Side Project — Silent Barrel Theodore Rex 993

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

Drawn completely still from a single Willett 5-year Bourbon barrel, Theodore Rex 993 pours like used motor oil and unfolds with profound barrel warmth. The nose offers bourbon-soaked oak, vanilla bean, and rich tobacco leaf, giving way to a viscous palate of dark chocolate ganache, molasses, and burnt toffee. Layers of caramel and roasted malt fold into whiskey-laced char, while the oak lends structure and a gentle tannic grip. Long, decadent, and meditative, it finishes on notes of vanilla custard, leather, and lingering bourbon heat, an exemplar of Cory King’s no-compromise barrel program.

Food Pairing

Pair with a slow-braised short rib over creamy polenta, where the beer’s molasses and bourbon depth mirror the meat’s caramelized richness. For dessert, try a flourless dark chocolate torte with sea salt and vanilla crème anglaise, echoing the stout’s chocolate, vanilla, and toffee character while standing up to its formidable 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.