Russian River Rejection

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Draft, Russian River. Pliny the Younger 2010 release. Another semi-disappointment from this day. Rejection isn’t bad, but my standard for RR is unbelievably high and this beer is fairly forgettable and outshone by almost all of the rest of the menu. It pours coffee black with a thin off-white head. There’s a fair bit more candi sugar presence than expected. The flavor is mostly coffee/cocoa with some background malt fruitiness and a touch of Belgian yeast. I found the mouthfeel to be a bit grainy leading to a somewhat thin, watery finish. This wasn’t great, but I certainly wouldn’t turn down a glass, either. It’s hard to tell how much the riches of SF Beer Week are effecting my relative rating scale.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Poured a dark brown color with a medium sized, light tan head that left nice lacing that coated the glass. Aroma of toffee, yeast, malts, spices, and light citrus fruits. Taste is chocolately, with dried fruits, nuts, and a faint yeastiness as well.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

This pours a murky dark brown and is lightly carbonated. The flavor is dry with a cocoa-powder like quality to it It was simple, refresshing and different.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

On tap at brewpub. Dark black color. Small head. Aroma is chocolate and dark fruit. A medium bodied Belgian ale. Malts are somewhat roasty and a little stout like (chocolate and coffee) with a lots black cherry and bananas. Nice smooth taste, A touch spicy and yeasty, with some malty. WOW interesting beer. Roasty yet fruity. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet. Who else would make a Valentines Day beer and call it REJECTION? Brilliant…..

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Does the world really need yet another excellent Belgian-style Dark Ale from Russian River? Yeah, I would say it does...! :)

Good-naturally rumored to be made with the left over dregs of several other Russian River Belgian-style beers (i.e. the "rejects", get it?), I think it's probably more correct to say that this beer's recipe was formulated to be something of a careful melding of two or more Russian River beers (2 parts Salvation + 1 part Redemption, perhaps?). Anyway, regardless of how this Valentine’s Day beer came into the world, it winds up pretty tasty, IMO.

Near-black and nearly-opaque, this beer features a nice cooked brown sugar aroma, along with hints of some funkier elements in the nose.

Immediately reminded me of St Bernardus Prior 8, with perhaps less fruitiness in the flavor profile. This comparison solidified as this beer warmed up to proper cellar temps, as the vaguely fruity (fig? plum?) elements came out of hiding. Along with the toasted sugaryness, this all made for a very interesting beer, all-told.

With the alcohol clocking in at or around 6.0%ABV, this is one Belgian-style beer in Vinnie's stable that one can actually enjoy for much of the night...! ;^)

Recommended.
//TB

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Pours with a dark brown body with red highlights topped by a medium thick head with a good amount of lacing. It’s slightly sweet yet bitter and yeasty with slight banana notes. Full bodied, slightly dry and a touch warming.