Side Project Le Saisonnier (75cl, 4%)

A 4% ABV farmhouse saison brewed and barrel-aged in Maplewood, Missouri, showcasing local terroir through wild fermentation. Side Project Brewing focuses almost exclusively on barrel-aged and wild-fermented beer. Le Saisonnier is brewed with European malts and European hop varieties, then aged for six months in a Missouri oak foedre with indigenous Missouri microflora from the brewery's family farm; certain iterations have also spent time in Chardonnay barrels. The nose leads with floral European hops and light citrus, followed by cracked black pepper and dried hay, with a subtle bready malt note. The palate opens tart with lemon zest and green apple, then herbal dryness and mild Brett funk, finishing with biscuity bread malt, faint pear, oak tannin and honeycomb sweetness. The finish is dry and clean, with crusty baked French bread, lemon peel and low peppery funk.