Side Project — Indonesia Vanilla (2025)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Indonesia Vanilla 2025 pours jet black with a dense mocha crown, releasing waves of bourbon, oak, and the unmistakable smoky-sweet character of single-origin Indonesian vanilla beans. The palate unfolds with rich dark chocolate, fudge, and roasted malt, woven through with caramel and barrel warmth. Indonesian vanilla lends a deeper, almost woody spice compared to its Madagascar cousin, complementing notes of toasted coconut and bourbon-soaked oak. Full-bodied and decadent, it finishes long with lingering vanilla cream, charred wood, and a gentle whiskey heat that defines Side Project’s celebrated double vanilla series.

Food Pairing

Pair with a flourless dark chocolate torte topped with vanilla bean crème anglaise, where the dessert’s bittersweet intensity mirrors the stout’s cocoa and barrel depth. Alternatively, serve alongside an aged Gouda or bourbon-washed blue cheese, allowing the salty, caramelized richness to play against the beer’s vanilla sweetness and oak-driven warmth.

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.