Side Project — Derivation Grand Cru (2024)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Derivation Grand Cru 2024 represents the pinnacle of Side Project’s barrel program, a meticulously curated blend pouring jet black with a mocha crown. The aroma unfolds with rich chocolate, pure vanilla bean, and warming bourbon, layered over toasted oak and barrel spice. On the palate, decadent fudge, dark fruit, and roasted malt meld with notes of coconut, cinnamon, and a whisper of maple sweetness. Extended barrel aging delivers a velvety, full-bodied texture with a long finish of charred oak, vanilla custard, and lingering bourbon warmth. A truly contemplative, top-tier expression of the flagship Derivation series.

Food Pairing

Pair with a flourless dark chocolate torte topped with vanilla bean crème anglaise to mirror the beer’s cocoa and barrel sweetness. Alternatively, serve alongside an aged bone-in ribeye with smoked sea salt and roasted bone marrow, where the char and umami richness complement the stout’s roasted malt depth and bourbon-soaked oak character.

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.