Side Project — 10 Year Anniversary Barleywine (2023)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Brewed to commemorate a decade of no-compromise barrel craft, this anniversary Barleywine pours dense and contemplative, layering toffee and dark caramel over warming bourbon and toasted oak. Aged in premium Blanton’s and Weller 12 Year barrels, it unfurls notes of vanilla bean, fig, raisin, and leather, with whispers of dried cherry and molasses. The English ale yeast lends a rounded warmth and orchard-fruit complexity, while extended oak time integrates the spirit into a velvety, sippable whole. Each pour reflects ten years of patience, blending, and reverence for time-honored American barleywine tradition.

Food Pairing

Pair with a slab of aged blue cheese drizzled with honey and toasted walnuts, allowing the beer’s bourbon warmth and dark fruit to mingle with salty richness. Alternatively, enjoy alongside a flourless dark chocolate torte or sticky toffee pudding, where caramel, vanilla, and oak notes echo and amplify the dessert’s depth.

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.