The Perfect Beer

Published on Monday, July 20th, 2009 by Meredith Arthur and Eric Slatkin

The Perfect Beer

By Meredith Arthur and Eric Slatkin

Lessley Anderson, CHOW’s senior editor, has been following the beers made by brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing Company, and has written about the wild yeast used in them, called Brettanomyces. Here, she explains why she appoints Cilurzo’s Supplication ale as the perfect beer, and CHOW follows as Cilurzo talks about how the beer is made. (Note: Supplication is extremely difficult to find. Your best bet is through trading on sites like RateBeer.com and BeerAdvocate.com. You could also try easier-to-find Russian River sour beers like Consecration and Temptation. For other beers in this style, check out Lessley’s story on funky wild ales.)

The unparalleled. The best in show. We call it The Perfect: our video series on how something so very good gets to be that way.

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  • The Supplication is on tap at Devil's Den in Philadelphia this week, but it is alternating with the Consecration--they were not straight up with me when I asked how many kegs they had.

  • had to address a couple comments:
    - Westy 12 is not impossible to find in the states. It can be bought at at Perry's Liquor at around $25 bottle.
    - Beatification is not THE rarest of Vinnie's brews, it would probably be Toronado 20th or Deviation - Bottleworks 9th Anniversary
    - Westy 12 has few similarities with Supplication

  • I actually have tried the Westvleteren 12 and it is simply amazing!!! I traveled to Belgium to get the stuff, and went to the abbey and they were closed!! (All Saints Day). Then I went to Amsterdam and found it in a store called Beer Konig. I cleaned them out. :)

    Anywho...it really is a phenomenal beer, but you'll probably stop after two because it's filling. My favorite everyday beer that I...+READ

    I actually have tried the Westvleteren 12 and it is simply amazing!!! I traveled to Belgium to get the stuff, and went to the abbey and they were closed!! (All Saints Day). Then I went to Amsterdam and found it in a store called Beer Konig. I cleaned them out. :)

    Anywho...it really is a phenomenal beer, but you'll probably stop after two because it's filling. My favorite everyday beer that I discovered over there is La Rulle Triple.-COLLAPSE

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