Temptation - Russian River Brewing Company

roadhouse

Florida

5/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Batch 004x1, 750ml bottle split between a snifter and Duvel glass. Poured the last couple ounces and dregs in to my wild ale :)

The appearance is flawless. It's a crystal clear golden hue in both glasses with a massive fluffy white head and giant sheets of lace sticking to the glass already. Tons of tiny carbonation bubbles floating to the top. The head is like a cloud, huge and puffy with it's own shapes.

The aroma is top notch as well. I am picking up white grapes, lactic acidity, Brettanomyces, and a bit of oak. Some light fruity notes of lemon and pear. A distant graininess mostly covered up by the wild complexity. The chardonnay definitely comes through a bit in the smell too.

The taste is just as splendid. It starts out with a perfect light sour/sweet note at the beginning upon sipping and at the beginning of the swallow it gets the most sour with a strong lactic and lemon bite which is followed up by a perfect note of fruit that almost lends a sweetness while the tartness lingers, making for a most interesting combination.

Mouthfeel is very light, yet the carbonation makes it super creamy and soft in the mouth in contrast to the sharpness of the acidity.

Wow - I did not expect this to actually be a 5 beer going into it - but it just has to be. As far as pale wild ales go, this stuff is better than many of the true lambics of Belgium. It's right up there with Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen, etc. but I think there is even slightly more complexity to it. This one has had some extra time to age and it has done wonders. I need more!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2011 00:28:02 | More by roadhouse

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