The Calling
Boulevard Brewing Co.

The CallingThe Calling
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From:
Boulevard Brewing Co.
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,339
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,953
Avg:
4.08 | pDev: 8.82%
Reviews:
289
Ratings:
1,690
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 03, 2023
Added:
Dec 23, 2014
Wants:
  71
Gots:
  618
The Calling is an undeniable IPA we were driven to make. It's our tribute to like-minded dreamers, adventurous spirits, and glass half-full optimists. It's also our most heavily hopped beer ever, bursting forth with unmistakable tropical fruit and pine hop aromas and flavor supported with a slightly sweet malt character, tapering to a crisp, dry finish. Heed your call and enjoy.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StoutHunter:
Photo of StoutHunter
Reviewed by StoutHunter from Michigan

3.92/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
I picked up a bottle of The Calling for $2.89 at The Lager Mill. I've been meaning to try this one and now that's available I thought I would give it a try, so lets see how it goes. 2016 Vintage. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a IPA glass.

A- The label looks nice, it's got a nice clean look to it and it's just a little eye catching. It poured a slightly hazy golden orange color that takes on more of a golden color when held to the light with a fingers worth of bubbly off white head and it died down to a thin ring that eventually faded away and it left just a little bit of spotty lacing behind. This is a pretty nice looking beer, I have no complaints.

S- The aroma starts off with a higher amount of medium sweetness with the hops being the first to show up and they impart a mix of a heavy citrus rind aroma with lots of grapefruit, orange juice, mango and pineapple also showing up and in the the background there's a little bit of a herbal hop aroma. Up next comes some doughy yeast that leads into the malts which are on the lighter side and they impart a slightly grainy, pale malt and sweet malt like aromas. This beer has a very nice aroma, I really like the hop profile.

T- The taste seems to be fairly similar to the aroma, but not as juicy and it starts off with a higher amount of medium sweetness with the hops still being the first to show up and they impart most of the same aspects that they did in the aroma, but they are lighter and I'm picking up more of a vegetable, green and generic hop flavors. Up next comes some more sweet malts with just a slight bit of doughy yeast that leads int o the malts which are lighter than they were in the aroma, but they impart the same aspects. This is a good tasting beer, the hop profile is good, but I wish it was a little more balanced and I think it's too sweet.

M- Pretty smooth, a little refreshing, a little cloying, very crisp, medium bodied with a very high amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel is decent, but it's got way too much carbonation.

Overall I thought this was a pretty nice beer and a nice example of the style, it was really going in the right direction with the aroma, but when I got to the taste it started to get a little rough around the edges and that carried through to the mouthfeel. This beer had ok drinkability, one is enough for me, anymore than that and the sweetness would start to wear on me. What I like the most about this beer is the aroma, it's very nice and the highlight of this beer. What I like the least about this beer is the sweetness and the lack of balance in the taste, those two aspects need some work. I might buy this beer again and I wouldn't turn one down. I can't say it's a must try, but if you like your IPA's on the sweeter side I think it's worth a try. All in all I liked this beer, but I didn't love it, it got to be just a little rough around the edges and it needs a little bit of cleaning, but it has some potential, that's for sure. IT's not a favorite Boulevard beer and it's a little above average for the style. Nice job guys this is a solid Imperial IPA, but it has potential to be even better.
Jun 29, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Albertsons. Pours out a cloudy golden with huge airy head. Aroma equal parts malt and hops. Taste brings hops to the front, not overwhelming, but soft and inviting. Mild resinous bitterness, in taste and finish. Solid IPA throughout.
Jun 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by jbexphys from Maryland

Feb 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.08 by KC_beerman from Missouri

Feb 07, 2023
Photo of Dustin015
Reviewed by Dustin015 from Maryland

3.46/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
L- Hazy Straw With quickly dissipating head

S- Citrus and floral reminiscent of soap

T- medium sweetness citrus and detectable alcohol

F- Medium full body, medium carbonation.

O- Descent double IPA a little bit too thick and I did not love the hop flavors.
May 29, 2022
Photo of TheRougeBastard
Reviewed by TheRougeBastard from North Carolina

3/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Hard to call...The Calling is a true to style, solid west-coast D IPA...hoppy-dank-resinesqe...finish is kinda blah. Canned 29 Jul 21, enjoyed 07 Nov 21, maybe it's past its prime? Not bad by any stretch, but just...okay.
Mar 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.18 by joran from Kansas

Feb 18, 2022
Photo of NiceTaps
Reviewed by NiceTaps from New Jersey

4.06/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap in a Pilsner glass, 12 ounce serving.

Slightly hazed pale gold color with a 1f white cap. Lots of soapy lacing.

Tropical fruits, light citrus, pine and dank. Earthy aromatics.

Flavors of pine resin, fruit punch, and Caramelized malt.

Near full bodied with noticeable sweet alcohol that cleanses with hop bitterness.

Nice drinking DIPA that packs a punch.
Jan 15, 2022
Photo of NickSMpls
Reviewed by NickSMpls from Washington

3.84/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Purchased at Costco in Tumwater, WA of all places. BB date is Feb 10th.

Slighly hazy pour, a finger of foam. Nose is a bit floral with malty notes. Early bitterness but not harsh. The long hop bill means no distinguishing hop flavor comes to the fore, but what you get is a depth of taste. Malt is very much in a background supporting role. A very nice DIPA.
Dec 02, 2021
 
Rated: 5 by BoodahMoogle from Arkansas

Nov 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Birdlegs from Washington

Nov 06, 2021
 
Rated: 4.36 by golf4collet from West Virginia

Oct 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.02 by LunchMoney from Minnesota

Oct 02, 2021
 
Rated: 3.8 by CisPiece88 from Nebraska

Aug 16, 2021
Photo of Beaver13
Reviewed by Beaver13 from Colorado

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can. Pours dark golden yellow with a medium creamy white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is lots of resiny piney hops and some booze and sweet caramel malt.

The flavor is sweet bready caramel malt with some fruit and big resiny piney hop bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, a nice DIPA.
Jul 06, 2021
 
Rated: 4.3 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

May 23, 2021
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
The pint can is calling, calling to be emptied into a clear glass liter mug for scrutiny. Oh boy! This looks like a Double IPA should. No starchy foam for a head and although not entirely translucent, it's not close to being cloudy. The color is a beautiful rich amber with an appropriately sized white head. A good sharp hoppy aroma for the nose, good glass lacing and things are going in the right direction. The taste is pleasantly well-hopped without trending to overly bitter. The malt body is perfectly suited to the less than biting hops. It's not sweet at all and somehow compliments the hops, rather than providing a contrast. This goes down so easily for its ABV of 8.5%. This is a great one, with just enough hop character and plenty of alcohol, without being bitter or sweet. This has a perfect balance and should have high ratings.
May 13, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Golden colour, white head. Aroma of fruity hops, hints of oak, vinous notes. Flavour of oak, fruity and spicy hops, vinous notes, good bitterness.
Apr 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.22 by jacobk1997 from Georgia

Mar 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.08 by HighwayChile from Kansas

Feb 28, 2021
The Calling from Boulevard Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 1690 ratings