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?  
 mreusch (723), Olathe, Kansas, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Aug 25, 2007  
375ml bottle, Batch 001, courtesy of boboski (THANKS Jason)! Pours a perfectly clear and beautiful golden with a slight fizzy white head, slight lacing. Aroma is sour grapes, sour apple, oak, and musty funk; very pleasant, and opens up in the glass nicely! Flavor is more sour apple with some light citrus and oakiness. Palate is light, and medium-thin, good carbonation, and a brief, but satisfying finish. Good stuff!


 robinvboyer (1428), Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/59/104/519/20
Aug 23, 2007  
375ml from irishboy, thanks! aroma is oaky, and citrus with lots of funk! flavour is funky, and sour. the funk is awesome!!! lots of citrus, and oak. wow, this is great, nice and refreshing. wicked stuff.


 mcbackus (740), Merritt Island, Florida, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/518/20
Aug 20, 2007  
bottle batch 001 courtesy of boboski: pours a golden hue with a small white line of froathy head. aroma of sour grapes, honey, some fresh apple. flavour is smooth into sour fresh apple, honey, grape. fantastic.


 adrian910ss (1409), philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/517/20
Aug 3, 2007  
002 batch. Pours a cloudy yellow golden color with a thick frosty white head. A bit of lacing. Aroma of tartness, sour oak barrels, fresh yeast and pepper. Taste is very tart with a nice oak barrel flavor. Fresh yeast abound and it finishes peppery. Very nice for the style.


 robertsreality (2460), Minnesota, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/103/517/20
Jul 29, 2007  
Cloudy Thick Yellow Color with White Fluffy Head. Lemon, Spice and Dry Yeasty Aroma. Citrusy Flavor...and Quite Tart...Puckering and Syrupy Mouthfeel...Heavy Bodied...Dry Spice Notes...Oak, and a Nice Light Alcohol Warming...Dry Parched Ending. Intriguing at the Very Least.


 asteele8 (270), Mukilteo, Washington, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/517/20
Jul 27, 2007  
Bottle thanks to WeeHeavySD, Batch #2. Pours a light yellow color with a white head on top. Aroma is citrus, oak, and sourness. Flavor is lemons, oak, and wine notes. The palate has a nice carbonation to it but definitely not overwhelming or overdone. Very refreshing and enjoyable!


 hellomynameis (794), Mayer, Minnesota, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/103/516/20
Jul 22, 2007  
Light yellow and cloudy with a huge white head. I lost over half the bottle to the violent eruption that occurred moments after the cork was out. Nice dusty nose with some acidic qualities. The flavour is really great and has some light woody notes with a white wine like quality more so than beer. the brett is subtle and leaves a nice mark on this beer. Very nice drinking.


 chriso (4758), London, Greater London, England
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Jul 20, 2007  
Bottle, courtesy a generous Dane (sorry I forget who), May 2006 at Kobehavnske Oldage. Hazy yellow colour. More lambic-like than blonde, with lots of sour acidity but less farmyard funk than might be experienced in a lambic. Lots of citrus but also oaky vanilla - an unusual combination but one that works surprisingly well. There’s also a tannic edge reminiscent of a cider. An intriguing and enjoyable beer but not as challenging as I expected.



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