It’s that time again, when St. Louis beer fans set alarms, refresh browsers, and hope the beer gods smile down on them. Once more, I’ll be trying my luck at snagging a bottle of Side Project’s Beer : Barrel : Time 2025, or BBT as the faithful call it. For the uninitiated, this isn’t just another stout release. It’s one of the most sought-after barrel-aged beers in the country, brewed right here in Maplewood.
I’ve only tasted BBT twice: once in 2019, maybe two ounces poured by a benevolent friend, and I still talk about it like a brush with celebrity. Then in 2022, I finally got my own bottle, a victory I celebrated like a personal holiday.
What makes BBT, well, BBT?
BBT is an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels, designed to showcase exactly what its name promises: the beer, the barrel, and the time. No adjuncts, no distractions, just Side Project’s mastery of blending and patience.
Each year’s blend is unique, never repeated, and never predictable. That’s part of the thrill. Fans line up online not just for the liquid, but for the bragging rights that come with it.
The 2025 edition
This year’s Beer : Barrel : Time 2025 drops Black Friday, with online preorders opening Saturday, November 1 at 10 a.m. through Side Project’s online shop. Bottles will be available for pickup at any of their three Maplewood locations beginning November 29.
If you want to taste before you buy, or at least before your bottle cellar tests your patience, The Cellar’s 11th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, November 6 will feature an early pour of this year’s blend.
For gift-givers and collectors, Side Project is also offering a Holiday Pairing Pack, which includes two curated bottles, a branded tulip glass, and a pairing card perfect for holiday sharing.
Why this matters (and why I’ll be trying again)
In a city with as much brewing history as St. Louis, Side Project still manages to turn every release into a local holiday. This one lands right between turkey leftovers and the first peppermint stout of the season, prime drinking time.
So yes, once again, I’ll be there, credit card ready, hoping for that golden confirmation email. Whether I land a bottle or not, it’s a reminder of what makes this beer scene so great: anticipation, community, and a little friendly heartbreak.
Good luck, friends. May your browsers refresh in your favor.
A gold medal kind of year
Side Project’s 2025 release comes on the heels of some major national recognition. Just a few weeks ago, the Maplewood brewery brought home a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival for its dessert stout Marble Lions, which took top honors in the “Dessert or Pastry Stout” category.
Brewed with peanuts, Thai banana nibs, banana chips, Ugandan vanilla beans, and cocoa nibs, Marble Lions was inspired by Elvis Presley’s favorite sandwich. The win marks yet another example of how Cory King and his team continue to redefine what’s possible in barrel-aged beer, whether with adjunct-rich stouts like Marble Lions or the pure, time-driven perfection of BBT.
Quick facts
Beer: Beer : Barrel : Time 2025
Brewery: Side Project Brewing (Maplewood, MO)
Style: Barrel-aged imperial stout
ABV: TBA
Preorders: November 1, 10 a.m.
Pickups start: November 29 (Black Friday)
Tasting event: The Cellar 11th Anniversary, November 6
Hashtags: #Drink314 #SideProject #BBT2025 #STLbeer #BlackFridayBeer
