Boulevard Space Camper Quantum Hop IPA

 

Boulevard Space Camper Quantum Hop IPA. Imperial India Pale Ale. 

9.5% ABV, 70 IBU, Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, Missouri. 

Clear, golden hued, slim white head.

In the nose: dank, citrus, ovenproof, sharp.

In the mouth: starts out big and boozy, nothing subtle here, dripping with gooey, sticky dankaliciousness. Powerfully potent and riddled with hoppy flavors. A bit ostentatious, perhaps, but I enjoy that now and then. 

The Space Camper IPA Saga has traversed the far reaches of aroma and flavor, protecting the mind and palate-bending alternate universes of intergalactic India Pale Ales. From the remote corners of these alternate realities, Space Camper has taken a jump, a leap, a hop through time and space itself and has emerged as a bigger and bolder hero. Astronomically approachable at 9.5% ABV, a powerhouse of Citra and Mosaic hop flavors, offering infinitely interesting notes of grapefruit, pineapple, peach and berry. 

Hops 

Magnum

Citra

Mosasic

Citra Incognito

Moasic Incognito 

Dry Hop

Citra

Mosasic 

El Dorado 

Boulevard Early Riser Coffee Porter

Boulevard Early Riser Coffee Porter.

5.2 % ABV, 20 IBU. Boulevard Brewing, St. Louis, MO. 

Final bottle from a sampler 12-pack that I bought months ago. Still chipping away at the backlog...

Dark black, nearly opaque, slim cocoa-tinged head. 

In the nose: Caramel and cocoa meet coffee. Toasty-Toasty, bittersweet. Alert and lively. 

In the mouth: Medium bodied, lots of roasty, coffee flavor. Malt forward, but not heavy. Low bitterness, just enough for balance. Just enough cocoa to match the coffee. A nice, easy drinker for a coffee porter. Not too shabby. 

We start with a smooth, dark, rich and roasty porter then we add a blend of Costa Rican, Brazilian and Ethiopian coffee to create the perfect marriage of two of our favorite beverages. 

Malt 

Pale malt

Cara malt

Wheat malt

Chocolate malt

Hops 

Magnum 

Cascade

Coffee blend from Second Best Coffee Co. 

50% Brazil City Roast – 30% Costa Rica Medium roast – 20% Ethiopian

Boulevard Heavy Lifting West Coast Style India Pale Ale

 Boulevard Heavy Lifting West Coast Style India Pale Ale.

5.9 % ABV, 80 IBU, Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO.

Here we have the penultimate bottle from a sampler pack. I already enjoyed the first two, so it’s note taking time. 

Mostly clear, with some chill haze, bright golden/orange-ish hue, slim white head.

In the nose: Dankness from the outset, citrus and pine aplenty. Hoppiness abounds.

In the mouth: Big, bracing bitterness grips the palate. Lush, juicy malt rushes in. Hop flavors never quit, but the bitter bite mellows and all ends nice and smooth. Candied fruit emerges and melds with the sticky icky. The dank reigns supreme. Right on the money, almost. But, close enough. Delicious. 

Our take on the West Coast-style IPA but in the Mid-coast. Expect grassy and resinous aromas with plenty of assertive bitterness. 

Malt: Pale malt, Munich malt, Chrystal light

Hops : Chinook, Cascade, Centennial 

Boulevard Tasting Room Series Hazy Pale Ale

Boulevard Tasting Room Series Hazy Pale Ale.

5.2% ABV. 35 IBU. Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO. 

Another one from a big ol' box o' bottles. 

It's all hazy. You totally can't see through it. Also, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Soft and fuzzy, with citrus notes emerging emerging. 

In the mouth: Smooth and citrusy. Mild bitterness. Plenty of fuzz. Light body. Just enough hops on the palate to keep me happy. Not too shabby, there. 

We took our OG Pale Ale and kicked it up a notch with this fuller-bodied and hoppier Hazy Pale Ale. 

Malt: Pale malt, Wheat malt, Cara malt, Oats

Hops: Ekuanot. Cascade. Idaho 7. El Dorado

Boulevard Bully! Porter

Boulevard Bully! Porter. Robust American. 

6 % ABV. 49 IBU. Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO. 

And here we have a beer that I am not sure has ever been available in our market before, except for in the form that I found it in. I first reviewed it from bottles shipped to me by two different trading partners in April of 2003. Boulevard entered our market in the next year, but I never saw this beer on shelves. Nor did I ever tap it at the Blue Nile or Acadia, which I surely would have, had I the chance. Or, was I just not looking very hard? 

In any case, I am reunited by virtue of a broken sample pack, and the surviving bottles that went to the singles shelf...from over six months ago. Yes, I've sat on this one for too long, and I need to get it out of the fridge and into my belly before I review those new beers from the newest sampler pack that I just bought. 

And I will not use my Boulevard tulip, because that was designed for Belgian beers (though I'll use it for other styles, like IPA or pale ale), but it definitely is not appropriate for a porter. Notes, away....

I like this beer, before cracking the crown, due to the distinguished-looking monocled bulldog, hoisting a pint on the label. It only gets better from there.

Completely black color,but for ruby red edges, with a fantastically fluffy cream/cocoa colored head. Aroma is sweet and creamy, notes of cocoa and spice, with big hits of espresso. Mysterious, beautiful, uplifting.

Great bitterness on the palate, full-bodied with massive malt. Long, lingering finish, which continues to deliver flavors of chocolate, anise, coffee. Lest I forget, an underlying fruitiness emerges in the middle, with tastes of dark cherries and grapes. A complex, tasty, and easily quaffable porter. This would be a regular in my fridge if it existed in my area.

Eighteen years later, I agree with my younger self. I gave it a 4.3/5 back then, nearly 13 % higher than the mean. (Or is it the average?) The flavors are the same, as is the effect. I don't mind the wild discrepancy between my ranking and the others, because I really do like a good robust porter, and dagnabbit, this is one. 

The intense flavors of dark-roasted malt in Boulevard’s rendition of the classic English porter are perfectly balanced by a generous and complex hop character. Bully! Porter’s robust nature makes it the ideal companion to a variety of foods, from seafood to chocolate.

Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Ale

Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Ale. Hazy. American Classic.

4.4% ABV.

Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO. 

I recently decided to buy a 12 bottle variety pack from Boulevard Brewing. Reasons: it was only $15 (and I am so tired of paying $15 or more for merely 64 ounces of beer, versus the 144 I'm getting here), and it contains 3 of their beers that I've never had before. But, wait, I think to myself, has the Unfiltered Wheat never appeared in the Nib before? Answer: no, it has not. When did I have it last? Actually, eighteen years ago. Let's go look at those notes: 

The decision to label this brew with the clunky technical term"unfiltered wheat beer" must have come from the marketing division. It certain lacks the poetry of "hefe weizen". The suits should learn a lesson: people like to speak German! All the kids are doing it!

Anyway...Slightly hazy, pale yellow color, with an admirably thick white head. Nose is oddly empty. I expect a good hefe to spring out with aromas and tickle my senses from the start, and that's not happening here. Very little suggests itself, apart from some citrus, straw, faint hints of vanilla, bananas, and overall, very dry. Typically grainy texture on the palate, a very light body, fine balance. Some honey flavors jump in the end, but it doesn't make much difference. The finish is swift, forgettable, disappointing. A lackluster hefe weizen, I'm afraid.

This bottle was a sample from a salesrep at a local distributor. I've got Schneider Weisse on tap at my bar now, and Bell's Oberon will be out soon. I'll have to pass on Boulevard, thanks.

So, nearly two decades later, I think I was wrong to expect a Hefe Weizen, and I judged it poorly against that perception. Gave it 2.93/5, which is 17% below the average. (You'll notice I don't do rankings here in the Nib, for various reasons.) I still don't think it's very good, but it's a decent beer, and you can drink it. 

Boulevard Tasting Room: Strata / Citra India Pale Ale

 Boulevard Tasting Room: Strata / Citra India Pale Ale.

5.2 % ABV, 50 IBU, Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO. 

Here's one from a variety pack that I never bought. But, someone dropped one and the package was unsellable, so they all went on sale as singles. Hence, I get to try this beer, without purchasing the whole magilla.

And here we go: 

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. Looking very nice. 

In the nose: Citrus notes, and more. Citra brings us citrus, but what does Strata do? I'm a little behind on this one, admittedly? Flowers? Onions? I can't pin it down. A little funky. I like it. 

In the mouth: Nothing but juicy and fruity. Good dose of bitterness, citrus notes, touch of pine. Bright, crisp, a burst of hops on the palate. Medium/light-ish bodied, and excellent drinkability.A touch of white grapes/wine, and a whiff of cat pee. I'm enjoying this immensely. Drink this if you see it. 

Bursting with intensely juicy and floral hops this Tasting Room IPA features bright aromas of passion fruit and citrus with a balanced bitter finish.

Boulevard / Three Floyds Deep Flux Barley-wine Aged in Rye Whiskey and Medeira Wine Casks

Boulevard / Three Floyds Deep Flux Barley-wine Aged in Rye Whiskey and Medeira Wine Casks.

14.3 % ABV. 20 IBU. Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO, in collaboration with Three Floyds Brewing. 

Clear-is, rich, reddish hue, slim white head above. 

In the nose: Cherries. Dates. Oak. Red, red wine. Whiskey. Massive malt. Caramel. Vanilla. And the threat of big alcohol on the horizon. Whoa. 

In the mouth: Woo! More of that miss-mash invades the palate. Caramel, toffee, wine, whiskey, intense sweetness, immense malt flavors, vanilla, fruit, barrels, sweet, but deadly. Slightly bitter. Overblown, and surprisingly balanced. This beer is kind of crazy, but it works. It's big and busy, brash and outlandish, and  damn if it doesn't do the job. 

The doom of incoming alcohol starts its slough. Time to surrender to the onslaught. 

A while back, we took the brewers from 3 Floyds on a long walk past thousands of our bourbon, rum, tequila, and red wine barrels. We stopped to rest next to a collection of rye whiskey and Madeira wine casks. After a few beers we agreed that yes, these were the chosen ones. A couple more beers and we heard them tell us they wanted to be filled with barleywine – and when barrels speak, we listen. But when collaborating with 3 Floyds, predictable just won’t do, so we made this barleywine different, lighter in color than you might expect. It’s a rich, malty brew that beautifully complements the resplendent flavors of rye, Madeira, and oak lurking in the barrels.

AROMA: Vanilla, butterscotch, whiskey

MALT: Roast, caramel

Boulevard The Calling Double IPA

Boulevard The Calling Double IPA.

8.5 % ABV, 75 IBU. Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, O.

Lightly hazed, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: Citrus, tropical, stone, and candied fruit ride just above an oncoming wave of alcohol. Brandy and whisky notes riding over hops, barley malt, yeast and water.

In the mouth: Boom! Bitterness strikes the palate hard, mouthfeel is forceful, body is full, this one's no weakling. Pow, pow, powerful. Juicy, tangy, intense. Grapefruit is supreme, with supporting cast of tangerine, lemon, and a kiss of mango and pineapple. Flavors grow wider and wider as we go. No shrinking violet or weeping willow, this. Vastly expressive, relentlessly bitter, and just about yum a dum dum. 

The Calling is an undeniable IPA we were driven to make. It's our tribute to like-minded dreamers, adventurous spirits, and glass half-full optimists. Bursting forth with unmistakable tropical fruit and pine hop aromas and flavor, it's supported with a slightly sweet malt character and tapers to a crisp, dry finish. Heed your call and enjoy.

Boulevard Rye on Rye 2015

Boulevard Rye on Rye 2015. 12 % ABV. 47 IBU.
Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO.

In 2020, I'm going to open a 2015 bottle of a beer I first had when it was new in 2010. First, I will take notes on the former, and afterwards I'll share those 10 year old notes on the latter.

Once uncorked, the liquid came tumbling out of the bottle, although I handled it as well as I could. Lost a little bit, alas, alas.

Clouded, opaque, Burgundy-hued, slim beige head, drifting down to nil.

In the nose: Spice, malt, earth, whiskey. Heavy rye, of course. Dark fruits, raisins, plums, currant. Vanilla and cherry. Quite a cornucopia.

In the mouth: Huge flavors board the palate on first sip. Massive malt, abundant richness, spicy rye malt, powerful barrel presence. Very vinous, this, abundant fruity associations. Feeling like a barleywine, a bit. Oak and whiskey attributes are large, of course. This is a monster, and I'm digging it big time.

Oddly, though, I am looking through the many posters on Untappd who are also cracking open their bottles (clearing the cellar is a common theme inn quarantine), and they are saying it's past it's prime, missed it by a couple of years, and so on. Maybe theirs was mishandled, somehow, but this bottle is missing nothing.

Reading on further, it seems that many more are on my side. It's mellowed a bit, but that's what cellaring is for, no?

I have Max to thank for this gift, and now, here we have the official description, followed by my old notes:

Why Rye? This assertively flavorful grain is more often associated with whiskey than with ales. Even in that arena, it has largely been eclipsed by corn and barley, the sources of bourbon and scotch. But when we procured some seasoned barrels from our friends at Templeton Rye, we asked ourselves, “Why not?” Why not brew a rich, tawny rye ale, then mellow it in the warmth of charred oak rye whiskey casks? Two kinds of malted rye provide spicy sweetness, giving way to notes of caramelized wood and the citrusy tang of Perle, Magnum, and Saphir hops before easing into a dry, lingering finish.

April 26, 2010:
Boulevard Rye on Rye

Dense & opaque, solid, almost sludgy...gorgeous cap of rocky, lace-leaving, beige foam holds down the fort. Beautiful.

Intriguing aroma. Notes of cherries, leather, alcohol, spice. Plenty of whiskey happening here. Rich and ripe. Arousing, enticing.

In the mouth, it's ablaze with flavor. Warm and spicy, tingling on the tongue. Full-bodied, generous with the senses. A certain heat subsists throughout the drink,while the cherry and vanilla flavors wash over the palate again and again.

I'm a sucker for the whiskey barrel beers, that's for sure, but this one almost exceeds them all. Despite a huge alcohol content, I feel it's a well-balanced beer, ...for what it is. We've basically got a whiskey barrel barleywine in this one, a rich, hot sweetness, backed with formidable strength, then cool and mellow.

I think this beer is genius, and I'd be an idiot not to pick up more of these bombers.
Has to be one of the best beers I've had in a long time, not a surprise, as I've yet to have a Smokestack brew I didn't love. These guys are doing great work!

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quadrupel 2015

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quadrupel 2015.
11.8 % ABV. 19 IBU.
Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO.

Slightly hazy, medium crimson, near Burgundy, slim, brief head.

In the nose: Quadrupel aromatics hit first, big, bright Belgian-esque, sweet, malty, funky. Spicy, fruity, deep.

In the mouth: Fierce alcohol blast the palate first, then comes the malt, the Belgian yeast, the bourbon barrel effects, vanilla, dark fruits, little bit of licorice, touch of maple. all kinds of cocoa. All kinds of wow coming out of this bottle.

So much going on here. The Quad is one thing, the bourbon adding more. This is one that is best shared, doing an entire bottle on my own is quite a feat. Hot, potent and highly expressive. Boom, boom, boom, boom.

My notes left off there. They often do after "Boom, boom, boom, boom", which you have to read in the voice of John Lee Hooker. This was one of my favorite beers of recent times. Absolutely luxurious in every sense. Just about perfect. I haven't returned to this one much since it was first released, but this well-cellared bottle has proven me a fool. Definitely belongs in everyone's cellar.

Based loosely on the Smokestack Series’ The Sixth Glass, this abbey-style quadrupel is separated into a number of oak bourbon barrels where it ages for varying lengths of time, some for up to three years. Cherries are added to make up for the “angel's share” of beer lost during barrel aging. Selected barrels are then blended for optimum flavor. The resulting beer retains only very subtle cherry characteristics, with toffee and vanilla notes coming to the fore.

And her is my original review....from December 2008:

Caramel brown body, great carbonation, head's a fizzing, bubbling pool of brownish beige. Simmers down aquick.

Cola notes hit the nose at first, nuts...malt...now comes the whiskey notes, and now the Belgian yeast, and here it is a very Belgian strong dark ale/ quad with whiskey overtones. A beautiful combination. Never ever dreamed of a bourbon barrel quad, but damn, it seems natural now.

Let's drink!
Sweetness, fruit, & booze. Rich malt. And absolute joy. Like whiskey made mellow, the harsh edge of the alcohol made smooth, when married with the brew. Sparkling with the Belgian magic. Vanilla? Yeah...Toffee? A little. And the cherries are still there, with the warmth and the leathery lick of the bourbon still kicking. Warm amd wet. hot and hearty, whiskey meets wonderful.

Long finish, full body, luxurious mouthfeel, nearly decadent flavor. This is a rare and delicious treat.

Boulevard Space Camper Cosmic IPA India Pale Ale

Boulevard Space Camper Cosmic IPA India Pale Ale. "Juicy. Hop. Blast."
5.9 %. 50 IBU.
Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO.

Hey, here's a new IPA. And it doesn't say Hazy anywhere on it! Whoa....Could it be? Maybe...

No, it's hazy. Bright golden hue. Slim white head.

In the nose: Popping out citrus fruit and tropical notes galore. Getting orange, grapefruit, passionfruit, pineapple.

In the mouth: Nice bitter buzz up front. Juicy fruit flavors shuffle softly onto the palate. Medium bodied, fairly easy drinking. Consistently hoppy and lightly bitter.

Not bad. Good IPA and you can drink it.

Space Camper Cosmic IPA is an exhilarating initiation into a mind-bending alternate universe of India Pale Ales. Our brewers employ massive hop additions at the end of the boil, and during fermentation, to minimize upfront bitterness and create a juicy IPA bursting with tropical fruit flavors and aromas of nectar and citrus.

Boulevard Steep Drop! Nitro Coffee Milk Stout

Boulevard Steep Drop! Nitro Coffee Milk Stout. "Dark. Velvet. Roast."
Brewed with Fair Trade, Small Batch Coffee. 5.2 % ABV. 23 IBU.
Brewed and packaged by Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, MO.

Dark brown color, slim beige head. Lookin' okay.

In the nose: Light roast. Earth, coffee flavors shine through, but not too loudly.

In the mouth: Coffee and cream at the top. And then it falls flat. Nothing going on. Far too light-bodied, not enough flavors to keep me interested. Woefully thin. Slight sweetness, continual coffee. But overall, ...eh. I definitely don't recommend it.

I'm not enjoying this one. Not usually the case with Boulevard beers. Aw, well.

Although, once again, I forgot to 'hard pour" this can. I doubt it would have improved the experience that much.

Crafted to showcase custom-roasted beans from Kansas City's Second Best Coffee, this smooth, creamy nitro milk stout blooms with notes of honey, molasses, citrus and cocoa powder. A mild nuttiness is accentuated by caramel and chocolate malts, with a touch of flaked oats.

Boulevard Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber

Boulevard Chill Vibes Sour Ale with Cucumber.
4.5 % ABV. 11 IBU. Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, MO.

Clear, brilliant golden hue, large ivory head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Cucumber kicks it off, sweet from the start, followed quickly by tart, nothing but cool.

In the mouth: Sour hits first, lots of pucker, then comes the sweet from the cuke. Light-bodied, easy drinking, refreshing. Like the label says: Cool, crisp, fresh. Even if the can has been in my fridge for a while. This is probably past it's season, reviewing it late because I'm lazy. Even so, it's thoroughly diggable. Utterly delightful. Go drink it.

Aromas of freshly picked cucumbers and a subtle, grassy sweetness cool everything down in this slightly tart, pale golden ale. Lively carbonation leads to a crisp, dry finish that inspires primo relaxation.

Boulevard American Kolsch

Boulevard American Kolsch. Boulevard Brewing, Kansas City, Missouri. 4.6% ABV. 18 IBU.

Clear, golden-hued, big white head.

In the nose: delicate, light fruity notes, apple & pear. Lightly hoppy. Very nice.

In the mouth: nice little hoppiness at the front, lean and clean, light bodied. Impeccable drinkability. Very subtle, and twice as tasty.

I like a good, refreshing kolsch and this is one of them.

Boulevard Snow and Tell Oak-aged Scotch Ale

Boulevard Snow and Tell Oak-aged Scotch Ale. I bought this in December, I think. Why have I been sitting on it so long? I know it hasn't gone bad, but it is a little outside it's season. We hope there's no more snow, but, as I've noted before, Prince had a song about that. ...sigh...too soon, too soon.

Dark, plum red coloration, slim head, toasted tan in color, stays a while.

Sweetness in the nose, plump with malt, getting the oaky flavors. Very nice.

Big malt hits the palate first, and hardest. Dark fruit, molasses, richness and deliciousness. Just the littlest bit of hop bitterness. Nice and  terrifically balanced. Medium body. Tasty stuff.

No snow left, but we're not entirely into sunshine and daffodils time. I'll take some consolation from my laziness yet.

Boulevard Pop-Up Session I.P.A.

Boulevard Pop-Up Session IPA India Pale Ale.

Lightly haze, bright golden coloring, white head dwindles down assuredly.

Citrus notes lead off the aroma in this one, vibrant, floral, and refreshing. Lemon and grapefruit.

In the mouth: Bright and spicy, loads of citrus hops. Light-bodied. Easy-drinking. Unfortunately, like a lot of IPAs in this style, it's a little one-dimensional and unfortunately unremarkable. It does what it's supposed to, though. It drinks down easy, while dropping the hops. That's fine.

I'm starting to wonder where this session IPA thing is headed, though, and when folks will understand what a pale ale is.

Boulevard Last Splash Wet-hopped Ale

Boulevard Last Splash Wet-hopped Ale. Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, Missouri.

Appearance: dark amber color, clouded, slim but sure white head.

Aroma: Fresh hops ahoy! Plenty of citrus and a side order of pine. Grapefruit and melon. Pleasingly bold bitterness. Love it.

Taste: ah, there it is. All that goodness hinted at from the nose is here on the palate. Pithy, piquant, and something else that starts with P. Mmm, hops like we like them. It's medium/light bodied, with a long, hoppy finish. Splashes of sweetness here and there. Caramel malt lurks below the hops. Nice balance in this one. Tasty, tasty stuff.

Couldn't find the ABV on the label. If I had to guess, I'd say between 5.5% and 6%?
The label is also free and clear of any and all gobbledygook. Fine by me.

Boulevard Nutcracker Ale

So, here we have Boulevard Nutcracker Ale. I haven't had this one in a while, and once more I'm not sure if my decade + notes are up to snuff. Or, maybe they are? So, we'll see. Here come the fresh ones, circa 2014…

Nutcracker Ale, Dry-hopped Winter Warmer. Contains Pure water, barley malt, wheat malt, hops and yeast. 7.8% ABV.

Appearance: hazy, caramel-brown coloring, dark and tawny, beautiful long-lasting off-white head.

Aroma: sweet, toffee-ish, a little herbal, a bit nutty, earthy. Major malt. Sweet 'n' nutty.

Taste: More sweetness meets the lips, tasty, tasty. Butterscotch and toffee. Malty and sweet. Minor hops. Yum. Dark fruit flavors come through, fine and mellow. Smooth, and delicious. The alcohol is starting to creep in. Mm, mm. Nifty nightcap, this. And damned delicious.

Here's what I wrote about 11 years ago….

Boulevard nutcracker
SEASONAL: Winter   IBU: 38   EST. CALORIES: 234   ABV: 7.8%

The time of chestnut-roasting may have nestled to the back of our memories now, but the chill outside still beckons for a winter ale, so let's see how this one holds up…Intriguing appearance, not quite brown, more than red, with a firm, but fallible, toasted tan head of foam. Aroma is evident at first pour, and on initial sniff we encounter mild spices, mellow fruit, dark ones, grape, cherry, plum, etc., and a solid, sweet maltiness. Taste: Nice hoppy buzz at the top, pleasing the palate, spicy/fruity flavor climbs to the fore and washes over the mouthfeel. At once sweet and somewhat sharp. Medium body, but full with flavor, with a tasty, pungent finish, that glides softly off the palate. Best-by date of 2/01/04 is stamped on the bottle, but this sample actually tastes better than the ones I had six weeks ago! Has a Belgian feel to it, actually. And I can dig it.

2/7/04

Boulevard Long Strange Tripel

So, here I am drinking a 12 ounce bottle of Boulevard's Long Strange Tripel, the Smokestack Series beer that really sealed the deal for me on this run of brews being nothing but solid, if for a time, and I'm looking back on the first time I had one. Notes were taken while I put away a 750 ml bottle,in August of 2008,  but they were sparse.  Did I need new notes? Here they are...


My notes are minimal, but my enjoyment was full.

Long Strange Tripel, Boulevard...

hazy golden hue, huge white head...

 sweet and spicy aroma...right on for a tripel.

Lemon, lime, orange, and more in the flavor, with a spicy kick.

Delicious stuff...perfect fit for the tripel style.

That's all I had to say while I drank it, but it says it all.
Excellent.

What more should I say? Light bodied, long, fruity finish, ending crisp and dry. Beautiful yeast character throughout, zesty and spicy...absolutely lovely. One of the best American-brewed Belgian-style tripels ever. Hands. Down. Let's just say I recommend this one.

There, that'll do.