Oakes (33770) reviewed Temptation from Russian River Brewing Company 20 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Opaque golden - it has that nectar look to it. Say what you want about Vinnie’s beers - they are beautiful to look at. The aroma is bretty, corky, and highly vinous - the most directly winey nose since Stille Nacht Reserva. The flavour is slightly toasty, highly vinous with a puckeringly tart finish. There is a bit of astringency at the back. Leathery, fairly tart finish. Firm pale malts and alcohol support the effort throughout. Kick ass.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
[Original botteling] An unclear pale yellow beer with a huge white head. The aroma is very spicy with notes of coriander, peaches and yeast. The flavor is great wheaty combined with notes of oranges leading to a dry hoppy finish.
Oakes (33770) reviewed Supplication from Russian River Brewing Company 20 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9
A vertical of this in June 2012 revealed a malty, sour Batch 2, with as much barrel as fruit, and an almost austere tartness. Batch 3 was toasty, a bit woody and with just a slight tartness. The fruit was starting to drop out. Batch 4 was fairly clean with the acid, and with balanced fruitiness. Seemed in its prime. Batch 5-2 was fresh, tart, fruity, and stil a little bit yeasty. Batch 5-5 was the weakest of the bunch, malty, not very lively at all. A dud, if you will. Of the 5, the Batch 4 and Batch 5-2 were my favourites.
Preview bottle courtesy Vinnie Cilurzo. Vibrant reddish-amber colour, with clouds. Orange-peach esters share the aroma with brettanomyces, leather and big Pinot Noir character. The flavour is less voluptuous, but still pretty good with vinous notes and a hit of sweet cherry a la NGBR. Fruity, balanced and unique. Aging in wine barrels is definitely something I approve of - the flavours meld so naturally with estery beer styles. re-rate: I’d orignially given this beer a 4.0 but every time I’ve had it since I would have scored it higher. Drinking it this morning is yet another heavenly Supplication experience...time to elevate the score on this one.
Oakes (33770) reviewed Damnation from Russian River Brewing Company 20 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9
Cloudy, effervescent golden with a billowy head. The richness of the gold colour cannot be understated here. Champagne-toasty aroma with pear esters. The body is full, the malts sweet as honey and well-rounded. Delightful spiciness backs them up with faint esters and peppery alcohol. A precision brew. I’d always suspected somebody could do this style as well as Moortgat...
Oakes (33770) reviewed Sanctification from Russian River Brewing Company 20 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9
I’m a bretthead, so I’ve been looking forward to this one. No disappointment either. Cloudy dark straw colour. Big, rich head. Light pale malt character punctuated by leather, chardonnay, wood and light brettanomyces. A bright, lively, highly original brew.
bb (18607) reviewed Parking Violation from Russian River Brewing Company 20 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Draft. Rich mahogony-amber color with a nice off-white head. Citrus hop aroma. Citrus flavor with some pine and earthiness and a touch of malt backing.
bb (18607) reviewed IPA from Russian River Brewing Company 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Draft. Rich amber beer with a nice beige head. Grapefruit, pine and caramel. Full mouthfeel. I’ve found this to be a bit inconsistent. When it’s good, it’s very good and a well balanced IPA. But it can also be a bit off that high.
bb (18607) reviewed Golden Wheat Ale from Russian River Brewing Company 21 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5
Draft. Amber golden color with a big white head. Not much aroma - some citus and grain. Citrus and an earthy flavor. Slightly dusty aftertaste.
bb (18607) reviewed Dr. Zeus from Russian River Brewing Company 21 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Draft. Drak amber with a very small off-white head. Hop aroma, but you can also get the malt. Pine resin bitterness - balanced but has a nice lingering bitterness.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Draft. Golden ale. Smooth hops and malts aroma. Hops, hops, and more hops, malts and alcohol. Harsh bitterness, almost bilous. Scotch notes and woodiness. Very pleasant. (June 2004).