Side Project — Barrel-Aged Coffee Shop Vibes (2026)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Pitch-black and viscous, this Willett Rye barrel-aged colossus from Maplewood, Missouri pours like liquid obsidian. The nose is an assertive convergence of dark roast coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and charred oak laced with rye spice. On the palate, waves of cold-brew intensity meet rich cocoa, dried dark fruit, and a warming barrel presence that speaks to over a year of patient maturation. The Fjords of Shadows roast from Sump Coffee lends a precise, almost espresso-like clarity to the finish — long, warming, and deeply complex.

Food Pairing

Serve alongside a dark chocolate fondant with espresso ganache, where the beer’s rye-spiced barrel depth and roasted coffee intensity find a natural mirror. Alternatively, pair with a well-aged Comté or cave-ripened cheddar — the cheese’s crystalline nuttiness cuts through the stout’s extraordinary richness with elegant precision.

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.