Sanctification | Russian River Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Russian River Brewing Company
California, United States
rrbeer.com
Style: American Wild Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.75%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
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.
Added by Bierman9 on 10-27-2004
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 2,786 | Reviews: 641
4.17/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Please note that this review is being done on 9-23-18 and the bottle date is 6-19-15.
Not sure if this is intended to sit around this long or not. A bit hesitant about the first few sips. Nothing smelled 'off'.
Also note that I have not had a 'fresh' bottle to know haw to compare.
Poured a hazy dark yellow like many of the 'hazy IPA's' I'm drinking lately. Nice tight slight off white head.
Aroma is a nice almost 'Champagne' and slight floral. Not as heavy on the sour/funk side.
Taste is more clean than sour, I'm sure due to the age. Almost a Biere de Garde in taste. Some white wine notes, bright citrus and a tinge of soap. The malt hits big on the finish though.
Carbonation is bright but not heavy.
Really nice and drinkable so know that it will sit for awhile if you want to soften the 'sour' side.
813 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Please note that this review is being done on 9-23-18 and the bottle date is 6-19-15.
Not sure if this is intended to sit around this long or not. A bit hesitant about the first few sips. Nothing smelled 'off'.
Also note that I have not had a 'fresh' bottle to know haw to compare.
Poured a hazy dark yellow like many of the 'hazy IPA's' I'm drinking lately. Nice tight slight off white head.
Aroma is a nice almost 'Champagne' and slight floral. Not as heavy on the sour/funk side.
Taste is more clean than sour, I'm sure due to the age. Almost a Biere de Garde in taste. Some white wine notes, bright citrus and a tinge of soap. The malt hits big on the finish though.
Carbonation is bright but not heavy.
Really nice and drinkable so know that it will sit for awhile if you want to soften the 'sour' side.
813 characters
4.51/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.25/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours golden straw color, minimal head. Big funky aroma. Flavor is also very funky; sour yet sweet, some citrus, bright and refreshing. Carbonation is efervescent. Overall a really nice beer.
9/12/18
Bottle dated 9/5/17 - thanks Adam!
4.25 rating
251 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours golden straw color, minimal head. Big funky aroma. Flavor is also very funky; sour yet sweet, some citrus, bright and refreshing. Carbonation is efervescent. Overall a really nice beer.
9/12/18
Bottle dated 9/5/17 - thanks Adam!
4.25 rating
251 characters
4.13/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
One year old bottle picked up from the cooler at the brewery.
Pale straw with slight orange tint. Minimal head as expected.
Strong on brett funk, straw, not much else.
Flavor has a lot going on - mellow malts, citrus.
Light carbonation. Astringent. Thin.
Overall a good beer, one of my favorites from the RR belgian flight.
325 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
One year old bottle picked up from the cooler at the brewery.
Pale straw with slight orange tint. Minimal head as expected.
Strong on brett funk, straw, not much else.
Flavor has a lot going on - mellow malts, citrus.
Light carbonation. Astringent. Thin.
Overall a good beer, one of my favorites from the RR belgian flight.
325 characters
4.77/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.46/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
375 ml bottle dated 9/17 poured into Belgian ale glass.
L: Soapy 2F head with OK retention, but eventually it all disappears leaving just a very thin ring. Partly hazy pale gold.
S: All Brett, very yeasty, with some white wine and oaky notes.
T: As you would expect, Sour yeasty Chardonnay, oaky, a splash of citrus, but as always RR makes sure the sourness doesn't run wild. It's well-controlled.
F: Lightish bodied, moderate carbonation for good drying. Very solid construction and excellent balance.
O: A superior sour, as RR always delivers.
550 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
375 ml bottle dated 9/17 poured into Belgian ale glass.
L: Soapy 2F head with OK retention, but eventually it all disappears leaving just a very thin ring. Partly hazy pale gold.
S: All Brett, very yeasty, with some white wine and oaky notes.
T: As you would expect, Sour yeasty Chardonnay, oaky, a splash of citrus, but as always RR makes sure the sourness doesn't run wild. It's well-controlled.
F: Lightish bodied, moderate carbonation for good drying. Very solid construction and excellent balance.
O: A superior sour, as RR always delivers.
550 characters
4.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.47/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle dated 7-26-16. Pours a deep golden yellow almost copper. Slightly hazy with a fuzzy white head that sticks around longer than most beers of this genre. Nose is bright. Grape skin, grapefruit, lemon and sour apple. First taste surprised me. I thought this one would be a tad bit in your face sour for whatever reason but this was a really mellow brett beer IMO. Aging quite nicely at 2 years I suppose. Nice subdued tartness of sour grapes and sour apple. A lingering citrus notes throughout the beer, grapefruit and predominantly lemon zest. There is a dry grassy quality to it with the ever so slight funk. Medium to light with a dry grassy finish that is accompanied by that shot of citrus. This beer was light and delicate. Very easy to drink given how smooth it was. Definitely impressed by this one. Have a 4 on look simply because I was expecting a bright blonde beer but I had a hard time finding much to complain about Sanctification. Cheers!
957 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle dated 7-26-16. Pours a deep golden yellow almost copper. Slightly hazy with a fuzzy white head that sticks around longer than most beers of this genre. Nose is bright. Grape skin, grapefruit, lemon and sour apple. First taste surprised me. I thought this one would be a tad bit in your face sour for whatever reason but this was a really mellow brett beer IMO. Aging quite nicely at 2 years I suppose. Nice subdued tartness of sour grapes and sour apple. A lingering citrus notes throughout the beer, grapefruit and predominantly lemon zest. There is a dry grassy quality to it with the ever so slight funk. Medium to light with a dry grassy finish that is accompanied by that shot of citrus. This beer was light and delicate. Very easy to drink given how smooth it was. Definitely impressed by this one. Have a 4 on look simply because I was expecting a bright blonde beer but I had a hard time finding much to complain about Sanctification. Cheers!
957 characters
4.16/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.49/5 rDev -19.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
**
06/05/18
Clear yellow....until the sediment got in and clouded it up. Minimal head.
Lemon, grapefruit,
Paste, grape, sour apple.
Medium body.
Not my thing, but this is tasty and smooth and another well crafted beverage from Russian River.
**
256 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
**
06/05/18
Clear yellow....until the sediment got in and clouded it up. Minimal head.
Lemon, grapefruit,
Paste, grape, sour apple.
Medium body.
Not my thing, but this is tasty and smooth and another well crafted beverage from Russian River.
**
256 characters
4.15/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pale, cloudy, light yellow body; thin head. Well-balanced scents of brett and citrus; lemony and spicy; cardamom. Lemon and lime flavors dominate; tart and mildly sour. Medium bodied; bright and bubbly on the palate; tart notes all around; finishes with a combination of juiciness and dryness.
My palate and tastes may not be so nuanced that I can wax poetic about 100% Brettanomyces vs. Saccharomyces, but I do know what tastes and drinks well for me. Like many a wild ale, this one has the tartness but also little (if any) of the barnyard funk one might attribute to such beers. In any case, a fine, enjoyable offering from Russian River Brewing Company...
660 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pale, cloudy, light yellow body; thin head. Well-balanced scents of brett and citrus; lemony and spicy; cardamom. Lemon and lime flavors dominate; tart and mildly sour. Medium bodied; bright and bubbly on the palate; tart notes all around; finishes with a combination of juiciness and dryness.
My palate and tastes may not be so nuanced that I can wax poetic about 100% Brettanomyces vs. Saccharomyces, but I do know what tastes and drinks well for me. Like many a wild ale, this one has the tartness but also little (if any) of the barnyard funk one might attribute to such beers. In any case, a fine, enjoyable offering from Russian River Brewing Company...
660 characters
4.26/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a bottle dated 9/5/17. Golden color with a ring of bubbles. Smells of lemon and yeast, distinctly sour. Medium weight with small bubbles. Taste is lemon sourness followed by funk and a slightly dry floral finish. Interesting & definitely worth a try.
255 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a bottle dated 9/5/17. Golden color with a ring of bubbles. Smells of lemon and yeast, distinctly sour. Medium weight with small bubbles. Taste is lemon sourness followed by funk and a slightly dry floral finish. Interesting & definitely worth a try.
255 characters
4.44/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sanctification from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.33 out of
5 with
2,786 ratings
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