Bruery Terreux Collaboration Series: Confession w/ Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard

This is a brilliantly orchestrated collaboration between Bruery Terreux in Placentia and Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard in Los Olivos (the latter just a ways north of Santa Barbara). This oak-aged sour blonde ale is blended and fermented with Riesling grapes from Fess Parker—with wild yeast character adding bold acidity and tartness, without overshadowing those tasty grape additions. For all the underwhelming beer + wine collaborations that cross our paths, it felt like a breath of fresh air to finally track down a truly worth brewery/winery collab for our Rare Beer Club members. This lands like a Riesling/Chardonnay hybrid, and just keeps getting better as it’s allowed to warm up. One of the best beers we’ve had from The Bruery.

This pours bright and golden, like lightly hazed lemon juice—though it certainly doesn’t land like lemon juice. A modest white head departs to leave a ring of persistent bubbles. Aroma is huge: white wine character that’s ping-ponging between its herbaceous (and apple-y) Riesling notes and the more oak-kissed profile of California Chardonnay: soft vanilla, buttery oak and a toasty backdrop of barrel character. It’s super mouthwatering, with enough tart acidity plus subtle funk to really make those above characteristics pop. The blonde ale base is seamlessly attached to those grape notes, with careful tartness that makes this so much more interesting than even good, oak-careful Chardonnay. Parallels to Russian River Temptation come easily.

This is drinking great as is, though its high ABV and yeast profile make it promising for a bit of time in one’s cellar. For food pairings, the brewery suggests farm-fresh oysters, amberjack filets, or a triple cream brie. Take some time to enjoy this one—ideally with great company.