Russian River Brewing Company Damnation

Damnation

 

Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California, United States 🇺🇸

  Belgian Style - Strong Ale Rotating
Score
7.41
ABV: 7.5% IBU: - Ticks: 160
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.

Admin's Note: This entry is for non oak-chip aged batches of Damnation. Previously batches 23, 46 and 69 were aged on oak chips and should be rated under the separate entry.
 

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8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Bottle at home, 19th October 2025, picked up at Bottle Craft, Little Italy, San Diego - great beer

Tried from Bottle on 12 Jan 2026 at 20:26


6.6
Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 5.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 6.5

Stemless at the hotel to clear weight right before we head out to the airport. First time I don't go after the obvious RR choices.

Medium light gold, slightly dull, lovely dense, Cool Whip frothy head.
Fresh herbal citrus kick in the nose. In sensing a witbier feel.
Twangy, half-sharp, super herbal hops, heavy coriander, starchy dry finish, slight black pepper burn.

Quality, but not sure I actually like this. At least as a whole.

Tried from Bottlecraft - North Park on 08 Aug 2025 at 23:32


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

From tap at Russian River, Santa Rosa. Spicy estery Belgian Strong characterized by peppery yeast, bready malt, ripe-ish fruits including pear, light banana, clove. Flavour is sweet and mild bitter. Body is medium. Good specimen of Belgian Strong Golden.

Tried from Draft on 10 Feb 2025 at 04:45



7.4
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Poured from 375mL bottle in the hotel room (since I don’t have enough luggage space; bottled 10/19/23). Hazed yellow gold with white head. Dry, peppery Belgian yeast, some feint clove.

Tried from Bottle on 23 Oct 2024 at 17:52



7.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

I hold a curiously corked and caged 375 ml bottle of Damnation, thank you very much. My first Russian River, a Belgian pale ale, all right by me. Easily the best selection I made at a somewhat stuck-in-time liquor store in Colorado Springs this past June. But they did have some interesting beers to sell. The label has changed, the graphics, an improvement I think, and the abv is now 7.5%. Bottled on 11/17/22 and now consumed on 9/13/23, time to proceed. I have a snifter from Great Heights in place and pour after the cork is released. I determine a pale gold-yellow body finished by a creamy head of snow white foam. The smell, it is really all right. Grain, yellow fruit and some yeastiness wafting upward. The taste is quite nice, best I have had in the style in some time. Subtle but assured. Apricots, grain, yeast, malt, nectarines providing a small sweetness, a touch of floral and some earthiness. Solid.

Tried from Bottle on 13 Sep 2023 at 23:34


7.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Draft 13 oz pour at Elliott Bay Pizza. Very surprised to see that rating this classic has somehow fallen through the cracks. Had this in the old days a dozen times, and this draft pour is a continued celebration of their distro return to Seattle. Mostly clean golden pour, shiny, plenty of foam head. Gentle floral, Belgian nose. Flavor is crisp up front, well rounded to follow, with bold floral and herbal notes over an icy cool finish. Belgian strong that tastes like a Belgian smooth. I never think of this style when I think Russian River, but they sure do it well. Very good.

Tried from Draft on 16 May 2023 at 00:04


7.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9.5

Hazy golden in the glass and a fine head Pleasant intensity in the aroma Balanced sweetness and a fine carbonation level Banana, malty, fruity, herbal, some yeast and some spices in the flavor [Bottle from a trade with ChrisOfstad]

Tried from Bottle on 19 Jul 2022 at 13:50


8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Early rating from Beer Buddy app

Tried on 13 Nov 2021 at 03:55