Russian River Supplication

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

Roughly 12 oz bottle: Medium amberish brown w/a short lived off white head. Immediate light sour and "brett" nose. Lightly catty and barnyardy nose w/ a leathery and oaky wood aromas. Sour cherry is very light and also has a little "band aid" plasticy yeast character similar to Jolly Pumpkin. Malt character is a little bready & lightly grainy. Cherry aromas get a little stronger as it warms, and also develops some nutty malt, and do I detect a hint of chocolate? Flavor is well balanced, cherry and toasted malt flavors, not overly sour but more like mildly tart to help cut malty sweetness. Lightly dry finish w/ a bit of caramel and nutty malts. Cherry flavor is light compared to aroma, and has some dry woody flavors into the finish and lingering aftertaste, which is also a bit sugary flavored, but not sweet. Bready malts and an earthy and spicy yeast character. Lively carbonation w/ well hidden alcohol, smooth, medium body. A lot less sour than I’d imagined it would be. Very nice balance and flavor throughout; The nose is a bit plasticky, but I’ll get over it!

Pours a murky orange. My girlfriend didn’t like this one as much (yeah for me!). Aroma isn’t incredibly sour or overpowering. Awesome sour cherry flavor, wish I could get more of their beers.

Bottle Batch #3 courtesy tpd975. Pours a hazy amber with a large white head that leaves great lacing. Aroma of Pinot Noir, oak, cherries, citrus, and spicy yeast. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium thin tart mouthfeel with a mild amount of bitterness. This beer is freaking amazing. If you like sours do everything you can to get a taste of this delicious brew.

Cloudy orange with a small head. Aroma of dust, funk, brett, oak and cherries. Vinous and tangy texture. Balanced and complex. Wonderful.

2-24-08 bottle shared at tasting thanks to ChadSpivey
Clear pinkish amber in color with no head. Smells just like pixie sticks. Sour with a nice well balanced sweetness in the flavor. Overall, a very mild sour that doesn’t feel alien or foreign on the palate. Oaked flavor with a dry finish that leaves you wanting more.

Poured a cloudy orange color with small head. Aroma was full of oak and cherries and funk. Flavor was very very sour lemons and cherries and that funk was a perfect blend. SOlid beer.

An attractive ruby color with a slight haze and a smallish beige head. Has the Lambic/Kriek scent with some deep forest woodiness in there, as well as some Framboise, nice! Has a pleasant tartness, not overwhelming like Cantillon but not a cloying sweetness like Belle-Vue, a well-balanced happy medium that will appeal to fans of both the tart and sweet. Pinot flavors noticeable. Very tasty!

Bottled. POurs a murky reddish brown. Big cherry and barnyard aromas from the second I opened the bottle. There is a small, fizzy, off-white head that fades very quickly. Aromas from the glass are more cherries and horseblanket with some spices (nutmeg, clove) as well. Flavors are many; cherries, grapes, apple cider, vanilla, roses, and spices. Also malty and musty. Very sharp tartness but it fades a bit right at the point of taking over the flavor. Finishes dry. Batch 002. Bottled. Pours a slightly cloudy garnet color with a quickly dissipating, ivory head. Tar aroma with a huge cherry note. Soft and malty at first sip, going into a slight cherry flavor before the tartness hits you hard. Somewhat buttery and grapey (are those words?) Dry, tart finish. This new batch is similar to what I remember the first to be and quite simply it’s one of the best beers made by one of my favorite brewers.