Damnation Batch 23 (Oak Aged) - Russian River Brewing Company

flexabull

California

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at City Beer in San Francisco. Pleasantly surprised to see this on tap, and in bottles on the shelves.

Pours a lightly clouded blonde color, with nice white head.

Aromas are of oak, some mixed spices, cream, and sugar.

Taste is of sharp hard candies and sugar. There are also some spice, cloves, oak, and light creams. Finish is crisp, with a hint of bright citrus hops on the finish. Well put together and tasty triple. (At least they said this was more like a triple...)

Mouthfeel is great. Very full, crisp, and thick.

Drinkability is quite good. I was shocked at how easily this went down. What a well put together and complex triple this one is. I think this is a beer that would benefit from some time too. It could smooth out even more, and be super. With that said, it's still an excellent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2009 06:46:27 | More by flexabull

lhaqq

California

4.72/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a light gold body with a sticky, lacy white head.
S: Pretty complex and good effervescence. Grainy, woody maltiness initially; sort of woody-chipish--like a cross between a hamster cage and walking into a brewery. Also some peanut butter and bubble gum.
T: The wood-chip oak begins the flavor, followed by a good dose of malts. Then some earthiness and vanilla. The bubble gum comes through too, though not too sweet.
M: Creamier than expected, but also good level of carbonation.
D: Mmm, I think it was pretty drinkable. Had just finished a tour of some Sonoma County wineries and could only do one. But I couldn't taste the alcohol and could definitely have more under other conditions.

Definitely my favorite of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2009 21:50:09 | More by lhaqq

bifrostguard

California

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Straw yellow in color with quite a bit of effervescence and a minimal off white that leaves a bit of lacing.

S - Got some clove, oak and grain in the first whiff followed by some hops and yeast.

T - Flavor has a strong oak character that works well with the grain and spice flavors. Some citrus fruit is noticed, but only mildly.

M - Medium bodied and surprisingly drying.

D - I enjoyed this beer mainly because of the extra dimension the oak chips brought to the overall flavor. Not really my style, but still delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2009 16:13:30 | More by bifrostguard

largadeer

Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Drank both batches of this side-by-side at 'Tion Night at the Toronado. Both are great, but the new batch struck me as being a little better, so I'll review that one.

A: 13 oz pour into a tulip glass. Golden and clear with only the slightest haze. A thin white cap is all that formed for a head, more a result of a gentle pour than a lack of carbonation.

S: Peppery yeast, soft oak, rich pale malts. Slight graininess and a touch of tropical fruit.

T&M: Malty sweetness hits the palate first, grainy and fruity. The oak is very well dialed in, not overbearing on the palate but present enough to add some pleasant notes of vanilla, earth and soft tannins. Medium-light in body, crisply carbonated; spot-on. Really dries out in the finish, becoming more peppery and crisp. I really enjoyed this one, it's got a very authentic Belgian tripel character that most American breweries fail to achieve.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2009 20:32:27 | More by largadeer

antilogic

California

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at O'brien's TION night in a 5oz taster. I regret not getting more!

Really tastes like I expected. Color is on the darker side of straw/gold, with a small white head. Taste is light oak, Belgian yeast, fruits, earth. Vinne should brew this more often than once in 23 batches..

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2009 06:29:43 | More by antilogic

paytoplay

California

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Tap at O'Briens 15th annv. If I could get this damnation all the time I would. Oak gives that added texture, a little vanilla and superb body and length. Really a stand out beer for me. Vinnie noted it was batch 46, I guess it seeks oak every 23 batches. Would love to see this with 1 or 2 years of age. This was from Keg and outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2009 00:38:44 | More by paytoplay

SacoDeToro

California

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Toronado 20th Anniversary.

The beer poured a deep golden with a dense merengue-like white head.

The aroma of the beer was of sweet malt, fruity yeast esters, some faint spice, but with a huge oaken vanilla note.

The flavor of the beer was of sweet biscuity malt with a big vanilla note from the oak. The hops were there with a mild floral character in the flavor. Plenty of light fruit flavors, such as white grapes to go around.

The mouthfeel was medium and the body was full. This beer was a touch heavy, but the spritzy carbonation and high alcohol helped break things up a little.

Overall this was a wonderful beer a huge vanilla oak bomb that I loved. The flavors are incredibly rich, which, sadly, hampers its drinkability slightly. But it's not as if I'll be pounding pints of any 11% beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2008 19:36:16 | More by SacoDeToro

WeisGuy

New York

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A little something special for my 200th review. Had on-tap at the brewpub yesterday in Santa Rosa. The board said 10.5% abv, 56 IBUs, and described the beer as an oak-aged triple.

a - pours a golden amber color, slightly hazy, one-finger head with decent retention for the abv, and nice lacing

s - some lemon/citrus noticeable in the aroma, oak more evident as the beer warmed, apple and pear also detectable, alcohol hints with a little spice particularly clove

t - nice maltiness up front, big fruity flavors develop, pear and red apple most evident, nice oak accents, especially as the beer warms, some spice/clove along with a nice alcohol burn on the finish

m - medium-bodied, moderate carbonation, sweet but somewhat dry finish

d - somewhat limited due to the 10.5% abv, but a great beer to sip on , alcohol is there but not overwhelming in the taste, very complex flavor keeps you drinking

Quite a bit different from the regular Damnation. I like this a bit more than the regular because the flavor and aroma are more complex and rewarding. Great one-off beer by RRBC. Better get your hands on this while it lasts.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2007 18:54:23 | More by WeisGuy

oline73

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a goblet.

The beer pours a clear amber color with just a layer of off white head. I'm getting lots of Belgian yeast spice in the nose along with a sweetness. The taste is a bit more interesting. I'm still getting the Belgian spice along with a malt sweetness, but there is also an oaky note and a fruity note. I would say this is a well balanced beer. The head sticks around all the way through the pour.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 03:12:05 | More by oline73

Etan

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Batch 69 (3rd batch 23) shared by Jason. 375ml into a snifter. Thanks!

A: Pours a slightly murky gold with a large white head.

S: Citrus, stone fruit esters, light mint, a bit of acidity, cakey grain. Sweet and fruity, with a bit of a tart edge to it.

T: Dryish pale malt, clementine, light peppery phenols, pale candi sugar.

M: Light-bodied, frothy.

O: This is like a slightly stronger, slightly drier and more tart variation on regular Damnation. Pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 07:17:03 | More by Etan

Offa

California

4.98/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is simply outstanding and one of the best Russian River beers in my book, which is saying a lot. Apparently, it is based on the regular Damnation but in the end this is a very different beer and much stronger in alcohol as well as character.

Deep gold, it has a very big off-white head steadily shrinking to foamy ring, a little lace.

Aroma is strong fruity grain, canned pears, hints of clove, herbs, white wine, and dry fields damp with fog. It is excellent.

Taste is outstanding full bodied as the aroma, with all of those elements, zesty but slightly oily, lightly spicy, faintly sweet, tingly and engaging.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 00:12:21 | More by Offa

teromous

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a 375mL Belgian style corked and caged bottle, stamped with a Batch 69 on the side. Aged in a dark cool place as recommended on the bottle, and drinking it now 06 DEC 2012.

A: Lots and lots of carbonation, with an extremely transparent gold color, oodles of carbonation bubbles and a large fluffy white meringue head.

S: Popping the cork lets out a lot of scent. I get a lemon scent, some spicy scents...maybe coriander but very faint. I do pick up the alcohol when cupping over the glass. There is a bit of a barn-like saison smell to it as well.

T: I get a lot of grain flavor and some malty sweetness. There is some alcohol flavor in there. I get some flowery taste to it, and a distinct Belgian flavor if there was any other way to describe it. A light earthy quality in the aftertaste, which could be the hops but I'm guessing it's the oak. Some pear flavors in the beer.

M: Despite the ABV which would make me think this thing was dry as a rock, it is actually a bit sweet. The mouthfeel is light, and feels like a wash of foamy bubbles in the mouth.

O: Overall I thought the beer looked and smelled really good, but it was not quite as dry as I enjoy Tripels. The spicing seemed to be done very nicely, but I don't know how much oak aging this beer has actually made an influence on it. I could not know this...it could have a profound impact, but there really isn't much "oak" to it. I didn't get any alcohol burn although the flavors did come through a bit...most likely the aging has taken care of it. It's a good Tripel to try, but I wouldn't go out of the way to get it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 23:56:29 | More by teromous

birchstick

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to KevSal for this one!

A - pours an orange color with a 1/8" soft white head that retains well and leaves a really nice lacing down the side of the glass

S - sweet fruits - apples and pears are first to the nose; sitting above the fruity aromas is a fog of musty brett funk

T - citric flavors are upfront on the tongue. These move on to some of the fruity tripel flavors - the pears, apples. Next, a little bit of bubblegum yeast is in the mix...these flavors take the beer on the rest of its journey down my palate, with a bit of oak thrown in at the end, but it is pretty subtle.

M - creamy, watery, and full

D - this is a good take on the regular version. I didn't realize this was a triple and not a blonde ale, but given the change up in styles I still really enjoyed this one. Another winner from RR!

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 00:10:01 | More by birchstick

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle poured slooowly into tulip glass. Batch 69. No brewing data. Had chilled for about a month.

A: Very, very slow pour as the head explodes quickly. Slow dissipation; leaves little trace once gone. Color is amber, large number of small carbonation bubbles.

S: Sweet malt, a fair mount of funk, lots of cloves and spice. Very good.

T: Very complex. Malts, yeast, something odd like bubblegum (!!!), cloves and spice. Not picking up fruit like some others did. And, yeah, alcohol. It's there, but not overpowering.

M: Here's where the alcohol comes in. You definitely feel the burn. Fair amount of carbonation, pretty medium-bodied. Balanced as well as can be expected, but only so much you can do with 11% ABV.

O: As good as I had hoped. Wish I had access to more to try aging for different intervals. Try it if you can.

People who have regular access to Russian River are fortunate. That is all.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 19:40:03 | More by IvoryFoxhole

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.18/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Adam from Missouri brought this to March Madness. Drank another one this summer as well. Looks real nice, a tiny bit of haze throughout the golden liquid, pristine white head, about .75" to it, good lacing and retention. Aroma was heavy on the alcohol, sheesh, this is powerful. Alcohol overpowers every other olfactory attempt at semblance.

Taste, again, I'm getting a ton of alcohol. For being the same abv as Pliny the Younger, this one shows it infinitely more. You can pick up on the oak at least, unlike the aroma which was all alcohol. I'd be tempted to even say this was fusel alcohol had I not known that its 11% and probably just that massiveness that makes it so.

I can't pick up on much taste, the alcohol just destroyed me. Really a burn in the throat as I drink it. The oak is bright enough to make me wonder if it is a virgin barrel. I just can't endorse this one, its primary and final impression it left on me was "damn, that tastes like I'm drinking gin/vodka."

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 16:53:28 | More by Beerandraiderfan

cosmicevan

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Opened side-by-side with regular damnation (Batch 063). Thanks to 321Jeff for sending batch 23 my way. enjoyed in a unibroue la fin du monde tulip and the regular damnation in a russian river tulip.

a - the damnation 23 opened with a POP as soon as the cage was off. in the glass, the brew was lively and i could see almost an endless stream of bubbles jumping to the glass. the head was about half the glass and ended up heaping over the top of the glass and hung out for ages. the color was a bit darker and richer than that of regular damnation.

s - much like damnation, but with oak. bubblegum, bananas, clove, all the normal flavorings in a bspa, but a bit sweeter like a tripel.

t - the 23 definitely resembles a tripel more than the bspa of the regular damnation. much sweeter. a bit syrupy but really tasty.

m - much thicker than the original. a bit boozy, but the booziness comes across as sweetness.

o - overall the oak is an improvement on an already great beer. very happy with batch 23. love me a good tripel and this is a great take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 19:07:01 | More by cosmicevan

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: Poured a hazy bright golden color ale with a super huge foamy had with excellent retention and some very good lacing. Aroma which consists of citrus and floral hops are well balanced against the sweet notes of the malt bill. Taste is a great mix between some citrus and floral hoppy notes and some semi—sweet malt notes. Oak is very subtle but seems to bring a rounder taste at the end. Yeast strain a somewhat fruity and can be detected. Body is full with great conditioning and some excellent carbonation with no apparent alcohol. This is a great improvement IMO over the regular version which is just too fruity.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 14:26:36 | More by Phyl21ca

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.93/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

375ml, Batch 069
Deschutes tulip

A: Pours a deep golden color. Half finger of bright white head. Doesn't leave a lot of lacing.

S: I get a good amount of funk. Get that Belgian yeast funk. Lots of that coriander and clove that you'd expect from a Tripel.

T: Spicy yeast. Farmhouse funk. Maybe a touch of oak tanin character. Coriander and clove.

M: Medium

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 14:50:18 | More by inlimbo77

CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12.68oz bottle, corked and caged, batch number 069, poured into Bruery snifter (don't have a RR snifter. Purists may feel that this may throw off the taste).

Hazy, golden elixir, huge head settles to one finger head with Belgian lacing clouding up the glass.

Aroma of oak, pear, minimal spice, Belgian yeast, honey. The oak predominates.

Fruit: pear, banana, nice Belgian sweetness but not too tart. Nicely balanced. Not a trace of the 10.75% ABV. The oak is in the background and comes out at the end, but subtle, like a reminder and a nice ending.

Light to medium body, the alcohol boosts it a bit at the end, but really does not have a presence for this style.

This brew blends the components well and is one of the more complex triples I have had the pleasure to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 02:36:22 | More by CaptCleveland

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap, so of course I need to try it on the bottle version. Ya know?

This is an excellent tripel, though this particular batch is really striking me as a bit too hot. Maybe it needs some time to mellow out. That issue aside, this is still pretty good. Through the burn I am getting nice character and a good profile. Even though this might need to mellow a bit, it's still nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 04:30:36 | More by RblWthACoz

ArrogantB

Colorado

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml bottle of batch 69 that I shared with a friend. Golden yellow color, decent head. Smells estery and a whole lot like Damnation to me. The flavor was a bit of pear, belgian yeast, maybe I haven't had Damnation in a while but this tastes a whole lot like what I remember. I did not taste any oak whatsoever. I will say that the alcohol was imperceptible which is pretty amazing given it was listed at like 10.8% or something. Nice beer but nothing to go crazy for.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 03:21:44 | More by ArrogantB

david131

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a hazy yellow-orange liquid with a thin but creamy white head that is a bit dimpled but has nice retention.

S- Light fruits, some pepper, bubble gum, white bread, a bit of a Belgian kick, and some oak. Very complex and inviting.

T- Absolutely delicious and complex. The same aspects I picked up in the aroma are noticed with an emphasis on the bubble gum. It is clear a lot of care was taken in the construction of this beer.

M- Abundant carbonation, but the bubbles are small. Creamy and smooth otherwise with just the slightest bit of alcohol warmth.

O- Very tasty and eerily drinkable for the style and alcohol content. The quality is tip notch. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 04:09:09 | More by david131

ngeunit1

California

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a cloudy golden-orange color with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is mix of strong Belgian yeast character with some coriander and pepper, with some light fruit, citrus zest, oak, bread, and a touch of booze.

T - Starts off with some pear and other light fruits with some citrus zest, coriander, and other Belgian yeast flavors. Through the middle, the oak comes through alongside some stronger yeast character with some pepper and some farmhouse flavors. The finish is a mix of citrus and light fruit flavors with some bready yeast, oak, vanilla, and some booze.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. Excellent Tripel with great balance. The oak is a really nice touch that adds some great complexity as well.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 04:29:55 | More by ngeunit1

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Opened this bottle late (after 10pm) on 5/20 (my 41st birthday), only after my wife said: 'do you realize you haven't had a beer yet today?' And so I hadn't...

375ml bottle (Batch 069 - hello!), with a slightly lower 10.75% ABV shown on the label. Thanks to our friend, Bryce, who brought this gift back from his visit to Santa Rosa last December. Shared in two tulip glasses.

A: Thick pile of white foam (2+ fingers) sits atop a hazy golden/honey ambrosia. Carbonation is modest (a slight surprise) and the head fizzles away too quickly. Lace is spotty/fractured. Skim holds steadfastly and forms a clinging ring.

S: After 15-20 minutes of warming post-pour, there's a very starchy 'applesauce' aroma here. It's moderate spicy (dash of nutmeg? allspice?). Woody notes develop, mild vanilla.

T: Phenomenal flavor: big spice, a tangy and zesty pepper-sprinkled fruitiness. It's pears, apples and flowers, honey and wood, all rolling around in the mouth. Hints of green grape and even some green herbs. A subtle vinous/woody char barely reveals the oak barrel. A little chalkier and drier in the finish. After some warming, a little 'cedar' creeps in. Came close to a '5' for me.

M: Maybe Sliiightly too 'warm'... I suppose aging even longer could have helped, but there's not much you can do with 11-ish%, I suppose. Ample fizz upfront, although surprisingly mellow/smooth in the finish - velvety, actually.

O: 'Regular' Damnation is quite possibly my wife's favorite beer and is quite delicious in my book, too - so an oak-aged/stronger version of it? Hell, yes! This did not disappoint at all - so flavorful and mellow, with barrel-aging complementing wonderfully. At 12.7 oz split two ways, it disappeared far too quickly. Would love to have this again - it was a great night cap to an excellent birthday.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 23:25:52 | More by msubulldog25

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.28/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a slightly hazy amber with no head or lacing. The nose is an incredible orange rind bitter-sweetness with pungent alcohol. The taste is light and sweet with a subtle touch of oak. The aftertaste is a honey sweetness followed by some wood, but it's hard to recognize. The aftertaste is just as light and refreshing. Honestly, this beer was way better than expected with big citrus notes from the tripel followed by an interesting wood infusion. Very drinkable beer, possibly the best BA tripel I've had... although I still have my bottle of Allagash to try next.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 21:24:39 | More by ThePorterSorter