Russian River Temptation Review

Not my review, but I'm a big fan of Russian River brews so if u can find this one try it out.

When most craft beer drinkers think American Wild Ales, Russian River immediately comes to mind. Known for their expert use of barrel aging and wild yeast, the wild ales in their portfolio are top notch. Temptation is one of those, a blonde ale aged in French Oak Chardonnay barrels and fermented with brettanomyces and other spontaneous bacteria.


Pulled from the cellar, the signature 375 ml corked and caged bottle (batch 05X1F) poured into my tulip glass with a golden orange semi-hazy body. Atop sat a pure white fluffy and sudsy head that did dissipate rather rapidly. A retention cap sticks around for the entire consumption, and leaves minor lacing. It was a bit less than I like to see but nonetheless it was a gorgeous beer to look at.

A variety of aromas come off together but stand on their own, in a way. Dandelions, rose hips, floral “spice,” peach, lemon zest, a hint of oak and white grapes are all there. The array of scents don’t detract or dominate one another – it’s a very light, crisp and tart fragrance. Towards the end of the nose, a touch of white grapefruit comes forward with its natural acidic character still intact.

Initially the tart and puckering character of this beer is obvious. Sweet and tart white grapes coat the palate, along with lemon and honey. A slight oak note is in the finish but there’s really no lingering taste other than a bit of a dry bite. I thought the woodiness from the oak barrel aging would be too intense but it’s well displayed and evidence the aging on the French Oak Chardonnay barrels is masterfully done. The mouth feel is on the thinner end of a medium-body being quite bubbly and sparkling, like a champagne.

Well, of all the “standard” Russian River Wild Ales I’ve sampled, this one might just be my favorite. I feel it’s extremely balanced in both aromas and flavors, while providing enough depth, complexity and balance to be a showpiece for a Wild Ale. The aging on French Oak Chardonnay barrels was the touch that took this beer above and beyond my expectations for the style.