Side Project — Barrel Beer Time BBT (2019)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

An annual showcase of Side Project’s barrel program, the 2019 vintage of Beer: Time pours dense and contemplative, layering rich caramel and dark toffee over a foundation of bourbon-soaked oak. Waves of vanilla bean and brown sugar weave through notes of dried dark fruit, fig, and molasses, while the bourbon barrel imparts a warming, spirit-forward depth that feels both luxurious and meditative. The American barleywine backbone delivers a chewy, malt-driven sweetness, balanced by subtle char and lingering oak tannin. Each sip evolves as it warms, revealing additional complexity across this slow-sipping, contemplative pour.

Food Pairing

Pair with a thick-cut grilled ribeye finished with smoked sea salt and bone marrow butter, where charred fat mirrors the bourbon-soaked oak. For dessert, try a salted caramel bread pudding with vanilla bean ice cream, complementing the beer’s toffee, molasses, and warming barrel character beautifully.

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.