Side Project — Silent Barrel 1118

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Drawn completely still from a single Willett bourbon barrel, this Silent Barrel release pours impossibly thick and inky, releasing aromas of bourbon-soaked oak, dark chocolate truffle, and rich vanilla bean. The palate unfolds with layered molasses, toffee, and burnt caramel, woven through deeply roasted malt and a whisper of pipe tobacco. Barrel warmth carries the finish, with mature oak tannins, charred sugar, and lingering vanilla custard rounding out the experience. Bottled without carbonation, every sip feels meditative and weighty, a singular expression of patience, barrel selection, and Cory King’s no-compromise barrel program at its most refined.

Food Pairing

Pair with a flourless dark chocolate torte topped with bourbon-vanilla crème anglaise to mirror the beer’s cocoa and oak depth. Alternatively, serve alongside a wedge of aged blue cheese with toasted walnuts and fig jam, where the salty, pungent richness contrasts beautifully with the stout’s molasses sweetness and barrel 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.