Russian River Salvation

This Belgian style Strong Dark Ale has a tawny brown color and aromas of banana and spice that dominate the initial bouquet of the beer. Lean malt flavors blend perfectly with fruit driven characteristics created by the classic Belgian yeast which fermented this ale. The alcohol content is deceptively smooth just like its sister beer Damnation. Brewed just once a year for a release in January.

3.8

705 reviews

Santa Rosa, United States

Community reviews

4.0 Taster pour at the brewery. Clear brown pour with a nice fluffy white head and lacing. Rasin and malt in the nose. Nice classic dark Belgian taste. Slightly estery. Really nice finish, just a hint of malt and dark fruits. This would be fun in a bourbon barrel.

2.2 I’m not even reviewing this properly. Banana faint clove. Not good. Certainly not worthy of its overall rating. Disappointing.

3.7 Draught at Russian River. Dark brown color, beige head. Bittersweet taste with citrus, yeast, banana, nuts, ripe fruits, plum, a bit of chocolate and wheat. Bittersweet finish with citrus, plum, banana, wheat, yeast and a bit of chocolate. Very nice brew.

3.7 375ml bottle @ the office. Bottle batch 101014, and cellared since the last rating. Pours a semi clear dark brown colour with a small beige head. Nose is medley of dark fruits, Belgian yeast, and light spices. Flavour is toasted malt, cocoa, dark dried fruits, and light toffee. Light bodied, mild carbonation, and a mild sweetness. Drinks light and easy with a fair amount of depth in flavour. Rated: August 15, 2016 9 / 4 / 9 / 3 / 18 : 4.3 Bottle batch 101014. Pours a dark brown. Light carbonation. Rich coco and classic dark Belgian aroma. Smooth oh so smooth. Rich flavor with a spicy finish somewhat that masks a warming.

3.8 375ml bottle at Brian’s (thx, Brian!). Bottled on 10/10/14. Pours a dark brown with a tan head. Aroma and taste are fruity, caramel, sugary, spices, Belgian yeasts. Very good brewed beer, fits with the original style by 100%.

3.9 12.7oz bottle, Oct 2014 vintage. (Lost track of where I got this because I was at the brewery before this was bottled) Color is a very deep brown. Still great carbonation, laces the side of the chalice. Aroma is light oak, chocolate, brown sugar, and of course dark fruit. Taste is dark breads, with cherries, wood, very light spice, and a decent showing of Belgian yeast. Initially sweet followed by a light boozy finish. Medium to lighter in body. Smooth texture with soft carbonation. All in all, my only complaint is the lighter body. That said this held up well and is still very tasty.

3.9 August 3, 2016 - on tap at RRBC. Clear brown pour with some head and minimal lacing. Aroma and taste had dark fruit, chocolate, spice and belgian yeast.

3.9 On tap at Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa, CA-USA. Dark Amber clear color, ivory cap. Nose is spicy sweet, caramel a bit. Mouth: sour cherry, sour funky mild notes in clean and red-fruits driven drink.

3.9 Draught @ Russian River Brewing, Santa Rosa, California (20.04.2016) Strong Dark Ale, 9% alk. 19 BLG Bardzo złożny smak i aromat. Głównie przyprawy, zboża, przypieczona skórka chlebowa. W oddali gęsta czekolada. Czuć belgijski charakter. Mocno owocowy trunek (ciemne owoce), belgijskie drożdże, pomarańcze, brzoskwinie, morele. W kolejnych łykach akcenty bananów i lekkie cytrusy. Mnóstwo przypraw w kontrze do owoców. Czekoladowe i żywiczne akcenty świetnie zbalansowane z długim, pozostajacym w ustach, ale przyjemnym średnio-wytrawnym finiszem. Średnie ciało. Ciekawe piwo.

4.4 Tap to glass @ Russian River Brewing tap room@ Santa Rosa,CA A: Brown, big tan head, tan foam, minimal lacing A: fruity, alcohol is the dominant smell T: low bitterrness with sweetness that last long MF: balance OA: Excellent beer for the style, ok to repeat, look for Drank: April 14, 2016

4.0 Batch no 7, 1pt bottle at home. Tiny head, caramel and dark rasin in color and aroma. Taste of dark malt, fruits and some complex notes i can’t place. It might by slightly to old but still delicious.

2.6 @ Russian River 16-3-7: Typisk belgisk med toner av nötter, kola, jäst och kryddor. Nja ...

3.6 On tap at RR. Poured clear brown with white head. Aroma minimal malty sweet. Light carb med bod. Taste sweet brown ale nutty light yeast banana.

3.8 Draft sample at the brewpub, Santa Rosa. Clear reddy amber coloured pour with lasting light beige head. Aroma is brown sugars, little spice red fruit, dried fruit. Little fruit cake on the nose as well. Flavor is composed of full and rich fruit cake, some toffee, raisin. Smooth, warming alcohol. Palate is semi sweet. Full bodied. Warming alcohol Frothy carbonation. Good quad.

3.7 On tap at Toronado. Deep copper pour with thin white head. Aroma is rich nutty, malty, light caramel. Taste is toasty, rich malty sweet flavors, light brown sugar, light peppermint. Palate is med full bodied with good carbonation.

3.7 Draught at Toronado SF. Almost clear deep brown liquid with small to medium off-white head. Aroma of dried fruit, light banana, raw sugar, raisins, bread and toast. Taste is light to medium sweet and light bitter with notes of dried fruit, raw sugar and raisins. Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Nice.

4.1 Draft at Toronado. Nose is huge in candied figs and dried fruit. Amazing. Deep red pour. Taste is a wonderful combo of dried fruit as well. Moderately dry finish. Really good.

3.3 Draft - Sweet plum and dark raisin. Deep brown with a decent beige head. Roasty notes, seem plum and prune. More dark and roasty than fruity.

4.0 Tap at russian river, santa rosa. Dark reddish brown color, white head. Aroma has sweet caramel notes, some roasty, vanilla. Taste has chocolate, some coffee, hint of vanilla.

3.9 Pours a deep reddish brown on tap with fluffy tan head that leaves moderate lace. Aroma and taste of dark fruit and dark malty Belgian esters. Booze is incredibly well hidden, clean and wonderful.

4.2 Tap poured cola brown with a beige head and nice lacing. Aromas of raisins, dark fruit, caramel malt, and chocolate. Very smooth. Yum.

3.6 Refrigerated small format brown bottle, bottled on October 10, 2014, corked at capped poured into a Trappist glass. Clear dark brown with reddish hues and small beige head. Aroma is fruity dark malt, medium body, lower carbonation, and some small bubble lacing. Taste is dark malt and some dark fruit (mostly raisins).

4.0 375ml bottle thanks to ditmier. Pours out a dark amber topped with a small head. Nose is pit fruit toffee wood plum spice and some belg yeast. Taste is more of the pit fruit sweetness wood and a nice spice. I have enjoyed this one plenty of times and it never lets down.

4.5 Dark brown pour with slight garnet tint. Creamy foam tan head that lasted a while. Aroma of prune and raisins. Taste malty sweet and caramel along with the plum and raisin character from the obvious aromas. Sweet and dry finish. Great brew.

3.6 Une bouteille 10/10/14. Un liquide brun claire. Un nez de chocolat, de raisins secs et de bois. Touche de levure spéciale. Une bouche ronde de chocolat piquant et boisée. Un classique.

3.9 375ml bottle enjoyed @ home. Pour dark deep amber with a lasting off-white head. Aroma is caramel, plums, raisins, dates, vanilla and brown sugar. Flavour is not as sweet as the aroma suggests. Full bodied, slick texture, soft carbonation. Finish is long, medium sweet with dark dried fruits.

4.1 Bottle from Healthy Spirits - Castro, San Francisco - CA. Color: clear deep brown beer with no carbonation and small white/ivory foam. Smell: malt domination, sweet caramel and notes of grape fruits and red fruits. Taste: good malt taste, sweet and red fruits. Notes of red fruit as grapes and raspberry. Good finish. Really drinkable and amazing beer. Aftertaste: caramel and notes of malt. Fruity and sweet. Amazing beer !

3.9 (37.5 cl. Bottled on : 10/10/14) Belle robe rougeâtre ou brunâtre, c’est selon. Tête mousseuse crémeuse qui accompagne la dégustation. Arômes de mélasse, de raisins, de chocolat, d’épices, de prunes, d’oranges. Profil vineux très intéressant. Que c’est agréable de renouer avec ce style! Mes papilles ne sont pas déçues. La richesse des arômes se reflète dans les saveurs. Tout y est pour le plaisir : fruits, malts, levures, alcool doux. En bouche, le corps de moyenne densité est surexcité par les bulles. Je peux cependant dire que cette action n’enlève rien au plaisir de la dégustation. Mon palais est bien nettoyé et c’est tant mieux. La finale est assez longue, modérément sèche, maltée et fruitée mais aussi piquante par le jeu de ses levures. Ça fait du bien de boire une bonne Belge.

3.5 Dark brown-blackish color with thin foam layer. Light fruity smell (dates). The taste is sweet, and fruity (dates & prunes) with decent chocolate notes, hints of licorice with a foamy carbonation and a dry and calm aftertaste.

3.7 Bottle at SinH4’s Goodbye Event. Malt nose, almost a bit roasty. Strong and sweet yet not too much, some matching booziness. To the point, but not exciting.