Russian River Rejection

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

UPDATED: FEB 5, 2012 A - pours thick dark brown with low tan tight bubbled head, lacing. S - aromas of wood, smoke, coffee. floral notes up front. Hint of chocolate as well. M - light body, no carb. Lingering chocolate smokey ending. T - light floral on the nose, chocolate and smoke on the palate. Lingering airy smoke and malty ending. O - pretty good black ale. Strong good flavors, weak smell. 7-

Taste like a belgum ale mixed with a stout. Has the darkness and malt flavor for a stout but the gold ale taste as well

10oz bottle at the brewpub pours a watery, deep mahogany brown, almost black with some creamy, cloudy white head. Nose is lightly smokey, malty, dark German rye bread, toast, a little grass, some waxiness, chocolate, wet soil. Flavor is malty, cocoa pods, a little grass, some noble hop bitterness, dried leaves, toasted bread. Very dry, chalky finish. An interesting take for Russian River.

Old rating, from notes. On tap at the brewpub. Dark brwon, almost black, pour, with a finger-high tan head. Some yeast in the aroma, roasted malt, dark dried fruits. Taste is roasty, dry, somewhat spicy, with less yeast flavor than expected. A great session beer.

Draft at Monk’s Cafe. Pours a deep dark brown color that’s almost black with faint mahogany edges and a one finger light beige head that quickly settles into a thin lasting ring. Minimal spots of lacing left behind. Roasted malt aroma with faint spiciness and dark fruit notes. Slightly toasty with lots of dark chocolate along with hints of toffee and caramel. Medium bodied with lots of roasted dark malt as well as some zesty spice and sweet dark fruit notes. Lots of dark chocolate malt flavor along with hints of toffee, coffee bean and caramel countered by peppery spice, candy sugar and dark fruit which provide subtle sweetness. Still the dark malts dominate the flavor, lingering into a dry finish.

An interesting beer, that’s for sure. I tried it at Pi Bar in a small sampling (perhaps 8 oz) and really enjoyed it with its dark burnt malts and richer than average body. Then I had it again at Toronado in a larger sampling (14-16oz) after having an Elder...that was the mistake. It came up thin and boring with very little discerning character. Either way I’m confused by what this beer is trying to be.

Rating #90 of this brew. On tap at O’Briens a few weeks back when they had a bunch of RR brews on tap. Dark brown with red tints. Tan ring. Straight up sweet to sharp Belgian ale. Nice, but not overly complex in any facet.

draft @ Russian River, dark pour, medium body. Sizable roasted malt flavor, light peat/ smoke. Didnt gather a whole lot of Belgian as[ects, but still pretty damn good.