Side Project — India Double Vanilla Imperial Stout (2025)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

A decadent expression of Side Project’s acclaimed single-origin vanilla series, this Imperial Stout pours pitch-black with a deep mahogany crown. The nose unveils lavish India vanilla, bourbon warmth, and toasted oak, layered over dark chocolate and roasted malt. The palate is luxuriously full, weaving fudge, caramel, and subtle coconut through a backbone of cocoa and barrel spice. India-sourced beans contribute a creamy, slightly spiced vanilla character that lingers alongside whiskey-soaked oak. Each sip builds in complexity, finishing long, warming, and impeccably balanced between roast, sweetness, and the gentle heat of bourbon.

Food Pairing

Pair with a flourless dark chocolate torte topped with vanilla bean crème anglaise to mirror the beer’s cocoa and vanilla layers. Alternatively, serve alongside a wedge of aged Stilton with toasted walnuts and fig jam, where the cheese’s salty bite contrasts beautifully with the stout’s bourbon sweetness and roasted depth.

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.