Loam is our series of Missouri Saisons blended with or using Missouri Wine Grapes or Grape Skins from the Augusta AVA - known for its Loam soil. We annually partner with our friends at Noboleis Vineyards to produce these beers which explore grape varietals ranging from Vidal Blanc to Norton.
Loam Vidal Blanc 2023
Loam Vidal Blanc is a Missouri Saison in which we ferment a Saison with a Belgian yeast strain before racking it to Missouri Oak with our local microflora to develop our house complexities and flavors. At maturity, we introduced freshly picked Noboleis Vidal Blanc grapes from the 2023 harvest to the Saison and let it re-ferment and age till maturity. This beer/wine hybrid Saison was then bottle conditioned to produce a natural carbonation and lively, Champagne-like qualities.
Loam Vidal Blanc Orange Wine Process 2023
For the first time, we have incorporated the orange wine production process into our Loam series of Saisons. When we received our Vidal Blanc grapes and must from Noboleis, we racked the white wine from the skins and used it in Loam Vidal Blanc. The remaining Vidal Blanc skins, lees, and must were then covered with Side Project Saison to pull the tannins, textures, mouthfeel and some colors from the skins - just like the process to make many Rosé wines, but instead with white grapes for this. The result is a beautiful beer with notes and complexities we have never created before, yet it remains inviting, exciting and a beer we want to share with you.
Loam Chambourcin Rosé 2023
Many Rosé wines are produced from a minimal contact time with the skin of the red grape, often the only part of the grape that can impart the beautiful reds you think about when seeing a red wine. For Loam Rosé 2023, we used the Chambourcin grape from Noboleis Vineyards in Augusta Missouri. When the grape was picked, crushed, and then transported to our brewery, we allowed it to undergo a short fermentation before pulling the red wine off of the grapes and blending it with Saison. The tank containing the remaining Chambourcin grape skins, lees, and must was refilled with mature Side Project Missouri Saison to allow it to gently extract the delicate life left behind in the Chambourcin skins. The result is a beer firmly rooted in the tradition of making Rosé wine, yet showcases Side Project and our ability to experiment and create lovely beers.
