Side Project — M.J.K. (2021)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Delivered worldwide — with original box and tasting glass.

A commemorative American Barleywine in the lineage of Anabasis, M.J.K. 2021 pours deep mahogany with a whisper of off-white foam. The nose layers toffee, caramel, and bourbon-soaked vanilla bean over polished oak. On the palate, dense waves of fig, raisin, and dark fruit meld with leather and brown sugar, while the English ale fermentation lends a rounded warmth and dried-stone-fruit complexity.

Premium bourbon barrels contribute coconut-tinged oak and gentle tannin, framing a finish of chewy molasses, vanilla custard, and lingering whiskey heat. Profound, contemplative, and impeccably blended.

Food Pairing

Pair with a rich sticky toffee pudding or bourbon-glazed bread pudding to mirror the beer’s caramel and vanilla depth. Alternatively, serve alongside an aged blue cheese such as Stilton with toasted walnuts and fig jam, where the salty funk and dark fruit accents amplify the barleywine’s leather, raisin, and oak character.

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.