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The rise of Boulevard has been both prodigious and well documented on this site. This is from their barrel aged line, and I love me a barrel aged beer. For some reason, I didn't like the first few I tried, even though I tried them more than once, but I think the problem was with the style of beer that had been chosen. A porter or a stout that is aged in barrels can really take on some lovely flavors.
The completely foreseeably black beer has almost no head, but the tan bubbles that come out are robust enough to hang on for a good long while. The aroma smells of wood, alcohol, and a dark, brooding malt. I immediately checked the bottle to see if this was an imperial stout, as the malt seems quite dour. Turns out, it totally is, and I should have noticed when I looked at the front of the label.
First sip is very different from previous barrel-aged beers. The whiskey is quite pronounced, and the malt appeared to be in charge at the beginning - it was ultimately defeated. The result is too woody and too whiskey for a good beer. It's just not working together like it needs to. Where is the stout smoothness? Where is the character?
Tip-in is alcohol, wood, and a surprising carbonation (albeit only moderate). The middle is pretty rough with the wood and alcohol snuffing out whatever sweetness the malt had in the beginning. The finish is more alcohol, stronger whiskey, and a somewhat bitter dryness heading into the trail off.
Bottom Line: It needs a little help.
2.0/5
