Russian River Temptation

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

Good stuff. Creamy, fruity flavors, slight cream cheese aroma and flavor. Really smooth and flavorful.

Batch 001 bottle. A nice pop greeted me upon the removal of the cork. Poures a hazy golden color with a thin head. Tart Bret character in the nose, along with ripe apples and a gentle woodsiness. Flavor is spot on - Bret does not overpower, it is about as subtle as Bret gets, in my experience. Vinous character gives over to a light oak and lemon zest finish. Had this and Supplication in the same day, my first brews from RR, and they have immediately become one of my favorite brewers.

Bottle thanks to Timmy300. This was what I knew would get us going. Poured and cloudy yellow with a nice head. Nose is huge, lots of Brett and citrus, apples and champagne. First taste is amazing, tons of acid and sour grass, lemon juice, apple cider and dry white wine. Full body. Quenching and more. Gotta love the lambic culture. Best beer I’ve had in a long time.

A truly wonderful beer; it leaves you wanting more. This was my first introduction to Russian River (even though they are only about 50 miles away) and I can’t wait to get more!!

Batch 001 from a bottle picked up via HiTime. The beer pours to a fizzy white head atop a straw colored hazy body. The aroma is characteristically Brettanomyces. Lemons, sour funkiness, sour green apples, pears. The flavor starts off tart with green apples. Cinnamon sticks and apple skin fill out the mid-taste. Oaken earthy wine on the finish. The flavors are quite complex and very good. The palate is like drinking a champagne or spritzer. Very lively and refreshing. Light dryness to it like a dry wine. I’m glad to have tried this. I just wish the $$ wasn’t so much. It’s sorta geueze-ish and winey. I’m liking it. 8, 3, 9, 4, 17 = 4.1
3-liter bottle of Batch 2. Simply phenomenal. Sour but balanced. The beer violently wanted out of the bottle. Have a large pot and a ladle available!

Bottled at the 3rd Annual FoBAB in Chicago. Hazy, well-carbonated, golden pour with a light dusting of white head. Tiny, bubbly lacing stuck perfectly to the glass. Tremendous aroma of Brett, Chardonnay, wheat, freshly-sliced pears, funky cobwebs and a hint of cider. Sooo much was going on in this odd little bottle! Tart Brett funkiness, ripe cherries, fresh wheat, lemon zest, and much much more toyed with all my tastebuds, and everything was so well-blended. Tart and champagney mouthfeel giving way to a long, funky, vinous finish. Remarkable beer with devilishly-easy drinkability. 9 4 8 4 17

3L bottle thanks to Blake, ladled into a snifter out of a big fuckin’ pot. Poured hazy medium golden with a tall cap of white head. The aroma picked up tart grape skins with lots of dusty, vinegary funk.. complex and engaging. The flavor had lemon zest, vinegar, and white grapes on the core with spicy zest and dusty funk on the back.. sweet vinous finish with lots of funk and lots of carbonation. Tart and engaging on the palate, again with high carbonation.. just fantastic!

A Mes rate: Bottle at weekend of tarts.
Semi hazy gold colour with a very well behaved head. Lovely wooden notes in the aroma. Flavour is dry and sour with some pineapple, fairly obvious but far from offensive alcohol, fanbloodytastic balance of sweet and tart, plenty yeasty notes and a refreshing hit of funky citrus at the finish. Mouthfeel is utterly stunning. Almost mellow but still quite big in the body. A stunning beer.

MASSIVE thanks Mike.

I could not stop myself from muttering over and over again...oh wow this beer is good. Yes, that’s what I told myself at the Vine in OB, SD. Not the first time I had it either, but I got the Happy Hour deal on it and I surely was happy. One word: pears. My lasting impression was almost entirely pears, maybe a little peach if I want to allow for some room there. But not obnoxious or overly fruity. I agree with the producers own description - the semblence in nose and even taste is all white wine, and specifically, chardonnay. And you know what? It’s freakin awesome. I’m not a big wine guy, but the complexity and depth of flavor stages in this beer is really something one must try to truly appreciate. I’ve had other beers aged in chard casks (Petrus), but this is different. This is special. This is the stuff of legend, as I almost expect Pan himself to traipse around and pour the nectar of revelry down mine own throat! Was that too over the top? Anyway, my god this is good!