Temptation – Russian River Brewing Co.
Posted in Beer, Findings and Tastings on September 10, 2012 by Michael Stewart
Temptation is an American Wild Ale, aged in Chardonnay barrels. 7.5% ABV, batch 072712.
Appearance: Pours a hazy dark yellow with a two-finger white head. Head sticks around for about a minute and then fades to a thin layer of bubbles. Great lacing.
Smell: Very funky with hints of the white wine sourness. Wood is buried behind the funkiness. A very bright, fruity character with both sweet and sour lemon notes.
Mouthfeel: Bubbly on the tongue with a large amount of carbonation.
Taste: Big funk upfront with earthy barnyard notes. Sourness and funk are very balanced. Citrus notes from the blonde ale base. Finishes dry and oaky. Chardonnay barrel aging adds a pleasant acidity to the beer.
Overall: Amazing. I tend to prefer sours with a darker base, such as Russian River’s Consecration, but this beer managed to win me over. Funky, sour, and wonderfully balanced. The brewers at Russian River are truly masters of the sour.
95 out of 100
