Russian River Supplication

Murky light brown, golden around the edges with a light fizzy head that stayed low. Great aroma in which all the aspects of its production show well but never take over. Oak, then brett, then wine and a touch of cherries. (duh, i guess). Carbonation is low despite the loud pop upon uncorking. Flavor is big on the oak, moderate (perfect) amount of funk, plenty of red wine, although it stays where it should, and really just a touch of cherries in the finish that linger next to the other flavors. Not incredibly sour, more wine like than tart. Overall this was a more suttle beer than i expected, but top-notch nonetheless. I got light-headedjust trying to take in all the complexity in the aroma. In one word... Lovely.

Bottle from aspidites; Thanks Mike! Nose was cherries and woodiness; hazy orange with a small off-white head; flavor of tart cherries and the everpresent oak.

GABF-pours a white head with cloudy orange color. Aroma is fruity, sparkly. Taste is fruity, sparkly, secondary hops, sour. Good effervescence.

Smells funky. Very malty and cherry-flavored. Much better than the last RR beer I had, the temptation, which I’m beginning to think from all the others from them and other people’s ratings, must have been a bad bottle.

Sampled at Dr. Bill’s party, and I am sure glad I did. One of the samples was straight diacetyl, and was worthy of a drain pour, but I will rate the good sample. Sampled from a beautiful 1.5L bottle, probably the most gorgeous bottle I have seen to date. Pours a murky/cloudy golden orange with a small white head. Aroma is quite nice and not overly sour. Mustiness, sour cherries, and oak are everpresent. Flavor is amazingly well balanced, and definitely moreso than most interpretations of this style. Hints of cherry tartness and oaky vanilla work perfectly together. The finish is very tight and not overly sour. Definitely an amazing brew.

bottle-sampled at the brickskeller in DC. pours orange with a small white head that was fizzy. really didn’t look all that special. noce of sour and oaky cherries, vineous wine, cocanut and dark cherries. soft palat with light carbonation for the style. long sour and oaky flavors with a touch of vinegar and lots of cherries. palate is very nice i must say. nice and truely unique. very complex and im very happy to have been able to try this fine brew.

Brooding of a hazy brick hue, its head bubbles to a buttery hat. Supplication is well named, its aroma wafts a wreathing amalgam of soothing scents drawing you in by its prophetic grandeur yet emanating of an earthy presence. Vinous and sweet, laced in a keen oaken complexion and the smooth sourness of apple and cherry. Condensed milk, vanilla and brown sugar add to the blend a luscious finish. The palate is surprisingly light-bodied, sour in the gentlest way, but complex and different with every sip. Pinot noir is obvious, as are the oak and vanilla tones conferred by the beer’s aging. Wild strawberry and melon liqueur perform prestidigitatory tricks upon the tongue only to evaporate in a poof leaving behind nothing more than a raw lactic acidity and the aftertaste of Champagne. Russian River has brewed a Flemish Sour for sure, entertaining as the best examples, but perhaps lacking the proper balance.

Samples provided by knweaver and Beerdrenched at The Brickskeller. Slightly hazy, amber body with a tiny, off-white head. The aroma is cheese, horseblanket, cobwebs, some cherry and caramel. The flavor is sour cherry pie and caramel, with bright acidity and fairly dry. Medium body with soft carbonation and crisp tartness on the finish. Amazingly good.