Boulevard Imperial Pilsner

Boulevard Imperial Pilsner
Boulevard Imperial Pilsner

Over the weekend, I had the chance to try one of Boulevard’s newest offering, the collaboration with Orval’s Brewmaster, Jean Marie Rock.

It was very clear and had a light, fluffy head.  It was a very smooth drinking beer.  Even though it was a pilsner, it was very caramely and sweet.  I have to admit, this was a deliciously simple beer.

Have you tried the Imperial Pilsner?  What did you think?

Boulevard Dark Truth Stout

Dark Truth Stout
Dark Truth Stout

Last night, I tried the Dark Truth Stout from Boulevard Brewing.

Because I like the other Boulevard Smokestack beers, I was excited to try this installment.

It poured night-black, and had a nice fluffy dark head, and had a sweet, cocoa-like aroma.

With the first taste, it had a lot of complexity, but I could make out chocolate, with a slight espresso taste.  The Belgian yeast also gave it a plum-like flavor. It was rich and velvety, and had a smooth mouthfeel.

Have you tried the Dark Truth Stout?  What did you think?

Boulevard Brewing Seeyoulator Doppelbock

Seeyoulator Doppelbock
Seeyoulator Doppelbock

Last night, I enjoyed Boulevard Brewing’s Seeyoulator Doppelbock, which is part of the Smokestack Series.  It is a bottle conditioned doppelbock lager, and has been aged on cedar.

Upon tasting, it had a sweet, malty flavor.  With the finish, there was a hint of spice.  According to Boulevard, this is due to the cedar aging.  After trying it, it is now one of my favorite releases in the Smokestack Series.

Have you tried Seeyoulator?  What did you think?

Good, Better, and Best Beer to Enjoy on St. Patty’s Day

Lovely Day for a Guinness!
Lovely Day for a Guinness!

It’s that time of year again, when you get out your green, and celebrate your Irish-ness, even if you aren’t Irish.  Now, there is a hierarchy to quality of beer on St. Patrick’s day, and I’m going to break it down for you.

Here’s the category breakdown:

Good: Green beer.  This is what most folks think of when they think of St. Patrick’s day.  This is usually no more than your regular run-of-the-mill light beer with green dye in it.  It’s pretty boring and not very exciting, except it’s green.

Better: Killian’s Irish Red, Michelob Irish Red.  These are a couple of brews that don’t fall into your green-beer category, but are still owned by the big guys.  They are close to your craft-brewed products, but they are not as good.  One advantage to these is that they are usually available.

Best: Boulevard Irish Ale, Samuel Adams Irish Red, Guinness, Harp, Kilkenny, Smithwick’s, Raccoon River Stonecutter Stout, Gray Brewing Co. Busted Knuckle Irish Style Ale, etc.  Many of these beers are either made in Ireland, or are craft brews that are made by some excellent craft brewers who strive to create an authentic Irish-style stout, Irish Style Red Ale, or other Irish beer.  If you can get your hands on these, this is the best choice.  You’ll thank me later!

So, when you decide what to have to celebrate today, just go for one of the “Best” beers, because that’s what St. Patty’s is all about!  Enjoy the best!

Brewing a Saison

Today I brewed my first Saison.  I usually use White Labs yeast, but in this case, I salvaged the yeast from the bottom of 2 Boulevard Smokestack Series Saisons.  I plan to crank the heat up on this one, to 75 for a couple of days, then to even 80.  I read from Phil Markowski in Farmhouse Ales that brewing a Saison is not like any other type – particularly in the temperature department.  It is kind of neat because in the old days, the farmers would have their own house yeasts, and sometimes swap with neighbors to “liven up” the little buggers.

Not that this is the same, but borrowing some friends from Boulevard kind of makes me feel the same way.

What’s your experience “harvesting” yeast?  Has it worked out for you?