Sneak Peek: The Side Project Cellar

Cory and Karen King’s side project is about to take center stage. The Side Project Cellar, a 50-seat tasting room at 7373 Marietta Ave., is set to open doors in Maplewood Tuesday, Nov. 11. Cory King, who is also Perennial Artisan Ales head brewer (and Sauce beer columnist), announced he was launching Side Project Brewing in February 2013. As a gypsy brewer, he leased equipment and space at Perennial Artisan Ales to produce barrel-aged and barrel-fermented beers. The first Side Project brew, Brett Project #1, was released in September 2013 and immediately garnered the brewery national attention. Now, King and his wife, Karen King, have opened a 50-seat tasting room, featuring 24 draft beers, cellar beers from its temperature- and humidity-controlled cellar, dozens of whiskeys and six wines. Guests can expect to see numerous Belgian-inspired beers plus dedicated taps for brews by Side Project Brewing, Perennial Artisan Ales and Deschutes. The launch lists also includes beers by Civil Life, Schlafly, Prairie Artisan Ales, Evil Twin, Oskar Blues, Sierra Nevada, de Molen and de Struise. While Cory King focuses on brewing, Karen King, who has worked as a representative for Goose Island and a market manager Deschutes, will manage the tasting room. The Side Project Cellar will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 3 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 11 p.m.   [gallery type="slideshow" ids="38489,38495,38494,38488,38490,38492,38491,38493"]  

 -photos by Michelle Volansky