Merci (40th Anniversary Blend)
Side Project Brewing
- From:
- Side Project Brewing
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 93
- Avg:
- 4.45 | pDev: 4.72%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 24, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 01, 2022
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
93
Outstanding
93
Outstanding
Our goal with Merci 40th Anniversary Blend was to bring back characteristics of one of our favorite Merci blends - specifically blend #2, when we used the enhanced complexity of our funkier, more wild, wild ale base and then softened that with selected oak barrels of Oude Fermier. For the 40th anniversary blend, with this concept in mind, we pulled together pieces that include a funky wild ale base from our Coexpressionalism-inspired stock, a puncheon which held Blended 2017 and a puncheon of Oude Fermier which was uncharacteristically more Brett-forward than we normally see. This lovely puncheon was beautiful and incredibly unique, and it provided the last attribute to the final blend for a beer that we anticipate will age as gracefully as Merci Blend #2.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama
4.8/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.8/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Slightly hazy golden color. Good head retention and softness. Settles into a thin ring.
The nose is abundantly complex; so much going on. Getting notes of honey, lemon heads, white wine, cheese, and a noticeable Belgian yeast character (getting a lot of clove with hints of banana after about 15 mins in the glass).
The palate is bright and tart right away. Following closely is a present but restrained acidity. Funkier, woody notes with undertones of citrus zest and underripe stone fruit. Dry oak and honey on the exhale.
Bright and crisp, with medium acidity and dryness. Mild tart pucker initially that fades into that drying, tannic oak character.
Oct 02, 2023The nose is abundantly complex; so much going on. Getting notes of honey, lemon heads, white wine, cheese, and a noticeable Belgian yeast character (getting a lot of clove with hints of banana after about 15 mins in the glass).
The palate is bright and tart right away. Following closely is a present but restrained acidity. Funkier, woody notes with undertones of citrus zest and underripe stone fruit. Dry oak and honey on the exhale.
Bright and crisp, with medium acidity and dryness. Mild tart pucker initially that fades into that drying, tannic oak character.
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
4.27/5 rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look - almost champaige with a nice white head
Smell -funky woody citrus
Taste -citrus apple funky wood
Feel -medium body and carb
Overall - really tasty and great beer
Nov 24, 2022Smell -funky woody citrus
Taste -citrus apple funky wood
Feel -medium body and carb
Overall - really tasty and great beer
Reviewed by Luscious_Malfoy from Illinois
4.48/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
poured from a 750mL bottle into SP wine glass. pours a foggy orangish with three fingers of billowing white foam. damp oak, hay, lemon and white wine on the nose. taste follows with the addition of light stone fruit and a funky, mineral quality. soft, medium-full mouthfeel with an oaky dry finish. really good. even better as it warms up.
Sep 29, 2022
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