
Boulevard Brewing Saison-Brett - Happy Super Bowl day people. I hope you all are drinking some fantastic beer with friends. Here is part two of my snowed in beer drinking journey. I didn’t mess around with busting out the good stuff. First up is Saison-Brett from Boulevard Brewing and their Smokestack Series. They make a regular version of this beer without the Brettanomyces. I still haven’t tried that one but when I got trading I made sure this version was one of the first beers I traded for. Who doesn’t like some funk thrown into their beer? You can’t tell me you don’t!
Saison-Brett pours a huge huge head. Everytime i poured a new glass of this stuff all I got mostly was head. Huge foamy, bubble filled head like the one you see in the glass. Lacing everywhere. The color is a very hazy light orange color. The aroma on this Saison is really really nice and inviting. A tiny of bit of funk. Not overwhelming like some other beers dosed with Brett. Actually everything in the smell was light. Small amount of lemon peel and spice. Nice background of yeast and an slight earthy aroma. Really nice.
Now what I didn’t pick up with the smell was a nice fruity presense. It’s here in the taste though. Lemon, citrus, and mango. The tartness and funk are there but like in the smell it’s very smell. It just adds to the taste and doesn’t try to take over. I actually wish it was would of had a little bit more of a role in the taste. Yeasty with a pale malt background. The taste is nice but it’s also very light.
The mouthfeel is nicely carbonated. Light to medium bodied. Crisp with a dry finish.
While this is an excellent beer, I wish it would of had a little bit more of a punch when it comes to the flavor. Good but not great.
Found: Beer Trade
Price: Not to sure on this one.
Website: http://www.blvdbeer.com/
What the company says: Nothing about their Brett version of this beer on their site.
ABV%: 8.50%
Other beers to try from this brewery: Boulevard Brewing Imperial Stout, Bouelvard Brewing Seeyoulator
Other beers to try within the same style: The Bruery Saison Rue, Ommegang Hennepin
Rating: B+
Founders Imperial Stout -
It really looks like Founders has an endless supply of beer. It’s like I go into my local beer place every week and there is another Founders beer sitting on the shelves. OK maybe not every week but you get the picture. This time around it’s their Winter seasonal release, their Imperial Stout. I heard awesome things about this beer so I picked up a few. One to drink now and a few to cellar. Can’t try to try one a year from now since I loved it fresh.
Founder’s Imperial Stout pours pitch black. Pours thick like motor oil. A small tan head is poured and pretty much disappears to nothing except lacing around the glass. At first the smell of this brew will not blow you away. When I first poured it I had to sit there to pick some stuff up but as it warms the flavor pops more and more. Chocolate, roasted malt, molasses, and a smokey aroma. As it warms it becomes almost like a mocha. It makes you want to dive right in. For being 10.50% there is no sign of alcohol in the nose. Very nicely done.
For the taste the roasted malt comes in first with a nice bit chocolate coming in next. To me it tasted like chocolate malt ball. The alcohol makes a little bit more of an appearance then it did in the aroma. It won’t smack you in the face though. Coffee is also there and adds a little bit of a bitter taste. The beer ends with some molasses and dark fruits. The taste isn’t big like a lot of imperial stouts out there. But it’s nice and rich. Really wanted another one after I was done with the bottle I had.
The mouthfeel on this brew is really a one of the stars of the show. It’s full bodied, smooth, and it coats the mouth nicely. Really well done. If you see this brew pick it up.
Found: Grape and Gourmet, Virginia Beach, VA
Price: Around 3 dollars a bottle
Website: http://foundersbrewing.com
What the company says: Brewed with ten varieties of malted barley, this stout is smooth as silk yet complex and rich in body. Serve this guy at cellar temperature. Put another log on the fire and sit back and enjoy the friendship of this ultimate winter warmer.
ABV%: 10.50%
Other beers to try from this brewery: Founders Breakfast Stout, Founders Porter
Other beers to try within the same style: Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast, Southern Tier Mokah
Rating: A-
Avery Brabant -Brabant is the first in the line of Barrel Aged beers from Avery. I believe they are on their third in the line. These beers are very limited and hard to find for the most part. They are made once and are gone forever.
Brabant is a American Wild Ale. Wild Ales are starting to become very big in the craft beer industry. Some say it’s the new IPA in terms of popularity. I don’t see it getting there just yet but you do see a lot of breweries starting to make Wild Ales. Some of the best come from Russian River and The Lost Abbey.
Brabants color looks like a cola. It’s dark brown. Two finger head is poured. The head is full of craters and had good retention. The smell is big and complex. First up is a vinegar aroma you pick up in a lot of Flanders Red Ales. Fighting for the top spot is a leather aroma and wood. There is also a good amount of a barnyard funk and sourness that stings the nostrils. A very nice and big aroma.
Up front in the taste is definitely the leather type of taste mixed in with the wood. As it fades away the other tastes come in. Sour cherries, funk, and a very tannic taste. Definitely one of the most complex and unique flavors I’ve had from any beer. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and nicely carbonated. Sourness sticks on your tongue and the smokiness from the barrels lingers in your mouth.
Loved trying this beer. I’ll make sure to report on how my other bottle ends up a year from now.
Found: Grape and Gourmet, Virginia Beach, VA
Price: Around 10 dollars a bottle
Website: http://www.averybrewing.com/
What the company says: Beer Style: Barrel-Aged Wild Ale, not brewed to any known style
Malt Variety: Two-row barley, dehusked carafa, honey malt, carafa 3, chocolate malt
OG: 1.074 ABV: 8.7% IBUs: 25
Barrels: Red Zinfandel barrels from Norman Vineyards in Paso Robles, CA.
Color: Dark brown with ruby corners
Availability: One and done. 694 cases produced. Bottled February 10th, 2009. Grab it if you can find it!
ABV%: 8.70%
Other beers to try from this brewery: Avery Karma, Avery Hog Heaven
Other beers to try within the same style: Russian River Temptation, Ommegang Ommegeddon
Rating: A-
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