Side Project — Double Barrel Maple in the Wood (2020) Wheatwine

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

A monumental wheatwine that pours with deep amber richness and unfolds in waves of decadent complexity. The bourbon barrel character leads with warm vanilla, toasted oak, and caramel, woven through generous pours of pure maple syrup and brown sugar sweetness. Rittenhouse rye contributes a peppery spice that cuts beautifully through the sticky richness, while toasted wheat provides a soft, bready foundation. Dark fruit notes of fig and raisin emerge mid-palate, leading to a lingering finish of warming alcohol, oak tannin, and lacquered maple. Each sip reveals new layers of barrel-aged depth and confectionary indulgence.

Food Pairing

Pair with seared foie gras drizzled with maple reduction and toasted brioche, where the beer’s sweetness and barrel warmth amplify the dish’s richness. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Gouda or a maple-pecan bread pudding, allowing the caramelized sugars and oak-driven vanilla to complement the dessert’s nutty, buttery decadence.

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.