Russian River Damnation Batch 23/46 (Oak Aged)

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Abbey Tripel
Santa Rosa, California USA

Great head and lacing, had twice the head of normal damnation. The sweetness is much more pronounced than the regular damnation (had them side by side). Some wood character comes through, this is a much fuller beer. The yeast does not fit perfectly with this style like it does with the normal batch. This is an amazing transformation that shines on its own right, but keeps its similarities to the original.

Bottle. Batch 23 courtesy of Vinnie and shared with Vinnie @ Russian River. Pours a golden color with a small white head. Has a sweetish malty yeasty spicy aroma with some hints of oak and some hints of hops. Sweetish warming malty spicy and slightly yeasty flavor with some hints of oak. Has a warming malty spicy yeasty finish.

On daufht@Toronado Unreal. Wonderful golden, hazy wiht a white head. Just amazing aroma of marzipan, meringue, and faint, faint, clove. The oak is deftly balanced. The alcohol imperceptible.... other than the fact that you achieve the Perfect Buzz after a pint... bartender ! Give me another one.

2006 vintage. In the bottle thanks to bditty187. Pours rich hazy gold with a thin white head. Gooseberry meringue pie aroma. Like an egg cream and ramon fizz. At first, it has lemon verbena flavors. High alcohol and fairly dry for such a big beer. Does this have honey in it? It is so dry that it seems like it is a mead that has been finished with Pasteur yeast. Cloying almonds and a splash of lemon. I’m not sure that I understand this beer.

On draft at O’Briens. Aroma of yeast, spices, sweet malts, and oak. Flavor is solid Tripel style with accents by the oak chips and boosted hop levels, very thick and solid on flavor. A great variation on the standard Damnation, would like to try again with some aging.

Draft at O’Brien’s Russian River night. Pours a mostly clear medium gold color with a small off white ring. Nose was sweet and fruity with hints of oak and vanilla. Flavor was quite sweet as well with some wood present as well as candied tree fruits. Another great one from Russian River.

Tap at O’Briens 15th annv. If I could get this damnation all the time I would. Oak gives that added texture, a little vanilla and superb body and length. Really a stand out beer for me. Vinnie noted it was batch 46, I guess it seeks oak every 23 batches. Would love to see this with 1 or 2 years of age. This was from Keg and outstanding.

Shared bomber behind Ihop from Devin. This is awesome to compare with the regular damnation. Damnation has to be in my top five favorite beers. The tasgte is a little more sour compared to the regular but is equally as smooth.