I invited a few friends over to drink Terroir Project Chambourcin -- from what is, according to practically everyone, the best Wild Ale brewery in the country: Side Project Brewing.

After making it onto Best Brewery lists from Hop Culture, Vinepair, and Thrillist, the name Side Project had my guests on their way to my house instantly. The expertise and attention to detail that these brewmasters put into their creations tends to have that effect. And their Chambourcin is certainly no exception.

Side Project ferments the base beer with rare, locally-sourced Chambourcin (sham-boor-san) wine grapes, yielding a bold, mahogany hue and a slightly tannic body. Having been aged in French Oak Puncheons for 11 months, the tart beer has a mild affinity to a Cabernet Franc. The subtle flavors of fruit and pepper merge splendidly with the signature Wild Ale funk that my friends and I love about Side Project brews.

My guests arrived right on time. Much to my surprise, however, I saw a fleet of cars come rolling into my driveway too! They heard “Side Project” and apparently every Wild Ale fan in the vicinity decided to come along.

As my mother would say, sharing is caring. But dammit, I wish I had bought more bottles of Chambourcin before sharing all of mine that night!

Rated 4.31 on Untappd

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