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Damnation
Santa Rosa, California
BJCP Category: 18D Belgian Strong Golden Ale
Russian River Brewing Co. <visit site>
42
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[expand]Total Score: 43/50
Classic example of the Belgian strong golden ale style. Very well made with slight faults in the lingering astringency and balance somewhat toward bitter. Esters, phenols and alcohol are well balanced more >
[close]Total Score: 43/50
Aroma: Bright fruitiness (pears) with peppery spiciness. Low spicy hops. Some citrus notes. No diacetyl. No DMS. Alcohol evident without fusels. Pilsner malt is light. Overall a crisp, fruity, alcohol-centric ale. Very Belgian-like. (11/12)
Appearance: Golden color with a dense, white, long-lasting head. High carbonation. Some chill haze that’s OK for an ale. (3/3)
Flavor: Continental pilsner malt with moderate hop bitterness, spicy, peppery phenols and some apple and pear fruity esters. Little hop flavor. No DMS. No diacetyl. Significant alcohol. Well-balanced; however, the bitterness is a bit assertive for the dry finish of the malt. There’s a lingering astringency in the finish. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Soft, fluffy mouthfeel from both the malt and the active carbonation. Medium-light body. Lingering astringency detracts. Lots of alcohol warmth. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Classic example of the Belgian strong golden ale style. Very well made with slight faults in the lingering astringency and balance somewhat toward bitter. Esters, phenols and alcohol are well balanced. Lowering bittering hops by 10 percent and using less of a higher alpha hop would reduce hop-derived astringency. Still a great beer that I would love to have with Belgian fries and garlic aioli. (8/10)
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[expand]Total Score: 45/50
It displays a fascinating array of aromas and flavors in parade along a path of sweet, biscuity malt; well balanced and delicious. This is a beer that could continue to develop in the bottle over time more >
[close]Total Score: 45/50
Aroma: Earthy spiciness up front, of savory herbs and black pepper, with notes of tree-ripened peach and Bartlett pear. Sweet, biscuity, almost caramel-like malt supports the parade of aromas. Perfume tea rose and orange blossom emerge as the glass breathes. (10/12)
Appearance: First poured golden, with brilliant crystal clarity; with the lees roused, a pearlescent haze clouds the beer and catches the light in a glowing goblet. Moussey, off-white foam gives way to a persistent, rocky head with a few uneven bubbles, but laces the glass with each draw. (3/3)
Flavor: Sweet, bready malt stays at first in the background of the earthy, herbal melangé and black pepper spice. Spice character seems more of a yeast artifact than overt hop character. Well balanced between light maltiness, ripe summer fruit, spice and bitterness for an intriguing complexity of flavors. A note of ripe blood orange comes through midway, with a moderate hop bitterness that comes forward and lingers long into the finish. (18/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with creamy carbonation. Low alcohol warmth emerges post finish, like an afterthought. Dry, crisp finish intensifies the lingering hop finish. (5/5)
Overall Impression: The beer has the complexity of a fruit salad of freshly picked tree-ripened peaches, yellow plum and Bartlett pear, all left for a late harvest, with flavors intensified by the sun. It displays a fascinating array of aromas and flavors in parade along a path of sweet, biscuity malt; well balanced and delicious. This is a beer that could continue to develop in the bottle over time, as do its Continental counterparts. (9/10)
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[expand]Total Score: 41/50
The complexity is fantastic, with the fruitiness, slight sourness and woody character combining to make this a delicious and dangerously drinkable beer. more >
[close]Total Score: 41/50
Aroma: An initial citrusy aroma with a pineapple essence spills out of the glass, with some alcohol and malty sweetness in the background. There are some earthy, seasoned wood notes along with a musty character that I often pick up in farmhouse beers. (10/12)
Appearance: Golden color with orange highlights. Effervescent but not excessively carbonated. The head stands up well. There is a slight haze that has the sheen of suspended yeast. (3/3)
Flavor: The focus is on the fermentation character, as it should be in most Belgian styles. There is a malt presence up front that is not sugary, but still provides some sweetness. The beer is complex, with grapefruit and pineapple notes that merge into woody, leathery, cork and earthy flavors. I pick up some Brettanomyces, which enhances the beer but is not entirely traditional in this style. The finish is moderately dry, with some lingering alcohol and modest hop bitterness. I pick up a slight lactic sourness that gets more intense as the beer warms. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: There is a lingering astringency from the woody phenols that accents the dryness in the finish. There is modest alcoholic warmth, but it is mainly from ethanol. The metallic notes are consistent with a little lactic acid. (4/5)
Overall Impression: This is an outstanding beer that stylistically is perhaps closer to a Belgian specialty than a strong golden (which typically has a cleaner fermentation profile). The complexity is fantastic, with the fruitiness, slight sourness and woody character combining to make this a delicious and dangerously drinkable beer. (8/10)
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[expand]Total Score: 42/50
Great flavors—wonderful complexity and balance. Seems just a bit full and a little dark for the style but those are minor quibbles. I enjoyed this one a lot. more >
[close]Total Score: 42/50
Aroma: Complex. Phenolic, fruity, dry. Classic nose. Moderate apple and pear esters. Moderately high hops, floral and spicy. Clean nose but distinctively Belgian. Light alcohol, perfumy, some sugary Pils malt character. Very enticing, complex, interesting. (10/12)
Appearance: Crystal clear. Medium-dark gold color, on the high side for the style. Tall frothy white head, pillowy, with tiny bubbles and great retention. (3/3)
Flavor: Initially malty with complex flavors: phenolics mostly, some alcohol, some bready malt flavor, moderate esters—primarily pear. Medium-high to high hop bitterness, moderate hop flavor with some esters and vegetal notes, earthy and spicy. Full yet dry finish. Lingering bitterness, with sugary Pils malt and esters coming out. Finish is a bit heavy but all the flavors are great. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: High carbonation. Fluffy mouthfeel. Medium body, a little heavy. Alcohol warming is noticeable but not hot. Very nice. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Well-crafted beer. Seems a little heavy or full in body. Nice bitterness and hop character. Alcohol and esters blend in well. Great flavors—wonderful complexity and balance. Seems just a bit full and a little dark for the style but those are minor quibbles. I enjoyed this one a lot. (8/10)
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