RateBeer

Russian River Temptation

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
5704.09/5.04.08/5.0Special7.25%95.8Snifter, 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?  
 BitchesBrew (710), Berkeley, California, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/518/20
Jun 29, 2008  
[bottle, batch 3, shared with DarkMagus] Pours a hazy yellow with a very dense white head. Loads of visible carbonation. Aroma is quite tart and funky. Flavors are full of microbiology.. tart and funky brett character provides some interesting pineapple and fruit esters. Really complex and bone-dry finish. Thirst quenching and delicious. An outstanding beer, overall.


 iowaherkeye (1857), Los Angeles, California, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/516/20
Dec 14, 2006  
375ml bottle, Batch 002 mail ordered from the brewery. I opened this one very, very cold per RR’s recommendation (they said so due to such high carbonation. Pours a cloudy pale golden with a staying creamy one finger head. While still very cold, the aroma has quite a bit of sour funk. I also smell some apples and leather. I’ll wait until this warms up to continue. The oak does become more apparent with a fair amount of yeast. Flavor is much the same with some very nice fruity sweetness and a pleasant vinous quality as well. It is fairly acidic, but the sweetness don’t make this overbearing at all. I feel this would be a transition beer to bret and oak (though not bourbon) aged beers. The finish is dry which is somewhat winelike and earthy. Light to medium body, moderate soft creamy carbonation. Quite the tasty brew.


 yespr (12175), Copenhagen O, Denmark
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Aug 6, 2008  
From 1.5 L bottle, batch 1. Pours hazy orange with a lacing white head. Orange fruity and mild acidic. Smooth and orange fruity light tart and smooth finish with a light acidity.


 emacgee (1884), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/518/20
Dec 15, 2008  
This is one of my favorite sours. Very tart and acidic nose and flavor, yeasts bring a very tolerable palatable sourness to the brew. Warmth definitely does this one well as it brings out the tannic, spicy, vanilla flavors of the oak. Some mild citrusy hop character comes through. Sits in your mouth with the perfect carbonation and a wonderful tartness.


 nolankowal (851), Columbus, Ohio, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 3, 2007  
Bottle courtesy of realale420, thanks again Brian! Cloudy bright yellow pour with a fizzy bone white head. Aroma of light bret, subtle barn yard elements...wood and light vinous notes as well and a bit of yeast and a light sour fruitiness. The flavor certainly has some strong wood and wine character...very dry vinous and light sour fruit elements with an earthy woodiness and light amounts of spice, funk, and yeast. Medium-light body with a sturdy yet not overt carbonation...dry, fruity, and sour throughout and finishes lightly sour and super-dry. Nice brew.


 luvcasks (178), USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Dec 25, 2006  
375 ml Bottle - Batch 002 very energetic pour from the bottle, big fizzy off white which dissipates super quickly hazy straw yellow pour Oak, pineapple some alcohol an unmistakable funk and leather as the beer warms up Flavor: barnyard flavors Chalky, oak, some leather and fruits with restrained yet complex sourness palate: astringent , dry and slightly thin in body.. finish being dry and long lasting Overall: Yet another incredible creation from RR (I think i like batch 002 better than 001) the oak is more muted allowing the brett, sour and fruit flavors to show thry better. Definitely open when cold but savor as the beer warms up. I am planning on laying down a few bottles to taste in the years to come


 LeopoldStoch (201), Green, Ohio, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/103/516/20
Aug 12, 2006  
First off...big thanks to andy for the chance to try this brew. Now on to the beer, it is hard to believe this is a beer when it is so reminiscent of an excellent chardonnay. Which makes it that much more amazing that it is in fact a beer. The aroma was all sorts of funk, yeast, oak, fruits, lemon zests, and the best chardonnay wine aromas. The taste absolutely followed suit. The commercial description says it all with "is it beer or is it wine?" Either way this stuff is awesome!!!! Now only if russian river would distribute this beer to Ohio (As well as their other beers...im sure they are just as good). Now I am on the quest to try supplication and others...


 waolsen (1222), Littleton, Colorado, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/103/518/20
Oct 9, 2008  
bottle. thanks bwkrieger. hazy golden/orange pour with thin white head. nice aroma fruit and oak. tart, brett, funk and wood. nicely done.



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