Russian River Damnation

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

Caged and corked; pours a golden orange with a fizzy-at-first, then staying thin head of fine head. Only a light aroma of spicy oranges. The flavor’s a little bit mroe robust, but still easy to absorb. Tart and cloying, a bit of yeast, and a crazy dry finish. Exceptionally well made, this is a mellower example of the goodness of the style. (#2999, 7/2/2007)

Brown bottle, 750 ml, batch 017, gift from Bill Steele, brewed on December 28 2006, savoured on July 2 2007; eye: golden, lightly hazy, generous creamy white head, good lacing, no effervescence; nose: yeast, cookie, fruity, light alcohol, spices (cardamom); mouth: in that order, creamy, banana, fruity, caramelized malt, light carbonation, good hops, creamy finale in malt and yeast, dry, good carbonation, lightly sweet and bitter, medium body; overall: really good FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 750 ml, batch 017, cadeau de Bill Steele, brassée le 28 décembre 2006, savourée le 2 juillet 2007; œil : dorée, légèrement voilée, généreuse mousse blanche crémeuse, bonne dentelle, pas d’effervescence; nez : levure, biscuits, fruitée, léger alcool, épices (cardamome), léger malt, zeste d’orange; bouche : dans cet ordre, crémeuse, banane, fruitée, malt caramélisé, légère carbonatation, bon houblon tranchant, finale crémeuse en malt et en levure, sèche, bonne carbonatation, légèrement sucrée et amère, corps moyen; en résumé : très bonne

Bottle, Batch 12. Pours a straw yellow with a thin white head. Aroma is yeasty, spicey straw, persimmon, and a bit of alcohol. Flavor is pepper, lemon peel, and a bit of barnyard funk. Palate is surprisingly heavy, and could benefit from some add’l carbonation and/or attenuation to make it a bit "brighter".

Bottle, Batch 18. Poured medium golden with a short, fizzy cap of white head. Spicy banana and clovey yeast in the aroma along with sweet toffee notes.. engaging. Flavor found spicy pepper and yeast primarily with dusty sweetness across the middle.. sticky, spicy finish. Creamy with higher carbonation on the palate.. nicely balanced with the spiciness. Great stuff!

It’s like my favourite belgian ale + extra hops. Killer blend of west coast hop and belgian ales.

Had to travel over state lines for this baby, so I was expecting a classic. Poured a hazy golden color after decanted from the bottle. There wasn’t much head, but the lacing was nice and hung around. I smelled sweet fruit, pears, bananas, malt and yeast. The taste was as smooth as advertised, with some bitter undertones. This was very different from the other Belgian Ales that I have tried. I am looking forward to many more RR brews.

Rating #1100. Pours lightly hazy rustic orange with a large clean white head. The aroma has wild yeast, nectarine smoothness, pepper, smoothed out malt and orange zest. Medium crisp grainy body with sharp, yet gentle, carbonation. The flavor starts off with earthy spice, tobacco, woody traits, pepper, sourness and a bit of netar fruits, but not as much netar as on the aroma. Teh finish has earthy bark, tobacco and a hoppy bitterness. A very nice and unique beer.

The first Russian River I’ve been able to drink. Fairly light body, extremely appealing shade of gold, feels lovely in your mouth. Just enough carbonation. Sweet with lots of citrus flavors. A great attempt at a Belgian ale.