Side Project — Coconut Vibes (2025)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Coconut Vibes 2025 pours jet-black and viscous, layering Side Project’s Missouri Imperial Stout base with generous additions of toasted coconut. The aroma leads with macaroon-like sweetness, dark chocolate, and gentle roasted malt, while the palate delivers a creamy, silky mouthfeel saturated with vanilla, cocoa nibs, and lingering coconut shavings. Rich and decadent without barrel influence, the stout balances sweet adjunct character against a roasted backbone, finishing long, plush, and dessert-like. A no-compromise expression of adjunct-driven imperial stout craft, polished and indulgent from first sip to final warming swallow.

Food Pairing

Pair with a flourless dark chocolate torte topped with toasted coconut flakes to mirror the beer’s cocoa and macaroon notes. Alternatively, serve alongside a wedge of aged gouda or a coconut-crusted cheesecake, where the creamy textures and subtle sweetness complement the stout’s silky, vanilla-laced richness 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.