Side Project — BVC Blend 1

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

BVC Blend 1 is a decadent imperial stout collaboration between Side Project and Cycle Brewing, aged at length in brandy barrels before finishing on premium Indonesian and Madagascar vanilla beans and fresh cinnamon. The pour is opaque and viscous, releasing aromas of dark chocolate, roasted malt, and warming sweet spice. The palate unfolds with layered brandy warmth, soft oak, vanilla custard, and cinnamon bark, woven through fudgy chocolate and gentle roast. Lush and full-bodied, it finishes with lingering oak tannins, candied spice, and a velvety sweetness that rewards slow, contemplative sipping.

Food Pairing

Pair with a warm cinnamon-spiced bread pudding drizzled with brandy caramel to echo the barrel character and vanilla finish. Alternatively, serve alongside a wedge of aged gouda or a dark chocolate flourless torte, where roasted malt and cocoa notes amplify the beer’s decadent sweetness and oak-driven 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.