Temptation
Russian River Brewing Company
- From:
- Russian River Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
Ranked #21 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 98
Ranked #290 - Avg:
- 4.45 | pDev: 8.76%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1,073
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 17, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 19, 2003
- Wants:
- 1,782
- Gots:
- 1,051
SCORE
98
World-Class
98
World-Class
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Alieniloquium:
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
4.44/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
375 mL bottle poured into an RR -tion glass. Batch 006. Served a touch too cold at 45F.
Appearance - Remarkably clear golden yellow body. Not a lot of head. Biggish bubbles that settle quickly. The lacing is nice and bubbles rise from the bottom of the glass like champagne.
Smell - Chardonnay is most prominent. Oaky with a nice lemon tartness. Funky, but not like a lambic. Complex aroma, but it isn't overwhelming.
Taste - Again, complex without being overpowering. Initially tart, with a slight funk in the flavor. Lemony like the aroma. The tartness is immediately tamed by the chardonnay, which makes it one of the easiest-drinking sour ales I've ever had.
Mouthfeel - The chardonnay cuts any unpleasant harshness that may have arisen from the souring process. Light and bubbly. I could easily drink this too quickly, but I would be missing out.
Overall - Not intense like many other sours. A variety of subtle flavors that play nicely together. Something I definitely need more of.
Feb 03, 2012Appearance - Remarkably clear golden yellow body. Not a lot of head. Biggish bubbles that settle quickly. The lacing is nice and bubbles rise from the bottom of the glass like champagne.
Smell - Chardonnay is most prominent. Oaky with a nice lemon tartness. Funky, but not like a lambic. Complex aroma, but it isn't overwhelming.
Taste - Again, complex without being overpowering. Initially tart, with a slight funk in the flavor. Lemony like the aroma. The tartness is immediately tamed by the chardonnay, which makes it one of the easiest-drinking sour ales I've ever had.
Mouthfeel - The chardonnay cuts any unpleasant harshness that may have arisen from the souring process. Light and bubbly. I could easily drink this too quickly, but I would be missing out.
Overall - Not intense like many other sours. A variety of subtle flavors that play nicely together. Something I definitely need more of.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by BeerEssentials96 from Texas
4.37/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours golden with a bit of opacity and a thin, active head. The nose is very dynamic with notes of hay, brett, grapes, and a bit of oceanic salinity. The taste is very classic sour - lemon zest, bright white grapes & green apple, barnyard funk, light hay. Super solid, super refreshing.
Sep 26, 2025
Reviewed by dajjorg from Spain
4.54/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
This is the most Gueze-like of all the Russian River sour ales, in my opinion. Much better than Beatification, I think. Truly a great funky ale. Hate the new bottle design, though.
Aug 22, 2025Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
4.29/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Golden color. Big white head. Fruits, oak, and light funky notes in the aroma. Moderately sour with a dry finish. Extremely drinkable. A legendary beer at this point.
May 28, 2025
Reviewed by dfillius from Iowa
4.51/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.51/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottled on: 032823
Found this one at County Line in Erie, CO while visiting family.
Pours luminously golden with lovely white lace that sticks around for amazingly long. Most wild ales have non-existent or tragically ephemeral head retention.
Smell is complex with notes of oak and soft cheese as well as tart fruit.
Flavor is tart fruit as well with some white wine notes. Very tasty but not terribly complex.
Mouthfeel is tart with an astringent finish
Overall this is another great wild ale from Russian River.
Jan 23, 2025Found this one at County Line in Erie, CO while visiting family.
Pours luminously golden with lovely white lace that sticks around for amazingly long. Most wild ales have non-existent or tragically ephemeral head retention.
Smell is complex with notes of oak and soft cheese as well as tart fruit.
Flavor is tart fruit as well with some white wine notes. Very tasty but not terribly complex.
Mouthfeel is tart with an astringent finish
Overall this is another great wild ale from Russian River.
Rated by MikeySea from Arizona
4.67/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.67/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
2023 bottling date
Dec 25, 2024
Rated by moysauce from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From Untappd 2019
Mar 06, 2024
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