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Sanctification
Russian River Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Russian River Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Brett Beer
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #957 - Avg:
- 4.33 | pDev: 8.78%
- Reviews:
- 664
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 06, 2023
- Added:
- Oct 27, 2004
- Wants:
- 1,174
- Gots:
- 870
SCORE
96
World-Class
96
World-Class
Notes:
Who’s afraid of the "big bad BRETT?" We’ll tell you who: winemakers! Because of our close proximity to several hundred wineries, we often get winemakers visiting our brewery. (After all, it takes a lot of great beer to make great wine!) Because we use 100% Brettanomyces yeast to ferment Sanctification, most winemakers will only smell the glass, and only a very few will venture to taste the beer. They think the Brettanomyces will attach to their clothing and end up in their winery. A simple solution was offered: keep a smudge pot burning at the door of our brewery so they can burn their clothes when exiting, but even that was not enough. After giving it more thought, we concluded that winemakers think Brettanomyces might scar their taste buds and possible even permeate their skin? Either way, Sanctification is one of the most unique beers you will ever taste! It was fermented with 100% Brettanomyces, rather than the traditional Saccharomyces.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sludgeman from District of Columbia
4.4/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.4/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
From a 375 ml bottle for $20 (pricey) at Monks in Philly. Poured into a tulip-like glass. Bottled on 090517
In my opinion more sour than Brett. Straddling the line. 4.25
A - Pours a clear very pale golden yellow with an almost zero head, which faded quickly to just a thin constant ring around the glass. 4.25
S – Brett aromas with some minor funk and a good amount of stomach acid sourness. Minor citrus notes. 4.25
T - Tart but not overly sour or mouth puckering. Faint sweetness when coupled with the tartness reminds me of an oddly carbonated lemonade. No metallic or minerally feel like I get in some sours. 4.5
MF - Medium light body with a dry tart finish. 4.75
Mar 18, 2023In my opinion more sour than Brett. Straddling the line. 4.25
A - Pours a clear very pale golden yellow with an almost zero head, which faded quickly to just a thin constant ring around the glass. 4.25
S – Brett aromas with some minor funk and a good amount of stomach acid sourness. Minor citrus notes. 4.25
T - Tart but not overly sour or mouth puckering. Faint sweetness when coupled with the tartness reminds me of an oddly carbonated lemonade. No metallic or minerally feel like I get in some sours. 4.5
MF - Medium light body with a dry tart finish. 4.75
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
4.24/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
375 ml bottle, corked and caged. Dated bottled "010919" so assuming January 2019
Pours a crystal clear light golden in color, the picture looks more hazy because it's humid and there was instant condensation. Bight pillowy head that condenses down to a thin cap, but great head retention, and leaves rings of lacing on the glass. Bright slightly tart lemon aroma, a touch of grassy funk. Taste starts with crackery pale malt, in the middle hits some floral and citrus notes, then finishes quite dry. Thinner bodied, effervescent lively carbonation. Overall very nice, seems deserving of it's #3 spot on the Top Rated list of Brett Beers.
Aug 29, 2022Pours a crystal clear light golden in color, the picture looks more hazy because it's humid and there was instant condensation. Bight pillowy head that condenses down to a thin cap, but great head retention, and leaves rings of lacing on the glass. Bright slightly tart lemon aroma, a touch of grassy funk. Taste starts with crackery pale malt, in the middle hits some floral and citrus notes, then finishes quite dry. Thinner bodied, effervescent lively carbonation. Overall very nice, seems deserving of it's #3 spot on the Top Rated list of Brett Beers.
Reviewed by pthoolihan from Pennsylvania
4.11/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.11/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours clear with a lot of bubbles, a 2 finger head. Smells rich, like it’s aged in wine barrels. Tastes like Carbonated dry with a little bitterness. Dry feel, more dry than a Chardonnay.
Apr 13, 2022
Reviewed by HipCzech from California
4.32/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.32/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Serving: 375 ml bottle (“bottled on: 090721”) poured into a Spiegelau beer tulip.
Appearance: Slightly hazy straw yellow with a sudsy cap of white foam and faint lace.
Smell: Yeasty pizza dough, wet wool, citrus blossoms.
Taste: Crisp, light, dry and delicate with farmyard funk, minerals, spice and a light acidity.
Mouthfeel: Light body and gentle but lively carbonation.
Overall: Complex yet restrained, dry and refreshing with some nice nuance.
Mar 31, 2022Appearance: Slightly hazy straw yellow with a sudsy cap of white foam and faint lace.
Smell: Yeasty pizza dough, wet wool, citrus blossoms.
Taste: Crisp, light, dry and delicate with farmyard funk, minerals, spice and a light acidity.
Mouthfeel: Light body and gentle but lively carbonation.
Overall: Complex yet restrained, dry and refreshing with some nice nuance.
Rated by gefinley from California
4.21/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 9/7/21.
Jan 23, 2022
Rated by DucksFan16 from Tennessee
4.3/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled on 09/05/2017. Enjoyed on 11/06/221.
Nov 06, 2021
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
3.84/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear golden straw color with a massive, airy, semi-rocky white head that’s fairly quick to dissipate and leaves soap bubble lacing.
Fairly dry, woody aroma with maybe an underlying hint of clove.
Super clean taste. A little wood, a little clay, very dry finish. Very, very faint hints fruitiness peak through at various points in the form lemon and grape, but overall, the taste exudes clarity and dryness.
Light bodied and bubbly, effervescent feel.
Well crafted, but a little too clean for my taste, especially when drank next to other Russian River offerings.
Oct 02, 2021Fairly dry, woody aroma with maybe an underlying hint of clove.
Super clean taste. A little wood, a little clay, very dry finish. Very, very faint hints fruitiness peak through at various points in the form lemon and grape, but overall, the taste exudes clarity and dryness.
Light bodied and bubbly, effervescent feel.
Well crafted, but a little too clean for my taste, especially when drank next to other Russian River offerings.
Reviewed by sjrider from California
4.12/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle- almost clear pale gold straw color with long lasting white foamy head. Nose is funky with whiffs of fruit and wet hay. Taste follows with a funky briney tartness. Finishes almost dry.
Apr 11, 2021
Reviewed by Awolter from Minnesota
4.71/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.71/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This beer was very enjoyable. Soft carbonation, nice amount of tartness with sweet to make it very well balanced. Very refreshing. If you ever see this on the shelves, grab one.
Feb 16, 2021
Reviewed by Siriusfisherman from Vermont
4.46/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Slightly hazy golden with a thin, wispy head and no lacing.
S: Classic barnyard funk (and I know now that I worked on a farm) with some pineapple, lemon and bready malt.
T: Very tart upfront, moves into funky pineapple, lemon flavors and a very nice round malt character. Excellent.
F: Very crisp and dry.
Overall: A superb ale, so drinkable and flavorful. This is definitely one of my favorite Russian River beers and I highly recommend you try it.
Aug 30, 2020S: Classic barnyard funk (and I know now that I worked on a farm) with some pineapple, lemon and bready malt.
T: Very tart upfront, moves into funky pineapple, lemon flavors and a very nice round malt character. Excellent.
F: Very crisp and dry.
Overall: A superb ale, so drinkable and flavorful. This is definitely one of my favorite Russian River beers and I highly recommend you try it.
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts
4.75/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Bottled 02/21/19, held up well without any spillage and full carbonation upon uncorking. This is a Brett bomb! Stellar aromas and flavors of funk, barn, hay, earth, bright fruit, meadow, all that good stuff you want in a wild yeast. Dry, almost tart finish, super drinkable, and a low ABV%, what’s not to love? It’s a masterpiece!
May 10, 2020
Rated by rtaps from California
3.5/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
.....
Apr 24, 2020
Rated by rudysmash from California
4.54/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Lighter beer. Loved it.
Apr 20, 2020
Rated by OompaMentor from Georgia
4.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4/21/2019 - Golden color with nice carbonation. Dry, yet crisp semi tart feel on palate. Really good beer brewed in the wine country!
Feb 05, 2020
Sanctification from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
2858 ratings
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