Damnation
Russian River Brewing Company

12.68 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in an oversized, stemless, wine glass
BOTTLED ON: 021323

This beer pours a hazy golden hue and is topped with a mountain of creamy, beige head that leaves rocky lacing.

Not as aromatic as some BPSAs that I have had, especially the ones from Belgium. I get some spiced pear with hints of banana.

Mild spiced pear flavor. I get some Belgian esters, but it is really not all that flavorful.

Thin bodied with a chalky, yet creamy mouthfeel

My buddy gave me this because he didn't like it, so I can't complain about the price. I love the head on this beer. The flavor does improve as it warms, but there is just nothing to make it stand out other than the fact that this beer was a pioneer in the style. It is a classic, but with approximately 1 billion breweries now in existence, it doesn't really stand out from the crowd.

Look: Golden yellow and nearly clear with a silky-looking white head that settles to a lid, leaving a ring of lacing behind
Aroma: Wet hay, floral hop notes, wafts of lemon, straw, some Belgian yeast funk, pear esters, and crackers. This smells awesome
Taste: Flowers and lemon come together and strike first with a plethora of strong citrus blossoms, butterfly bush, and honeysuckle that quickly deepen and intermingle. Wet hay, yeast funk, and pear gain momentum and mix well with the floral/lemon combo as the whole entirety of flavors continue to deepen throughout until it closes with straw, yeast funk, and crackers
Mouthfeel: Full, silky smooth, medium-high carbonation, and smooth and soft on the finish but with a light kiss of dryness
Overall: Simply put – this beer is awesome. I haven’t had, had access to, nor seen this beer in probably 12 years so when I spotted it, I had to have it for old times’ sake and also since this beer helped me develop my palate for Belgian-Style ales. A ridiculously well-made and flavorful Golden Ale that is easy to drink and has seemingly endless flavors/aromas that come on more with each sip (and warming). A classic and one I would easily but frequently if possible. Highly recommended

 

 

Look: It pours yellow and quite clear with a pillow like white head. It has excellent head retention.

Smell: There is pronounced grainy malts in the aroma. It has some light spices in the nose with a touch of pear.

Taste: There are some Belgian funk elements with malty grain. There are some spicy elements with light banana and pear.

Feel: It has a medium body with an easy drinking finish.

Overall, the balance between flavors is quite good, but the aroma is lighter than I like.

Serving: 375 ml bottle (“bottled on 111722”) poured into a 14 oz Teku glass.

Appearance: Deep golden yellow with increasing haze as the bottle pours, and a rocky, thick head of white foam.

Smell: Grassy, fruity, pale malt and yeasty, phenolic cloves and spice.

Taste: More cloves, pepper, fruity but dry malt body.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and crisp carbonation.

Overall: A solid Belgian-style golden ale with nice balance of malt, hops and spicy, funky yeast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review 1608
Damnation
Russian River Brewing
Date: 08 May 2020
Drinking through one of the lists on BeerAdovcate, this beer is next on the docket. I served the beer in a chalice around 46 degrees. The pour created a massive two-fingered creamy but airy white head. The retention is excellent, leaving gobs of lacing on the glass. The color charts around SRM 8, dark golden yellow with amber hues. The clarity is clear with loads of carbonation. A beautiful appearance.

The aromas in the beer are cloves, phenols, floral, toasted crackers, banana, a touch of funk, and earthiness.

I taste cloves, phenols, floral, herbal, green grass, toasted crackers, bready, a hint of funk, orange, banana, and earthiness.

The mouthfeel is dry and spicy.

The body is medium, has high carbonation, and has a lasting finish.

I was expecting a big, malty, and spicy Belgium beer. I got a lighter malty Belgium Beer with a dry, spicy finish. A unique take on this style. I enjoyed the differences in this beer.

Bottled 5/27/20.

 

 

 

I should issue a caveat. The bottle shop had this labeled as a Russian Imperial Stout. You stout drinkers can imagine my disappointment.
It is not that this beer is bad. Looks, smells, tastes and feels like a Belgian. Not a particularly good one so I’m surprised by the ratings. It’s spicy banana Belgian blah blah boredom all day long. Almost as if someone said, “let’s brew a prototypical Belgian.” And strong ale? At 7.5%? I have had abbey ales at 10%+ with heavy duty sediments and incredibly complex flavors. Those are Belgian strong ales. Duvel, though decidedly weaker than some, is light years beyond this. The temerity!