No matter where this beer lands on the scale, Boulevard has a decidedly gone from a beer I loathed to a strong performer. Another IPA will do just fine for me on this relatively chilly winter night, so I'm going to skip anything else entertaining I might say and just dive in.
The beer pours out surprisingly clear at first, and the backend of the beer seems to have quite a bit of sediment that stirs up a lot of haze in the center of the beer. Medium sized chunks of white bits are suspended in the floating molasses that is quite yellow in color for being so thick. The head springs forth impressively, and it even leaves some lacing in its wake. The aroma is quite juicy, and so far I think they could have labeled this as a juicy IPA or a hazy IPA, but instead they called it a cosmic IPA, and I don't know what that is.First sip is a hit of citrus and tropical fruits with a distinct dryness that feels like it is in stark contrast to the juiciness that came before it. As a result, the juiciness feels like it's overcome by a dust of dry hops. The effect is still not unpleasant, as the beer presents the dramatic flavor that is thick and distinct. These are not traits that are easy to instill into a beer that is so meaty and yet not immediately off-putting.
Tip-in is strong carbonation burn with tangerine and grapefruit meat shoved right into the center of the mouth. The middle swings in with the fruits turning from meat to juice as the center mellows with the carbonation still dazzling around it. The finish is a dryness that manages the bitter as the carbonation cuts off completely, allowing fruit rinds to linger around for the trail off.
Bottom Line: I need to visit space more often.