Russian River Brewing Company Supplication Sour / Wild Ale at 7.75% ABV (US$13.20 at Russian River Brewing Company, 375 ml, packaged on 27-Feb-2017, acquired 18-Jun-2017, reviewed 20-Jun-2017)
Appearance: clear medium to deep amber with one finger of creamy ivory head settling to a thick persistent cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex, big tart cherries, balsamic vinegar, oak, vinous grape must. (8/10) Taste: high tart, moderate-low sweet, minimal bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry intensely tart finish. (4/5)
Damn, that’s sour! Big cherry flavour, but intensely sour, reminiscent of what, in my Increasingly-distant childhood, the old folks (who might’ve had chocolate three or four times in their lives) called Chocolate Cherries, but we called Chokecherries. Vinous and oaky notes on the back end temper the huge sourness – but not by much. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops after an extended cellaring. (16/20)
My 240th from the 2010 Edition of 1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die, 229th from the 2013 edition, and 252nd combining both editions.
8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
