Russian River Mortification

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Santa Rosa, California USA

Thanks again to xmarcnolanx for sharing a tough to get beer & a fine one this was. Pours deep bronze with a nice sized sturdy off-white head. The aroma has caramel malt, Begian yeast, spiciness, some funky sourness and dark fruits that lean towards raisins. Full rich body that is smooth as can be then a lot of soft gentle carbonation distributes the taste everywhere in the mouth. The flavor starts with anise, caramel malt, peppery spice, dark fruits (figs, dates), dry berries, toasted malt, yeast that is very Belgian and a touch on the funky side. The finish is sweet, funky, fruity and a bit grainy. Very very nice quad.

On Draft at the Trappist in Oakland... big black body, light and small tan head, aroma of dark fruit and roasted malts, initial flavor is chalky dark malt, then i’m hit with an intensity of fruity complexity, tastes mildly bretty to me, not sure if there is any wild yeast in it but it has the earthy wild complexity to it, mild bitters, soft hops, alcohol is not at all hot, finishes smooth and is not overly sweet, finishes dry, really just an incredible ale, loved it

Draft @ Toronado on RR night. Mahogany with golden hues, translucent with a thin and quickly disipating head. Aroma of dark fruits and yeast, sweet malt. Very nice flavors of red fruits, vinous almost, with molasses and toffee, maybe even a taste of tobacco leaf and vanilla. Very smooth, hiding the alcolhol perfectly. Great beer.

Big thanks to a very generous trader for this growler, shared with the usual suspects at the Brick Store. Pours a deep, clear brownish amber with a big creamy beige head that sticks to the glass on the way down and remains a cap for the duration. The lacing is good and overall I was surprised at how light this one looked. The aroma is fairly subdued but opens up a little more as it warms. Either way, it’s on the sweeter side of things with lots of dark fruits and some caramel malts and candi sugar to compliment things. The taste is a bigger version of the aroma with a huge fruity sweetness from figs, raisins and candi sugar. There is a sturdy caramel malt backbone that gives way to a slightly dry and wine-like finish that has a hint of alcohol burn as it goes down. The mouthfeel is medium bodied for the style with lots of carbonation, especially from a growler. This is one of the more drinkable quads I’ve tasted as it’s on the lighter side of things and with a noticeably vinous quality to things. Another terrific brew from Russian River.

On tap at the Pizza Port Belgian Beer Party. Pours dark brown with a very short off white head. Aroma is subtle but nice with alot of dark fruits and candi sugar, a slight hop twinge. Flavor is much better than expected. Raisins, candi sugar, caramel, slightly vinous. Finishes slightly dry with a touch of alcohol. A mild hop bitterness rides throughout to provide nice balance. Palate is not as thick as expected and well carbonated, making for a very easy drinking experience. Fantastic for a style that I’m not usually a big fan of.

Nose of dried fruits, caramel, chocolate, cherries, boysenberries, cranberries. Slight must. Medium to full body, deep garnet color. Figs, chocolate, malt, slight cherry, earth and complex melanoidian like aspect. Slightly sweet finish, finishes full

light brown body with a white head.nice complex aroma if tobacco,earth,malts,smoke,cotton candy,and belgian yeast.flavor does much of the same,complex palate and the alcohol is well hidden.

Erased my damn rating. Let’s try this again. Aroma has some Temptation-like qualities; hints of funk, lots of fruit, dates, plums, blah, blah, blah. Taste is slightly sour, sweet caramel, some hops. Laces very well for having been in a growler for nearly two weeks. No signs of oxidation. Sweet, hoppy, some tart graininess, toast, more caramel.... Fantastic. Wow.