Side Project — Beer Barrel Time BBT (2022)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Beer Barrel Time BBT 2022 pours a deep mahogany with a slow-rising tan crown, releasing a heady waft of bourbon, toasted oak, and warm vanilla. The palate is lavish and decadent, layering caramel and dark toffee over rich molasses and brown sugar. Soaked dark fruit, fig, and date intertwine with subtle leather and char from the barrel, while vanilla bean and oak tannins lend structure to the syrupy malt core. Each sip is warming and contemplative, finishing long with bourbon heat, baked plum, and a final swirl of buttery toffee that lingers on the tongue.

Food Pairing

Pair with a slab of aged blue Stilton drizzled with honey and toasted walnuts, where the barleywine’s bourbon-soaked sweetness contrasts the cheese’s salty bite. Alternatively, serve alongside a sticky toffee pudding with vanilla bean ice cream, echoing the beer’s caramel, oak, and dark fruit notes for a deeply indulgent finish.

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.