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?  
 gputty (456), Virgina Beach, Virginia, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/518/20
Nov 19, 2006  
Small C&C bottle from courtesy of Lando. Thanks for this gem Steve! Pours a hazy, golden yellow out of a deceptively small (looks much bigger) bottle, with a tight off white head. Nose of wine, sourness, light fruits and barnyard hints. Flavor follows with a pronounced white wine. This one integrates fantastically. Well done!


 Cletus (5051), Connecticut, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/515/20
Nov 9, 2006  
Batch 001 bottle marked ’05 on the cage by ?. Pours a cloudy orange with a white head. Smells of funky sourness with peaches and sugary undertones. Taste is peachy and lambicey with some strong lemony undertones. Hay and straw reveal themselves as the beer warms. Light lemongrass and bitterness is present on the finish with a subtle but persistent sourness.


 Immy (1912), Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Nov 7, 2006  
12oz c&c bottle, props to gputty! Cloudy yellow gold with a creamy off white head. Very lambic-like nose - mildly sour, barnyardy brett. Lively, bubbly body. Fascinating flavors - sharp white wine notes, lightly sour brett, mild vanilla touches. WOW! Like nothing I have ever had. Bravo, RR!


 dwyerpg (2529), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
0.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
1/102/52/101/53/20
Nov 6, 2006  
In the words of my friend, this beer "smells like going down on a farting hooker". Or, in other words, not so good. So bad it’s hard to drink it and it doesn’t taste much better. Perhaps a very vey bad bottle????? I can only hope. The new no. 1 bad beer at Bill and Steiny’s party. The second beer made with this brettanomyces - perhaps I really hate that stuff.


 TURDFERGUSON (1598), Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Nov 5, 2006  
12.7 FL. OZ bottle obtained via trade with Ty5592. Thanks brother! Woody, wet cardboard, funk, brett, apple skin, lemon rind. Flavors are slightly reminiscent of a white wine but are more distinctive of a well crafted wood aged beer for me. Pleasent bretty flavors, nothing too sour (too sour can be wonderful, btw) but also not too sweet. Smooth with a thick and gooey mouthfeel. Alcohol is evident but by no means overpowering. Wish I had more of this wonderful brew. I need more Russian Rivers. Someone please help me.


 zathrus13 (1296), Mount Laurel, New Jersey, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Nov 2, 2006  
Pours cloudy gold, with a white head. Aromas are sour fruit and white wine. Flavors are fruit, white wine, and yeast. Slightly sour and tart, but in no way overpowering. A nice mix/balance between a strong and sour ale. Highly enjoyable.


 jason (1621), Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Nov 1, 2006  
Bottle Batch #1. Good aroma and great appearance with nice head that stays. Cloudy look as to the mysteryiousness of this brew. Flavor is fantastic. Not too oaky but well balanced flavor that has the perfect amount of spice. Very smooth and good mouthfeel. One of the best belgian ales I’ve ever had. Cheers!


 illinismitty (1795), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/105/517/20
Oct 14, 2006    Updated: Oct 15, 2006
Corked 330ml. Pours hazy golden with a thin white head. Nice huge brett aroma, lots of sourness and hint of white wine. Very nice subtle mouthfeel. Nice flavors sour apples, lemon, chardonnay. Not overly sour, which I like. The oak and mild pepper comes out on the finish. This lingers and coats the back of the mouth like an earthy white wine. Very well crafted beer.



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