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Russian River Temptation 4.08 577

Russian River Temptation

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Regional Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
5774.09/5.04.08/5.0Special7.25%95.9Snifter, 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?  
 Beershine (2754), Traipsing Around, Cambodia
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/510/105/518/20
May 10, 2008    Updated: Aug 3, 2008
Bottle, thanks to Oakes. Brett fills the air after the cork pops. Loud fizzle, pop, a flurry of joy. Lemony, dry, not sour, impeccably clean finish. Love in a bottle.

Cloudy, bright yellow-orange with frothy off-white head. Total orange rind candy. Light, air-filled mouthfeel. Total tartness with lingering finish and lots of nuance. Citrus sorbet in a glass, pithy and good.


 michael-pollack (2731), King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/104/515/20
Oct 9, 2008  
Bottle: Aroma of tart fruits, Brett, oak, and alcohol. Poured gold/yellow/urine in color with a medium-sized, creamy, dense white head that lasted throughout. Hazy. Very sparkling. Very tart flavor. Tastes of Brett, tart fruits, oak, white grapes, chardonnay, and some minerals. Light to medium body. Dryish, mineral texture. Average to lively carbonation. Tarty, Gueze-like finish.


 Nuffield (2728), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
Nov 23, 2005  
Yeasty barnyard, sour, a bit woody, musty, and like a cellar. Yellow-orange. Flavor suggests fruit, apples, popcorn with butter, and a very light touch of alcohol. It goes a little watery. But wow, what a really nice beer.


 IrishBoy (2720), Bakersfield, California, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/517/20
Sep 18, 2006    Updated: Dec 26, 2006
Bottle from Odeed;Batch 001, Nose of tartness and you can hint the oak barrel; clear gold with a small but longlasting white head; flavor of tart apples and grapes and a little citrus malt.


 notalush (2689), Denver, Colorado, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/57/103/515/20
Feb 17, 2006  
Thanks to herbjones for the bottle - sparkling clear golden in color, with beautiful, thick white lace - lots of brett funkiness in the aroma, musty smells, oak and wine (of course) - champagne-like tartness starts things out - lots of funky, cheesy flavors from the brett - oak comes in big time, but the vinous character never makes a huge statement; it prefers to stay in the background - a little thin near the end - a nice, light, crisp ale - a welcome change for a barrel-aged ale.


 DarkElf (2681), La Jolla, California, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/514/20
Jun 3, 2004  
(Draft: O’Brien’s in San Diego, CA) Refreshing and somewhat sour, but not too much behind it; Orange citrus flavor up front, but also has somewhat of a strawberry jello thing going on in the finish; Dark golden/amber color; Sour lambic aroma; Off-white head fades fast, leaving some modest ring lacing


 PilsnerPeter (2667), Flushing, New York, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Jul 2, 2008  
Bottle Batch 003: Thanks golubj! Pours a lively cloudy golden with a creamy thick white head that leaves a spotty lace. Aroma is vinous, oaky, hints of aged swiss cheese, lemon, white pepper, apple cider, honey and vanilla wood. Amazingly complex. Frothy and crisp body. The flavor is a perfect marriage of sweet and tart. Very subtle honey notes, smooth oak presence, herbal subtleties, sharp citrus fruitiness, mild Gouda, sharp Parmigiano-Reggiano, acetic apple cider, and just a touch of vanilla in the back somewhere when it warms. A Sour Ale of vast complexity, superiority and drinkability.


 puzzl (2648), New York, New York, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/516/20
Aug 31, 2006  
Bottle at Hop Devil, NYC. Aroma: sour, apple, cherry, yeast. Tight, biting flavor, funky, old, oxidized apple, cherry pie, green apple rinds. Very tasty stuff.



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