Damnation – Russian River Brewing Company

I received this bottle from my friend Joe (a home brewing guru in the making) and I didn't know what to expect from this offering by Russian River Brewing Company.  Damnation is a Belgian Strong Golden Ale and from the looks of it, a serious beer. Damnation has a nice golden color with a hazy body clarity.  There is a white head that is fizzy in appearance and slowly dissipates to a small layer on the beer. The aroma of this brew has earthy yeast and subtle fruit notes -- almost pear-like.  I also detect wisps of alcohol after I swirl it around and take a deep inhale.  When I take a taste of Damnation, I get some citrus flavors along with a wonderful spice notes from the hops. There is a slight alcohol presence that I detect but it does not overpower the beer.  You can not tell that this beer has an ABV of almost 8%.  This beer has an active carbonation that is made up of fine bubbles that come to life on your palate.  Damnation has a dry finish that has pear notes coupled with hop bitterness. Unwind and pop the cork. Damnation from Russian River Brewing is a serious beer.  Flavor and subtleness come into play in the crafting of this Golden Strong Ale.  If you see it at a store, get two bottles or more.  It is worth the price. You owe it to your taste buds. ABV = 7.75%