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Russian River Temptation

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Regional Distribution
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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?  
 bb (2919), Martinez, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Nov 12, 2005  
Bottle. Batch 1. Amber-peach colored beer with a nice off-white head. Tart green apple and slight lemon aroma. Green apple, grape, tart flavor, slight woodiness, and a touch of butteriness (but not unpleasant) in the flavor. Refreshing. Carbonationa bit too high. Some wine-like characteristics. Very nice.


 CaptainCougar (5488), Rockville, Maryland, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Sep 11, 2005  
Pours a hazy golden with a nicely lacing white head. Aroma is dry, barnyardy, funky and nicely oaked with a touch of fruity tartness and brett. Very complex and balanced body has lots of yeasty funk and good tartness without being overpowering. Enjoyable white wine character with great flavor and a touch of cheesiness. A nice, authentic and unique beer. Russian River is fast becoming one of my favorite breweries.


 hopscotch (5483), Vero Beach, Florida, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/103/59/103/516/20
Aug 8, 2005    Updated: Jul 26, 2008
Bottle... This beer rocks!... Hazy, golden ale with a small, frothy, white head. Good retention. Woodsy aroma with notes of white wine, vanilla and lemon. Tart, buttery flavor with oak, vanilla and butterscotch. Light-bodied and creamy with lively carbonation. Woodsy, tart, buttery finish. Odd combo, but terrific. World class brew!


 badgerben (3600), Blaine, Minnesota, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Sep 11, 2005  
MilkmanDan’s MN Welcome Night: Hazy yellow color with a medium head. Sour aroma with some hints of nutmeg. Dry lemon taste with a sour finish. Some wheat lingering near the end. The is not nearly as up front as many gueuzes will be, instead it drags it out. Awfully nice!


 MAP (1089), Lakewood, Ohio, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/518/20
Jan 18, 2006  
Many more thanks to kramer17801 for this beer. It poured a nice golden glassy color with a small and sustaining white foam top. Aroma comes off first with a wine tinted oak and some sourness is there as well. The palate comes off as crisp first off, very subtle at it, but very enjoyable. The bitterness expected in the palate did not come through as expected from the aroma. Likewise, there was only a slight sour funk left in the flavor. There is a slight flavor of lemon and spice in the beer, but its very subtle. This is not as an extreme of a flavor as Supplication, but is so well balanced and sublte, yet complex, it is hard not to like it. I’m no wine fanatic, but I suspect this would be a great bridge between the two crafts.


 BBB63 (4232), La Porte, Indiana, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Oct 9, 2005  
GABF 2005: Clean golden hue with a big frothy head and vg lace. The aroma has some brett and yeast character along with light apple and grape, woody and buttery. Wow, a nice use of brett and barrel aging to set a soft flowery and fruity beer. As good as the flavors are, I could use a bit more bitters in the background. The feel is cider like, fruity crisp and lively, refreshing. Yet another winner from Russian River. I could use a few more of many of their beers.


 beastiefan2k (1603), Lawrence (formely NYC), Kansas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Apr 5, 2006    Updated: Jan 24, 2009
375ml cork and wire bottle, Batch 001. Used St. Sebastiaan small tulip glass. Pours with some lacing, very cloudy yellow. Cannot see through the beer. The smell is potent. The beer is silky smooth in your mouth wherein the rougher edges of a beer are dulled by the chardonnay taste. Goes down very smooth. Feel a slight warming feeling at the bottom of mt throat. Tastes of sourness tickle the sour censors on my tongue. 8/4/7/3/16

Re-rate: batch 003, shared by JB. Completely murky with a thick golden color. Aroma is very dry floral brettiness. Taste is more floral and citrus brett. Well. its glorious brett. 8/4/8/4/16


 jimbowood (954), Athens, Georgia, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
May 25, 2008  
bottle from naven. Nice, light, and mildly sour. A very good, drinkable, summertime sour ale. Great.



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