It's been a while since I commented about the excessive number of names put on a label. I think I was shocked at first when I saw what I thought were particularly long names, but I've learned to understand the lingo a lot better since then, and I roll with the punches. This beer is a Boulevard Brewing Company, First Fridays Collection, Short Edition, Creative Beer, Hold the Pancakes, a Blend of Whiskey Barrel Aged Ales with Maple Syrup. This is the only beer I've seen from the First Fridays Collection, I don't know if there is a Long Edition, and I kind of assume most microbreweries are trying to make Creative Beers. So I can easily cross out three of the names on the label, but that still leaves a lot.
First sip starts like exactly what you would expect from a heavily barrel aged beer. The wood and whiskey are infused into the beer to the point that they start to overwhelm the meager abilities of almost any malt and certainly any hops. However, the sharp taste that is normally instilled in the beverage by these flavors is cut short by the sweetness of the maple, and I think I can actually taste the beer underneath right in between these two flavors. I think I'll be able to articulate better with a full swig.
Tip-in is sweet syrup with the maple replaced with wood and caramel. The middle is awash with whiskey, earth, wood, sweetness, maple, seared brown sugar, and vanilla; seriously, it is a mouthful right in the middle. The finish becomes dry from the wood and whiskey as the maple sticks to the lips and the wood leaves the trail off.
Bottom Line: An admirable effort, and a memorable beer.
3.25/5
