Russian River Temptation

Rerate -
Gigantic 3 Liter bottle shared at tasting. Huge thanks for the chance to enjoy such a fantastic beer and so much of it! Pours a nice glowing orange color with a lasting foamy and bubly white head. Smell is slightly oak, some bret, and fresh dry citrus rind. Taste was mild, a slightly citrusy quality and very oaky with some mild sourness. Quick finish, and incredibly drinkable, I thought. Thanks again!!

Bottled batch #002. Hazy dark gold with a viscous white head. Strong musty cellar, oak and barnyard aroma. Flavors of vinous and lemon fruit with strong oak and barnyard musty earth. A very refreshing taste here with a mildly sour acidic finish. Enjoyed this one on 3/5/2007

Bottled - Batch 001. Brew #2 of DM #3 with Justin in c-bad. A greatly appropriate brew to follow up red poppy. Really an elegant carbonated beverage shown forth from this - tight knit spotty lace trickles over the glass. Nose boasted mostly zesty citrus, thick oak, and a subtle funk - considering my expectations, the nose was rather underwhelming, unfortunately. Puckering lemon peel and banana are upheld by a complimentary coat of bretty goodness. All in moderation and companionship. Easy drinking, slides down the tongue and throat with ease. The name of the game here is balance. Sheer glamour, high-class, intelligent, graceful, and proud is Temptation. Quit tempting me!!!!

Bottle from Ryan tasted at PP bottle shop. Batch 1 I think. My favorite of the night. Wonderful sour bretty aroma. Light yellow amber color. Very drinkable. Mild sourness. Delicious. Tried again at PP bottle shop, batch 3 I think. Again from Ryan. This beer is awesome. Same rating. I like it better than Beatification.

Bottled, Batch 001. Beer #2 of the 2/9 evening D-METAL with jarspag at the Carlsbad pad. Compared this one right after Red Poppy amongst the lineup of epic brews that afternoon. Hazy blond pour with clear edges and an initial micro-head and bountiful carbonation. Some white lacing hanging around for a while. The aroma is vinous with white grape influences and the chardonnay oak very noticeable. Brett yeast funk is a tad less prominent here than in Supplication, Sanctification and Red Poppy, with notes of lemon peel, apricot and pear. The flavor is light fruits and a straightforward oak presence with soured banana and Longan fruits. The brett finish is well-rounded and the bitterness compliments the fruit notes nicely, with some carbonation sting. Dry wine notes hang on the palate for a good while. Bottle of Batch 003 at O’Briens, small rating bump.

Pizza Port tasting. 01. Dregs are better than nothing. Pours cloudy yellow with small head. Tart, sour, apple, yet refreshing. Need to get some more of this. Re-Rate Bottle from RR online order. Pours clear yellow with a nice white head. Sour lemon, cherry aroma and flavors with a bit dry and thin finish. Tasty.

Batch 002. This one has been sitting in the fridge for months, and I couldn’t wait any longer to crack it open. The cork popped with a good amount of force, giving way to a slow gush that I was thankfully prepared for. The pour yields a cloudy, glowing, light yellow-orange body. A small, foamy white head settles to a thin blanket, leaving broad archways of lacing bands stretched out upon the glass. The aroma is beautiful, showing a complex blend of everything from sour Brett funk to Chardonnay grapes, vanilla, oak, lemons, and light caramel. The scent is quite ascorbic, with citrus and sharp grape mingling perfectly with the sour Brett. As sour as the nose is, it doesn’t quite prepare you for the lambic-like intensity of the flavor. Brett hits immediately, lashing the tongue and the roof of the mouth with its signature bitter funk. The Chardonnay kissed oak is easily identified, accompanied by the requisite vanilla component and sharp, sour, lemon and orange citric extracts. The mouthfeel is substantial and almost perfect for the style, with a drying effect that seems to concentrate the sour fruit components on the tongue. This is a masterfully crafted brew. Ultimately refreshing, substantially sour, and completely delicious.

(375 ml bottle (batch 002) via trade with <A HREF=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=30668 target=blank>IrishBoy, thanks Richard!, cellared for 1 yr. after trade) Soft and tart...Pours cloudy light goldish amber with one finger of white head that recedes to a thin lasting layer. Aroma of light citrus, Bretty yeastiness and sour. Mouthfeel quite soft and very smooth, lightly effervescent. Bits of scattered lacing. Flavor is lightly sour and tart, sourness is not overdone. Pleasant citrusy quality. A little yeasty as well. Light lingering tart citrus aftertaste. Nice.