Russian River Supplication

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

sampled with the phoenix crew... supplied by sparky27 (does it ever end?). beautiful orange pekoe iced tea color with a small white head which retains as a ring. it leaves behind light spotty lacing as it recedes. initial aroma of dill pickles (not unpleasant though), wood, earth, lots of minerals and some sweet malt hidden behind the vinegary tartness. it smells very fresh! the flavor is quite funky and dry but malty and well balanced.... wood, minerals, fruit/tart cherries and a similarity to red wine. medium body. prickly and well carbonated...

Batch 02. Pours a hazy copper-amber color with an even off-white that fades quickly, but can be roused up. Fantastic sour acetic notes touched by sour cherry and oak. The acetic aroma has an interesting unique sharpness to it. The taste is a perfect blend of sour supplied by the funk and fruity sourness of the cherry. The dryness in the finish really gives a vinous feel to the brew. Just enough carbonation to deliver the tartness on to the palate without being overbearing. A great sour ale.

Re-rate 6/09: Bottle sample. Thanks Yafit! Batch 003. Deep reddish-amber with a beige head. Aroma of cherries, oak, a bit of manure, some barnyard. Sour flavor with sour cherries, some lactic acid, lemon and some sweetish tones. Medium-bodied with a silky palate. 8/4/9/4/17=4.2

(10/20/08) Bottle at Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia. Batch 002. Pretty deep hazy red color with a small pinkish beige head. Nice bretty aroma with lots of sour cherries, some vinegar hints, oak and light lactic touches. Sour flavor with some barnyard, citric lemony notes, quite a bit of cherries and some sweeter notes underneath. Finishes dry. Great silky mouthfeel. A wonderful beer. 8/4/9/5/17=4.3

Cloudy amber with an off-white head. Nice aroma of brett/barnyard and citrus fruits. Flavor has notes of fruity tartness, barnyard funk, citrus/lemon, sourness, oak and some cherry in there too. Didn’t detect that much of an alcohol presence here. Medium bodied with a very lively, spritzy carbonation. Nice head retention too.

Bottle courtesy of iowaherkeye (thanks Joey!). Pours a cloudy dark orange/light brown with a small tan head. Aroma of tart fruits (some apple, maybe cherry?) and oak barrel. Flavor is quite tart and sour with a small hint of the brown ale. Lots of wood and oak barrel. Some faint grape, wine-like notes in the finish. Superb mouthfeel for a sour. Very tasty and drinkable. I don’t really get any cherry flavor from it though.

Cloudy orange color with a thin but creamy head. Aroma is sour. Flavor is sour and oaky dry.

Tap at Ommegang, 2005. Hazy golden brown, white head. Funky sour aroma. Malty with good body up front with a big sour kick following. Extremely smooth and very drinkable.

Batch #3. Very distinct vanilla component comes through from the barrel aging over the funk and tartness and unifies the flavor beautifully.