Salvation
Russian River Brewing Company

SalvationSalvation
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From:
Russian River Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #32
ABV:
9%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,520
Avg:
4.09 | pDev: 9.54%
Reviews:
485
Ratings:
1,283
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 02, 2023
Added:
May 09, 2004
Wants:
  359
Gots:
  299
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by nhindian:
Photo of nhindian
Reviewed by nhindian from Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
375ml bottle poured into a Russian River "-tion" glass. Bottle provided by jodan, thanks Jordan!

Batch 010.

A - Pour is very dark, deep brown nearly bordering on black and completely opaque. There's a huge, 2.5-fingered, active head on this beer that reminds me strongly of Allagash beers as it's formed of tight bubbles and is incredibly foamy and thick that disappears quicker around the edges than the middle, leaving a plateau-like structure. Retention is absurd, lasting pretty much for the entire bottle. Lacing follows this excellence, leaving a thin coating around the whole glass.

S - Honestly, after I poured it I took a quick sip and wasn't completely blown away, but sitting down with this beer and actually analyzing it after it warmed gave me strong hope. The nose is certainly bready, but is complemented by rich, dark fruits and generous Belgian yeast and candied sugar. Specifically, I'm getting lots of raisins and grapes, bananas, and apples. It also has a slightly dry mustiness to it as well, something resembling a crisp saison that imparts some spiciness to it. All of this and not a hint of alcohol to boot. An incredibly balanced and enticing aroma, I could smell this all day.

T - As in the aroma, the taste begins with malts and their breadiness, as well as some candied sugar. This imparts a sweet beginning that is modified with the impending yeast and fruit and it's a rollercoaster ride of flavors. The raisins definitely take the stage in the mid-taste, combining with the sugar to give a distinctively-Belgian flavor. The spice comes through afterward to clean everything and provide a springboard to the surprisingly dry finish. The alcohol is a bit more noticeable here than in the nose, but still not enough to be a problem. Overall the taste just seems a bit muddied compared to the clarity in notes in the nose, but it is still very respectable.

M - Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with good carbonation. Adequately carbonated to style and helps everything keep moving smoothly. Pretty dry for a Belgian Dark, but I'm certainly not complaining. Residual sweetness and fruits linger on the palate.

D/O - Drinkability is high. For a brewery half a world away from Belgium, Russian River certainly doesn't disappoint with this beer. In terms of the buying again in the future, I'd like to stock up some for aging, but as I can't get this near me, I will have to seek out some alternatives that can compete with this.
May 02, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of mntlover
Reviewed by mntlover from Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a walnut color small off white bar pour head, great lace like all the beers tonight. Aroma is big sweet malty goodness, fruit cake, good caramel notes, almost toffee, good earthy notes. Taste follows the nose malty, dark fruits, sugars abound, earthy yeast notes, smooth thick and chewy goodness. Mouthfeel almost full mellow good carbonation for the style. Overall great brew.
Aug 02, 2023
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.44/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
On tap at Oskar Blues, Colorado Springs

A- pours a deep brown with a ruby hue, one finger creamy white head has great retention and leaves plenty of lacing behind

S- peppery yeast & clove, brown sugar, caramel, fruit cake, brown bread crust

T- sweet malty notes of brown sugar, caramel and brown bread is quickly followed by some spicy and peppery yeast that gives notes of clove & cracked pepper. Sweet notes of Belgian candi sugar, molasses & fruit cake close it out, with a spicy yeast linger

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a warming finish
Jun 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.27 by crewfan1952 from Ohio

Feb 23, 2023
Photo of SHODriver
Reviewed by SHODriver from North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Poured into a Chimay goblet to a deep brown beer which is topped by a dense and slightly rocky quarter inch of light tan ehad which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of dark fruits and candi sugars with some hints of mulling spices
T: Taste is dark fruits, candi sugars, caramel, and toffee with some mulling spices, light roasted malts and baked bread. On the swallow there's more dark fruits, candi sugar, spices, and some roasted malts with a little chocolate
M: This beer has a smooth and silky feel on the palate with a moderate amount of body. Carbonation is pleasant and effervescent while the beer has a slightly drying finish due to the ABV.
O: Just like any other beer put out by Russian River this beer is fantastic. Great flavors and complexity along with some really nice balance. Just a classic Belgian strong dark ale that's also held up well to time since I've had this beer since at least 2014.
Sep 04, 2021
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Batch 112816. Poured from a cork'n'cage bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Dark mahogany brown pour... opaque with some sediment at the end of the pour. No light getting through this one. Magnificent creamy off-white head. Leaves a foam of lacing.

S: Lighter than expected... dark fruit and candy sugars.

T/F: Semi-sweet... roasted grains and brown sugar. Baked raisin and fig.. slightly astringent. A bit of spice and yeast... mild cocoa and some more roast towards the finish. Creamy and smooth... medium bodied. Alcohol well hidden.

O: A nicely done Belgian Dark. Solid flavor and super creamy. Held up very well in the back of the beer fridge waiting for the right night.
Jun 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.46 by Twal from Colorado

Apr 13, 2020
 
Rated: 3.83 by notchucknorris from California

Mar 05, 2020
Photo of RaulMondesi
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Haven in Orange, CA.

This one was served ultra cold like a penguin walking to work. That being said, yeah, it’s clean. Like, Windex clean. I bet the aroma would be more prominent as it warmed. Still, it’s there. Yeah, as I sip and chill, I’m cool with it. Smooth like Alain Delon in “Le Samourai,” I can get on this. It’s not revolutionary like Paul Revere riding a horse, but it’s straight up another quality beer from Russian River.
Mar 02, 2020
 
Rated: 2.97 by gboley from California

Feb 23, 2020
 
Rated: 3.89 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Feb 11, 2020
 
Rated: 4.18 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Jan 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Jan 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.1 by Ajlvt from Washington

Nov 27, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Sep 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by oriolesfan4 from Maryland

Jul 31, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by Mikemcgrath4 from North Carolina

Jul 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Jul 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.15 by brandoneast from Texas

Jun 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Apr 12, 2019
Salvation from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 1283 ratings