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Temptation

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Fruit and subtle oak mark this barrel-aged sour with a pleasant sourness; Brettanomyces and good bacteria added during aging give extra fruitiness. It is Russian River's first sour barrel-aged beer, dating back to Vinnie's early days at Korbel in the 1990s, and ages in large wooden foeders. It is refermented in the bottle for natural carbonation and a small layer of yeast sediment.

ABV
5.75%
Bitterness
Mild
SRM
golden5
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
sourfruityfunky
sour
fruity
funky
oak
yeasty
tart
Aroma
The nose opens with bright stone fruit and citrus notes, followed by subtle oak undertones and a gentle funky character from Brettanomyces.
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Temptation

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass in delicate lacing. Natural carbonation produces a steady stream of small bubbles that sustains throughout the tasting. The beer displays the characteristic brightness of a well-aged wild ale matured in oak.

pale goldenclearfine carbonationpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with bright stone fruit and citrus notes, followed by subtle oak undertones and a gentle funky character from Brettanomyces. Soft yeast-driven complexity emerges—notes of white wine and honey join the fruit-forward profile without overwhelming earthiness. The overall impression is refined and inviting rather than aggressive.

stone fruitsubtle oakBrett funkhoney notes

◐ Taste

The palate leads with a structured, pleasant sourness that frames the entire experience without harshness. Mid-palate reveals layered fruitiness—orchard fruit and subtle citrus—balanced against dry, woody notes from barrel aging. Brettanomyces and acidity work in tandem to create complexity, while low IBU (10) keeps the finish clean and allowing the funky, tart character to shine through.

pleasant sournesslayered fruitdry woodclean finish

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lingering, with the sourness and oak gradually fading into a subtle funky aftertaste. Fine yeast sediment from bottle refermentation adds a whisper of additional complexity to the very end.

drylingeringfunky fade
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
89
Appearance
86
Finish
87
Serve at 6–9°C

Serve at 6–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Temptation

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About Wild Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Wild Ale?

Wild Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Wild Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same sour, fruity, funky character as Temptation will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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