Russian River Empirical 7

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

Draft @ Russian River: Hazy canary peach. Pasty and frothy stark-white head. Estery and phenolic nose consists of floral hops, aniseed, sherbet, hay, honeydew melon, glazed lemon zest, and peach. Faint mineral and sulfur notes. Soft pricks of velvety carbonation. Pillow-soft malt caresses the palate as lemon zest fuses with a sharply herbal hop character. Brett-induced band-aid phenolic snap coarsely clutches the palate. Hops are remarkably polished and flavorsome. Snappy hints of white pepper mesh with the feisty phenols. Wonderfully-rounded peach tartness contributes sufficient weight to pillar the airy-light toasted cracker and honey-drizzled hay Pils malt. Squeaky-clean malt deposits a starchy, powdery texture on the tongue as well as a delicate toastiness and light vanilla-cake sweetness. Bubblegum flashes trace sweetness at the center while crisp minerals and snappy sulfur generate staunch dryness to bolster the quenching nature of the beer. Finishes assertively bitter with lemon zest and herbal-tinged hops as aniseed, peppery phenols, and slicker notes of honeydew linger. Brett delivers savory aniseed and Band-Aid burps in the afterimage. Few brewers possess the knack for creating such nuanced and sophisticated beer as Vinnie does. Absolutely captivating.

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!

About 20 samples at GABF 09, one of my favorites of the fest that I kept going back to when in the Cali/NY aisle. Pours a nice hazy blond with a massive white head that never went away and left crazy lacing in the pitchers it was poured from. Aroma was nice earthy leathery horse-like brett, very spicy from phenolic yeast, and green and hoppy. Flavor is doughy crisp clean, light pils and pale malts, toast, dry earth, leather,and nice big funky dryness from the brett- bone dry and very refreshing- modestly bitter as well. Nice stuff.

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

On tap. Mostly hazy, straw gold colored body with a well sustaining head of fizzy white. Bold, resinous hop aromas suggesting pithy pine, complimented by a moderate brett character that enhances the perception of bitterness with a healthy dose of grape skin tannins. Rustic and peppery. Crackery malt underneath, but smells bitter, earthy, and dry. Tastes that way, too. Light bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel with a crispy, dry texture and bold bitterness. Hints of crackery malt and slight wheat softness give way to a barrage of lemony hop bitterness. Lemon peel and pine. The bitterness has an earthy quality to it as well, which blurs the edges of what is coming from the hops and the rustic, peppery tannins inspired by the brett. A minerally quality enhances the bitterness even more and drives the perception of dryness in the finish. Delightful beer.

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.

Draft @ Russian River. Pours a slightly hazy, honey-yellow color; thin off-white head with patchy retention and lacing. Nicely dry, bretty aroma showing some kaffir lime leaves, citrus, and some sweet honey notes; sweet, juicy core notes with some mineral bitterness. Medium mouthfeel: honey and bretty lime / citrus shows prominently upfront; relaxed carbonation; slightly flabby edges, but the core is a dense honey and Belgian sugar combination (with mineral bitterness) that stays dry enough overall. Medium finish of bread and honey notes, still dry.

I had this before the Brett infusion and it tasted just as Duponty good. Vinnie insists it’s not DuPont though. Brett becomes clearer as more space forms in the tasting glass. Is drier now. Very dry. I need a big mug of this. I’ll get one tomorrow.