Got a second shot to experience that RUSSIAN RIVER BREWING so-limited-you-can-only-get-it-in-two-places beer that the brewery made up for THE TORONADO bar’s 20th anniversary. If you can believe it, they decided to call it TORONADO TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY ALE. Knowing what you know about Russian River, I’m going to let you guess at what kind of beer it was. An English mild? Nope. An American amber? Uhn-uh. How about a raspberry wheat beer? I’m afraid not, ladies. No, this one is a whopper of a sour, wild ale, defying categorization as so many of these champions’ beers do. It might be going for $20 per bottle at the brewery – no kidding! – but I was lucky enough to get one on tap at the Toronado itself last week. Dark red and glowing, this beer was served in the appropriate Belgian glassware, and the first thing that hits you is the tartness. It hints of maple syrup, and there’s no mistaking the oakiness in this either. I have to say, the more oaked beers I try, the more I like them, so either it’s my palate adjusting or the brewers out there are adjusting to me. Perhaps I was initially off-put by the sourness, but as this thing warmed, it really started to fulfill. It had hints of cherries, and was just as wine-like as it was beer-like. At the end of the glass, I emerged victorious, and thusly, so did Russian River (as always). 7/10.
Monday, October 29, 2007
RARER AND SOUR-R THAN YOU’LL EVER BE
Got a second shot to experience that RUSSIAN RIVER BREWING so-limited-you-can-only-get-it-in-two-places beer that the brewery made up for THE TORONADO bar’s 20th anniversary. If you can believe it, they decided to call it TORONADO TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY ALE. Knowing what you know about Russian River, I’m going to let you guess at what kind of beer it was. An English mild? Nope. An American amber? Uhn-uh. How about a raspberry wheat beer? I’m afraid not, ladies. No, this one is a whopper of a sour, wild ale, defying categorization as so many of these champions’ beers do. It might be going for $20 per bottle at the brewery – no kidding! – but I was lucky enough to get one on tap at the Toronado itself last week. Dark red and glowing, this beer was served in the appropriate Belgian glassware, and the first thing that hits you is the tartness. It hints of maple syrup, and there’s no mistaking the oakiness in this either. I have to say, the more oaked beers I try, the more I like them, so either it’s my palate adjusting or the brewers out there are adjusting to me. Perhaps I was initially off-put by the sourness, but as this thing warmed, it really started to fulfill. It had hints of cherries, and was just as wine-like as it was beer-like. At the end of the glass, I emerged victorious, and thusly, so did Russian River (as always). 7/10.
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3 comments:
When last week? Do they still have some left? Does the brewery atually have bottles for sale? I might have to take a trip to one or the other.
I went to Toronado last Tuesday. When I went to the brewery 2 months ago, bottles were $20 (!). I can't imagine any are left....
I can't believe there were still some kegs of this being saved this far after. Huge score for you on finding that one. I really like the 20th anniversary because, compared to the very sour and acidic (and tasty) Supplication, the 20th had a very similar taste but a little lower acidity and a heavier body. Even though they blended a bunch of beers I had to guess that Supplication was a huge part of it.
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