Side Project Brewing For Forsyth | Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Side Project For Forsyth is a barrel-aged imperial stout from Side Project Brewing, the celebrated Maplewood, Missouri cult brewery founded by Cory and Karen King and renowned for its exacting, patient approach to spirit-barrel aging. In the glass, it pours an opaque, motor-oil black with a thin ring of mocha-toned foam that clings to the edges with quiet persistence — a visual hallmark of this densely constituted style. On the nose, expect a layered procession of bittersweet dark chocolate, toasted coconut, dried dark fruit, vanilla bean, and a warm whisper of well-integrated bourbon oak.

The palate is full-bodied and luxuriously viscous, coating the tongue with rich cocoa, espresso, brown sugar, and leather, all threaded together by the warmth of aged barrel spirit. Sweetness is present but disciplined, offset by a roasty bitterness that grounds the experience. The finish is long and gently drying, with lingering notes of dark toffee and charred oak. A beer built for contemplative sipping and extended cellaring, it rewards patience just as it was made with it. Discover more at the Untappd community page.

Food Pairing

Side Project For Forsyth pairs magnificently with an aged Comté or cave-ripened Gruyère, whose nutty crystalline depth mirrors the beer’s bourbon-laced complexity — an ideal match for fans of the Side Project For Forsyth barrel-aged imperial stout. Equally compelling alongside a dark chocolate ganache tart dusted with fleur de sel, where the roasted bitterness of the beer lifts the confection’s richness into something truly memorable.

Side Project For Forsyth