Temptation - Russian River Brewing Company

FosterJM

California

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

265th review on BA
Draft to chimay goblet

App- Soft golden yellow with a fast receding one finger head. Thin lacing down the goblet as it settles after sip.

Smell- Very tart with a subdued grape note and a muted oak note.

Taste- Soft sweet citrus. Not as tart as I would have thought it would be. Had a commanding taste with a nice white wine note. Didn't pick up too much of the Brett in this taste.

Mouth- I didn't find this one to be mouth puckering tart or sweet. A nice light/medium body with a high carbonation.

Drink- This was a good beer on tap. I was expecting a more puckering sweet beer but this was quite nice and drinkable. Dangerously so.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2011 06:06:54 | More by FosterJM

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

3.93/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this in an 110z. Belgian glass at the Russian River brewhouse.

Appearance: Golden yellow. Slightly unfiltered. It has little to no head that evaporates quickly.

Smell: White wine grapes. Faint balmy notes that are really overpowered by the Chardonnay barrels that the beer is aged in. Hints of bread. This beer gets better after a few initial sips as the ale notes begin to compete with the intial shock of the wine smell and taste:

Taste: This is a weird experience for me because I am not much of a wine drinker. I appreciate the idiosyncrasy of this beer and am willing to overlook its aging process. The belgian qualities of this beer become discernible if you concentrate hard enough. Banana esters develop with time in the cup.

Mouthfeel: Mediu bodied. Swishes well in the mouth. finishes well.

Drinkability: I am personally turned off by the wine taste but I do think this is a good ale. I'd reccomend it to people who like wine and would like to try a fine beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2011 05:29:49 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

Comes out dark yellow and hazy, almost like a hefe, tons of lace, better looking than any wilds, could be bumped to a 5 on successive tastings. Definitely not a hefe in the nose, wood aroma, funkiness, lemony.

Taste, white wine sourness, oak, grapes, so pucker inducing. Hides alcohol extremely well, extremely dry finish to this, very drinkable. Probably the least complex of any RR sours I've had, but no less good. I'd give this to a noob before Consecration or Supplication. They're all excellent and world class.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2011 22:49:30 | More by Beerandraiderfan

tobin

Michigan

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

On tap at the brew pub

Comes to the table a fairly clear golden with orange hues. A light, bubbly head quickly fades leaving no lacing around the glass.

Very bright nose, with tangy sourness and assorted fruits (especially green apple) in the nose. So inviting.

Bitter and dry up front with some sweet touches. The beer is pleasantly sour throughout with apricot, apple, and wine grapes. A bit of citrus dashes through with oaky tart flavors, hints of Chardonnay, and some some soft funk. Finishes super long with tasty, lasting dry and sour notes.

Lighter body, tingly, and dry. Dances on the tongue with excellent flavor and feel. Goes down so easy you have to consciously slow yourself down to avoid drinking it too fast.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 20:10:13 | More by tobin

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

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

On tap at the Russian River brewpub in Santa Rosa. Pours a cloudy orange colour with thin white head. Smells pretty funky, I get cherry and apple with some vanilla. Quite a sour taste, with a sour cherry aftertaste. Very dry flavour. Big carbonation on this. I really enjoyed this, one of the better sours I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2011 21:34:50 | More by kwjd

Axic10

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at TJ's 7th Anniversary Event.

Appearance: Pale golden with little to no head.

Smell: Funky brett, oak and chardonnay.

Taste: Tart, funky brett, oak and some nice fruit notes.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and dry.

Drinkability: I can drink this all day and all night and not get sick of it at all. Very good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2011 00:04:29 | More by Axic10

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Belgian Cafe.

I've had several different batches of this on tap and in bottles and always prefer the bottle.

Pours a hazy golden yellowish orange color with golden yellow hues hen held to a light source and a half finger fizzy white head that immediately fades into a thin ring. No lacing.

Funky tart aroma with lots of dry bretty effervescence as well as some earthy oak and light fruit. Hints of grape, cherry, strawberry and other berries. A nice combination of sweet, funk, tart and earthy oak.

Medium bodied and very well balanced with a very nice combination of sour tart/funk notes, oak, vanilla and crisp, light fruit. Although this beer is puckering with a very prominent dry funky brett character, it is probably the most quaffable of the RR sours. Lighter and not acidic/acetic at all really. Plenty of oak and vanilla from the barrel aging but also vinous with hints of grape, cherry and other dark berries. Puckering, mouth-watering dry finish that leaves me salivating for another sip.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2010 07:22:23 | More by corby112

Iceman

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this one very much. Poured it into a large wine glass(suggested by this site) and enjoyed the flavors that poured. You can definitly the sour and wine tastes. It does not over power. The only complaint, not a big enough bottle hahaha. Worth the money big time.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 01:48:51 | More by Iceman

olmatty

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Appearance-Pours a clean beer the color of apple juice with a thin white head.

Smell-Not getting much. A bit of acidity and a whiff of barrel.

Taste- Sour like a white wine. Negligible hop presence. Bitter seems to come from wood barrel tannins. Sour and dry finish.

Mouthfeel- Thin with a palate washing effect.

Drinkability- An absolute pleasure to sip. Not overwhelming in any way.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2010 05:07:15 | More by olmatty

cbarrett4

Oregon

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

Poured into tulip from tap at Belmont Station in Portland.

Zowie! This is one great beer! A truly odd and wonderful little monster here. Pours with a light head (typical of this style). Shows a lot of citrus with a slight funky twang. Well worth a try for any fan of barrel aged ales.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2010 00:00:18 | More by cbarrett4

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap into a mini pint at TJ's 7th Anny. Party. Number three of three in my Russian River flight. An amazing party with amazing beers.

A - Pours pale yellow with a spotty white head leaving minimal lacing down the glass. Quite pale but very inviting.

S - Strong sour notes up front with a bit of sweetness. Some lemon, white grape, and a few other earthy notes. The sourness is strong but not overpowering.

T - Tart up front slowly giving way to bright citrus flavors, similar to the nose, finishing with a lingering biternes that fades after a short time. A very nice wild ale, tart but not overpowering. My favorite of the three.

M - Medium body and head with moderate carbonation. Overall dry feel with a good amount of sourness in the finish, not lingering on the pallet for very long.

D - Very high. While it is a bit dry the sourness helps to balance it all out. One of the most enjoyable wild's I have had. I am glad I have a few of these in the cellar.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2010 03:34:57 | More by orangesol

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Eulogy Belgian Tavern, Olde City during their sour week.

Poured into a tulip, a hazy golden/orange color with about one finger of off white hesd that dissipates quickly leaving little if any lacing.

Aroma is sour, earthy. Sour apples/grapes.

Taste is not overly sour. Fruity and tart flavor. You can pick up on the chardonnay fritiness from the barrels that it was aged in.

The mouthfeel is light bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Dry on the finish.

Very drinkable. Becomes more funky as it warms. I like this beer...

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2010 17:34:14 | More by InspectorBob

oregone

Oregon

4.72/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of my favorites. Certainly my prefered sour from RR. Has a gorgeous unfolding complexity and to my taste an impecable puckery balance.
A: Ligh golden color with a hint of copper in a wider bulbed glass. Very active carbonation which makes for excellent retention of the light and delicate head that settles in.
S: Acidic lime aromas with defined barrel and vinous qualities. Light hints of animal and and barn aromas to complement the grape and pit fruit aromas.
T: Yum! Citrus and aggressive grassy flavors. Oak aged wine characteristics and kumquats. It just continues to open up and evolve.
M: Most certainly puckering. Drying. Refreshing. It is heavy on the attack and persistent on the finish. For how aggressive this is, it surprisingly is not unpleasant or burdensome. Just a pronounced expression.
D: I could drink this one all night. It's weighted palate impression requires paced consumption. But there is nothing fatiguing here and the relatively low abv and slow pace of consumption allows for extended drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2010 20:21:05 | More by oregone

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

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

on tap at monks

Pours a fairly clear golden with orange hues. A light, bubbly head quickly fades leaving no lacing around the glass.

Very bright nose, with tangy sourness and assorted fruits (especially green apple) in the nose. So inviting.

Bitter and dry up front with some sweet touches. The beer is pleasantly sour throughout with apricot, apple, and wine grapes. A bit of citrus dashes through with oaky tart flavors, hints of Chardonnay, and some some soft funk. Finishes super long with tasty, lasting dry and sour notes.

Lighter body, tingly, and dry. Dances on the tongue with excellent flavor and feel. Goes down so easy you have to consciously slow yourself down to avoid drinking it too fast. A true delight and treasure from Russian River.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2010 21:13:54 | More by xnicknj

Douglas14

California

4.97/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Perfection has never tasted so good. And by perfection I refer to sour blondes. Then beer pours out a crystal clear straw color with a nice head that resides a little too quickly. In the nose, fruit, Chardonnay, slight oak and a perfect amount of funk from the Brett. The taste displays the same notes but the flavors are accentuated by the ultra-dry finish and slight bitterness. The refreshing lactic bite but nit overpowering sourness make Temptaion unbelievably drinkable. KILLER. BEER.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2010 02:38:07 | More by Douglas14

mkorpal

Wyoming

4.63/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Had on tap for $5 for 1/2 pint. Yet another beer that made me jump up and down for. Pours a crystal clear, straw color with a minimal head. it's really just a ring around the glass. There is a steady stream of carbonation bubbles rising up the glass. It could pass as a lager, but has so much more to it.

Smell is of mild barnyard funk, a bit of sour apple and grape, and a tinny bit of oak in the background. I may not have picked it up if I didn't know it was oak aged.

Taste is much more forward on the barnyard funk. I pick up more wine like notes in the taste. No oak in the taste, but it is still well rounded with the sour and the funk.

This beer is the definition of dancing on the tongue. Wow, it was by far the most interesting mouthfeel. The sourness hits you at first in the back of your mouth. But towards the end, a sudden burst of funk and carbon dioxide creates what I can almost describe as a chalky, alkaline feel on the tip of my tongue. I have never had something feel quite like this.

This beer isn't the most drinkable. But it is something I could enjoy drinking often. I was quite happy with this beer. yet another world class sour from Russian River.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2010 04:14:42 | More by mkorpal

zoso1967

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served up a deep golden color without much of a head. I am thinking the lack of head is more the result of how it was poured than the beer. The little head that there is looks amazingly sticky, stays around forever and leaves frothy lace on the tulip.

The aroma is lactic and sour with some very nice apricot notes. It is sour, but not too in your face and has a complex aroma. Also present in the nose is sour candy, under-ripe raspberries, earthy oak and a sharp mineral character.

The flavor is quite interesting. Sour up front, but very complex in the middle. Barnyard funk, some skunkiness, lactic acid, apricot and full of unripe raspberry flavors. There is also a bit of citrus pith in the middle and some interesting sort of astringent mineral flavors in the finish. This beer is immensely enjoyable to savor, and has a flavor profile that is hard to describe.

The mouthfeel is medium and nice and dry. It is slightly sticky, but fairly clean leaving sour stone fruit flavors and citrus pith in its wake.

This beer is a trifecta of drinkable, refreshing and complex. I find most sour beers difficult to drink a lot of, but with this beer I could throw back a few and still enjoy. It seems to be the most sessionable of the "tion" sours I have had so far. Another big time win from Vinnie.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2010 19:13:22 | More by zoso1967

emmasdad

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice, somewhat hazy, orange color, with a minimal amount of white foam on top. Not surprisingly, this one was a bit funky, but not particularly sour. Aromas of chardonnay, oak, green grapes and brett. On the palate, I get more of the same funky brett, green apples and oak. A very nice beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2010 02:30:22 | More by emmasdad

Offa

California

4.83/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is an outstanding beer and in my opinion essentially a paradigmatic example of what a wild ale really should be like, very characterful yet restrained, complex, and exceedingly well-rounded and balanced.

Golden yellow, faintly hazy, it has a smallish but firm white head, slowly shrinking, and leaving nice lace.

Aroma is very much a wild ale, gueuze-like, strong yet not too strong, balanced and complex. It has faint sourness, strong yeastiness, light but definite funkiness in general, nice citric, acidic fruitiness.

Taste is very complex, very well-rounded and balanced, characterful and overall outstanding. The elements are firm yet gentle. Gently sour, citric, and yeasty with light juiciness, it has a light but very firm woodiness that takes over at the finish, developing into a long aftertaste predominantly characterised by fruit, mostly pear, and faintly yeasty grain.

Feel is firm but lively and light.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2010 20:40:33 | More by Offa

Stigs

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz pour from the tap at Cheeky Monk (Denver) - served in a chalice

A - bit over a finger of rich and bubbly white colored foam, retreats slowly and leaves random sticky lacing on the glass. the beer is slightly hazy, brigh golden in color.

S - rich and "floral" with a light (but very pleasant) touch of wild yeasty funk, lemony tartness, white grapes, oak, and cherries.

T - begins with both bright fruity and tart flavors of lemon and cherries balanced by a healthy live field and funky yeastiness. sweetness chimes in the second half with an abundant amount of oak and white grape meat. the wine flavors really come out here, moreso than maybe any other beer i've ever had.

M - meidum bodied with crisp yet subdued carbonation, allows the flavors to dance around nicely. just about perfectly dry in the finish, with some lingering sweetness and tart. a pleasure to drink.

D - its strongest suit is in its balance...sour and tart enough to ease a craving, yet not wearing or distracting. allows more of the subtle flavors to not only make an appearance but play around a bit as well, something other Wilds can suffer from. held up to my hearty and sweet breakfast, a great match.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2010 14:49:59 | More by Stigs

gueuzer

Colorado

4.83/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

App- Straw colored with beautiful lacing

SM- A small amount of funk,, balanced with lactic tartness, chardonnay and sweet blonde malts.

Ta- Ecstasy. The fruitiness of the Belgian blonde yeast plays off of the oakniess form the chardonnay barrels. The complexity of goat cheese and other funk flavors meld into the blonde malty goodness.

MF- Nice balanced carbonation. Low.

Dr- World class, this is one to be smelled savored and contemplated.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2010 00:49:11 | More by gueuzer

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at hulmeville in. In a giant ass goblet at that.

A- comes to me with a small cap of loose sudsy head that settles quickly to a thin ring and a few spots of lace. Glowing sunshine yellow with a hint of orange. Perfectly clear.

S- crisp tart green grapes and funky wood. Lemons and dry biscuits.

T- opens up tart and sour and roll into the grapes and oak. Wood is funky and bold. The grapes are mellower then in some batches but still haven't been completely hidden buy the funk.

M- less then medium in body and a nice crisp tingley carb. Dry finish but not as dry as an aged bottle.

D- this is my favorite beer every time I have it. Not totally sure on the batch but a killer one for sure. Buggy yes but I still want more. Party all the time, party all the time. Thank you eddie murphy.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2010 01:43:27 | More by oglmcdgl

TheJollyHop

California

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

On tap at Tony's Darts Away; poured into a goblet.

Ours a straw yellow with a pinky fingers worth of soft head; chill haze.

On the nose funky must, wood, fresh apricots and chardonnay grape sweetness; definitely a funky sour nose albeit slightly subdued.

Tartness reaches full volume on the taste in the middle, and ends slightly sweet giving way to a dry semi-lingering tartness. It is definitely less tart than I was anticipating. It is lightly effervescent, a touch creamy, and fizzles on the sides of your tongue; faintly tongue drying but closer to neutral. Pale malt sweetness, fresh grapes, funk, and some faint lemon acidity; I was expecting more acidity and I was pleasantly surprised. There is a peppery/wood component that I believe is flavor associated with barrel aging. In any event, it rounds out the flavor.

The drinkability is just excellent. The flavors are well balanced and integrated. A great sour.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2010 13:55:39 | More by TheJollyHop

benclimbs

California

4.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

pours blonde beautiful with a one finger head that subsides within a few minutes.

smell is a mix of fruit and some wild, yeasty notes - big lemon, a little grapefruit, and apples in the nose....mmm, a little woody stuff in there too but not over powering.

taste is great for the style - bright, fruity, very sour and puckering but not too much - some woody, leather backbone in there too.

mouthfeel is great, smooth and then totally dry at the end, completely puckers your mouth out - but leaves you wanting more.

a very drinkable beer, but indeed hard to drink much as its so sour.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2010 00:20:24 | More by benclimbs

hooliganlife

Missouri

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

Pour was a deep yellow with dark hues. Head was crisp and quick leaving behind nothing but ale.

Lots of sour grapes and apples. Light malty funk. Hints of vinegar.

This was quite sour, lots of grape and lemon with hints of apple. The oak was light but carried through out. The funk was well overpowered by the sourness.

Lots of carbonation, very tingly. A bit dry in the finish.

This was different than the bottle. More amplified and fruit flavored. Granted, could be that they were different batches. Either way, delicious and I bought a bottle to go, so yeah... Drinkable!

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2010 05:23:35 | More by hooliganlife