Russian River Deviation (Bottleworks IX)

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

Simply the most complex, and best sour Ive ever tasted. There were at least seven identifiable fruits, along with the requisite funk, barnyard, and horseblanket, and they were so skillfully interwoven that their esters could be identified singly for fleeting moments, and then they would melt back into a seamless whole. The sour was quite pronounced, yet at the same time, quite elegant. In fact, that elegance is what set it apart for me, and made me long for each successive sip, and for another bottle after the first one had been blissfully consumed.

750ml bottle election style. nice golden orange color, healthy head that creeps out of the bottle, awesome. Smells sour, fruit, mmmm. It tastes excellent, complex sour lemons, cherries, supplication, some funk, hint of wood. This is one of the best sours I have ever tasted, my friend only wanted a taste and I drank the whole bottle, wow! Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 11-05-2008 05:28:53 update 09/19/09 not as good as it was almost a year ago, the complexity was muddled by an overpowering sour pucker.

The body is a cloudy, glowing golden-orange color. A large, frothy, eggshell colored head shows excellent retention, leaving sticky lacing all the way down the glass. Backlit by the Florida sun, it looks like a magical elixir capable of curing the direst of illnesses. Aromas are heavy on funky oak, with a lambic-like mustiness that rivals the best that the likes of Cantillon and Drie Fonteinen have to offer. Sour apricots tantalize the nose, while an earthy, dusty note keeps things grounded. Oaky vanilla is so well integrated, it’s almost scary. The flavor is damn near perfect. Sour apricots, grapefruits, and lemons are intensely tart, but they never get out of control. A touch of soft peach lends just the right amount of sweetness to the sharp, citric fruits. Funky, funky oak and brett impart lambic must and earth throughout. Mouth puckering sourness is somehow softened by a lactic creaminess on the finish. Medium-full bodied and very finely carbonated, it is substantial feeling in the mouth and silky smooth on the swallow. This is an absolutely masterful creation. Nearly perfect.

Review #300! On tap at the brewpub for Russian River’s 4th anniversary. The blackboard describes it as a sour brown ale, but this is much different than an oud bruin. Pours amber in color with a bit of haze. Nice off-white head that leaves some wet wisps of lacing. Aroma is sour and appley, much like a good cider. Vinous tartness and gueuze-like barnyard funk. Flavor starts off with a rush of white wine fruitiness and sharp apple cider, then acutely takes a turn for the sour. Lemon and sour berry melt into a semi-dry woody finish. Great complexity. Mouthfeel is lively and the carbonation really sticks the sourness to your palate. Wonderful beer, yet another sour masterpiece from RR.

200th rate! 22oz bottle courtesy of Oakes and Beershine at the Vero tasting. Poured a bronzed reddish color. No real head. Nose is crazy with hints of lemon citrus, cheesy funk, hay and barnyard notes and some wood. Flavor is peachy and lemony with a rather lightly acidic balance perfect cross of sour and sweet, not mouth pucking sour but its still a wild sour beer. THis is amazingly complex with some vanilla and caramel lingering notes. Definitely one of my favorite beers of all time, if not my all time favorite.

Bottle huge thanks to mes for sharing, had at mes’s gaff. Alround rating: Got a whole boon gueuze glass of this, yummy! The most gueuze like non-gueuze iv ever had. Tart acidity, Girardain like balance, the pale malt is almost impossible to find but is light and biscuity, theres notes of sweet and sour lemons, hints of mandarin, brett is showing nicely. Perfect carbonation. Absolutly outstanding beer.

A Mes rate. Bottle, huge thanks to MJ.
I’ve only had one sip and a little sniff. Already I know this is going to be special. We warmed up for this with a Supplication and it has got me more than ready. Ok, down to business. It certainly looks the part right from the off. A hazy orange gold with a thin but lasting white head and fairly solid lacing when you tip the glass. I really need to check myself here. I could quite happily chug the whole lot in seconds. I’m having to use all my will power. Right, aroma, quickly. Ohhhhh, it’s proper. That Russian River sublime barrel madness is there. Stunning fruit too. What really makes it is a hint of no less than perfect acidity. It’s like a vintage Rodenbach or some massive Flemish sour but it’s just not over done at all. Equally perfect is the citric sourness. My god this is really really good. I can see big numbers coming here. Fuck the hype train. I’m FULLY onboard with this one. In fact, I’m all over it like a flannel. I don’t usually do things back to front with my rates, but I’m going to have to think about palate as I really can’t deal with the flavour assault right now. Once again, it’s perfect. I’ve said before, only Russian River can do it like this but I’m wrong. This is right up there with the best that Payottenland has to offer. Such an unreal blend of massive juiciness yet stunningly dry at the same time. The carbonation simply could not be better. It’s one of those rare specials that while you drink it, although it’s just an incredible event, it’s also tinged with sadness because you know the chances are, this will never pass your lips again. Each time I look, there is a little less in the glass. Each sip is savoured just that little bit more. Christ on a sodding bike, the flavour is almost too much for my tiny brain to comprehend. How this can taste like this when it is not blended lambics is beyond me. Ok, it IS a blend but the sum is certainly greater than its already formidable parts. The blend of the juiciest juice and pukery sourness is right up there with the world’s best. This is Girardin territory. Such mind blowing balance, it’s all over the place but seamless and harmonious all at once. The flavours are immense. The barrage of citrus is backed up with some astounding sugary plum notes. The barrel notes again, could only be Russian River. The complexity level is through the roof. Wave upon wave of sweet and sour zip around my mouth with astonishing velocity. Similar to the first time I had Supplication, I can’t help but be blown away by the length and the way the flavours cling to every surface of my mouth. I really don’t want it to end. The finish is crazy. There is almost a spirit hit. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s brilliant. The wood comes back in droves and that hit of sour and funk batters the sides of the tongue and cheeks and I really can’t get enough. Thanks so much to Mike for the opportunity to try this. I really mean that, this one really lives up to the hype. Ok, enough drivel. There are three gulps left in my glass. I’ll probably fully indulge myself and make it two big ones. If I had any more left, it could rattle on even more. Sadly I don’t. I’m off to crack one off...

Thanks to Carl for sharing this in the Weyerbacher parking lot :) Pours a hazy brownish orange with a medium creamy off white head. Aroma was floral, tart cherries, acidic, citrus, lightly funky, mixed berries and some barnyard. Flavor was lightly acidic, tart cherries, oak, dry, floral, horseblanket/barnyard thing going on, perfume, lemon and bready.