Benediction - Russian River Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasty though simple dubbel, enjoyed on tap at the brewpub. Poours Cola brown. Not so yeasty or too sweet. A nice mouthfeel. Characteristics of a dry stout, and featuring licorice. Medium bodied, a little sweetness and bitterness, malt, spice, and a tad fruity.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 01:16:33 | More by northyorksammy

wethorseblanket

California

3.78/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the source.

A: Pours a dark amberish brown with reddish highlights under a finely bubbled off-white almost tan 1/2" head which fades to the rim leaving rings and stringer of lace.

N: Nutty and yeasty. Perhaps too cold, but not alot going on here.

T: Mildly roasty with some cocoa and trace coffee. Some dark fruits and caramel.

M: Medium body and carbonation. Smooth and simple.

O: Just O.K., there are other things you should be drinking here.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 22:54:54 | More by wethorseblanket

thagr81us

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another big tick on my Russian River –tion Quest to try them all! Slowly but surely working my way through some of the stragglers. Big thanks goes out to BilbosNuts for this one! Served from growler into a Green Man snifter (I think I left my –tion glass in Florida at aasher’s wedding ). Opened with a HUGE pop! Poured a deep ruby red brown with a one finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark chocolate, dark fruit, smoke, bread, and spices. The flavor was of sweet malt, smoke, fruit, bread, dark fruit, subtle earth, and subtle spice. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a good brew. There was quite a bit going on in this one that definitely kept me guessing throughout each sip. I went into it based on the style knowing what to expect, but this one actually surprised me slightly. The smoke note carried on throughout the glass which was a very nice touch that brought another level of complexity to my palate that I always love to find. With a nice touch of roastiness going on with dark fruit profile this was definitely one that I’m glad I finally got the chance to try. Hopefully I will get to try the rest eventually. Get on brewing those up for me Russian River. I will be waiting…

Serving type: growler

08-24-2012 18:28:04 | More by thagr81us

elNopalero

Texas

3.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I’ll be upfront, dubbels just aren’t my favorite style.

This didn’t make me a convert but it wasn’t bad.

It poured a caramel amber color with a malty bubblegum banana aroma. Some raisins join the gang once tasted. And that cloying malty aftertaste, appropriate for the style yet … just not my thing.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 08:35:45 | More by elNopalero

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a footed 'Belgian' glass at the brewery. From notes. Reviewed 28 April 2012.

A: Mahogany-clear with a light head. Clear ruby in the light. Scattered lacing.

S: Hrm. Porterish. Flat, roasted malt.

T/M: AN excellent dubbel, but derivative and uninspired. Malt, light spice, and chocolate with a dry, chalky finish. Tobacco?

O: A worthy attempt, but -- while competent -- uninteresting. Perhaps a bit...stale? Flat? Dull? Anyway, I'd drink another, but probably not if I were paying for it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 21:25:47 | More by AgentMunky

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.55/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Russian River in Santa Rosa.

Pours a... amber hue, surprisingly light (the "..." illustrates how surprised I was at this colour), with very little haze. Body is full and firm, as is the head, which forms an off-white crest for the beer. Some partial lacing, and some slinky, hiding carbonation. Hmm...

Round on the nose, with a touch of spice and phenols. There's an earthy sweetness, almost like chocolate, but that's about all it gives up. It feels a little like it's going through the motions.

Light characters on the front of the palate, with a touch of nuttiness, before some smoother, boozier elements come through later. However, the booze rises up and mingles with some phenolics and spice to create a sense of harshness on the finish.

Feel is smooth, but light. Suitable.

Eh. Overall, I'm unimpressed. This is a dull example of a dubbel, and even taken on its own without the repertoire of the style to compare it to, it's not that interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2012 04:28:59 | More by lacqueredmouse

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.68/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at RR.

A - Dark cola brown with a few little bubbles hanging around the edges.

S - I didn't get much. Some dark fruit and sweetness.

T - Sweet dark fruit and some maltiness.

D - Ok carbonation an a lighter body.

O - Sweet and dark. Not overly heavy. Enjoyable but not crazy good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2012 21:58:54 | More by HuskyinPDX

Philousa

California

3.38/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Imbibed on tap at RRBC on 4/22/12.

Pours a clear caramel color without much head. I had a couple tasters; I wouldn't expect much head on 2 ounces of any beer. caramel, spices, earthy Belgian malt in the aroma. Some banana and other light fruits. Taste starts with bitter caramel, light toffee, and a bit of cinnamon, turmeric, and other earthy spices.Bitter, tart, but light. Like a light roasted coffee. Well balanced with a dry aftertaste.

I don't normally like Dubbels, but I'm a fan of this one. Some good flavors with a bit of spices mixed in. A Belgian beer is brewed well by RRBC. The sun rises in the morning. I like beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2012 03:43:10 | More by Philousa

scottfrie

California

4.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Growler into snifter.

A: Pours a very dark raisin brown with a finger of soft, fuzzy, dark tan head that faded into a thin and fuzzy film leaving wispy lace.
S: Sweet and slightly smoky notes of dark fruits, Belgian yeast and spices, raisins, and hops.
T: Follows the nose. Not overly sweet, with lots of spices in the finish. I get hints of caramel, clove, orange zest and a good dose of leafy hops. I get a hint of cocoa in the aftertaste.
M: Medium-full body, drying mouth, very clean feeling, with bubbly soft carbonation.
O: Very good dubbel and better than I was expecting. Smooth too and not too sweet. Great spicy, hoppy and fruity flavors. Well done.

Serving type: growler

05-01-2012 00:21:16 | More by scottfrie

mjyoung

California

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to scottfrie for sharing.

A: A dark amber-hued burgundy (Does that make sense? No... Deal with it) with a head that dissipates quite rapidly. Looks tasty, but nothing special.

S: For lack of a better adjective, dubbel-y.

T: Also dubbel-y, but with a bit more hop bite than I was expecting. Good.

M: This is where the beer shines for me. Good body, well carbonated, and goes down smooth.

O: Good, not that I would expect anything less from Russian River. However, it's not CRAZY good.

Serving type: growler

04-29-2012 22:50:59 | More by mjyoung

impending

California

3.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

B+

2nd review. 1st scored a C+ which I found altogether sadly disappointing which in turn warranted a second opinion.

At the source. Served a dull walnut, no head, no lacing.

Aroma is subdued, dark fruits, undefined in a way but interestingly also had similarities to Perdition in an earthy context.

Taste begins classic dubbel but includes both a dose of hops and a surprising note of smoked peat as if cousin to a scotch ale. Not particular sweet, not particularly bitter but a balanced measure of both. Aftertaste drifts pleasantly to a scotch ale. Thin dull mouthfeel.
cheers
jd

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2012 00:17:22 | More by impending

popery

California

3.88/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft, Russian River. Pliny the Younger 2010 release. This is a pretty good Belgian-style ale from RR, but it's a bit boring, particularly for the brewery. It's a orange-amber beer with a foamy white head. The malt flavors bring a lot of fruitiness to the beer. There are peaches, apricots, apples, dates and figs. However, despite all that, it has a relatively simple flavor and not enough earthiness or depth. A good beer but not something to go out of your way to try.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2010 00:56:23 | More by popery

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at RR
A: Poured a cloudy brown with good carbonation and a dirty white head.

S: Nose smells brown sugar, candied sugar, yeast and perhaps dark cherry.

T: Taste follows nose prety close. It is sweet, syrupy, sugar, dark fruits.

M: Mouthfeel had a nice booze mix, flavors of sugar, fruits and a spice.

O: Very drinkable!

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2010 15:36:36 | More by barleywinefiend

augustgarage

California

3.73/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the brewpub, 2/4/10. Served in a generic wide-mouth tulip.

Ruby highlights glow ominously behind a very dark red body. Nice lacing, but no real head formation.

Faint red banana, brown bread, malt, and a touch of golden raisins in the nose.

Dusty grapes, light brown sugar, and faint cherry on the palate. Zesty, spicy hops appear soon thereafter and fade into the finish which suggests mildly fermented cherries again. Unlike many examples of the style, this isn't too sweet, though the hops make the origins of this ale crystal clear.

Average carbonation, a touch slick...

Not bad overall, though don't come looking for authenticity (or slavish adherence to tradition).

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2010 23:02:44 | More by augustgarage

4000qtrap

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Source/Serving: Draft

Smell: Molasses, caramel, and citrus hops play a prominent role.

Taste: Slight sharp bitterness sets off quite sweet molasses and brown sugar flavors. Incredible ripe fruit flavors in the middle matches well with slightly grassy, fruit skin bitterness. Underlying pepper plus other phenolics add a lot of interest along with a touch of apple cider. Low carbonation. Finish is dry, peppery with some grape skin bitterness that blends into grassiness.

Notes: While the nose isn't the best, to me this beer is all about flavor and really good balance between sweetness, bitterness and spiciness.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2010 21:42:21 | More by 4000qtrap

MiScusi

California

4.03/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at O'brien's tonight.

Pours a clear light brownish into the chimay goblet. Very nice fluffy finger thick head sits atop with some good staying power. Smell is mildly sweet, more on the sugary side than the fruity side as I've noticed in many other dubbels (ie grapes). The taste was a balance between bready and sweet, not too far off in one direction. Super easy to drink if not a taste bud blaster in any way. Mouthfeel was good. Medium or on the heavier side of light. Could drink this baby all night and not have a problem with it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2010 01:34:01 | More by MiScusi

berkey

California

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From a growler picked up from the brewpub 01/16/10 and reviewed the same day. Poured into a Russian River -tion glass.

Body is a fairly clean but dark brown color. Forms a medium sized but well retained khaki colored head.

Nose is yeasty with hints of wood, subtle spices, faint fruity esters, and nuts. Very clean overall and not highly aromatic.

Flavor is very nutty, oaky, yeasty, and earthy. There are hints of cocoa and some of the spice from the aroma that lend it a dessert quality but I can't pin down what dessert I'm thinking of. Red apples, plums, and bananas are in there but this is not particularly fruity for a Dubbel, I find it cleaner and more crisp than some famous incarnations of the style.

Nicely carbonated, fairly light bodied, and a pleasure to drink. I love Belgian style beers in this ABV range since they afford me the opportunity to have several servings. Bottle it already.

Serving type: growler

01-17-2010 15:09:09 | More by berkey

bulletrain76

California

3.68/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draught at the brewery. Dark amber with a white head. Lightly yeasty aroma with caramel, and light bubble-gum going on as well. The flavor has a lightly sweet caramel and bready crust malt profile, with light yeasty flavors and a spicy, hoppy, bitter finish. Medium bodied with medium carbonation. The malt, yeast and hop mix is pretty tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2009 07:53:57 | More by bulletrain76

Arbitrator

California

3.95/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Rose & Crown in Palo Alto (10oz pour).

A: Has a mahogany-colored body that lightens toward red when held to the light. Was skillfully poured with an inch of head that dissolves slowly into a light film on the brew, with lacing left behind.

S: Lots of dates, figs, plums, floral hops, and earthy yeast. Could stand to be a stronger aroma, though; it wasn't very pungent. Took a lot of swirling and sniffing to get all this out.

T: An initially sweet backbone of bready malt and candied sugar. It blossomed into a nice smorgasbord of dark fruit flavors, with dates, figs, and plums rounding it out. They faded slightly into the end, which saw a strong character of floral hops and earthy yeast battling it out. Ultimately a dry finish with a little yeast in there. Not too sticky though.

M: Medium bodied, but manages to be creamy with its medium carbonation. No warming effect from the alcohol.

D: Goes down really nicely and smoothly. I'd like to have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2009 21:49:44 | More by Arbitrator

Offa

California

4.38/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is an excellent, characterful dubbel with nice complexity and well-rounded character.

Deep ruby red, it has a medium off-white head steadily shrinking to a wispy top and foamy ring with some lace but not in the nice, even rings common with many Russian River beers.

The aroma is sweet and fruity with ripe plums and dried figs, stewed pears, some toasty grain. It's good but a bit muted.

The taste is excellent, fairly assertive yet restrained, well-rounded, balanced, and fairly complex. It is raisiny with stewed caramelised pears, a hint of dried fig, fruity grain, toastiness, a little light red wine, raisiny spiciness and hint of pepper. It has a consistent sweetness balanced with light bitterness and spicey warmth. It has an aftertaste of caramelised toast and fresh plums. The elements are well-integrated and well-rounded, and overall it is smooth and very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2009 17:35:37 | More by Offa

OStrungT

California

4.25/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a reddish, brown color witha thin, light tan head. The head fades slowly, leaving a great lace.

This beer has a strong date like aroma. It smells of earthy yeast. Also, it has a pleasent spicy aroma of coriander and cloves. A slight floral hop aroma is also present.

This beer tastes like it smells, but is also has a slight cola and black liccorice flavor. Dates and spices mix in.

This beer is low in carbonation. It goes down smooth, leaving a liccorice aftertaste.

This beer would make a decent session beer. The date and liccorice flavors might become cloying after a time.

overall: This is a great beer by one of the best breweries in the country. they never let me down, and this beer kept with my high expectations. Great job.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2009 17:39:37 | More by OStrungT

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at O'Briens (San Diego, CA) on 3/15/09. Served in a Chimay glass.

Pours a deep, clear amber with a 1/4 finger of of creamy off-white head. This stays frothy with a rich flareup, leaving a massive creamy cascade of moderate spotty lacing behind. The aroma is fruity and sweet with notes of bread and sugar, spices, and floral hops. Light yeast and a touch of warmth weave their way in between the other accents.

The taste is bready malts, candied sugars, and spices, with a touch of fruit character, and a fairly firm hop profile in the back that's a touch drying. A yeasty feel is felt throughout (especially in the finish) but it isn't overdone. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with an excellent creamy and easy feel in the mouth. Damn, this is smooth for the ABV! I'm getting maybe just some light warmth on the breath and that's it.

A really solid Dubbel here that was much more hopped-up for the style than I'm used to (but hey, it's Russian River!). The feel and drinkibility are what really made this for me though. Nice stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2009 17:05:20 | More by Kegatron

magictrokini

California

4.1/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

O'Briens TION night. Pours murky brown with lots of carbonation and a thick off-white head. Good lacing. Beautiful sweet brown sugar, candied sugar, and yeast aroma with a subtle fruity background. Very smooth, velvety mouthfeel. Lighter tasting than expected; nice change from the typical syrupy sweet and thick dubbels. Sugared fruit flavors; dates, plums, apples. Solid helping of spice, nutmeg and clove taking the forefront. Big yeasty finish. Tastes almost like a strong dunkelweizen with Belgian characteristics.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2009 16:36:26 | More by magictrokini

mjl21

California

4/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub. Poured into their 14 ounce Belgian glass. Comes in at 6.75% and 23 IBUs.

A-Pours a really nice copper with a 1/2 finger white head. Leaves somes nice lace behind.

S-Not a huge aroma. Candy sugar, abbey yeast, and subtle tones of dark stone fruit.

T-A pleasant level of sweetness. Tastes of abbey yeast and dark stone fruits. Nice hop bite at the end

M-Medium bodied and has a nice creamy carbonation feel on the palate. Leaves a sticky coating on the lips.

D-Goes down easy. According to the bartender, this is supposed to be in between Perdition and Salavation.

A good drinking beer. Have liked it more than most Dubbels that I have tried.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2009 22:59:29 | More by mjl21

MickeyHops

California

4.43/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

3/6/09 Chimay glass at O'Briens

Appearance is a very dark amber with little head.

Smell is light Belgian yeast, malt and hops.

Taste and mouthfeel are surprising light but still full-bodied as one would expect for a dubble. Enough maltiness and hopiness to satisfy the palate while still remaining quite drinkable. Belgian yeast is there but not overwhelming. Very well balanced.

Overall, a very drinkable brew and excellent example of an American dubble.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2009 23:18:21 | More by MickeyHops