Russian River Salvation

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

750 mL. Batch 001. Cellared at least 6 months. Think I bought this at Monument. Metallic, roasted, lightly sour aroma. Some light banana, yeasty esters are also detected. Mild vinousness. Aroma seems a little muted. Moderately hazy dark garnet hued body present with a small light tan head. Creamy, lightly metallic start becoming a little yeasty and dry. Becomes quite roasted, a bit burnt, with some choco notes and a dry finish. Creamy, malty, nice. A little too dry for me, though.

750 ml bottle. Batch 2, via trade with Kenb a a month or two ago. Thanks! Pours dark reddish brown with a one finger stable tan head. Aroma is sweet and does have some banana and fruity character. The taste is sweet and has mor banana in it. Very nice and refreshing and damn nice. This is a tasty dark belgian strong, i’d expect nothing less from RR.

25April07 on tap @ Russian River. copper reddish color. malt aroma. WOW! malt flavor, lots of caramel. sharp finish, bitter.

on tap at the Toronado RR -tion night. coppery brown color, thick foamy off-white tannish head. bretty and tart aroma, faintly fruity. flavor is strong deep caramel malt, a bit hot and a little herbal. finish is a little bitter.

Brown bottle, 750 ml, gift from Bill Steele, savoured on April 29 2007; eye: dark caramel with a red hue and golden reflections, nice creamy pale beige head, good effervescence made up of tiny bubbles, lightly hazy, lacing; nose: dark small berries jam, nice caramelized malt, light floral hops, moca coffee, pepper from the alcohol, a bit of bread, carbonation brings a bit of lime; mouth: surprisingly easy to drink despite its high alcohol content, smooth, velvety, rich, caramelized malt, orange, Cointreau, spices, light pepper from the alcohol, carbonation brings a bit of lime, nice syrupy finale (though a bit short) in caramelized malt with a hin of banana, lots of alcohol but it is difficult to perceive because of its jam side, average carbonation, lightly sweet, mildly bitter, medium body; overall: really good FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 750 ml, batch 003, 9,0 %, cadeau de Bill Steele, savourée le 29 avril 2007; œil : caramel foncé avec une teinte rougeâtre et des reflets dorés, belle mousse crémeuse beige pâle, bonne effervescence de bulles très fines, légèrement voilée, dentelle; nez : confiture de petits fruits foncés, beau malt caramélisé, léger houblon floral, café moka, poivre de l’alcool, un peu de pain, on sent la carbonatation qui amène un peu de lime; bouche : curieusement très facile à boire malgré son taux d’alcool élevé, doux, velouté, riche, malt caramélisé, orange, Cointreau, épices, léger poivre de l’alcool, carbonatation amène un peu de lime, belle finale (mais un peu courte) sirupeuse en malt caramélisé avec une pointe de bananes, beaucoup d’alcool mais on le perçoit à peine à cause de son côté marmelade, carbonatation moyenne, légèrement sucrée, moyennement amère, corps moyen; en résumé : très bonne

Bottle. Pours a dark copper-mahogany body with a small white soapy head. Smells acidic - fruit mingled with some sweet vinous notes...cherry, dark bread. Rich body with flavours of darkish toasty malts, caramel and rye. Cherry sweetness and finishing long and viscous. Solid.
Sampled at the Pizza Port 12 Hour Belgian Beer Party on March 24, 2007.

[bottle, shared with dirtymike] Dark brown in color, with a dense off-white head. Aroma is fruity and sweet, with a slight tartness. Flavors are primarily dark fruits, slightly sweet with a good malt foundation. Finishes quite dry, with a nice tart note to balance things out. Excellent overall, this was nice introduction to the RR brews.

Sample at Indy tasting Hotshotz - Aroma of sweet dark chocolate malts and Belgian yeast with a touch of fruity spice. Pours dark brown with a medium head and good lacing. Flavor matches aroma. Palate is dry. Not sure if this one is getting a fair shake since it followed Supplication in the tasting lineup. RR brews deserve more time to ponder and enjoy.