Tasting Room Series: Rosemary IPA
Boulevard Brewing Co.

 

I was elated & an attendee a few years ago at the Press fete in PHL for the announcement that Boulevard B.C. beers of KC, MO would now be available in PA! My enthusiasm has not waned in the least, but I have a sufficient amount of their beers in the Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody that I am conducting a Coup de Boule(vard) today for New Beer Sunday (Week 663). Hang on, it's going to be quite the ride!

From the bottle: "59 IBUs".

Oh my. I am down to my last four, but I think that this shall be my last for NBS (Week 663). I am flagging & any urgency would simply be artificial. I Pop!ped the cap & began a slow, gentle pour in keeping with my sense of tiredness. Once sufficiently decanted, an in-glass swirl raised two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, deep-tan/light-brown head with good retention, leaving loads of sticky lacing behind in its wake. Color was Coppery-Brown (SRM = > 17, < 22) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was highly herbal and while I might not have guessed rosemary, it was prevalent! Mmm. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was very herbal, but rosemary was not my first guess. No matter. I think that it would be better served when thought of as an "Herbed/Spiced Beer" since that was its emphasis & not so much as an AIPA. Oh, man, was this the way to wrap up the day! It was beautifully herbal, almost minty, but also kind of woody. A previous reviewer mentioned spruce or spruce tips & that was spot on! It deeply saddens me that this was a one-shot as it was incredibly tasty. Finish was dry, not exactly spicy, but very herbal. Yum!

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a bronze color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of pine, light rosemary. Taste is minty, pine, some rosemary, light malts are present, light bitterness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a unique beer worth trying.

Picked up a single from the Happy Valley BevMo on 3-18-17. It appears the bottling date is 092616 best by 23FEB2017. Whoops.

Beer poured a strange dark amber color. Not expecting that for the style.

Nose was a combo of rosemary and citrus.

Taste was rosemary, pine, and some citrus over a caramel malt body. Light pine tar in the finish.

Mouthfeel was medium bodied and fairly refreshing.

Overall an interesting brew. I like the rosemary addition. Definitely is an IPA in how it finished. Glad i tried it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a clear mahogany. One inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of pine, slight spruce, citrus hops, spicy hops, sweet malt, alcohol, and rosemary. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of slight pine, slight spruce, citrus hops, spicy hops, hint of sweet malt, alcohol, and rosemary. Overall, good appearance, aroma, body, blend, and complexity. The hops and rosemary work excellently together.

 

 

 

Poured from 12-ounce bottle into a Riedel champagne glass. Interesting appearance, caramel color with a thick off-white head. Aroma and flavor are very well balanced. Strong malt backbone with lots of hop character, nicely bitter, clean finish. Rosemary is front and center on the nose and palate, but not overpoweringly so. This herb complements perfectly the hop character of this beer. In a word, outstanding.