Russian River Salvation

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Batch 5. Thanks yet again to Naka for sharing. Sticky sweet caramel in the nose. Dark fruits - figs, cherries, dates. Super sweet aroma. Amazing burgundy with a rocky off-white head. Sweet in the mouth - cherries, prunes, plums, raisins, sugary, and slightly cloying. Freaking superb. Now for my rant. Last night was my first experience with the super hyped Russian River. I love me some good Belgian beer, so I’ve been quite eager to give Vinnie’s work a shot. I was not disappointed. Here’s what I like about all their beers I tried - they’re authentic. If I were to taste any of them blind, there would be no way you could convince me it was brewed in the states. So often we see these American "takes" on Belgian styles - some are delicious, many fall short. But very rarely do we see true, authentic Belgian style ales being brewed in America. It breaks my heart, to be perfectly honest. But to know that places like Russian River, Jolly Pumpkin, and Ommegang exist... well, It helps me sleep at night.

UPDATED: SEP 24, 2007 corked and caged 750ml from Irishboy, thank you! Wow, the aroma is amazing. Ripe fruits such as plums, figs, apples, cherries, lots of malt, and loads of sweet caramel. Carbonation is very nice, and the flavour is out of the world! So much nice caramel/malty sweetness, laced with wondrful fruitiness. Wow. best belgian strong i have ever had, hands down.

1 pint, 9.4 fl oz. bottle purchased at Raja LLiquors in Livermore. The pour: deep dark color, but not translucent! The bouquet: raisins, subtle cloviness, cinnamon, allspice. The palate: definte roasted malts, a nice smokiness to it. nice sharpness in the immediate finish. The finish: toasty.. that’s all I can say. A high quality brew, kudos to Russian River Brewing!

375 ml corked and caged bottle. Bottled on 4/18/12. I poured this into a Chimay glass out of respect. Garnet colored liquid topped by a creamy tan head about one finger high. Yeasty, bready, earthy, dried fruit malt aroma redolant of dried figs, vanilla bean, cocoa nibs and fresh baked bran muffins. First sip yields a silky toasted malt flavor reminiscent of currants, pecans and toasted oats. Right away you know this is a special brew. One that should be savored, like a fine sherry or rare cognac. A second sip reveals more complex notes of dark brown sugar, cardamom and exotic fruits. The finish is subtle with toasty malt and herbal hops. Make no mistake, this is world class Belgian style character coming from the West Coast. A must for those who appreciate world-class ales. Go out and get this one boys, it’s worth the coin!

Bottle...awesome pop when the cork was removed. Pours a dark brown wth ruby hues...giant foamy tan head...outstanding retention and lacing. Aroma has raisin and currant...light sour/funk. Flavor follows suit and adds a bit of fig and spicy hops...light fruit...winey. mouthfeel is silky smooth and the finish is long, dry, and earthy. Awesome beer!! Delicate and complex!

Bottled (thanks omhper!). Deep amber colour with mediumsized creamy beige head. Aroma is caramel, fudge, nuts, tropical fruit some licorice and vanilla. Flavour is quite much the same with some spices and dried fruits added. Marvellous brew!

A: snifter. deep rich mahogany color, very dark. good off-white head. great retention and outstanding lacing. S: black currants, belgian yeast, tons of spice, some big baked fall fruits. T: wonderful flavors, fall fruits, apples, figs, pears, etc. clove and nutmeg. some raisins. big yeasty flavor. M: medium to full bodied. great carbonation level. very chewy. D: not sure if RR makes a beer that is not drinkable, unless it is a bad bottle. very nice, and well worth getting.

Bottle from Immy @ thr Throwdown. Batch 4. Caramel and toffee predominate the libation. A little sweetness. Very good.

750 ml bottle. Batch 003. Deep amber/orange colour approaching brown, but not quite there yet. White head. Great nose with a strong brandyish aroma, prunes, burnt sugar, toffee and a heavy toasted maltiness. Herbal notes, rum and brown sugar, light woodiness/plummy sweetness. Quite vineous. Warming brings out some orange citrus and a lovely ginger/cardamon spiciness. It’s a fantastic yeast they’ve got here. Flavour really shows off the allspice, ginger and clove along with the lightly burnt sugar. Rum and banana as well. Cooling mint and alcohol on the finish. Herbal hops and ginger retronasally. Another killer brew from the folks at Russian River.

Tap at RR. Pours a deeper brownish copper with a medium creamy off white head that left great lacing. Aroma of molasses, toasted malt, dark fruits, Belgian yeast esters and toffee. Flavor of various spices, brown sugar, earthy, doughy, toffee, dark fruits, dry and biscuit.