Tête de Cuvée Vintage 2022
Side Project Brewing

really neat bottle of beer, just the second iteration of this i have had, and while awesome, its nowhere near as impressive as blend 1 was for me, although that was more than nine years ago now, so exact comparison is not really possible, im not that sharp. this feels a little more sour, that subtle white wine vinegar thing i noted in the other blend is ramped up a lot here, and i am wondering if the time in the bottle since release has also allowed the acidity to creep up. its still awesome saison, full of nuance and complexity and merit of course, but its sharp and tangy and somewhat limiting in that way, my only real critique of an otherwise wonderful brew that leads with white wine and farmy yeast, carries neat tang, earthy wheat, and distinctive wood character all through it. a little light on head and carbonation, but only a little, clearish through much of the bottle, sort of apple juice looking. the nose is sharp at first, some sulfur, petrichor and wet stone, underripe pithy green fruits including wine grapes, musty old oak, some familiar side project cultures at peak maturity, light oxidation in a flattering way, lemon and lime, trace coriander, dynamic, in some ways quite old, but with brightness too, wild to me. the taste comes in waves, high minerality first and last with the acid, in between lemon juice, french chardonnay, spicy saison character, white pepper and coriander seed, some brett just starting to be beaten out by the bacterial side of this, green olive, well chewed on golf pencil, hard cider, dry dry dry, lightly funky champagne character, slight brine to it, again a little oxidation and a sort of cork note, no cork in this bottle. a touch thin, less bubbly than it could be, light sting. complex and interesting, although not quite at the level of their best, the vinegar seems to break it down just a bit, and it doesnt present as refined and frankly transcendent as a lot of their wild saison types have for me, but still a total treat to drink, perhaps nearing the end of its ideal conditions, so if you have one, drink it on the soon i would say. unexpected bottle, always embrace windfall!

Poured from 750 mL bottle into Side Project goblet.
A: Pours a crystal clear delicate yellow hue with 2 inch bubbly white head that fairly quickly settles to a thin skim.
S: Lovely yeast aromas hit from a foot away. Sweet funk, tart apricot, dank oak, peach, and touches of white wine and lemon.
T: Funky yeast, tart apricot and lemon, soft oak, white wine, earthy minerals, and a hint of peach.
M: Light body. Very effervescent, tart, and smooth…excellent combination. Mildly dry. Mineral and fruit acidity. Oak softens the edges. Lingers nicely on the palate.
D: Superb example of style! Glad I got to try this one. A masterful creation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottle. Golden color. White head.

Nice sour and tartness with oak and funk. Blue cheese funk. Wet oak. Barnyard notes. Fruity. Apricot and peach. Very drinkable. Very delicious.

Look - solid slightly pale yellow and clear with a nice bubbly white head
Smell and Taste - Funky Tart, but not overly tart, citrus lemon along with an earthy woody butter
Feel - medium full body with a medium carb
Overall - solid!!!

The real champagne of beers. Just a wonderful complexity that feels like it comes from quality and age vs being overworked. It’s a natural effervescent beauty. No bubblegum, overly bready or tart notes that often mask the subtleties in a Saison. Just lots of transparency into the blend, barrel aging, and underlying funk. It creates some angularity but in a pleasant way. To be clear, it is fairly tart, but not overwhelmingly so. Not quite a perfect beer for me, but not far from it. Going to set a few bottles aside to see where time takes it.

poured from a white-waxed 750mL bottle into stemmed LC glassware. pours a foggy orange with a bright white foam head. foam sticks around as a collar around the rim of the glass. white wine and oak on the nose with a bit of lemon. taste follows but it’s so smooth. low acidity / sourness. dry oak on the finish. full mouthfeel. lower carbed for the style but it’s their in the finish. very drinkable. very enjoyable. tete always delivers.