Temptation - Russian River Brewing Company

MadeInOregon

California

3.9/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My first Russian River beer. Guess I'm officially a cool, beer snob now...

THE APPEARANCE of the Temptation ale (btw, 7.5% not 7.25%) was not impressive but not terrible. It's extremely effervescent with a 3/4-inch airy white foam head bubbling up to the top. It has virtually no lacing at all. Basically looks like apple cider or a heavily-filtered hefeweizen in color.

THE SMELL, wow, very pungent. I could smell this beer from several feet away after popping the cork and pouring it out. The aromas I picked up are champagne, chardonnay, green apples, apricot, and yeast.

THE TASTE is extremely vinegary. Cider vinegar is the main flavor with some mild hopping. It is a little peppery and there is a strong skunky, wild mushroom flavor also. Alcohol is hidden. The flavor is strong but it is really quite simple, and straightforward--which is kind of a shame considering the extra labor involved in creating this beer. Starting with a blonde ale was a wise choice for making this style; too much hoppyness would have made the tartness overwhelming (I once had a sour ale at Deschutes Brewery's pub that must have started with a fairly hoppy pale ale. It exemplified how NOT to make a sour ale. Might as well have drank vinegar).

THE FEEL of this odd ale is by far the high point. It's amazingly smooth, dry and sticky on the lips, with a fair amount of alcohol burn in the back of the throat. Altogether, these are odd sensations but are enjoyable and mild. Overall, this is a light beer.

CONCLUSION: This beer is not for everyone, obviously. I tend to agree with the low-end reviews for this brew more so than the high ones. Truthfully, it's mostly hype. The fancy bottle, complicated process, high price, and perceived exclusivity of Russian River's brews are great marketing but do nothing to enhance the taste of Temptation. The best thing this has going for it is that it's a great thirst quencher in the same vein as a Bavarian hefeweizen. On its own it's just a little one-sided and boring. I'd recommend treating it like wine and having it with food. On the other had, you could always just buy some wine...

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 04:44:02 | More by MadeInOregon

Jeremy_H

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -16.1%

05-24-2013 01:53:50 | More by Jeremy_H

IHyphySF

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-24-2013 00:33:37 | More by IHyphySF

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-22-2013 22:07:03 | More by randylangford

pmoore311

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-21-2013 22:07:32 | More by pmoore311

PlinyBeMiney

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-21-2013 07:06:32 | More by PlinyBeMiney

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-21-2013 04:14:19 | More by CosmoHopHead

tastyville

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-21-2013 02:36:47 | More by tastyville

adamcarlson28

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-20-2013 20:10:57 | More by adamcarlson28

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-20-2013 01:30:38 | More by Ctrauty

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-19-2013 15:11:23 | More by ShawnMH

alanv

California

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-18-2013 21:36:17 | More by alanv

Shumania

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375 ounce bottle, batch number 05X1E, poured into a snifter

a: hazy yellow/orange with minimal head, some carbonation

s: tart lemon, oak, funky yeast

t: similar to the smell. lemon, wine grapes, good tartness, oak, and more funk from the brett

m: extremely dry

Really nice play from the oak barrels. Good mix of fruit, tart, and oak!

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 21:32:57 | More by Shumania

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-18-2013 16:49:19 | More by eyeenjoybeer

ALifeWellWasted

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-18-2013 03:11:22 | More by ALifeWellWasted

GuzzLah

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - pours an opaque gold with an ephemeral head. A touch of lace. No bubbles.

S - pink bubblegum, oak, lacto/pedio sourness, leathery Brett, mild white grape, faint coconut.

T - is like the aroma minus the bubblegum with a pleasant peppery finish. Really nice balance of flavors. Certainly a sour, but not an extreme sour. Elegant without being wimpy. Not overly acidic for the style.

M - my first 5 rating for mouthfeel. Light-medium body. Slightly oily. Creamy. Effervescent. Dry. Tart. Absolutely delicious with a long aftertaste that does exceptionally naughty things to my tongue.

O - God damn. This beer is absolutely Fexcellent. (That's effing excellent for the phonetically challenged). I rarely get this excited over a beer, but this one is outstanding for the style from the perspective of a person who is a big fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 00:19:45 | More by GuzzLah

creez

California

5/5  rDev +11.9%

05-17-2013 20:08:00 | More by creez

chossboss

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-17-2013 04:29:55 | More by chossboss

BigbROB

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-16-2013 17:40:08 | More by BigbROB

eulerthegrape

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-16-2013 17:39:26 | More by eulerthegrape

deekyn

California

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-16-2013 04:00:35 | More by deekyn

cnbrown313

Illinois

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-15-2013 18:58:39 | More by cnbrown313

Zbeetleman

California

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-15-2013 03:34:18 | More by Zbeetleman

salvy31

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-14-2013 05:05:25 | More by salvy31

Absolut

California

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-13-2013 18:49:04 | More by Absolut