Russian River Damnation

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Santa Rosa, California USA

THOUGHTS: My first Russian River rating. This had the thickest sediment I think I’d ever seen in a bottle. It was like a smoother Duvel. It reminded me of Duvel, but I think this was more malty and less hoppy. A nice American take on a Belgian ale. If I didn’t know where it came from, I’d probably have guessed Belgium. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a hazy, medium golden yellow with a large, creamy, white head that kept a thin sheet and left good lacing. There were also very tiny particles in the body of an average to thick density. The aroma was light to moderate malt; light grassy hops; honey, lemon, slight banana and a little spice. The initial flavor was rather sweet, slightly acidic and slightly bitter; while the finish was acidic, moderately bitter and slightly sour. There was lemon, honey, candy sugar, yeast, grassy hops, slight metallic hops and spices. The medium body was sort of creamy with tingly carbonation and a light alcoholic finish.

750ml, corked & caged bottle, batch #41 courtesy of mreusch. thanks, matt! pours a beautiful, hazy yellow gold with a thick, fluffy white head and great lacing. aroma is excellent with sublimely belgian notes of lemon zest, white grape, clove, ripe banana, and almond with a touch of cedar, wheat grass, barnyard, and bready malts. flavor is delicious as well with fresh, crisp fruit notes of lemon, orange, and pear with sweet notes of floral hops, and unsweetened honey, spicy clove, yeast, and dry, woody, malts. palate is bright and bubbly with a crisp mouthfeel and not a hint of alcohol with a dry, crisp finish. overall, a wonderful belgian ale from RR.

750mL shared with tastybeer. Pours an unclear golden yellow with a three-finger, fluffy white head that has good retention and leaves good lacing. Muted aroma of leather, candi sugar, white grapes, funk. Taste is yeasty, white sugar, sparkling white grape juice with a nice dry finish. Very drinkable albeit a bit watery. Not that special- sort of like a richer Duvel with some saison attributes.

Finally, I get to sample the Damnation! And it did not disappoint! The beer pours a clloudy and somewhat hazy golden color with a thick and generous white head. There isn’t much lacing left around the glass, though. The nose is full of fruits, bread, floral hops, caramel and earth. The body is smooth and dangerously drinkable. This bottle was gone really before I knew it. The flavors were smooth and delicious, with notes of honey, grass, lemon zest, orange peel, floral hops and light malts. The finish is really well-balanced, with floral hops and citrus notes, along with bready and light malty notes.

On Guest Tap at Pizza Port. Pours bright yellow/orange and clear with white head. Nose is wheaty, belgian yeast. Taste is citrus fruit and wheat with a nice belgian accent. Smooth and refreshing.

The pour is a clear gold with a very long lasting pale head that creates some beautiful lacing. Aroma is complex. Cedar and citrus up front. The citrus is a mixture of grapes and sour fruits. As your nose becomes accustomed to the initial intense bouquets, yeast and more subtle woody notes of the cedar become evident. As the brew comes in contact with the tongue, the yeast is the first to make its appearance, and quite intensely as well. The yeast flavour develops a little more as it sits on the tongue, giving it somewhat of a mild cheesiness. As you allow the beer to pass the tongue, all the flavours intensify and come together for that split moment where the tongue breathes. Citrus makes its first appearance, cedar also becomes more evident, and the yeastiness explodes along with a good amount of spices. This is the best moment in all good beers where all the flavours explode and join in harmony, and this beer is no exception. Soon after this beautiful moment, the yeast begins to become dominant again, overpowering the citrus and cedar. In the finish we return back to our initial, intensely yeasty, flavour with some slight hints of citrus. As the brew becomes warmer the finish becomes more and more spicier.
It fills me with glee to finally be able to taste a Russian River beer after hearing so much about them amongst my friends back in Tennessee. This beer has definitely lived up to my expectations.
Delicious.

Sweet flavours and aroma but dry palate. lots of fruity esters and not as one dimensional banana-like as many examples of the style. tasty!

Somewhat citrusy yearst bready bubblegum... hazy pale golden... dry yeasty big belgium flavor, bready... doesnt drink very heavy...