Consecration | Russian River Brewing Company

2.63/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Way to sour for me...

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2.67/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Brought this batch 005 bottle back from Colorado Summer of 2010. Allowed it to rest for a year. At last, poured into a New Belgium Globe.

Color is good - a garnet red hue that reminds me of a dark cola. Was denied any type of foam at all even though the cork popped off like a bottle of Dom. I'd prefer to see some bubbles here, but not even as much as a glass hugger. No lace of course. Really blows the appearance for me.

Some serious aromas here - it's best attribute. Red wine, dark fruits, sweet pipe tobacco, and woody. The sourness is evident, but not what I'd call inviting. The alcohol is not at all hidden. All this makes for an interesting aromatic ride.

Now for the deal breaker. RR's description of this beer does not deliver the message of "sour bomb", which it is. The sour takes over all the other components found in the aroma and shoves them out the door which is really too bad. Worst tasting brew I've had in ages.

The feel of this beer is pretty chewy, but also lacks the carbonation to balance it out.

This over-hyped concoction was a major let down for me. After wrestling this thing for several swallows of varied volume...it ended in drain pour. A good brew should not make me pucker and salivate profusely. Consecration lacks the all-important balance I search for in a good brew. Now I can say, "Been there. Done that."

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2.75/5  rDev -38.8%

2.75/5  rDev -38.8%

2.75/5  rDev -38.8%

2.75/5  rDev -38.8%

2.75/5  rDev -38.8%

2.75/5  rDev -38.8%

2.8/5  rDev -37.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Paid $23.99 for a 750ml bottle from Perry's Liquor in Livermore, CA. Batch 001X3. Poured into a large wine glass.

Upon cracking the cage n corked bottle, the beer spilled rather quickly out of the top of the bottle. Beware to have a glass ready with this one! Perhaps it was shaken a bit as upon pouring as the head is quite small actually. Quite fizzy, this off white head dissipates to almost nothing very quickly. Carbonation is quite tricky/deceiving. Color is deep ruby red. Its darkness leads to this being nearly opaque. No retention.

Smells of wild yeast funk and very fine tart cherries. Also a grape complexity added a la aging in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. Mildly sweet, yet certainly much more on the sour side. Even some breadiness from the yeast.

Sour to the taste buds resulting in strong astringency. Funk, sour cherries, some grape. Not as complex as the nose. A bit too sour for my liking.

Very dry mouth, astringent. Light to medium bodied. Light carbonation. As dry as some champagne I've had, which for me, is not a positive quality I'm looking for in a beer.

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2.9/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into my trusty Darkness snifter.

Batch 003 from a 750ml bottle.

Let me start by saying I know people go apeshit for this beer. I get that I am possibly a minority on not liking this style. The fact is, I rate a beer based on how it tastes to me. Style aside.

Pours a reddish ice tea color with a bit of off white head. Brett sour funk with a bit of vanilla note. Incredibly sour and tart. Puckering even. After I'm done praying this sip gets over with I do notice a booze bite on the backend. Overly tart and something I really don't wish to have again.

I'm getting stinkeye from the crowd on this one. Maybe rightfully so. Last I checked though I don't get mad if you dislike the ipa or stout in your glass.

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2.92/5  rDev -35%

2.96/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

2.97/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

i just personally didn't like it. Way too much vinegar and winey flavors for me, I couldn't finish my taster of this.

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3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%

3/5  rDev -33.2%