We continued onward through Northern California and enjoyed the magnificent redwoods and beautiful green scenery along the way.
Soon it was time to stop for a drink.
Russian River Brewing Co. Brewpub
725 4th Street
Santa Rosa, CA, 95404
http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/pages/brewpub.html
Making the pilgrimmage to this sanctuary of world-class beers was one of the many high points of this journey. Taking my first sip of Pliny the Elder was like love at first sight and I knew I had to visit this brewery one day. I mention that because I’ve heard many tales of BA’s who have planned their honeymoons around the Sonoma/Napa Area by establishing a cunning compromise: wife is happy because of access to many wineries, while the husband insists on a stop at the brewpub. Or if you’re lucky, both parties are amiable to the idea.
Our visit was on a sunday and the scene was lively and convivial as beers are specially priced all day. The beers available on draft are prominently displayed on chalkboards. Typically, the taps are focused strictly on Russian River beers, but there may be one or two occasional guest taps. The Belgian style (“-tion”) beers were on the right, and all others to the left.
Texas does not have access to a wide selection of Belgian beers, and brewing these styles is one of Russian River’s strengths. In an effort to gain knowledge, I got things going with a flight of the Belgian side of the bar.
To trim down the details, I’ll focus on my favorite beers of the sampler, which were the trifecta of barrel-aged sours: Supplication, Consecration, and Temptation. This trio is within the BA top five rated American Wild Ales, and also worth noting that Russian River beers make up half of the top ten. The opportunity to try these on tap was instrumental for me to gain a better appreciation for this style of beer.
Supplication’s color closely resembles dark cherry wood. The scent was funky and the taste follows up accordingly with tart cherry and grape notes. Pleasing to drink while simultaneously full of depth, and a dry, puckering finish.
Consecration pours a deep garnet red color and the funky, murky smell is easily detected yet refined by oak. The taste was remarkable and there was a lot going on, but I wouldn’t have wanted to drink more than what came with this sample sized pour because of the immense and aggressive flavors. The sourness hit from start to finish, while there were earthy and sweet undertones in the backdrop.
Temptation has an inviting orange glow with a smell of green apples. The mouthfeel is lively; it resembles someone tap dancing on your tongue, but not quite to the degree of harshness induced by pop rocks. The sour, citrus, and yeast (this is a Bretty beer) are all firm and focused, yet balanced. Has the same lip puckering finish. This one was my #1 favorite and I felt like it was the perfect conclusion for the flight.
A trip here wouldn’t have been complete without what started my infatuation with the brewery.
Pliny the Elder is one of my favorite Imperial/Double IPA’s. The brilliant orange hue was gorgeous and I like how it glowed as light penetrated the haze. The aromatics of citrus, malt, and pine were enticing like freshly cut grass. The taste has a dominant hop presense that was rounded out by bursts of fruity citrus notes, and finished dry with a lingering bitterness. A world-class beer that is an excellent example of the style. Just like any other good IIPA, either get it as fresh as possible or don’t drink it at all.
Russian River’s roster of delicious world-class beers sets a high bar for breweries along the West Coast. Their brewpub is a must-visit beer attraction in California, especially since nothing compares to the experience of drinking some of the best beers in the world straight from it’s birthplace. I can’t wait until the next time I get to visit.
My goodness, Redwoods, Russian River, and what looks like epic beer.
Air living the life