Russian River Temptation

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Sour Ale
Santa Rosa, California USA

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Another beer via trade with deepsouth (BA). Awesome man! Batch 003! First things first, Smell that Brett! Pale gold yellow cloud with a 2" head. Leaves a nice coat on the sides but that fades too. This beer reeks of Brett and Oak! The sirens are going off for the sour smell. This beer is sour as a MF’er! Tart, smooth and sour like a good belgian! Seriously this beer can hang with all the #1s out there! Little fruit, saison like spice but always sour and tart from start to finish. So Smooth! The tartness sticks around a while and refuses to leave the back of your throat. Mmmmm thank you! So Tart and so so yummy! It’s smooth with a bubbly complexity. The carbonation is very light. Tangy and zesty with a nice strong zap of oak near the end of each mouthful. This beer is so so drinkable. Did a belgian brewery brew this? This can’t be from America. O wait it is. Finally a brewery worth the same praise as say, De Dolle...Yummm Ok I no longer want to review this beer...I need to focus on drinking and enjoying it! Wow this is a delicious brew!

Bottle: Dusty blonde/golden color with a large, frothy white head. Thick sheets of lacing. Smells fruity with sweet and tart notes. Ciderlike with just a hint of barrel aging. Flavor is very tart with a little sweetness. Dry and a little more of the oak. Ciderlike finish with a lingering mouth puckerin bitterness. Very nice. Thanks Shyam.

Hazy yellow amber, tart, wood, lemon, apple, bready, funky, malty, dry finish.