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Russian River Damnation

Russian River Damnation - Belgian Strong Ale

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 Percentile 
96
overall
Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Belgian Strong Ale

Santa Rosa, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Regional Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
7393.75/5.03.74/5.07.75%90.2Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
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Commercial Description:
In the great beer producing country of Belgium, some brewers have made it a tradition to give their beers an unusual name. Sometimes the name is curious, now and then it is diabolical and other times it is just plain silly. Damnation is our brewmaster’s interpretation of a Belgian style Strong Golden Ale. It has extraordinary aromas of banana and pear with mouth filling flavors of sweet malt and earthy hops. The lingering finish is dry and slightly bitter but very, very smooth.

Editor’s Note: this entry is for all batches EXCEPT batches 23 and 46 <a href=/beer/russian-river-damnation-batch-23-(oak-aged)/74510/>see separate entry.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 patrickfannon (270), Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Nov 5, 2009  
Draft. Pours cloudy golden, with a thin white head. Aroma of honey, hay, wheat, hops, and grapes. Medium bodied. Tangy, clean mouthfeel with a modest, pleasant finish. Decent Belgian strong.


ruffhauser (27), Seattle, Washington, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Oct 29, 2009  
On tap at Browers months ago and in bottles all over town. Taste of sparkling grape juice. Good balance, very drinkable, albeit a bit dry.


 daleharshman (181), San Diego, California, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Oct 28, 2009  
Draft at Toronado SD. Pours a cloudy dark golden yellow with half finger of white-ish head. Nose is bright and mildly sweet with yeast, fruity esters (banana, pear, light citrus, flowers), and bready grain. Flavor of citrus (lemon), sweet-ish malts, yeast, light spice, and other good stuff. Starts softly sweet and then a light hoppiness appears partway through and continues into the finish. Nicely balances, lovely and complex. This is very good and very drinkable stuff.


 Cruzan59 (197), Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/512/20
Oct 28, 2009  
750ml single from Capone’s Bottle Shop, Norristown, PA...nice clear yellow-gold pour, thick white head...smell of malts, mild banana...taste was kind of bitey with spice and alcohol.


Skubic448 (5), San Diego, California, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Russian River Damnation does not count
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/56/104/515/20
Oct 27, 2009  
Bottle in Pint. Aroma: Ginger and Bananas. Appearance: Golden with thick creamy white head. Flavor: Very sweet, but bitter after taste that lingers. Palate: Smooth. Overall: Not my favorite Belgian Strong Ale, it is still very good and I would not hesitate to buy another bottle some day.


jbender (16), Hatboro, Pennsylvania, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Oct 24, 2009  
Has a banana/pear aroma. Has a clear golden appearance with head that leaves a good lacing (didn’t see the initial pour so I can’t say how much head there was). Light on the palate with good carbonation. Has a banana fruitiness with good malt flavor to match the medium body.


 Heathen (723), Riverside, New Jersey, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/515/20
Oct 23, 2009  
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.


 ksurkin (352), Norfolk, Virginia, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Oct 23, 2009  
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.



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