Russian River Temptation

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Sour Ale
Santa Rosa, California USA

375ml bottle, batch 2, thanks to Ty5592 for this bottle. pours a hazy golden with big head. wonderful brett in the nose, very geuze like and barnyardy, i love it. the first sip is very complex, smooth, and easy to drink. notes of oak, brett, chardonnay, peach, lemon, vanilla, sour cherries. a perfect mild sourness balanced with some sweet and oaky notes. the extremely crisp and smooth mouthfeel make this beer really drinkable. finishes oaky and very dry. perhaps i’d prefer a little more brett and less oak in the finish.8/5/8/4/17................................. batch 1 (5/05) vs. batch 2 (11/06). B1 is darker, more orange and B2 is cloudy straw color. B1 nose is very white winey, oaky, and slight funk in the background. B2 nose brings the funk upfront with oak and white wine in the back ground. the nose on B2 is much better. flavor for B1 is oak, funk, very earthy, dry with white wine finish, acidity and sourness are present but not over whelming. B2 flavor is very funky, tart, and oaky, sorta earthy, very dry, with a white wine finish. B1 just isn’t as dry and it’s more sweet wine than B2. B2 has a much more lively carbonation. B2 notes are more concise, tart, tighter, drier, vibrant, and lively. IMO, B2 is a much better beer....B1: 8/5/8/4/16 equals 4.1 B2: 8/5/8/5/17 equals 4.3 brbr 6/21/08, batch 2 (11/06). dag yo wonderful aroma coming from this beauty. although it seemed to lack some life that it had when fresher. perhaps some more time or less would be prefered...? 4.1.

After a 3 or 4 mile hike, this became pretty "tempting." Anyway, stupid pun aside... batch 1 poured a cloudy golden orange body with a moderate sized head. Excellent lacing on the glass, almost Orvalesque. Huge complex aroma. Spices, oranges, a light barnyard sourness, the smooth oak aroma, it’s all here. However, what I really appreciated is that this is so well balanced and put together as well. Complex but delicate. The barnyard action nor the oak aging were over the top. You know it’s there, and it’s done well. A must try, even at $8.50/375ml bottle.

Thanks to my bro Petrucci914 for sharing this one with me. Pours a cloudy yellow star color with thin white head. Aroma is huge and funky with large amounts of brett, horse blanket and tart fruit. Taste is sour fruit, brett, and horse blanket. The thing that really amazed me in this brew, is how well hidden the alcohol is hidden AND how the intense sourness is so easily subdued in the finish. This is a remarkable beer!

I had this at Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2005 and the guy from Santa Rosa explained to me how they use a chardonnay barrel and that was definately evident along with a sour fruity citrusy flavor. The mouthfeel of this one rocked with its effervescence but the sourness as much as I enjoy it keeps me from kicking the score higher. Granted, its a very enjoyable brew nonetheless.

Batch 001. After a lively pop of the cork, this pours a slightly hazy golden color. A bubbly, thin head. A truly different taste is encountered - yeast, citrus, some oak, other fruitiness. Sour but also a little sweet. Very unique and very, very good.

Courtesy boboski. Deep orange in color, slightly hazy, sparse thin white head. Aroma is fantastic - reminiscent of a lambic, but has a sweet, less aggressive edge to it. Palate is medium to thin which makes this very drinkable. The sourness is present in the taste, but is not overpowering. The sourness combines with oak flavors and finishes dry. A unique, drinkable beer.

Thanks to egajdzis for splitting a bottle of Batch 002 with me... Appears a hazy, pale gold with a fluffy white cap that slowly fades out. Scattered spots of lacing are left around the glass. Smell is of citrusy, funk, oak, vanilla, brett, and mild sugar. Taste is of the same aromas in a wonderfully done brew. The flavors jump along the palate with glee. Highlights include the light funk mixed with wine, vanilla, and some sugary caramel. This is hardcore and it outdoes some of the counterparts overseas. Mouthfeel is of a spritzy, nicely carbonated yet restrained brew that is smooth but bouncey with the CO2 giving rise to the vanilla esters riding along the sugary, chardonnay grapes. Vinnie is an excellent brewer. He is at the top of the charts for American brewers IMHO. With the wine background, he has the experience to make this stuff work. This is no exception to the rule. Well done.

Batch 1, fresh and aged 18 months and batch 2, also fresh. Body is slightly hazy, vibrant light golden with soft tangerine hues. Thick lacing results from a sticky, tall head of fizzy but compacted bubbles that recedes rather quickly. The aroma is very tart, earthy and speaks volumes about its inspirational precedents. Funk, barnyard, oak, citrus fruits, grapes, noble hops, buttery and acidic white wine, brettanomyces and a yeast profile so vibrant it seems like the entire lab is in the glass. Alcohol is totally hidden. The flavor is much the same, with approachable but distinct characteristics, focused but reserved. Sourness is mild, tartness is mild to moderate. Lightly sweet and mildly acidic, the taste is soft and utterly brilliant. Flavors run the gamut from tart and fruity at first to oaky and vinous nearing the finale, all the while showcasing a dynamic brett component that makes each sip lively and refreshing. Lemony acidity and flavor is an exciting addition. This is an exacting, coalescent moment of funk that doesn’t overwhelm. Delicious. The finish is soft, luxurious and as long as I feel like enjoying it. I’d ultimately have to take a sip of something else to pass beyond the everlasting finish. The mouthfeel is adequately and softly carbonated, with intermittent fizzy bursts. Body is light-medium and semi-sweet. Another superb offering from Russian River.