Side Project — With Knox (2024)

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

With Knox pours jet-black with a dense mocha crown, releasing aromas of warm bourbon, Ugandan vanilla and toasted coconut. The palate unfolds in layers: rich dark chocolate and Ghanaian cocoa nibs lead into burnt caramel, charred oak and a sweet whisper of coconut macaroon. Bourbon barrel warmth weaves through the middle, balanced by deep vanilla custard and a subtle toasted nuttiness. The finish is long and luxurious, echoing oak char, espresso-laced cocoa and lingering barrel spice. A meticulously blended, adjunct-laden imperial stout built for slow, contemplative sipping.

Food Pairing

Pair with a flourless dark chocolate torte topped with toasted coconut shavings to mirror the beer’s cocoa and coconut layers. Alternatively, serve alongside a wedge of aged blue cheese with bourbon-soaked cherries, where the salty funk and boozy fruit play beautifully against the stout’s vanilla sweetness and barrel char.

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.