Sanctification
Russian River Brewing Company


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- From:
- Russian River Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Brett Beer
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- 96
Ranked #968 - Avg:
- 4.33 | pDev: 8.78%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 21, 2022
- Added:
- Oct 27, 2004
- Wants:
- 1,173
- Gots:
- 872
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.
4.39 by kleinahoe from California on Apr 21, 2022
4.11/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by pthoolihan from Pennsylvania
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
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by pthoolihan from Pennsylvania
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
4.32/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
by HipCzech from Texas
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, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
by HipCzech from Texas
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, 2022
4.07 by not2quick from Missouri on Mar 31, 2022
4.21/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by gefinley from California
Bottled 9/7/21.
Jan 23, 2022
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by gefinley from California
Bottled 9/7/21.
Jan 23, 2022
4 by Pitervandries on Dec 22, 2021
4.3/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by DucksFan16 from Tennessee
Bottled on 09/05/2017. Enjoyed on 11/06/221.
Nov 06, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by DucksFan16 from Tennessee
Bottled on 09/05/2017. Enjoyed on 11/06/221.
Nov 06, 2021
4 by TedStrosser from Pennsylvania on Nov 06, 2021
3.84/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by thebeers from Pennsylvania
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, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by thebeers from Pennsylvania
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, 2021
4.12/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by sjrider from California
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
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by sjrider from California
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
4.35 by Rothobinide from California on Mar 22, 2021
4.29 by DOCRW from Washington on Mar 18, 2021
4.71/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
by Awolter from Minnesota
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
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
by Awolter from Minnesota
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
4.5 by mrmsmith from District of Columbia on Feb 10, 2021
3.98 by eshooshoo from California on Feb 05, 2021
4.29 by jbdpsu82 from Pennsylvania on Feb 05, 2021
4.18 by socon67 from New York on Aug 31, 2020
4.46/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by Siriusfisherman from Vermont
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, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by Siriusfisherman from Vermont
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, 2020
4.09 by InfernoBoss from California on Aug 09, 2020
4.68 by Bilco from Pennsylvania on Jul 29, 2020
4.2 by eagles22 from Pennsylvania on Jun 23, 2020
5 by TallGuyCM from California on Jun 15, 2020
4.75/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by Gatch from Massachusetts
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
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
by Gatch from Massachusetts
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
3.5/5 rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by rtaps from California
.....
Apr 24, 2020
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by rtaps from California
.....
Apr 24, 2020
4.54/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by rudysmash from California
Lighter beer. Loved it.
Apr 20, 2020
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by rudysmash from California
Lighter beer. Loved it.
Apr 20, 2020
4.43 by paresis from Massachusetts on Apr 14, 2020
4.25 by csmrx7 from Canada (AB) on Mar 17, 2020
5 by NickThePyro from Washington on Mar 13, 2020
4.49 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin on Mar 06, 2020
4.27 by jason_nwx from Oregon on Feb 26, 2020
1.7 by gboley from California on Feb 23, 2020
4.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by OompaMentor from Georgia
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
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by OompaMentor from Georgia
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
4.3 by ragnar3 from Iowa on Jan 03, 2020
4.06 by wc94wc from California on Jan 02, 2020
4.57 by JCAMPBELL from Maryland on Jan 01, 2020
3.75 by rare_bird from Michigan on Dec 02, 2019
4.23 by ummswimmin from New Jersey on Dec 02, 2019
4.5 by chitownfanatic21 from Nebraska on Nov 23, 2019
4.11 by brandoneast from Texas on Nov 12, 2019
4.36/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by stevoj from Idaho
Bottle from brewery. Finally getting around to this. Pale golden pour, small airy head fades quickly. Yeast, Brett aroma, mildly sweet. Taste is tart and sweet, and velvety smooth. Perfect example of the style.
Nov 05, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by stevoj from Idaho
Bottle from brewery. Finally getting around to this. Pale golden pour, small airy head fades quickly. Yeast, Brett aroma, mildly sweet. Taste is tart and sweet, and velvety smooth. Perfect example of the style.
Nov 05, 2019
Sanctification from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
2852 ratings