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Russian River Temptation 4.08 580

Russian River Temptation

Percentile
100
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Regional Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
5804.09/5.04.08/5.0Special7.25%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?  
 MeisterBrew (138), Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA
4.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/510/104/520/20

Aug 3, 2009  
004x4 Bottle. Pours a cloudy bright golden color with a large frothy head. Citrus, brett, and hint of chardonnay comprise the aroma. Flavor is VERY nice... This is a spectacular sour. The brett character is not too overpowering... it’s just right. The flavor finishes nicely with a faint white wine flavor.

 msante79 (852), Orland Hills, Illinois, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/105/517/20
Dec 27, 2009  
750ml I brought back from my trip to LA. Shared with my brother tonight at dinner. Pours hazy golden yellow with nice tight white head. Aroma is grapes and chardonnay. Flavor is tart with hints of lemon, wood, and white grapes. Finishes tart but not over powering. Really complex and delicate. Reminds me a lot of chardonnay. My brother loved this and he really isn’t into craft beer and never had a sour before. This truly is a wonderful beer.


 tarheels86 (812), Washington DC, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/105/516/20
Dec 27, 2009  
750mL shared with the family for Christmas. Poured into champagne glasses. Pours a glowing bright yellow that is cloudy with yeast and a decent size white head that has good retention and leaves sheets of beautiful lacing. Aroma is chardonnay, white grapes, champagne. Taste reminds me of a geuze minus the barnyard funk. At first there is a nearly mouth puckering sourness that overwhelms the palate for an instant. Then it goes from sweet to sour to bitter dryness back to wet sourness in all of about three seconds. Woah. There is some hop bitterness that reminds you this is a wild ale and not white wine. Was loved by all the white lovers in the room. A big hit. Would be an excellent gateway beer to move someone from wine to beer snobbery.


 dnstone (275), Mons, Belgium
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/517/20
Dec 27, 2009  
Fresh wood an sour notes with a bit of licorish in the aroma. Pale gold appearance with solid head. Sour lemon with winey-woody notes and a very slight licorish flavor. Notes: ’09 GABF


 Jblauvs (631), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Dec 26, 2009  
golden pour is hazy and a gusher. healthy pillowy head. Aroma is fruity floral and some tartness, Very tempting. Nectarine is very prolific. Light mouthfeel, very crisp. Flavor is tart with some light fruitiness, some earthy floral notes as well. Delicious


 craftycarl21 (580), South Hero, Vermont, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Dec 26, 2009  
Bottle fizzed over upon popping the cork. Pours a cloudy apricot with a vigorous bubbly head. Aroma holds peach, mandarin orange, vinous notes, wood, and some light funk, though not powerfully tart in any sense. Flavor is really nice, with more fruity and woody notes. It’s certainly evident that the wine barrels were of a white, rather than red- beautifully light and refreshing in flavor, particularly for a sour ale. Palate is medium bodied, but with a very drinkable finish. Really solid sour from Russian River.


 oteyj (800), Canterbury, New Hampshire, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/517/20
Dec 26, 2009  
Thanks craftycarl21! Hazy peach pour with a huge fluffy white head. Aroma is quite evident even before the first sniffs were encountered. Upon the actual delve, the aromatics present in floral, fruity brett funk notes. Lots of nectar, acidic citrus, and grapes. Oak, perfume, and yeasty dough round out the subtleties. Flavor is bursting with sweet nectar fruits, chardonnay, grapes, angelfood cake dough, mild acidity, and tart citrus. Oak and funky yeast notes come out further as she warms. Palate is super effervescent with a pillowy mouthfeel and a dry, clean finish. Another breathtaking sour for the nights festivities.


 Cavie (1503), Fort Worth, Texas, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Dec 21, 2009  
Bottle courtesy of thirdeye11. Batch 4. Hazy golden pour. Tall foamy head. Smell has easy flowers. Taste isn’t too tart but definitely has a sour element. Sour bitter finish.


 Sledutah (114), Utah, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/517/20
Dec 19, 2009  
Sample at the SLC tasting 12/11/09 (batch 004)
Appearance: Pours a hazy blonde with a small white head
Aroma: Sweet, floral, yeast and citrus
Taste: Sour apple, fruits with some wood flavor



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