Imperial Stout X: Coffee
Boulevard Brewing Co.

Imperial Stout X: CoffeeImperial Stout X: Coffee
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From:
Boulevard Brewing Co.
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
11%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 7.16%
Reviews:
84
Ratings:
411
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 31, 2021
Added:
Feb 05, 2015
Wants:
  30
Gots:
  114
This first edition of our Imperial Stout “X” series, incorporates freshly roasted Ethiopian Sidamo beans from our friends and neighbors at The Roasterie. After fermentation is complete and the beer has been crash cooled with the yeast removed, our brewers transfer Imperial Stout into a sanitized stainless tank that has been fitted with bags of coarsely ground coffee beans. At this point, the beer is at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Infusing the coffee at this temperature is similar to the cold toddy method of brewing coffee. The cold toddy method extracts far fewer acids from the coffee resulting in remarkably smooth, yet concentrated flavors. We allow the beer to rest on the coffee for a minimum of 24 hours before removing the beer from the coffee beans. Imperial Stout X – Coffee is not barrel aged.

The resulting beer is a marriage of huge, round, chocolate and caramel notes from the base beer, with smooth layers of sweet citrus and floral flavors and aromas from the coffee.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bluejacket74:
Photo of bluejacket74
Reviewed by bluejacket74 from Ohio

4.46/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750 ml caged and corked bottle, batch number L122314-2, best by 12-2016. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch and a half frothy tan head that stays around for a long time. There's also a good amount of lacing. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like coffee, roasted malt, chocolate, and some vanilla. Not surprisingly, the taste is similar to the aroma. However, there's also some burnt/charred malt and a bit of licorice noticeable. Even with the other flavors, this is definitely a coffee stout! Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's coating and a bit creamy with moderate carbonation. Overall I thought this was pretty good, I really hope this won't be a one time brew and that Boulevard decides to make this again in the future. I'd definitely like to try this again! $12.99 a bottle.
Feb 15, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750ml cork and cage bottle poured into a tulip
Bottled 2015

A- pours pitch black with a one finger foamy khaki head that reduces to a ring around the edge

S- earthy and herbal coffee with aromas of dark chocolate, caramel, toffee, charred malt and a hint of black licorice. Coffee has just a hint of ‘green’ aroma

T- chocolaty and herbal coffee with some smooth roasted notes up front, followed by some charred malt, green coffee notes, and snide. The finish gives some caramel, with more chocolate and smooth coffee

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into the finish

O- bold yet smooth coffee flavors that mesh well with the base beer
Jan 31, 2021
Photo of BKotch
Reviewed by BKotch from Texas

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2015 vintage; consumed 5/2020. Holding up very, very well. Surprised to hear a pop as the cork came off, and to see a fluffy beige head on top of the black liquid. Coffee, chocolate are prominent in the aroma and flavor. 5 years old! Impressive.
May 16, 2020
Photo of zonker17
Reviewed by zonker17 from Texas

4.41/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Every bit as drinkable now as ever. Excelent nose and taste. Thick head, minimal retention. Bursting with coffee and chocolate notes. A touch boozy with bourbon and barrel.
Jul 16, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
"Best by 12/2016"; drank 2/21/15 @ the Palace.

Brewed with Sidamo beans from Ethiopia.

Brown/black appearance.

HUGE dark tan head (careful pouring!); frothy lace.

Roasted coffee & pepper heat in the nose.

Medium thick, creamy mouthfeel.

Creamy coffee & milk chocolate flavors; no booze heat.

A dangerously drinkable dessert treat.
Apr 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by jgunther71 from Illinois

Feb 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by krome from Illinois

Feb 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by mush from Illinois

Jan 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by Shafaegalo from Texas

Jul 22, 2017
Photo of jakecattleco
Reviewed by jakecattleco from California

4.24/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
After discovering an infected So Happens It's a Tuesday (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/121692/?ba=jakecattleco#review), I went looking for something that wouldn't disappoint (hopefully).

2015 bottle into a snifter. Pours jet black with almost two fingers of tan variable density head with good retention eventually settling to a ring that never fully dissipated and left spotty lacing. Nose is a blast of roastiness, coffee dominated until the head settled then more balanced with roasted malt. Perhaps just a hint of dark chocolate and booze as it warmed. Taste had plenty of roasted attributes but more prominent heat from the ABV. Surprised by the amount of coffee still present, quite happy about that! Finishes with a bit of bitterness, and just the slightest lingering burn from the ABV. Mouthfeel is moderate bodied and the carbonation medium. This beer held on very well! Wish I'd bought more then I had the chance.
Mar 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.04 by costanzo_mike from Massachusetts

Feb 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.35 by Hootie159 from Massachusetts

Feb 19, 2017
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

4.29/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
"As a special treat for lovers of big, complex stouts, Boulevard Brewing Company offers the 2015 Imperial Stout "X" series. The "X" factor stands for a key ingredient brewed into each of several different limited releases planned throughout the year. This edition was infused with Ethiopian Sidamo coffee from our Kansas City neighbor, 'The Roasterie,' lending this robust stout a subtle wine-like smoothness." Brewed in the style of an American Imperial Stout, available in 750ml. bottles and on limited draft. One time release variant of Boulevard's Imperial Stout.

Poured from a 750ml. bottle to a snifter glass.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a creamy pale brown color over a very dark brown, nearing black body. Retention is very good and lacing is light and patchy. 4.25

(Smell) A big coffee nose up front with loads of tangy fruit, acidity and oiliness with a moderate roast, very potent against a velvet stout body of chocolate, caramel syrups, licorice, and moderately roasted barley with little imperfections and a striking cleanliness. Potency is high. 4.5

(Taste) Rich, flavorful and earthy malt body of roasted barley, chocolate and licorice carries a strong wave of coffee flavor along with it, nice fruity and moderately acidic coffee bean presence with a delicate roast, compliments the stout nicely and isn't lost against the body. Finishes nicely smooth and clean with a moderate creaminess and a residual oiliness. 4.25

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, moderately oily, lightly syrupy, smooth, moderately spicy, medium dry. Carbonation is medium, generating a modest frothiness and a moderately crisp finish. Body is medium+ for the style, heavy overall. Balance is nearly even sweet to earthy roastiness, spicy and acidic roast characteristics. Alcohol presence is modest, and there are no off characters. 4

(Overall) A very nicely preserved coffee nose and flavor really compliments this stout base nicely. I'm really glad they didn't choose an overly roasty bean as the contrast of fruity acidity creates a solid range of flavor, and neither the bean nor the malt body overpowers each other. A very solid variant and a solid opener for the series. Recommended. 4.25

Boulevard Brewing Co.'s
Imperial Stout X 2015: Coffee Ale
4.29/5.00
Jan 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.77 by Eman17 from Illinois

Dec 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.11 by nodder from New York

Dec 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by AdamSteve from Michigan

Dec 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by bigred89 from Maryland

Nov 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by KensWorld from Florida

Nov 06, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by PassMeAZima from Kentucky

Oct 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.12 by Nunya from Ohio

Aug 26, 2016
Imperial Stout X: Coffee from Boulevard Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 411 ratings