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Dark Truth
Boulevard Brewing Co.
- From:
- Boulevard Brewing Co.
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,720 - ABV:
- 9.7%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #11,013 - Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 10.78%
- Reviews:
- 803
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 28, 2024
- Added:
- Feb 28, 2010
- Wants:
- 130
- Gots:
- 549
Throughout the ages, man has been fascinated by the quest for hidden knowledge, the search for the secret to transforming the elemental into the extraordinary, the simple into the sublime. Ladies and gentlemen, we present for your consideration this exotic, inky concoction, the almost magical creation of our modern day alchemists who have turned humble grains—barley, wheat, rye, and oats—into black, liquid gold. Layers of complex flavors slowly emerge from the glass: espresso, roasted fig, crème brulée. Belgian yeast provides a plum-like fruitiness, noble German hops reveal spicy, herbal notes, while the rich, velvety mouthfeel mellows to a dry, smoky finish.
60 IBU
60 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by sjccmd:
Reviewed by sjccmd from Minnesota
4.23/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.23/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2010 Batch 1, best by 01/13....I'm happy Boulevard started providing best by dates.
Pours rich black with dark amber highlights. Really enormous head, very fine bubbles, varying degrees of tan. Recedes very slowly leaving ribbons of lacing behind. The second pour was more cautious and yielded a more appropriate head, but still pretty large.
I immediately smelled dark fruits as I popped the cork off, but the smell in the glass was pretty mellow until it warmed up. Roasted coffee, dark chocolate, dates and raisins. Charred oak comes out as well. Mild alcohol warmth towards the bottom of the bottle.
The flavor begins with rich dark chocolate and coffee followed by slightly sweet dark fruits finishing with roasty bitterness and that charred oaky flavor. The multi-grain base provides a complex spicy background. Mild citrus flavors from the hops appear briefly. By the end of the beer, smoky and roasty flavors dominate.
Maybe the mouthfeel is slightly thin for the style, but it fits the beer for me. There's a lot of flavor going on so it didn't really bother me. This beer still has a nice body and is not overly carbonated.
Decent drinkability, the hop presence, roasty bitterness, and carbonation clean out the palate even though it's a sweet and sticky beer.
Another exciting beer from Boulevard. This might be my favorite of the seasonal, non limited release, smokestacks. I can't wait to see what Boulevard does next!
Mar 19, 2010Pours rich black with dark amber highlights. Really enormous head, very fine bubbles, varying degrees of tan. Recedes very slowly leaving ribbons of lacing behind. The second pour was more cautious and yielded a more appropriate head, but still pretty large.
I immediately smelled dark fruits as I popped the cork off, but the smell in the glass was pretty mellow until it warmed up. Roasted coffee, dark chocolate, dates and raisins. Charred oak comes out as well. Mild alcohol warmth towards the bottom of the bottle.
The flavor begins with rich dark chocolate and coffee followed by slightly sweet dark fruits finishing with roasty bitterness and that charred oaky flavor. The multi-grain base provides a complex spicy background. Mild citrus flavors from the hops appear briefly. By the end of the beer, smoky and roasty flavors dominate.
Maybe the mouthfeel is slightly thin for the style, but it fits the beer for me. There's a lot of flavor going on so it didn't really bother me. This beer still has a nice body and is not overly carbonated.
Decent drinkability, the hop presence, roasty bitterness, and carbonation clean out the palate even though it's a sweet and sticky beer.
Another exciting beer from Boulevard. This might be my favorite of the seasonal, non limited release, smokestacks. I can't wait to see what Boulevard does next!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by 1BrewBacca from Georgia
3.92/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A quintessential pour. Dark, rich liquid, and a decent light brown head.
Strong dark chocolate notes through and through.
Slight bitterness on the finish.
Overall very good. I see more of these in my future.
Oct 22, 2023Strong dark chocolate notes through and through.
Slight bitterness on the finish.
Overall very good. I see more of these in my future.
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California
3.67/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I’m just gonna toss this one out there well and big: Raul does not have any dark truths. Like, you won’t see a pic of me in pink panty house and “balleting” like a goody goody gum drop. Either way, this beer is just ok. Almost a bit of a smoked meat flavor. But honesty, not terrible.
Whatever.
Aug 12, 2023Whatever.
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France
3.74/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle, almost room temp, into an Angry Chair snifter. Small brown head up over dark brown brew.
Smells of coffee and burnt brown sugar.
Taste is coffee and cacao up front, everything else comes off as sublime. Nothing really up front, which means that there’s balance under the percolator.
Feels kinda thin, medium carb.
Overall, it’s OK. Nothing fantastic - but I still hold Boulevard Brewing in high regard.
Feb 20, 2023Smells of coffee and burnt brown sugar.
Taste is coffee and cacao up front, everything else comes off as sublime. Nothing really up front, which means that there’s balance under the percolator.
Feels kinda thin, medium carb.
Overall, it’s OK. Nothing fantastic - but I still hold Boulevard Brewing in high regard.
Reviewed by gonesail from Florida
4.05/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
this imperial stout was one of the best I have had. most important for me was a lack of bitterness and deep malt taste without excessive hopping. it is very dark .. pretty much opaque and develops a nice head. there is a chocolate flavor. I like strong beer and this one delivers on that. it is a great cold weather or seasonal brew.
Feb 11, 2023Reviewed by JKENNEKE
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
January 2023. At first sight metallic taste, but after allowing it to breathe for a while, tasted much better slightly bitter not extremely deep flavor palette, though it is rich tasting, not overly powering.
Jan 14, 2023Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a very dark color with a slight tan head and lacing
Aroma has molasses, malt and espresso hints
The taste follows the nose with a molasses, malt and espresso flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A nice well balanced stout
Dec 11, 2022Aroma has molasses, malt and espresso hints
The taste follows the nose with a molasses, malt and espresso flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A nice well balanced stout
Dark Truth from Boulevard Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
2740 ratings
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