Side Project / Shared (2022)

I was thinking about this too.. they might be.

from first dibs to leftovers at this point for LC

 

we might be overreacting here. we did get Tete. it’s possible that we aren’t getting the other 2 because of this triple release style deal or maybe we will be offered something afterwards based on turnout at Fermier Day. it seems less of a jab at LC and more of an incentive to get to Fermier Day to me.

 

Too late, protest is already forming on Manchester.

 

there was no one there to snake the line so it’s past the diner curving around towards Strange Donuts.

 

Hit up the cellar on my way home from work and was blown away by how well both of these bottles were preserved. Both bottled in 2016 and no hints of oxidation. Both bottles were still young and vibrant with seemingly more years ahead of them.

Pulling Nails #4 had way more balanced acidity than most of the other Pulling Nails lineup (except #8, which is the PN goat) and tons of stone fruit and funk to make this a slow sipper you wanted to keep coming back to.

Foedre Fermier b1 was soft and complex, with citrus, stone fruits, and nice carb.

Made some friends, shared some great beer, and loaded up with 2x Anabasis packages and 2x Coex Purple.

 

Styrbjorn and some other beer available for samples today at the Cellar around 4

 

@Affinity ”All I do is win win win, no matter what!”

 

In for “some other beer”

 

Stillborn. Never had it but I remember Alex Kidd saying it was an abomination.

 

"...We brew Fermier throughout the year to be released as the "White Label" version..."

Uhh.....I have some questions here, when was the last time they actually brewed and released a white label Saison du Fermier? 2019?

 

that caught my eye too! would majorly stock up on a new blend of white label SdF.

 

Hello All,

Been a long while since I have been on here.

Had some people point me in this direction and said that there were some things that maybe I could shed some light on, so here I am.

First, wanted to thank all of you for so actively participating here. Obviously what we have created has struck some cord with all of you or there wouldn't be 79 pages devoted to talking about our beers, our places, our releases. There wouldn't be people pulling the source code or typing in huge numbers trying to figure out our release numbers or people assuming we are trying to destroy LC, if you didn't somewhat like our beer . We are almost 9 yrs old, are different than we were when we started (hell, we are really just drastically different than what we were in 2019) and I have no plans on quitting on you. We are lucky, we have stuck primarily to our guns and keep brewing what we want, and you have been receptive. If we would have outgrown ourselves long ago (gone into distro, etc.) we would be in a different boat.

There has been a lot of talk of sours, stout packages, etc., so I will shed some light on where we are coming from. There is no right answer, I am not 100% happy with our processes right now, but we do try very hard to please as many people as possible, we spend countless hours figuring out what we are going to do and how we are going to make changes and we adjust as needed. No matter what we do, there will be some who absolute hate the direction we take, while others will see the reason and understand and yet others will just not care.

Wanted to share some production numbers here, people always assume we are larger/growing faster than we are. I think that a lot of you have been here before and have seen that we are PACKED. We have no more more room to grow, and I don't want to grow. I still personally take part in finishing (blending, tasting, giving final approval) every Side Project beer and most Shared beers. There is a limit to my time and our space.

In 2017 we maxed out production with 3 of us in the brewery at 950bbls produced that year. In 2018 we did 907, 2019 we did 941, 2020 we did 1290 (we had no other jobs other that to brew and package - no cellar deliveries, no traveling, no life - the year of COVID was ruthless), 1158 last year (we now have 4 guys in the brewery and we are honestly jamming too much through this place every year) and this year we will be somewhere between 1100 and 1200. We are not growing, we physically cannot. We aren't trying to make extra beer and "jam" it down your throats with packages. We have the same/less beer than previous years.

2020 (covid) brought about online sales and packages. It was a function of a tough time (I was determined to stay open and to not let anyone go) and we succeeded. The packages started as just an easier way to build orders (instead of 5 orders, lets just package this into 1 single order per person). Everyday I miss just doing the out the backdoor releases (but I can guarantee that even some of you on here don't mind some of the online sales). The world has been trained to be able to buy pretty much everything and have it delivered at their doorstep (except beer!). Also, I now have a 4 and 5 year old, and being here every Saturday may not be the most responsible parenting.

But, Side Project was founded on us - the mom and pop if you will - brewing the beer and talking to you at The Cellar. Sorry if it doesn't quite feel that way any longer. I have 35 people to take care of here now .

Just some posts I can directly answer.

Back in the day people used to get so mad at me for not having more beer and now some make comments when its around too long. Our production hasn't increased, but traveling (its crazy expensive) is way down. We no longer have the people traveling in like we used to. People just aren't traveling like they used to and you used to be able to go to The Cellar on any random Wednesday and most of the customers were business travelers in town who wanted to check out Side Project while here for work. Also, no need to travel sometimes when you can buy online. I have no intentions of going into distribution, but every now and then we do send Tavour beer (not anabasis) because they help us get our name out there and the people we have met there are lovely. We have friends who also use Tavour and I appreciate how they take care of our beer for us (maybe 5 to 10 bbls of beer a year). There are millions of beers lover who have never heard of BeerAdvocate, they help us reach a small amount of them. Tavour has been asking for a BA stout for years, so I am thinking about making one exclusively for them. I always hope our quality and attention to detail will speak for itself, they help us legally share that in states we cannot reach.

We are fully aware of this, so we aren't always truthful with the amounts we put in there . Also figuring out ways for you to not be able to see this. Does the beer taste better when there is less? Asking for a friend .

You haven't even tried the 2020 yet!

Confused on this. 2019 and 2020 are so similar in timeline - are you saying 2018 was your favorite? I will say that palate drives these blends and I seek more youth in these blends now. It's not trying to sell you younger beer, it's me trying to sell you the best I can blend. It will, in my opinion, also age better. At some point, my palate and your palate may not align as well as it once did, and that is OK! Flavor is subjective, there is no right or wrong.

Mike, for being an LC member, you don't seem to be enjoying yourself that much. You and I have been in the same room at least 100 times and you have never addressed any issues, concerns or questions with me. You have had ample opportunities, so why go on here and post these weird things? You know how to get a hold of us? You will find more answers by asking us instead of posting here?

We ran out of time last year and haven't been terribly organized since 2019. We are doing much better this year and have a full time person in charge of labeling and waxing now. Audrey is incredible! Tete is waxed this year but will not have the hang tag. Our printer has been absolutely terrible! We had to delay Fermier Day (internally) already once now because the Tete, CDC and OF labels all came in jacked up (emboss didn't match the print, they weren't cut straight, cut off the bottom words of the label) bad shit. Not been an easy year with our label company and have been working to switch.

We thought it would be easier if we waited and did the whole allotment at once? So it didn't have to be fulfilled twice in one year? Hope that's OK, but we have 1 more beer to finish to be ready to get them to you.

See above about the terrible label issue we have been having, we couldn't get it out to LC members before Fermier Day. Audrey is actually still waxing and labeling Tete right now for the Saturday release, not ideal, but has been a stress put on us by another company.

______________________

All, I am heading to The Cellar right now to open up some vintage beers and hang out - I have to schedule time to enjoy a beer now when I am not with the kids! I will also be around Saturday for Fermier Day - always feel like you can chat with me and ask questions or give me your comments - alway like aligning names with faces! Cheers, have to run...

 

Heisenbrew has a first name, mind blown.

 

I thought that the gif and emojis would make it clear that I was speaking in jest, but looks like not so much.

 

your avatar negates the gifs and emojis

 

@coryking I'd say the majority of the folks who post in this thread are fully in support of SP. We like to use snark at times to entertain others, rant because "things change and it's not like it use to be", and question practices and each other to entice a debate and/or conversation. Most of all this is tongue in cheek. We'll still show up, drink your beer and brag about how good it is.

 

thanks for all the info, sounds like Audrey has a tough couple of days ahead of her! hope the weekend goes smoothly!

 

Doxxed by the King