Russian River = finally!

[Mylo]

I'm getting excited that my first trip from Germany back to Calif. in Sept to Sacramento is fast approaching. I plan on at least a day trip to bay area with wife and mother-in-law to visit all the beer pleasure places I can. What beers should I buy and pack in my carry-on for Christmas tasting from Russian river?; I love sours from Belgium. I hope to try all of what they have on tap, tour with video and make some tasting notes in my journal. I've never had the pleasure of any of their beers. Any votes for what I should buy. Money is no object. Maybe I can even mail a few home perhaps? I expect to have to take a least 6 home to try the last six nights I'm there at the house. I like silly things like that; listen to pod casts and try different beers on different nights. What can you tell me from experience to expect, except that good beer is waiting for me?

Well, the short answer is buy what you can. Not all the sours are always available in bottles at the pub. Last year, for example, I was able to get Temptation and Supplication... this year it was only Concecration (boo hoo, right? ). They seem to always have Damnation, Pliney, and Blind Pig now...


Mylo

[Dubba_Brew]

I think the Supplication is one of my favorite sours of all time. The cherry is subtle yet very apparent (if that makes any sense).. but I love it. If I could... I would buy a case of it. That's just me.

[Mylo]

That's just me.

Nah.... it's me, too. But they are all awesome! Vinnie is a rock star.


Mylo

[bcmaui]

Brought back a bottle of Consecration (10% dark belgian aged with currants in oak) to hopefully futher my own production of sour beers using some of the dregs to beef up my wild brewing!

We went there after NHC (almost two weeks ago) and the Consecration was the only bottle that they had for sale at that time at the bar. Several sours and others were on tap. I did not notice if City Beer had a bigger selection of RR in the bottle when I was in the city, but I'm guessing that is another place to pick up things other than Consecration in the bottle.

If you can, go on a Wednesday afternoon. There are many blocks of 4th Street in Santa Rosa blocked off to automobiles (including in front of Russian River) on that day (at least during summer). My wife hit up the farmer's markets while I went through the tasting flight. After she came back we munched on cherries and nectarines with our pizza and beer. The day we were there there was a stall selling smoked turkey legs right in front of RR.

[Sabertooth Zombie]

Just thought I would add my two cents about Russian River beers and the brewpub. First, I think the calzones are much better than their pizzas. Now that we have cleared that up, on to the beers. I have personally tried: Little White Lie (Wit), Beer Esteam (Steam), Beatification, Hopfather, Pliny, Blind Pig, and Damnation. I strongly recommend white lie and esteam if they are on tap. They also update their tap list on their website as well as what bottles they are selling at the pub:
http://russianriverbrewing.com/pages/chalk.html

In regards to City Beer Store (SF), I found their RR selection very small; all they had was beatification at the time. You may have better luck at Healthy Spirits (SF) which I have heard has a phenomenal selection.

[Brew Swillis]

Holy. Shit.

Im halfway through my first bottle of a brett beer, and its Consecration. This beer is RIDICULOUS! Iwent to RR about month or 2 ago and finally had a chance to try out some of Vinnies belgian beers and left REALLY disappointed that the Salvation was not available in a bottle, but equally excited about all the Pliny, Damnation and Redemption I was taking home. I can't say I'm onto sour beers jsut yet, but This Consecration is terrific. my 2 cents