on a very pillowy yeast texture. Finishes with a blended spicy-tart vibe of barnyard and apricot skin; juicy and tangy, with a drying bite. Light and thick at once, funky and pure at once, confrontational and calm at once. Brilliant. Thanks Andre!