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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 
5644.09/5.04.08/5.0Special7.25%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?  
 sirpsycho (342), Murrysville, Pennsylvania, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Aug 21, 2009  
Bottle, batch 003. Pours a very slightly hazy orangish gold, very fine bubbled white head, slight lacing. Aroma is right away bright and vinuous, almost champagne like, slight yeast notes. Flavor is tart, very wine like, soft and dry finish.


 vtafro (452), , New Jersey, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/510/105/517/20
Aug 20, 2009  
Tap @ hulmeville inn. This sour was great. Golden pour with substantial carbonation. Flavor is great although not overpowering, funky sour with nice aftertaste. Great beer worth the trip.


 Tmoney99 (4656), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Aug 19, 2009  
Bottle shared by alexsdad06. Poured cloudy yellow color with a large frothy off-white head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Medium to heavy citrus and yeast aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and lively carbonation and average particles. Medium to heavy sweet & sour flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration. I shared this with freinds and enjoyed the beer.


 bp (451), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/515/20
Aug 18, 2009  
Draft: pours a hazy golden amber with a thin foamy white head, aroma of citrus and funky aroma, taste is very sour, citrus, and some oak, fairly thin mouthfeel.


 m4rest88 (216), Beverly Hills, California, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/518/20
Aug 18, 2009  
Bottle. Pours with a hazy yellowish brown hue with a small white head that is mostly diminishing. Aroma is sour - citrus, wheat, pineapple, and some apples. Flavor has a fruity beginning and then is followed by a enjoyable sour flavor which I love! Medium texture. lively carbonation.


 robforbes (1083), Bremerton, Washington, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20
Aug 17, 2009  
pours a semi-hazy yellow-orange with a large white fluffy head, and very good lacing. smell is of sour malt, fruit, citrus, a little floral, and some yeast. taste is tart, apricot, citrus fruits, orange, a little woodiness, some granny smith apple, and some sour malt.


 nimbleprop (819), SouthWest, Washington, Washington DC, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/103/518/20
Aug 16, 2009  
Several pints at the brewpub in Santa Rosa. What can you say about this one? Frankly, this is the sour beer that all American sours should be compared to. Translucent, hazy, cloudy, yellow gold with a thick, foamy head. The nose is really nice, lemons, yeast, earth, herbs, white grapes, sweet, tart, sour, strong, inviting. Flavor is excellent too: wheat, grass, lemons, flowers, garden herbs, slight wood, earth, wine, oranges. Finish is dry and funky. There are beers out there with crazier flavors but none are this solid. Well crafted.


 changeup45 (782), Orlando, Florida, USA
4.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/59/105/519/20
Aug 15, 2009    Updated: Aug 17, 2009
Batch 3. 375ml. Courtesy of cloudskipper. Golden color with a real thick off-white head and a nice foam remains on top until the last drop. Wow, what a great aroma, champagne, brett, chardonnay, lemon, yeast, flowers, nice nose. Flavors are tart, acidic and sour with a wonderful bretty dry numbing. Chardonnay and oak does show in the flavor with lemon, grapes and a bit of funk. What an amazing beer. Kudos to Vinnie for brewing this and to Chris for hooking me up!



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