Russian River Empirical 7

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

Pitcher pour at 2009 GABF. Pours a thin head, over a slightly cloudy, pale yellow (SRM 3) body...nose seemed rather light, with vanilla, bit of citrus, bit of floral hop, bit of barnyard.......taste is similarly light, with floral, citrus, finishing dry....mouth feel and carbonation were also with a light hand. I did not get as much out of this as others, it tasted good, and fits the style, but seemed more typical of the style than not. Tasting of 9/26/09.

Tasting at GABF. Hazy orange amber with white whipped head. citrus hop nose with citrus taste along with earthy complex background. Balanced and dry bitter finish.

GABF2009 - this is one super bitter, super dry, super biscuity/flinty saison - man, that’s almost everything I love in the style, with a distinct, potent american hop kick that works really well with the lean, dry malts - a bit of sweaty, earthy, wild character far in the back makes things even more interesting - love it!

Draught at the brewpub. I was excited to give this a try after hearing that it was the prototype for Publication, which is one of my favorite beers from these guys. I have to say that Vinnie’s explanation of the differences between this and the final version are pretty much spot on. It is hoppier (very hoppy for a saison actually, and the brewery alternately describes it as a hoppy Belgian blond ale or a belgian blond ale on brett depending on whether you read the website of the chalkboard at the pub) and has a much more forceful brettanomyces aroma and flavor. Blond in color with a medium head. The aroma is just a blast of spicy hops and brett, funky, wet hay and leather, with a light fruity touch. It lacks the more expressive fruit that publication has though. The flavor is lean, dry, and bitter with lots of snappy hops and light brett funk. The malt is a nice pale bready base, but is not really notable in the balance. The body is light and carbonation is standard. Honestly, another well crafted and balls-out saison from Vinnie. I can see why the publicans wanted a toned down version though, and i do think that their requests resulted in a more pleasing beer overall, as the more balanced brett and hops let the fruitiness of the primary yeast stand out more

draft @ the brewery. Lemony citrus aromas, with mild notes of brett funkiness. Crisp flavor with some pineapple notes slightly dry with notes of brett, earthy finish. Solid and easy to drink!

US trip Aug/Sept 2009 - On tap at RR. Finished the . night on this, pale and fruity with lots of bret sourness to finish, Nice

On tap @ RR. Pours a clear gold color with no head. Lemony, yeasty aroma, lots of funky brett in the light body. Tasty!

Clear golden with a fizzy white head. Fruit perhaps pineapple aroma. Nice crisp citrus taste with some sparkling quality to the palate and a great brisk Brett flavor.