Russian RIver Consecration

Russian River Consecration

 

   

 http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/index.html

     This is a big name now a days, at least from looking around in the beer world.  Most reviews for this brewing companie's beer are A's and A+'s.  As far as popularity and rave reviews, this and Dogfish Head Brewing Company are at the forefront, amongst others of course.  I was at a beer bar in Redondo Beach and saw this on the menu and thought I should try a brew from this company.  I'm going to try their brews eventually anyway and it was either this or a bottle sitting in my pantry that seems mediocre, thus I wanted something to excite the palate.  This is a Californian brewing company that started in 1997, according to the website.  If you want more information, go there:  http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/index.html.  The big brew is their IPA, but it seems everything gets high reviews, so the IPA in the forefront may just be me being biased by association.  This is Russian River Consecration, let's begin.

Appearance

      What do you think?  I reviewed this with a friend and the descriptions of color were interesting.  But let's just be straight forward first.  This beer was dark brown and slightly amber.  The color reminded me of grapes or prunes (blech, prunes, don't worry, the taste wasn't prune).  It was opaque but not cloudy and had very minimal carbonation bubbles.  The color was actually eloquent in my eyes and put me in a place of sophistication and prestige.  There was barely any head, that of which was an extremely light caramel color and thick for what its size held.  The retention was somewhat strong, but I can't be too sure because it was filled to the rim and spilled over to top it off instead of filled with the head in mind.  The bartender didn't seem to care too much, maybe I shouldn't either.  Oh, and the "creative" descriptions:  leather color, brown leather.  My friend, Mike, said the color reminded him of the interior of a brown interior Cadillac.  Yeah, I like that, Cadillac; in other words, high class (before the pimps and gangsters took over the Cadillac world).  What does it smell like?

Smell

     The smell was very fruity.  I would liken it to cranberry, cherry, or raspberry--somewhere along those lines.  It had a sweet aroma and floral subtleties and a hint of alcohol (this is a 10 percent beer, so I figured I'd smell that.  Although, maybe I ruined my nose by thinking that).  The aromas were fresh and robust but not thick and verging on overwhelming.  

Taste

     Wow was the first thought.  Not wow like, "oh my god I love this beer," but wow this was a shock.  It shouldn't have been considering the smell but I guess I wasn't thinking.  So far this is the most complex and interesting beer I've tasted thus far.  Strong berry tastes, especially the tangy twinge that one can get from eating a berry.  The tangy taste really holds on in the finish.  The alcoholic taste was there but not an issue that merits dismay.  It actually added to the flavor and complemented the finish.  There was also grape involved in the assembly which added a tiny bit of sour flavor and the aftertaste held a subtle citrus wave goodbye.  This beer is close to wine, in my opinion, but still had that beer ruggedness that I enjoy so much.  I would say this beer tasted like a gold miner that really hit it big--a kind of nouveau riche beer that finally got over flaunting their jewels.  

Mouthfeel

     Not a lot of carbonation, thus, not a lot of bite.  The mouthfeel was similar to wine, even with the dryness.  Not overly dry and not dry while it's in your mouth, but once it goes down, your tongue gets dry.  That was enjoyable to me.  The tangy taste pinches the saliva glands but doesn't make you pucker, which is good because I hate that.   The drink was pretty refreshing but the alcohol reminded you it was a "big boy drink."

Overall

     First off, I have to say this isn't my go-to drink, nor is it something I love and hold dear (like the way I raved about the Dogfish Head brews), but this is a damn good brew.  Luckily, I wrote this review a day after I tasted it, you know, to think about it.  At first I would've said I didn't like it but maybe someone else would.  But I had to be more objective, for you, you know.  And after much contemplation, this is really a brewing wonder.  The complexities of this drink really got my mind going and the appearance and smell are awe inspiring to the senses, if only the senses!   Mike said "this is a good girl drink."  I have to agree, but in the sense that by 'girl' we don't mean female, and not in a derogatory way either, but in a newbie to beer way.  No, maybe that's wrong as well.  This drink is for everyone.  The subjectivity of tasting shows itself when I say what beers I like and compare that to this beer.  I just like strong, rough, wheat, barley, and hops beers.  I guess I'm new to the fruits in beers thing, especially when they're as complex as this beer.  So, overall, this beer is amazing.  As a beer drinker, I like it but I'd pass, but as a reviewer of beer, this is a wonder that everyone should try at least once and I guarantee a B rating and above.   Rich, sophisticated, elegant, all adjectives I would use to describe this brew.  Consecration is  apt  for this particular beer--it is a contender for the pantheon of beers, and is a trophy of dedication.

Afterthought

     American Wild Ale you ask?  Basically, it is an ale introduced to, as the site says, "wild" yeast of bacteria.  The rest of the paragraph describing this type of ale practically exclaims "absolutely American inventiveness."  I love that.  I love that the U.S is becoming a beer empire.  It's about time, especially how much we as Americans drink beer (and because I live here and love beer).  So now you done your learnin'.  Go drink with friends and enjoy life!

    

Great White Beer

Great White Beer

     Shivers and anxious paranoia is what that label elicits.  Why? Because the shark ate a surfer, accidentally bit the surf board, walked out of the water and onto the beach to stand the surf board in the sand, and have a beer without fear of repercussion.  Yeah, pretty scary right?  Not really, and neither is the beer.  I went to the store and needed a beer to review and thought "why not help out a brewery from California."  The turn out was not as good.  But that's for the overall.  Sorry for the late entry but I'm back and here we go.

Appearance

     So there you are--a light orange color that's more cloudy looking than what the picture relays.  A lot of carbonation bubbles made the drink look light and the consistency looked thinner than most of the other beers I've reviewed.  It was as cloudy as some Hefeweizens but more orange than yellow.  There was about an inch of head, again not represented here but that's my fault.  But in my defense, the retention was weak and it's receding looked messy and a little ugly.  By ugly, I mean one side went away faster than the other and the side that retained longer looked like spider webs.  That's all I got for appearances.

Smell

     The smell was sweet and full of citrus.  It was a good smell and prepared me for a taste that'd be equally strong.  Not overpowering, but clearly present with clear distinction as to what the smells were consistent of.

Taste


     So the smell was good, known, basically saying, this drink was aromatic.  On a scale of one to ten, this was a six or seven.  Thus, you'd think the taste would be comparable.  Nope, I was wrong in anticipating a strong citrus taste.  Maybe it was my fault.  Maybe I expected too much from this beer.  I bought the beer because it was made in California, had the shark on the label (not because it was a shark but because with such a corny label, maybe it'll make up for it through taste) and I didn't feel like trying something else.  The citrus was there but very very subtle.  There was a little bit of spice or herb and a little of citrus.  That was it though.  It was extremely light tasting and I have to say flavored water is stronger.

Mouthfeel

     This is where the beer had some complexity.  With such lack of taste, I couldn't help but review as if the mouthfeel made up for it.  The texture was not frothy and had a medium light bite from the carbonation.  The liquid was like drinking an ice tea made of syrup instead of brewed (ie. Black Mint or Mango iced tea).  It wasn't fulfilling and, again, very light.  I guess that's it.  I think I hyped this section up only to disappoint myself.

Overall

     What else can I say?  This beer was weak.  It wasn't bad nor would I absolutely refuse if offered and there was nothing else, but it was weak.  The profile of a Witbier is subtlety, but this was almost nonexistent.  The herbal taste was a peak for me and the citrus was plain.  This beer is comparable to Blue Moon if Blue Moon made a light beer.  I was thrown sideways because of the smell.  There is a disclaimer:  I've been really getting into strong beers.  I've been wanting stronger and stronger beers since I've been reviewing beer.  My palate (the point of this blog) is developing and becoming more and more jaded to light beers and beers that lean closer to BMC.  So I hope you fel the same, and if you enjoy this beer, then there's no problem.  Opinion people, this is opinion.


Afterthought

     So what's a "Witbier?"  You can go here: Witbier.  Or you can read on.  After reading the description of the what a witbier is, I've realized that this drink fits the bill.  Apparently, always spiced and usually with coriander.  Often brewed with orange peels and other herbs.  The name 'witbier' means white beer due to the cloudiness of the brew.    Also, witbier is a wheat beer; one type out of two common wheat beers, the other being Weissbier.  Witbier, though, is Belgian wheat beer.  Remember when I referenced Blue Moon.  Yeah, it falls under this same thing, Belgian White at least.  And sometimes, you go to a bar and ask for Blue Moon and they put an orange or lemon, that is an American favorite usually used for these beers, as well as hefeweizen.  So there you have it.  I have a beer waiting for me and I'm pretty sure it's going to be a flat review as well, be we'll see.