Provence: Lapsang
Side Project Brewing

 

 

overall a really awesome tart saison, i think the tea element is a little minimal, an accent flavor at best, i had hoped for it to be more robust in here, especially in such a simple and light base beer, but overall i liked this one a lot. i had the bottle in my cellar for several months, which may have been to the detriment of the tea in here, perhaps fading pretty quick. i still get some campfire smoke, bitter orange peel, and black tea bitter earthiness here, but its all secondary to the bright winey acidity and woody funk of the base beer, which would be killer on its own too. i like the subtle nature of the tea in here, less forward than the cup of love edition that preceded it in this series, but adding i think a needed grounding element to it, botanical and lightly floral but also pretty bitter with that smoke, subtle as it is. i think there is so much potential for different tea in beers like this, wild and funky but relaxed saison types, and i am glad this series exists to explore those potentials. here we have perhaps an under dose on the tea, but a really refined and delicious beer nevertheless, orange peel and funk to finish. lemon acidity and even brine a little earlier on, white wine and cut flower freshness up front, comes in waves, all real nice. if they keep making these, ill keep buying them...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle at Green Bench. Hazy orange. Smells herbal and acidic, but quickly belies the tea aroma. Oaky too. Tastes of oak, strong tea, deep herbal and earthy flavors, and strong tartness. Medium light and quite tart. Strong tea flavor that works pretty well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second release of a "tea" series. This iteration contains both tea and smoked orange peels. Pours typical Side Project fashion. Darker yellow hue, borderline orange with fluffy white head that dissipates in a short timeframe. I smell a bit of funk and actually a hint of tea. Taste is a little different, and I can't really put my finger on the flavor. There is a slight funk, a little sweetness, and I swear a smidge of smoke. The feel of this beer is actually a bit flag for me. The usual bubbly zest that some of the Side Project beers have is not present. I was glad to have tried this beer.