Temptation - Russian River Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

4.54/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Jeff for sharing this one with me. Pours a golden-yellow color, translucent with lots of light shining through the edges. The foamy white head lasts for a bit as it settles and leaves some big, wet legging.

The aroma is thoroughly acidic and tart. Sour apple skins, pears, light vinegar, faint lactic aromas. There's a mild woodiness behind all of the tart fruits, but there's no denying that this is a sour bomb. I was a bit shocked to find that there was quite a big vinous character in the aroma, too, until I read that this was aged in chardonnay barrel. Makes sense now. Very tingly on the nostrils, this one's gonna be sour - no doubt.

And sure enough, it is. Temptation is very sour, front and center. We're talking puckering sour, not just "mildly tart". Lemons are huge, as are apples and pears. Wow, this is just so, so, so, SO tart. Each sip feels more tart than the last. It hits the edges and corners of your mouth and gets your face scrunched up in not time. Maybe not as sour as Beatification, but very, very close from what I can recall. Light vinous notes, as well as a mild oak flavor on the tail, but the beer has a mostly sweet finish once that godly tartness finally dies down. Medium bodied, heavily carbonated.

I've come to expect a lot from Russian River, and rightfully so. Temptation delivers. It's a sour motherfucker, that's for sure. If you like sours and you haven't had this yet - get some. Now.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 23:39:18 | More by tectactoe

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

4.53/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | 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

Nolen12

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -10.5%

05-13-2013 15:33:52 | More by Nolen12

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-13-2013 06:15:21 | More by Bonko_the_sane

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-13-2013 01:05:05 | More by BarrytheBear

jkball01

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-12-2013 19:55:50 | More by jkball01

akukucka

New York

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%

05-12-2013 18:29:01 | More by akukucka

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-12-2013 17:02:52 | More by mikeburd1128

Hopbully

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%

05-12-2013 16:33:23 | More by Hopbully

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-12-2013 15:35:20 | More by ipas-for-life

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%

05-11-2013 21:00:09 | More by MinorThreat