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Tête de Cuvée Vintage 2018
Side Project Brewing
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Side Project Brewing
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Saison
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 97
- Avg:
- 4.7 | pDev: 5.74%
- Reviews:
- 3
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 17, 2022
- Added:
- Aug 25, 2020
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 2
SCORE
97
World-Class
97
World-Class
Notes:
We are pleased to release the 2018 vintage of Tête de Cuvée. This is the fourth release of a beer that we blend from some of our finest and oldest barrel-aged Missouri saisons and exemplifies the pinnacle of our blended saisons. Named after the top of the range of a specific house or grower’s champagnes, our Tête de Cuvée showcases our best barrels, blended purposefully for quality over quantity.
We spent a lot of time tasting through our barrels of Oude Fermier (our spelt Missouri saison - Saison du Fermier - that sees extended aging time in oak) and a new recipe named Tête de Cuvée (a tweaked Oude Fermier recipe which seems to always be a standout and makes its way into final Tête blends), trying to construct what we wanted this blend to taste like. We drew inspiration from my favorite Grand Cru Chardonnays from Burgundy, for their soft, round, delicate oak, lively acidity, and luscious mouthfeel. As with the previous releases of Tête de Cuvée, we blend this beer to enjoy now or to age gracefully for years to come.
It is truly a joy to blend this beer, in its limited quantity, each time trying to exceed our expectations and trying to provide you with a truly new and unique experience with what our beer can be. Cheers to the release of Vintage 2018 and we hope that you enjoy this beer, one that has been more than 2 years in the making.
We spent a lot of time tasting through our barrels of Oude Fermier (our spelt Missouri saison - Saison du Fermier - that sees extended aging time in oak) and a new recipe named Tête de Cuvée (a tweaked Oude Fermier recipe which seems to always be a standout and makes its way into final Tête blends), trying to construct what we wanted this blend to taste like. We drew inspiration from my favorite Grand Cru Chardonnays from Burgundy, for their soft, round, delicate oak, lively acidity, and luscious mouthfeel. As with the previous releases of Tête de Cuvée, we blend this beer to enjoy now or to age gracefully for years to come.
It is truly a joy to blend this beer, in its limited quantity, each time trying to exceed our expectations and trying to provide you with a truly new and unique experience with what our beer can be. Cheers to the release of Vintage 2018 and we hope that you enjoy this beer, one that has been more than 2 years in the making.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ewwiccc:
Rated by ewwiccc from California
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Chardonnay bomb. I can't help but give this a 5
Jan 21, 2021More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Stevedore from Oregon
4.45/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Reminds me a fair bit of the slightly slick acetic acidity and lemon of Oude du Blé.. perhaps a touch more sweeter citrus and less bitter oak and zest.
Feb 22, 2021
Rated by Ckgibu from Hawaii
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The best non-fruited saison I have had to date
Jan 03, 2021
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I’m no expert on Tête, but this was unbelievable. Perfect balance of oak, lemony funk, & a dryness that hits on the tail. One of those beers you have to try to get the hype. Improves as it warms, with some honey sweetness in the late innings.
Would have done a more in-depth review, but honestly I just wanted to enjoy this and savor each drop. The complexity was incredible, and even for those not knowing at all what to expect from this style, there’s an unspoken mastery of blending in this beer that evokes a profile that needs no explanation. I really hope to one day revisit this truly beautiful beer.
Nov 04, 2020Would have done a more in-depth review, but honestly I just wanted to enjoy this and savor each drop. The complexity was incredible, and even for those not knowing at all what to expect from this style, there’s an unspoken mastery of blending in this beer that evokes a profile that needs no explanation. I really hope to one day revisit this truly beautiful beer.
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois
4.64/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.64/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
poured from a 750mL bottle into a stemmed wine glass. pours a foggy, burnt orange with three fingers of fluffy white head that remains throughout the pour as a thin foam cap and collar. damp, musty oak on the nose along with hay, white wine, some acidity and funk. it’s a very oak-prominent nose. taste has tons of dry oak, some white wine, lemon and hay. the blending on these Tetes does create layers of depth and complexity. it has a smooth, fully, creamy mouthfeel that finishes dry with a touch of acidity. overall, another solid edition to the Tete lineup and one that focuses on the oak-aging process as well as blending. top tier saison.
Sep 13, 2020
Tête de Cuvée Vintage 2018 from Side Project Brewing
Beer rating:
97 out of
100 with
15 ratings
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