How do we follow ups the sheer EPIC that was Stone 17th Anniversary- Gotterdammerung? How about a brew we can't obtain in Ohio?
We've mentioned previously our sheer love of Boulevard, and wish they'd come to Oh-ho-ho. On the same point, while Boulevard does not expand to this market, Deschutes and New Belgium does. Weird, strange times in Ohio when we can obtain Fat Tire and Yuengling at any beer store. Just a couple years ago, this seemed unfathomable, but the times they are a changing. This gives proof, boys and girls, to never give up on your hopes and dreams, as long as your hopes and dreams are getting different breweries to distribute to your area.
Anyways, I seem to be getting sidetracked, as is tradition. I start drinking, then my mind starts wandering to shiny things and ramblings of cats and how Brandon Lee died while making The Crow (okay, to be fair, I've never rambled about it until now, Jennie just so happens to be watching it whilest I am going typey typey typey type, then she tells me she can't believe I've never seen The Crow before. Well, to be fair, I watched Pro Wrestling when Sting reinvented himself with The Crow look and darker 'interviews', so in a sense, I've watched The Crow. Shit, there's another rambling. I think I should end these parentheses areas and actually review some beer).
This was picked up from our trip to Pekin, Illinois. We picked it up in a sampler 12-pack at Broadway Liquor, along with 5 other tantalizing selections. Why, Sweet Hopsus, oh, why is Boulevard not distributed here?
This pours a darker amber color with small amount of cream colored head, which dissipates quickly. Yep, it looks like beer (not a straw colored piss lager). The aroma on this is a blast of caramel, earthy tones, herbal tea, and something citrusy that gives a tickle on the nostril. The flavor of this is... good. A nice earthiness with hints of citrus, lemongass and pine give perfect balance to the malts that give a caramel and biscuity flavor to the mix. This is a lighter bodied beer that would probably turn non-craft drinkers into believers of Hopsus (much like North Peak's Diabolical and Flying Dog's Doggie Style). Nicely balanced, would be better before a 9.5%, hop heavy beast (instead of after). Damn good for a Pale Ale.
4.6/5 caps
-Nathan-
I'm flabbergasted... how has one never seen The Crow???? If you haven't seen the movie, don't even attempt the comparison to pro wrestling BS. Mind. Blown. In the 19 years since this movie came out (ummmmm, has it really been that long?), you have had many opportunities to see it, mister.
As Nathan has, in the interim, cracked me up doing an impression of Jennie-as-Swedish-Chef, let's try to get back to the serious nature of the movie and the beer at hand. It's a medium amber color, with a head of off-white that doesn't last. The nose is caramel, freshly cut grass, and some citrus. The taste is very similar to the aroma, with that lovely blast of lemongrass mid-sip that Nathan mentioned. Nathan described it well... much as he has described the way I cook and brew as the Swedish Chef. Wait, no, that's not how I cook or brew at all, come to think of it. At least he nailed the taste of the beer.
Someday, in a perfect world and society, we will be able to obtain Boulevard freely here in Ohio. In the meantime, we have to look forward to New Belgium (December 2013) and Deschutes (February 2014). But really, Boulevard... it can't hurt that much to show Ohio some love??? Please?!?!
4.7/5 caps
-Jennie
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