Russian River Supplication

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

An unclear orange beer with a thin orange head. The aroma is sour - like a Flemish sour ale - combined with notes of oranges and peaches. The flavor is also sour - again as a Flemish sour ale - with notes of wood as well as hints of the alcohol, and with a dry end. It is slightly one-dimensional, and the body is slightly thin. Thanks to Aaron for bringing this to RBESG.

(Bottle 37,5 cl) Hazy amber golden with a handsome head. Slightly tart nose with a weak, fruity touch. Loads of malt in here and again this light, rather refreshing tartness. Reminds me of a Belgian Kriek. Lovely with an incredible complexity in the long aftertaste. 120805

Bottled at RBESG. Cloudy amber, lively head. Striking Cantillon-like citric nose. The freshening citric acid dominates, but undrenath there is loads of flavours, like buttery malt, some red wine and toffee. Very drinkable despites it’s complexity with many lambic like aspects. An awesome beer, and my allround favourite at RBESG ’05.

37.5 cL bottle. Pours hazy orange with a lacing white head. Dry and citric fruity aroma. Citric and crisp base flavour with a nice acidic base touch and mild mliky note. Smooth and acidic finish.

Bottled (from Cracked Kettle). Amber colour, small white head. Aroma is sour fruits, quite winelike with also some wooden and brett notes. Flavour is dry wood, lots of yeast, and some fruityness. Very wellbalanced and nicely drinkable. Surprisingly complex even though it’s not that rich on "lots of stuff" in the flavour.

Bottle at Falling Rock. Hazy amber coloured with a small white head. Fruity and light acidic aroma of wood, cherries, brett and wine. Fruity and light acidic flavour of wood, vanilla and red wine. Tart finish.

Date: January 27, 2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cask Eve, 2006
Appearance: opaque orange, thin whispy head
Aroma: sweet cherry aroma with a nice touch of funk
Flavor: huge tart cherry pit flavor approaching on sour, lots of nice funk

Date: December 25, 2007
Mode: bottle
Vintage: batch 002
Appearance: opaque burnt orange, big dense beige head, bits of lace
Aroma: big tart cherry aroma with lots of woody character
Flavor: lots of tart cherry flavor, balanced with strong oak, dry and tart, underlying chocolate malt provides a good base for the wood and tart fruit

Date: February 20, 2009
Mode: bottle
Source: tasting
Vintage: batch 003
Aroma: woody tart aroma, developing musty funk
Flavor: big tart flavor, puckering tartness, light sweet fruityness adds some balance to the big tartness, oak adds a touch of balancing bitterness

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Preview bottle courtesy Vinnie Cilurzo. Vibrant reddish-amber colour, with clouds. Orange-peach esters share the aroma with brettanomyces, leather and big Pinot Noir character. The flavour is less voluptuous, but still pretty good with vinous notes and a hit of sweet cherry a la NGBR. Fruity, balanced and unique. Aging in wine barrels is definitely something I approve of - the flavours meld so naturally with estery beer styles. re-rate: I’d orignially given this beer a 4.0 but every time I’ve had it since I would have scored it higher. Drinking it this morning is yet another heavenly Supplication experience...time to elevate the score on this one.