Side Project — For LC 2026

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with profound bourbon-soaked dark chocolate, toasted vanilla bean, and espresso, layered with dried cherry and worn leather. Extended barrel aging reveals itself in waves of caramel, charred oak, and subtle tobacco. The palate is viscous and warming, delivering fudge brownie, dark stone fruit compote, and bourbon-barrel char alongside molasses and roasted malt complexity. Rich maple syrup and dark toffee mingle with port-like vinous notes. The finish is exceptionally long and warming, leaving lingering dark cocoa, vanilla, oak tannins, and gentle bourbon heat that evolves beautifully.

Food Pairing

Pair with a dense chocolate terrine enriched with espresso and sea salt, where the beer’s bourbon barrel character amplifies the dessert’s bittersweet complexity. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Stilton or Gorgonzola Dolce, allowing the beer’s sweetness and warmth to balance the cheese’s pungent saltiness while complementing its creamy texture.

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.