RateBeer

Russian River Temptation

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Regional Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
5684.09/5.04.08/5.0Special7.25%95.7Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler
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?  
 Alldaydrinker (558), Norwood, Massachusetts, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Jul 19, 2008  
Courtesy of Irishboy thanks richard! Pours a golden strawy hazy color with a medium frothy white head. Nose is vinous, salty, citrus, fruits, lemon, hay, funk, white wine. Initial taste is tart, citrus, touch of salt, apples and grapes. Mid palate displays white wine characteristics and touch of oak. Vinous funk moves into the finish that is dry and chalky. Palate duration is above average. Light to medium body. Great head retention and spot lacing of the glass. Acidity is well balanced and satisifying. Crisp, clean and delicous.


 Bigsilky (322), Charleston, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/518/20
Jul 16, 2008    Updated: Oct 26, 2008
Appropriate pour, excellent aged Sauternes color. A swirled galaxy of gossamer foam roams around the surface as the Bordeaux glass does it’s work. Candied pineapple is quickly nudged aside by wet leather and earth spice with a slight vanilla kiss. Farmyard and sour peaches are boltstered by the acidity and mellowed through light carbonation. Chardonnay is certainly apparant (apples) upfront and particularly on the finish. The vinous quality of the grapes and the tartness of the beer make a gracious exit. This bottle must be at least 2 years old. Age has soothed the once vibrant acid and the yeast have lent a balance of cream and mouthfeel. Excellent beer, well balanced and spell-binding. Batch #001


 kegbear (265), Orange, California, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/518/20
Jul 16, 2008  
The cork really flew out of this baby. Took me ten minutes to find it. Large foamy white head. Aroma smells of tart ness and is very clean. Tastes of lemon zest, oak and funk. Dry finish. Not as tart or funky as Beautification. Complex and delicious.


 ucusty (1881), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/105/518/20
Jul 15, 2008  
Rating #800! Four twists on the cage and the sucker whizzed by my head and hit the ceiling! What a thrilling beer! Still have not found the cage? Hazy gold pour with fizzy white head and a single ring of lace. Oak and granny smith apple aroma. Very fruity& sweet bread up front with a great tart finish underlined with pleasant oak goodness. Apricot type aftertaste.


 Zinister (1199), Houston, Texas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Jul 14, 2008  
Pours a pretty hazy yellow with frothy white head. Nose of oak, crisp chardonnay, lemons, pear and bready yeasts. Flavor is the really good part of a honey-lemon cough drop.mixed with barnyard funk, a non-malo chard and nice oak layers. Mouthfeel was much like a chard mixed wtih champagne...very nice. This was one great beer.


 GAManiac (1144), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Jul 11, 2008  
Pours a bright hazy orangish yellow with a big puffy white head that lingers for ages leaving massive clumps of lacing. This is a gorgeous looking beer. Smell is a good dose of sweet, sour and tart. There is the sweet citrus of lemon rinds and oranges along with some tart cherry and a bit of oak as well. This is all on top of the bready yeast smell in the background and some wine coming through in the nose as well. The taste is a slightly more tart version of the smell with big tart cherries and lemon rind up front with a trace of barnyard funk as well. There’s a little sweetness in there as well with a bready malt backbone but an oaky presence that lingers in the finish. Mouthfeel is creamy but also dry like wine in the finish. This is definitely a good starter wild ale for those of us still developing the palate for sours. I really enjoyed this and it’s quite a refreshing brew on a hot day.


 DTM (541), Winters, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/515/20
Jul 9, 2008  
Bottle from Monument Liqour in Concord, CA. Poured a murky yellow color with a good sized white head. On the first sip it reminded me of a dry champagne. Not quite as tart and some of the other sours I’ve had.


 timfoolery (484), California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/59/104/517/20
Jul 8, 2008  
Bottle from Monument Liq. in Concord, CA. Being a blonde and aged in oak, this one was a bit weaker than it’s counterparts. Still, with an excellent palate, this one tasted more of champagne than anything. It’s amazing what RR does with these brews. I would buy any of the three sours again if I had the chance.



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