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Tête de Cuvée Vintage 2015
Side Project Brewing
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Side Project Brewing
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Saison
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 98
- Avg:
- 4.52 | pDev: 5.31%
- Reviews:
- 8
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 14, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 29, 2017
- Wants:
- 9
- Gots:
- 9
SCORE
98
World-Class
98
World-Class
Notes:
For the second release of Tête de Cuvée, I chose a blend that was 76.3% of Tête #2 that was fermented in and aged in the exact barrels that contained all of the threads from Blend #1. Hoping that the magic of those original barrels would once again impart their unique impressions on the new fermentation in them. This recipe is a slight variation of our Saison du Fermier recipe and the barrels were a mix of 225L French Oak Chardonnay and 500L French Oak Pinot Noir. Barreled on November 14, 2015.
The remaining 23.7% of the blend was our classic Oude Fermier that was fermented in and aged in 225L French Oak Chardonnay barrels. These barrels were first use for us, imparting bold notes of almond, vanilla and the classic French Oak spice. A flowing mouthfeel and subtle acidity resembles more of a Burgundian White Wine than beer in this blend. Barreled May 30, 2014.
After 3 months of bottle conditioning, we feel as though this vintage is ready to share with you. The result is an aged Missouri Saison that is our deepest expression of our Saison-inspired beers yet. Billowy mouthfeel, a complex acidity that falls right between the first blend of Tête de Cuvée and our Saison du Fermier from Pinot Noir Puncheons, and endless, layered expressions and nuances round out this exciting beer.
For this release and all Tête de Cuvée releases going forward, the bottles will be vintage dated as the year of the youngest barreled thread of the blend.
The remaining 23.7% of the blend was our classic Oude Fermier that was fermented in and aged in 225L French Oak Chardonnay barrels. These barrels were first use for us, imparting bold notes of almond, vanilla and the classic French Oak spice. A flowing mouthfeel and subtle acidity resembles more of a Burgundian White Wine than beer in this blend. Barreled May 30, 2014.
After 3 months of bottle conditioning, we feel as though this vintage is ready to share with you. The result is an aged Missouri Saison that is our deepest expression of our Saison-inspired beers yet. Billowy mouthfeel, a complex acidity that falls right between the first blend of Tête de Cuvée and our Saison du Fermier from Pinot Noir Puncheons, and endless, layered expressions and nuances round out this exciting beer.
For this release and all Tête de Cuvée releases going forward, the bottles will be vintage dated as the year of the youngest barreled thread of the blend.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama
4.26/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Side-by-side with Blend #1.
More funk, dryness on the nose than with B1. Almost getting a Limoncello or Sauternes-like boozy sweetness. Palate very dry, mildly funky, with a good sour punch on the finish. More acidic than B1, but not as much carb. Definitely preferred Blend #1.
Feb 14, 2023More funk, dryness on the nose than with B1. Almost getting a Limoncello or Sauternes-like boozy sweetness. Palate very dry, mildly funky, with a good sour punch on the finish. More acidic than B1, but not as much carb. Definitely preferred Blend #1.
Reviewed by Biggiekrock627 from Maryland
4.65/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.65/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Bottle at side project cellar that has been aging to perfection. Not sure what this tasted like in 2017 but in 2019 this is spectacular. It is amazing to see the mad scientist know how these beers reach perfection and how it will continue to evolve over time
Apr 19, 2019
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
4.25/5 rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Having this after just popping a b1 bottle at the Cellar, I found this to be a little more funky and sour, featuring more detectable notes of toasted sesame seeds and cracker with sharp white grapes and even a hint of white wine vinegar on the exhale, although thankfully not quite as potent as that sounds.
Apr 16, 2019
Reviewed by Phineasco from Massachusetts
4.78/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.78/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
The beer pours a Clear orange with a medium white head. It has medium high carbonation. The beer smells of Chardonnay, tangerine, white grapes, subtle vanilla, and oak. It is tart, with Chardonnay, white grapes, musty funk, tangerine, vanilla, and oak. The beer has a medium body, with mild acidity. A great barrel aged Saison from Side Project, one of the best.
Jun 11, 2018
Reviewed by Frudel from Canada (QC)
4.69/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.69/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Bright veiled orange body, with a beautiful white head sticking to the glass.
Nose of stone fruit almost like nectarines and peaches, that Side Project's culture.
Taste is very fruity, stone fruit, tartness, super great complexity.
Mouthfeel is outstanding as well, after taste medium to long.
Apr 16, 2018Nose of stone fruit almost like nectarines and peaches, that Side Project's culture.
Taste is very fruity, stone fruit, tartness, super great complexity.
Mouthfeel is outstanding as well, after taste medium to long.
Reviewed by Stevedore from Oregon
4.41/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This review is from two separate samplings within a week. 750ml bottle, white wax, served in a stemmed glass, once in St Louis and the other locally.
Pours a relatively medium orange-copper body, one finger white head, good retention and not much lacing to speak of. Smell is that distinct sweet pinot and oak, light straw and grain, moderate lactic acid, vinous character, a bit of lemon. Flavour seems to be a bit muted, light straw, vinous grape, moderate lactic acid, oak. Mouthfeel is medium-lighter bodied, a bit undercarbonated, soft and a bit muted in terms of overall flavour that I remember from blend #1. I think that this beer is heavily weighted on the Pinot Fermier base somehow, and it shows. The first time I tried this beer, this was side by side with Tête Blend #1, and it wasn't close to Blend #1 as #1 had that pillowy mouthfeel and softness with tons of straw and hay to go along with the funk and lactic acid. This one is more noticeably acidic, although complex in its own way. I wonder if this will age differently and perhaps become something even better, but as of right now, Blend #1 set high expectations for me (and many of us) and this one is a different blend of its own.
Aug 26, 2017Pours a relatively medium orange-copper body, one finger white head, good retention and not much lacing to speak of. Smell is that distinct sweet pinot and oak, light straw and grain, moderate lactic acid, vinous character, a bit of lemon. Flavour seems to be a bit muted, light straw, vinous grape, moderate lactic acid, oak. Mouthfeel is medium-lighter bodied, a bit undercarbonated, soft and a bit muted in terms of overall flavour that I remember from blend #1. I think that this beer is heavily weighted on the Pinot Fermier base somehow, and it shows. The first time I tried this beer, this was side by side with Tête Blend #1, and it wasn't close to Blend #1 as #1 had that pillowy mouthfeel and softness with tons of straw and hay to go along with the funk and lactic acid. This one is more noticeably acidic, although complex in its own way. I wonder if this will age differently and perhaps become something even better, but as of right now, Blend #1 set high expectations for me (and many of us) and this one is a different blend of its own.
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland
4.5/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
So glad I got to try this one! Had at Hill Farmstead FOFA 2017. Unbelievable Saison! Very present barrel and wine tones on the nose and palate, and amazing full smooth mouth feel. Also, call out to Cory King as well, for bringing the good stuff, serving with class, and brewing crazy good beer ... as good a guy as he is a brewer! Thanks Side Project!
Aug 11, 2017
Reviewed by gibgink from Missouri
4.9/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.9/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Tried a bottle at the brewery during release. While I preferred the original over this iteration, I think that this is still a little "young". There is a tartness present that will probably disappear with age. Otherwise, just like the original.
Jul 14, 2017
Tête de Cuvée Vintage 2015 from Side Project Brewing
Beer rating:
98 out of
100 with
47 ratings
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