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Russian River Temptation

Russian River Temptation - Sour Ale

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 Percentile 
100
overall
Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Sour Ale

Santa Rosa, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Regional Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
5634.09/5.04.08/5.0Special7.25%96Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler
View Statistics  P 

Commercial Description:
Is it beer, or is it wine? "Aged in French oak wine barrels for twelve months with distinct characteristics of fruit and subtle oak" sounds more like a description of wine than beer. But, of course, Temptation is indeed beer. Actually, Temptation is a Blonde Ale Fermented with a special strain of yeast, then aged in French oak chardonnay barrels. Flavors of wine and oak absorb into the brew throughout twelve months of aging. During this aging process, a secondary fermentation occurs using a yeast strain disliked by most brewers and winemakers called Brettanomyces. The "Bret" gives Temptation intriguing characteristics and a pleasant sourness. Temptation is re-fermented in the bottle to create its carbonation--a process commonly used to make fine champagne and sparkling wine. Spent yeast forms a thin layer of sediment to remain in the bottle.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 MaltOMeal (642), Land of Sugar, Texas, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/59/104/517/20
Jan 7, 2009    Updated: Jan 28, 2009
bottle thanks to Secret Santa. Batch 3. Pours a faded orange with a huge white head. Nose was of sour lemon. Taste was of sweet, sour apples. Mouthfeel was tart and dry with lots of carbonation. OK, I’ve been trying to get into the sour craze, but just didn’t see it until now. This one was not extremely sour and had plenty of good taste other than just sourness. Of the sour beers I’ve had this one is the best. This one may have converted me. Liked it a lot.


 kosko20 (302), Bemidji, Minnesota, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/516/20
Dec 30, 2008  
Aroma is lovely, funk, chardonney, and elements of fruit. Pour is slightly hazy, slightly clear hay, orange with thick white head. Flavor is smooth and clean...odd for sour...chardonney, funk, and white grapes. Palate nice clean sourness...supplication slightly better.


 jcwattsrugger (5223), Florida and, New Jersey, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/513/20
Dec 20, 2008  
12.70 oz bottle-pours a big foamy to shaving cream off white head and cloudy yellow color. Aroma is yeast, yeast, lemon, funky/vinegar. Taste is tart/sour lemon, yeast, vinegar/sour, woody, some spice, musty. Nicely done sour ale, but not my taste. Interesting. Occasional. Dry finish. Medium body. Thanks mfielden for picking this out.


 emacgee (1859), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/518/20
Dec 15, 2008  
This is one of my favorite sours. Very tart and acidic nose and flavor, yeasts bring a very tolerable palatable sourness to the brew. Warmth definitely does this one well as it brings out the tannic, spicy, vanilla flavors of the oak. Some mild citrusy hop character comes through. Sits in your mouth with the perfect carbonation and a wonderful tartness.


 luttonm (274), Belgrade, Serbia
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Dec 12, 2008  
Draft Brouwers Big Wood 08. Hazy amber with creamy, distinct head. citrusy sour nose. some residual sugar that balances a great, bright and perfect sourness. very smooth with big oaky notes. nice lacing, not too big but so refined. a great sour.


 trevor211 (500), Seattle, Washington, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Dec 11, 2008  
On draft at Brouwer’s Big Wood 08. Pours a bright yellow gold with good head retention. The aroma takes tart citrus - lemon and grapefruit - and adds some barnyard funk and a bit of bubble-gum sweetness. The flavor brings tart citrus to the forefront, but again – a great sweetness to counter what might otherwise be too acidic. The balance in this one is beautiful. Great stuff!


 rederic (1785), montréal, Quebec, Canada
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/517/20
Dec 4, 2008  
Sampled more than on time at GABF 08, hazy yellow gold hue, with an off-white head, nice brett funky nose with some musty, barnyard, fruity green apple tart notes, with a wet oaky winey accent in the aroma follows through on -medium-bodied palate with a fruity, sour, citrusy, yeasty, funky character, with a light rhubarb, green apple sourness, with a musty wet winey, white wine oakiness, leading towards a fruity, citrusy sour finish.


 GodOfThunder (855), Orlando, Florida, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/516/20
Nov 28, 2008  
Mad props to JMFG for this taste. Fantastic brett smell with some apple and pear notes in there. The taste is amazingly sour and tart. Fantastic sour ale.



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