I was looking for a bit of insight from those who know... How limited are Russian River sours? I feel like with the ratings that they have they would show up on here much more often...maybe it's me being naive...probably. Anyone recommend one more than another? Moral of the story is I would like to try them and am just looking for somewhere to start. Any help/guidance would be appreciated.
Consecration -- available almost all of the time at the brewery and many stores with RR distro, ~$13/375mL Supplication -- available a lot of the time at the brewery and many stores with RR distro, ~$13/375mL Temptation -- periodically available when it's recently been released at the brewery and many stores with RR distro, ~$13/375mL Sanctification -- periodically available when it's recently been released at the brewery and many stores with RR distro, ~$10/375mL These are the ones that you'll probably want to start with. Beatification -- brewery only, released roughly once every year and a half or so, ~$18/375mL (most recent release, b006, 12000 bottle release) Framboise for a Cure -- brewery only, released in October each year, ~$15/375mL (most recent release, I don't recall the number of cases... order of hundreds but not thousands) Compunction -- outlook seems to be draft-only on this one due to problems with bottles at some level I'm probably forgetting some, but honestly I'd focus on the top four if you just want to try the beers. I'd just read the descriptions/reviews and make a call about whether you think you'd enjoy one or the other... or just get them all. Fwiw, I haven't seen Temptation in a while (so unless it released in the past couple months you'll have to find someone who has some lying around), but have seen Sanctification more recently. Temptation is listed as "Coming Soon" so if you really want it, maybe have your trading partner hold off until it releases. So basically they're not too limited for people within their distribution, but how limited a particular one is varies strongly by which one you want. Start with the easy ones, get a good trading partner around that region, and then ask them very nicely to brave the shitshow RR releases to get bottles of the scarcer ones.
Mostly what @jdhowe said. Temptation usually comes out in August, sometimes early sometimes late. It's my personal favorite, followed by FFaC, Supplication & Consecration.
@jdhowe ...you sir are the man. Thank you for the RR education. @atpca ...thanks for the recommendations. Last question(s)...I had posted an ISO:FT on Sunday AM, there has been ~200views with no replies/no messages...is it safe to assume that I'm not offering enough or just not the right stuff? Not specific enough maybe? For reference: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/iso-russian-river-ft-founders-thirsty-dog-etc.192463/ Is it wrong to start a new thread or should I 'amend' my current one?
you're probably just off a bit, though I would also have thought that Founders or (awesome) BA Thirsty Dog should get it done where in NY are you?
Albany area. Like you I thought that they would have gotten it done (esp with the BA Thirsy Dog...stuff is awesome.) Maybe just not the right person yet.
It's been a while since RR sours hit retail distro, so you're shooting for people that have extras in the cellar or who are close to/already heading to the brew pub, and are actively trading, and are interested in your FT. Founders has pretty wide distro (not in CA though) so that probably eliminates a lot of people with bottles in their cellar. I'd hook you up, but I'm not going to brave another trip up to the brewery for at least 2-3 weeks.
Yeah. Sours that hit stores do so at best once a month or two, with a single case, with a single bottle limit, and disappear within hours. At least that is the case down here in Los Angeles.
Not that bad in SF/East Bay. They last at least a week or two. Whole Foods sometimes longer. Usually no limit. Sanctification lasted almost a month.
I would appreciate any and all help. I have 'no' real urgency with getting them. I'm headed to NC the 2nd week of Aug and wanted to bring a couple different bottles to share with my brother who has recently begun trying any and all things craft related. I figured it's a good opportunity to try new beer also. As for the Founders thing, I knew that CA doesn't have distro, just neglected to think of the BA's in the other 49 states. ha. Like I had said to @markgugs I had thought the BA Siberian Night would have been the deal sealer...I have access to a pretty great selection locally, not to mention being within 3 hours of NEBCO, or HF/Alchemist/Lawsons...just wanted to try some of the west coast finest's I don't currently have access to.
Let me see what I can do. on a related note, NEBCO stuff and especially VT stuff will get you any/all RR you want, should you choose to go that route
I was hoping to get a trade done with what I have local access to without having to drive....don't want to create the habit of driving to VT or CT unless I'm trading for things that are more rare...just haven't taken the plunge and taking it slow. Thanks again.
Heh. That's exactly what all of us in NorCal are thinking! At this point those sours are virtually brewery only and its a ~4.5 hour round trip for a lot of us, assuming the lines at the brewery are short. Your timing is just making your want harder than usual.
I hear that, I'm definitely on the hunt for them. And I can't blame you (or anyone else in NorCal) for limiting your frequency of visits with that commute time. I've been to HF/Alchemist once, last year and it was early on with snow and ice still...went up for the night and brought back a modest amount. I would do it again for sure, everything that I brought back was amazing...just wasn't into the idea of trading then and was drinking it all myself.
Depending on where you live in NY, if you are driving to NC, and go through Philly. I have had friends pick up RR Sours (Sanct and Supp) for me in Philly. about $3-$4 over what you pay at the brewery, but you save a ton on shipping cross country.
