Side Project — Anabasis 3 (2017)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Anabasis 3 pours with the deep mahogany glow of a beer that has spent years patiently absorbing oak. The nose unfolds in waves of bourbon, vanilla bean, and toasted caramel, layered over notes of fig, raisin, and worn leather. On the palate, dense toffee and dark fruit meet warm English ale character, the fermentation strain lending plummy depth to the American malt backbone. Premium barrels from Blanton’s and Weller 12yr contribute coconut-tinged oak, brown sugar, and a whisper of charred wood. The finish is long, warming, and resolutely elegant, balancing barrel sweetness with restrained barleywine power.

Food Pairing

Pair with a slab of sticky toffee pudding or bourbon-glazed bread pudding to mirror the beer’s caramelized depth and vanilla-oak sweetness. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Stilton or a triple-cream blue with candied walnuts and fig jam, letting the cheese’s salt and funk play against the barleywine’s dark fruit and bourbon warmth.

About Side Project Brewing

Side Project Brewing was founded in 2013 in Maplewood, Missouri, as an ambitious extension of Perennial Artisan Ales. Created by brewmaster Cory King, the brewery was conceived as a no-compromise venture dedicated to producing extremely limited quantities of experimental and barrel-aged beers. Side Project operates with a singular philosophy: to push the boundaries of brewing without regard to commercial constraints or production schedules, releasing beers only when they reach optimal maturity and quality.

The brewery has earned international recognition for its exceptional barrel-aged stouts, wild ales, and fruited sour beers, with many releases becoming highly sought after by collectors worldwide. Side Project’s meticulous approach involves extensive barrel aging programs, often utilizing premium wine and spirit barrels, and incorporating unique ingredients to create complex, nuanced flavor profiles. Their small-batch production model and unwavering commitment to quality over quantity have established them as one of the most respected names in American craft brewing. The brewery’s reputation is built on consistently delivering beers of extraordinary depth and character, making their limited releases among the most anticipated in the global beer community.