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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?  
DrDogbeer (6), weymouth, Massachusetts, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Russian River Temptation does not count
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Jun 21, 2008  
Poured Batch 003 into a tulip glass after a huge fizzy head erupted from the bottle. Smells of sour fruit, funk and some wine. Taste is champagne like and estremely sharp. Great flavor, great mouthfeel. My fave RR, yet.


 hellbilly (1492), scottsdale über alles, Arizona, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Jun 19, 2008  
sampled batch 3 with the phoenix crew... pours a cloudy pale orange with a vigorous white head. smells tart from across the room!... champagne, champagne vinegar, woody dryness, yeast, sour cream, lemon zest, mineral/flint/stone, blood and rust. medium body with an airy mouth feel from the soft carbonation. the flavor is the same and doesn’t disappoint. the oak and funk really shine. this walks a fine line between too much malt and not enough... really well done...


 ghawener (952), San Salvador, El Salvador
1.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/103/54/102/55/20
Jun 13, 2008  
thanks to ramenen. bottlle: like swallowing foam with alcohol. or alkal setzer straight. a new experience


 scoobysnak (249), Appleton, Wisconsin, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Jun 12, 2008  
Batch 003: A nice cloudy golden color iwth a pillowy white head with TONS of lacing, good carbonation to boot. Smell is very winelike with a good tart note and maybe some barnyard/hay notes. It is literally making my mouth water in anticipation of the tartness. Taste is dry with good sour flavors, a bit of the oak and finally good funky notes, (I don’t know what else to call it, you get the picture). Damn good, Russian River doesn’t disappoint.


 fredandboboflo (1395), East Setauket, New York, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Jun 11, 2008  
Bottle, batch 001, at Spuyten Duyvil. Oak and mild sourness, lots of oak and mild sourness. Semi-tart, winelike fruits are in the background, maybe some toffee sort of notes as well. Not as in-your-face as some sours, but that worked very well for me.


 LilBeerDoctor (1480), East Setauket, New York, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/104/516/20
Jun 11, 2008  
Batch #1 from Sputyen Duyvil. Pours a semi-clear orange with little head. Aroma of funk and sourness. Flavor of oak (very similar to oak-barrel aged Captain Lawrence beers), sour gueuze-like notes, sour apples. The oak is present but not overpowering and balances nicely with the sour notes. Has a strong palate to mesh with the oak barrel. Nice finish. Excellent beer.


 Rciesla (3500), Exit 15W, New Jersey, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/518/20
Jun 10, 2008    Updated: Oct 7, 2009
My second time having this one, had batch 2 and 3. Pours alight off white yellow body. Aroma is bretty, oaky, woodiness. A dry woody refreshing light barnyard funkiness with low acidity is what i get. Not bad but it didnt stand up next to some of the others at Yeast Fest 08. 3.9 Wow what a difference batch 003 made to me. Pours a golden body with a white head. Aroma is brett all on more like what drifts through a meadow on a sunny afternoon. Really funky yeast notes. Brett and chardonnay notes green grapes and their skins. Vinous tart grapes and light oak. Lush effervescent notes with a mouth watering grape like finish. Slightly dry and yet lush. Phenomenal! 4.5


 chicagodri (1021), Chicago, Illinois, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/103/519/20
Jun 9, 2008  
Yum. This beer was awesome. Pours cloudy blonde. Nice funky aroma. Great sour fruit and lemon flavors. I need more :)



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