Temptation - Russian River Brewing Company

baiser

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow, is this a beer or wine? I've never experienced a beer like this. Aged in oak chardonnay barrels, the aroma certainly shows it. Apples, pear, oak in the nose. The cork smelled like ripe apples too. I couldn't get enough of the aroma. This beer is dry, fruity and light bodied. Some earthiness, fruitiness, some characteristics of white wine. An extremely enjoyable and truly unique beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2005 23:30:31 | More by baiser

Fugazme

Nebraska

3.85/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had some very high expectations... they weren't entirely met.

Pours very orange/coppery/slightly cloudy. Some big bubbles in the head. Very white. Great stickage to the glass. Looks very, very nice.

First whiff was pure chardonnay... apples, pear, oak, alcohol. Wow. Second whiff was the same, only with a slight hint of some malt... finally reminding me it was a beer.

The palate was very dry and gone quickly. This is where I got a tad dissapointed. It was very good, but was gone. Tart, tannic, and appley, but not a great finish. That's the only draw back in my opinion.

It really is hard to tell this is a beer. I would drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2005 23:41:22 | More by Fugazme

meathookjones

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Batch 001. Appears a cloudy golden yellow with a quick forming tall fizzy white head. As the head dies down streaks and some rings remain. Tart fruity aroma with some interesting white wine notes that are integrated nicely. A bit of lemon and some funkiness to it as well. A bit lambic like and very unique. The flavor starts with a bit of sweet fruit with a nice tartness along side it. Some woody notes and funky Brett things are going on as well. Similarities to wine and lambic show through. All the different flavors pull together very well. Very smooth and well carbonated. For the complexities going on in this its really drinkable stuff. A unique and delicious beer that everyone should try.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2005 19:53:40 | More by meathookjones

WesWes

New York

4.2/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a hazy gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is awesome. It has a pale malt scent that is overridden with tart bacteria and yeast aroma. It's almost lambic in nature. The taste is good. It has a smooth pale malt flavor that goes down easy and finishes dry and tart. The mouthfeel is good. It is a low/medium bodied beer with adequate/good carbonation. This is a damn fine brew. It's light and refreshing with a kick ass sour finish that's a bit warm on the way down. This is a great drinker.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2005 01:11:50 | More by WesWes

GeoffFromSJ

New Jersey

4.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Nice head. Between gold and amber in color.

Taste is really nice mixture of the underlying blonde ale and the bret used during the process. Funky, but not overwhelming so.

Very smooth mouthfeel.

This one is quite drinkable due to being funky and having a good underlying blonde taste.

Had at Tria in Philly with a raw milk sheep cheese. A pretty good pairing.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2005 00:19:20 | More by GeoffFromSJ

Boilermaker88

California

4.68/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presented in a 12.7oz corked and caged bottle bearing a batch number (001 in this case) that's nearly lost amongst all the data about and instruction on how to properly enjoy this brew. Following the label's advice, I pulled out my handy-dandy Duvel glass and popped the cork.
Appearance: darker than I recall from my samplings at the ABF last June. Similar to wet straw. Sported a 1" deep spritzy white head that left ghostly etchings of lace behind and was easily recalled by a light swirling of the glass.
The nose fairly barked vino as the aroma of chardonney seized my nostrils. Quick to follow was the note of oaken woodiness and, on a lesser level, vanilla bean. The label mentions the use of Brett in the brewing - no kidding. The aroma easily stands out. Kinda like once you smell a meth lab, you KNOW it's a meth lab. Same kind of thing going on here.
The taste is a happy marriage of beer and wine as the parching chardonney flavor wrestles with the funkiness of the Brett for something that begs description but is hard to put into words. Oak and vanilla somewhat smooth things out but the dryness and tartness is inescapable. Citric tang is also present. This is one wild ride for the taste buds. The feel is light shading toward medium, smooth and bone-dry.
Overall, I think this could become like liquid meth for me. Glad I have another bottle but wish they were bigger than these puny not-quite 13oz runts. Time for Temptation to be bomber-ized, methinks. Anyway, another fabulous beer by Vinnie and the crew at Russian River.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2005 05:07:38 | More by Boilermaker88

Beervis

Ontario (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours from the 12.7oz mini champagne-style, corked & caged bottle a light straw colour with a thick white head. The bottle has a nice long ramble about the beer, and says Batch #1.

Smell is musty and sour up front, with green apple and a slightly oaky scent.

Taste is amazingly complex. It stars off sour and acidic, with nice bright fruity flavours. Mouthfeel is light to medium, with spicy alcohol presenting itself as it warms. Oak flavours again are present, and complement it perfectly. Finishes with winey grape flavours, then trails off to a dry sourness.

This beer is very drinkable, but I'm not sure how many bottles I could have in a row. I love lambics, and was pleasently surprised by this my first taste of an American Wild Ale. Very impressive, and I hope to try more of these.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2005 12:45:32 | More by Beervis

bditty187

Nebraska

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Lightly hazy, dull gold in hue with a sunshiny amber-coppery highlight; the liquid looks well enough but I’ve seen more eye-catching. The head was white in color, at the foams heights point the tinny bubbles bonded long enough to create one-finger of froth. Head retention was fair; it quickly subsided to a thin, soapy cap. About halfway through my slow sipping a thin, half collar was all that remained. I wish the head retention was better, something needed to liven-up the appearance. There wasn’t much subsequent lacing, only a few splashes of foam. I like how this beer looks but it is far from remarkable.

The nose is totally Belgian. Hardcore Belgian! [Note: I say Belgian but I realize that Brett and oak-aging and whatnot are not just Belgian things. Still, I can’t help but feel a Belgian connection… even if RR didn’t want one or not]. Lambic bloodlines, I bet the daddy’s name was Brett. It is funky. It is acidic. Lightly earthy but more so green apples, white grapes, and pears, hints of oak with some lemon zest. Sour candy. At the back are hints of white wine. Firm but yielding potency, the bouquet is very articulate. It is Belgium in a glass via Northern California... either that, or it is uniquely American via Russian River. The nose is inviting for me… but for you? I don’t know. The nose warns the weak and summons the brave. I am about to answer its call.

The first half sip was disappointing. It was clean. WTF? By the swallow, oh my… does this beer develop wonderfully. The lemony acidity with a sour underbelly is truly amazing. I’ve never had a beer with such an exposed soul. It is gentle but demanding. This little aspect is so flavorful. There is not much flash here; it is just some straightforward yeasty influences. There are dry white wine notes, oak, and acidic with some tangy candy, some fruitiness, wheat, and even some vanilla. The palate is complex but I think I can figure it out, which isn’t a good or bad thing. All in all, the flavor profile is stunning, especially the lemony aspects. That vibe alone makes this beer noteworthy. I want to call this beer clean… but I think what I’m feeling is just a very well put-together (and fresh) beverage. It is very tasty… I mean, scrumptious to the nth degree. Impressive, from first to last sip.

Medium in body, light but ticklish carbonation plays with the acidity to create a refreshing and enjoyable mouthfeel. There is a long aftertaste which is a culmination of everything detected on the palate. It is warm and a little raw on the throat but I would have never guessed this beer was over 7% abv. Wow.

Wow again. This beer is a drinkable beast. I need a thesaurus because I can’t stop calling this beer impressive. Tart. Acidic. Funky. Bitter. Citrusy. And truly brilliant! I haven’t had many beers like this, if any. As good as the palate is the drinkability is the shinning achievement here. It is refreshing, enjoyable, and complex but no to the point that it can’t be conquered. I am happy I purchased a bottle online from RR, it was worth every cent. Recommended.

Batch 001

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2005 13:23:59 | More by bditty187

Rastacouere

Quebec (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Hazy golden sandy blonde. Head is white, small, lasting. Very vinous nose contains strong farmy and funky notes that seems to multiply the fruit presence. Banana bread soaked in cider and banged around with tart white grapes. Globally very fresh and classy, yet you feel this would survive many years. The palate is delicate, flowery and vibrantly tart in a pineapple way. Fresh fruitiness brings the complexity through the roof. It somehow manages to remain accessible thanks to a striking balance and transcendent "classiness". Bretty cobwebs, cidery salty minerals. Satisfying, juicy, yet dry. Firm champaigny carbonation, smooth palate. My new favorite from Vinnie.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2005 01:19:01 | More by Rastacouere

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch #1 in a 1.5 liter bottle

Pours to a clear golden-yellow with a creamy white head. Leaves a nice amount of lacing when sipped down. The aroma is sour and tart with a lemony/herbal funkiness. Very nice. The flavor is yeasty, funky with a nice subtle oakiness. It has a bit of sour fruitiness throughout as well. It is very smooth drinking for such a high octane brew.

I like it. Special thanks to Stubob SweatPants for sharing this one. I know I will never hear the end of it, how I never bring shit to the table except for Strohs.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2005 22:29:56 | More by BeerBuilder

merlin48

Kentucky

4.7/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12.7 oz bottle, corked and caged, batch 001, served in a large tulip glass at cellar temperature. Smoke billows forth from the bottle for several seconds after the cork is twisted off. Hazy, golden yellow body is topped by three inches of bonewhite custard meringue. Excellent head retention and very attractive chains of small bubbled foam lace the glass.
Aroma is lambic and geuze-like, with a heavy presence of oak wood. Very sour lemon and the tartest of cherries mingle with a dirty cattleyard Brett funkiness. Very earthy and woodsy, as the oak notes waver between sawed wood and vanilla. Floral hops serve up notes of a greenhouse of botanicals. Exceptional bouquet.
Mouthfeel has a medium body and frisky carbonation, becoming satiny as it warms.
Taste is extremely complex. Lambic sourness and lemony acidity are immediately noted. Strong oak presence wavers between vanilla and sawed wood, as in the aroma. Chardonay wine notes abound, and white grapes join a pear and cherry fruitiness as it reaches room temperature. Strange Brett notes are very much a part of the profile and add an odd earthy note. Not barnyard as in the aroma, but difficult to describe from sampling just one bottle. Honey drenched green apples appear briefly toward the close, but the finish is ultimately dry, lemony, and oaky. Wow! This is as complex a profile as I've encountered.
Drinkability is limited only by price and availability. Amazing complexity as each sip brings forth a different note. An exceptional sipping experience here. Don't drink this one any colder than cellar temperature. Room temperature brings out all sorts of interesting flavors and aromas. Very playful on the nose and palate. Incredibly well constructed.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2005 17:37:40 | More by merlin48

IceAce

California

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

375 ml bottle labeled as 'Batch 001'

Unleashing the cork from the cage and liberating it from the bottle sends forth a cascade of wild aromas including a mouth-watering sourness from Bret. The nose is farmhouse saison all the way!

From a cheek tingling entry to a chardonnay finish as crisp as the first cold autumn night, this beer is complex and seemingly changes 'moods' as it warms.

While chilled, it is subdued...yet vibrant. As it warms, the midtaste dances on the rear of the tongue with a myriad of funky treasures. The mouthfeel is a palate-pleasing contrast between spikey carbonation and velvety yeast strains.

Spectacular!

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2005 06:11:59 | More by IceAce

Troyone

California

4.88/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Was suprised to have found this at Whole Foods right next to a bottle of Damnation and an Eisbock (Aventinus), Prior 8 (St. Bernardus), and "Pete's" Tribute (B. R.) was not far away on the same shelf.

Pours a hazy apple juice color with a blond hue, an off white frothy head, some lacing, and evident carb action.

Ahh, a very crisp sour dough and cheesy malt smell with a pine and citrus hops aroma.

Moderately sweet, bitter, and acetic cheesy malt taste and a grassy, spruce, grapefruit, and lemon/lime hops flavor.

Medium bodied, slightly syrupy texture, soft and kind of fizzy carbonation, and a smooth pleasantly astringent and maybe slightly chalky finish.

An excellent balanced beer some what like a Lambic, chewy, smooth, and has a long lasting crisp grapefruit aftertaste. Note: the bottle states 7.25% abv. and was empty before I could finish the review.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2005 02:41:52 | More by Troyone

OldSock

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance and Presentation – 12.7 oz caged and corked bottle. Labeled batch #1. White head with good retention and lacing. The color is a light golden yellow.

Smell – Fruity cherries, oak and definitely some sourness. As the beer warms the alcohol pokes through just a bit in addition to floral hints. Unique certainly.

Taste – Smooth oakiness at the front, slightly sour and dry in the back. The grapey wine flavor shows through in the aftertaste. Nicely balanced, the sourness is less than expected from a beer made with wild yeast.

Mouthfeel – Smooth with medium carbonation and a medium body.

Drinkability and Notes – A really interesting beer, but not one that I am overly in love with. The wine like character makes this slow, but enjoyable to drink. Glad I picked it up when I saw it, but not sure if I would get another at the steep price.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2005 01:05:30 | More by OldSock

egajdzis

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

RBSG 2005... Poured a hazy orange gold color with a small, white head that left spotty lacing on the glass. Aroma of cherries, brett, chardonnay grapes, and faint diactyl. Taste of oak, strawberries, tart grapes, while finishing nice and acidic. Damn fine brew!

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2005 02:43:22 | More by egajdzis

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured into the chalice clear pale golden with a white frothy head which rose tall and fell slowly to lace the glass.

The aroma was slightly acidic with a grapeskin/seed aromatic found in many lambics. Some fruity and earthy character melded with oak was most notable and in the forefront. A slight spice and a low citrus were also present.

The flavor was light with an oak flavor and vanilla when the beer first contacted the palate. The oak flavor was light and lasting with a citric and acidity that assisted with drying out the beer. The flavor was very complex with a nice lemony citrus and light fruitiness coupled with a slight spice and vanilla and light peper. The complexity of the flavor was interesting and well done.

The finish was dry and relatively benign with only a light oak, vanilla and citrus that drifted away in the finality of the aftertaste. The body was just below medium and creamy due to the carbonation level. An extremely interesting beer that definitely falls into the category of American Wild Ale and stands apart from the crowd.

12 ounce corked and bailed bottle, Batch 001, $9.29 at Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville, VA.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2005 21:33:56 | More by GCBrewingCo

pentathlete

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pale yellow, big head and subsequently a firm ring. Didn't look as good as its sibling, the Supplication. Oh, the nose...huge American funk. I've never smelled this before. The oakiness, the wild nose, the vinous character blended into a single olfactory blitz that I was praying didn't overpromise. The taste was bone dry, woody, grapeskin, with a funkiness throughout. Then at the end, a swell of zest before a long soft cheesy finish. I remember spontaneously yelling some euphoric expletives while sitting at the bar.

Capital Ale had just put some bottles in the cooler. They had entered the pricing in the system which wouldn't be available to the next day. I nabbed one, price unseen, and the manager had to key it into the register. The 375ml bottle ran $21. Takes it out of the "I'll have two more" range. But, damn, this is a great, original beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2005 03:09:06 | More by pentathlete

LuckySevens82

Florida

4.85/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

375ml bottle Batch 001
Pours a pale orange yellow with a very nice two finger white head. The head gives way to a decent white lacing and a very nice white collar. A fine looking beer even if head retention is kind of lousy.
Smell is oak, musty yeast, some lactic sourness. There is a definite fruitiness (grapes, pears, peaches) makes itself known.
Taste is somewhat sour, but not nearly what I would have expected given the style. Fruits make themselves known (chardonay grapes, pears, peaches, etc). Followed by a massive oaky flavor as well as spicy and bitter hops.
Mouthfeel is pretty damn impressive. Dry, smooth and all enjoyable.
Overall, I could easily drink this one all night. Plain and simple, I could just have this all the time. Russian River continues to prove to me that they are an amazing brewery and Vinnie is just an amazing brewer. This beer is phenominal.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2005 00:57:46 | More by LuckySevens82

pjwilson

California

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On label it says "Is it wine or is it beer?" Well, this is the closest tasting to wine beer i've ever had. Chardonnay flavors dominate this beer...but there's more than just that also a sourness..mild compared to some lambic. typical descriptions of malt and hops don't really work here. This one was served chilled and it's so darn drinkable...if it wasn't 8 dollars a bottle i could go through a 6 pack like nothing. maybe one of those 1.5 litter bottles would a fun way to spend a summer evening alone. a very different beer for sure. tastes alot like chardonnay. .. but's it's better :)

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2005 07:01:44 | More by pjwilson

goodbyeohio

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

batch 001, thanks biglove for the hookup

hazy and foamy carbonated apple cider appearance.. some frothy lacing.. poured into a flutelike fischer tasting glass. pleasant barnyard aroma with buttery wood notes and a bready yeast that dulls the beer's potential for unbridled funk. tastes like a mild lambic infused with the chardonnay from the barrels.. love the dryness this imparts. splitting a bottle of this two ways yields too small a sample to get too much out of.. not to mention that when served chilled, this is a refreshing, thirst quenching beer that you just can't put down. alcohol is mild and all that makes a wild ale a sipper is muted here. a pretty excellent brew, not nearly as complex a brew and worthy of the hype as supplication. ill have no problem drinking the remaining bottles of this beer in my closet. will certainly re-review with further notes when i can hog one of these bad boys for myself.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2005 12:38:15 | More by goodbyeohio

connecticutpoet

Connecticut

4.95/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Batch 001, 375 mL bottle, corked and caged. Received in trade from GClarkage. Poured into St. Bernardus chalice glass.

This was a light amber, hazy beer with a one finger, white, dense foamy head that persisted throughout the experience. It left a lot of foam on the glass.

Aroma was of white wine and oak, but a little sour too. Very complez, not quite like a beer... damn, I love when beers are aged this way. They become so much more.

Taste was even more complex than the aroma. Massive Chardonnay and oak notes, and some maltiness thrown in. Slightly sour, but not out of place... it served to tie everything together.

Mouthfeel was smooth and mellow... a little foamy, too.

Drinkability was excellent... I had to make myself slow down to let it last, as this was all I had and all I would have for a long time. But I think I may well trade for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2005 02:06:56 | More by connecticutpoet

Px2GrafX

Virginia

4.63/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

presentation: 12oz. tall slender neck bottle with a cork and wire crown. grey label with a scythe graphic and temptation barrel aged ale printed. number 23 is on the scythe. "blonde ale aged in oak barrels" also printed on label. "barrel aged 12 months" presented. the russian river interpretation of "temptation" is on the back of the label along with, an image of a tulip glass, and batch 001. 7.25%abv is displayed, and there also is a graphic that is further explained on the russian river website to mean that the bottle can be cellared up to 4 years. what else do you need to know???

appearance: pours a hazy caramelly orange with tangerine hilights in my favorite snifter. 2" fluffy white head that dropped to about a quarter inch quickly. the lacing and sticking is near perfect. stream of bubbles rise from the stem.

smell: very aromatic. lemon citrusy with a soapy clean grape aroma. bubble gum, wheat and perfume. love the bouquet!

taste: salty and lightly spicy wine/champagne. very vinous flavor. nice sour lemony acidic finish. light bitterness. not overly complex, but very flavorful. alcohol is well masked. incomparable to any beer i've ever had previously.

mouthfeel: unusually crisp while also creamy. there's an amazing champagne carbonation that you feel at the top of your throat when you swallow. smooth. love it.

drinkability: every sip begs for more. the bottle is deceivingly small, and when you finish, you check the label to make sure it wasn't less than 12oz. where did it go? alcohol is almost completely masked. the true "champagne of beers". (sorry miller high life)

overall: what can i say? i love it. i have one other bottle that i'm gonna lay down, but i don't know if i can be patient. i ordered this from russian river's website and it was worth every penny. (almost $12 after shipping) i also have some supplication waiting in the fridge, and that's supposed to be better. it'd almost have to be perfect to be better than temptation. 2 enthusiastic thumbs.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2005 03:45:56 | More by Px2GrafX

Naerhu

Japan

3.35/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Hazy dark yellow, pure white head.
S - Slightly sour and slightly guezey chardonnay aromas
T - Extremely dry, quite bitter for the queze style. Lambicy, but none of the punishing sourness or any of the harshness.
M - Smooth and small carbonation. Delightful.
D - Interesting and tastey, but not refreshing.

Confirming my suspision that BAs are generally the finest people you will ever meet, I met with DonneBaby this evening, and had quite a good time. Thank you for bringing this beer all the way to Japan.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2005 15:48:41 | More by Naerhu

Dukeofearl

California

4.68/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

375 ml bottle- very oddly shaped, but after trying the Supplication, I could not wait to try this one as well.

Cage comes off and cork comes out with a very solid pop-thunk, and a lot of gunsmoke. Aroma of wood and sour lambic-style funk and, yes, chardonnay come a running before I even get this poured. That gets high aroma marks all on its own.

But it pours an orangy-golden with a medium white head in my Duvel glass that is actually smaller than I would expect. A steady stream of carbonation keeps a little bit of head going for quite a while (not long, see drinkability below). Nice-even very nice, but not just screaming to be drunk.

But here's the aroma again. I would be remiss if this isn't a 5, just for its complexity and uniqueness... I can't pretend to tellyou what all is going on. Lambic-like, but not. Funky, but not overly harsh.

Flavor- this could be a glass of wine. Perhaps not a Chardonnay, but it's dry, white-grapes, and there's a lot going on in this wine, I mean beer. Complex. Wow. Not sharp-sour like a lambic, much more mellow and accessible without being plain. This has a lot of goodness going on here!

Mouthfeel is lush and very comfy, it would be better if this stuff wasn't so damned drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2005 00:25:49 | More by Dukeofearl

lou91

California

4.28/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I drank this a day after supplication so I can compare them with clarity. It looked and smelled good with the honey, tartness in a bubbly golden yellow package. The taste was very good with definite white wine crisp clean notes with a oak aftertaste - not quite like a beer spritzer. This is very well made with so much depth and complexity but sublte like a good white wine or gueze. Unlike supplication, it should be enjoyed colder. Warming didn't hurt but it didn't help. Also $8.00 at Ledger's.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2005 04:42:33 | More by lou91