Saint Brewis

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Boulevard Brewing Company – Collaboration No. 5

Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Company
Location Kansas City, MO
Style American Pale Ale
 ABV 7.3%
 IBUs 55

 

Best Quote During Tasting

I want a big bowl of Fruity Pebbles right now, dammit.

Justin:

Aroma - Sweet and tart citrus: grapefruit and passion fruit up front (duh) but some hints of orange are there too.  The way the citrus from the hops blend with the citrus of the.....actual citrus (and passion fruit) is phenomenal.
Score: 12/12
Appearance - A cloudy yet vibrant orange with a thin, off-white head that won't go away.
Score: 3/3
Flavor - It's an interesting mix of flavors.  You get such juicy flavors from the hops but it's also literally juicy from the fruit.  It's a great combo of hop bitterness, slight tartness and fruity, malty sweetness.
Score: 18/20
Mouthfeel - It's got just a little bit of an acidic bite on the tongue and finishes semi-dry. 
Score: 4/5
Overall Impression - I literally said "holy shit" when I first smelled it.  I won't say that it smelled better than it tasted because I was impressed on both fronts but man did it smell good.  It was phenomenally well balanced and at 7.3%, I couldn't taste any alcohol.  At 55 IBUs they didn't scrimp on the hops but they did such a great job of "pairing" the hops and fruits that had similar flavors, it doesn't come across as a hop-bomb.  It allows folks to actually pick out those fruity, citrus flavors in hops that they may not have been able to find before.  This might be the beer that introduces a lot of folks to hop-heavy styles and it's one I'm going to recommend in the future for just that reason.
Score: 9/10

 

Blake:

Aroma - Lots of juicy tropical aromas like mango, grapefruit, passion fruit, orange, and more.  The nose on this thing is outstanding. Possibly one of the best I've ever had the pleasure to sniff.
Score: 12/12
Appearance - Hazy orange with a bright white head that leaves a thin lacing.
Score: 3/3
Flavor - Flavor doesn't quite live up to the aroma, but honestly that isn't surprising. Lots of tropical fruits (if you couldn't expect that from the name), a bit of acidity, and a bit of dank hops. 
Score: 18/20
Mouthfeel - Medium body and carbonation with a slightly dry finish.
Score: 4/5
Overall Impression - Collaborations don't always produce the best results, but they usually at least produce interesting ones. This one succeeds on both fronts. It's an amazingly well balanced beer, and likely a hoppy beer that would find love from more than just hop heads. Boulevard and Cigar City are giants in craft brewing currently, and I'd be a little disappointed if their collaboration didn't produce quality results. I can't say I expected this great of a result though. Pick this one up while you still can.
Score: 9/10

 

Collaboration No. 5 Final Score
  • Aroma
  • Appearance
  • Flavor
  • Mouthfeel
  • Overall
4.6
User Rating: 1.3 (3 votes)
Sending
Justin Phelps

Justin Phelps

Co-Founder at Saint Brewis
Justin Phelps is a Certified Cicerone® who was born and raised in St. Louis. His passion for beer goes beyond just drinking it as he is also an award-winning home brewer. While he may be a marketing professional by day, he's a blogger, brewery hopper, and beer enthusiast by night.

Comments

  1. Totally agree on the nose. Smells fantastic. You want to take a big whiff with every sip you take. Loved the fruitiness, and only wished there was a bit more to it. Overall a nice easy drinker that I would love to drink again!

    Reply

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