Grand Cru
Boulevard Brewing Co.

Grand CruGrand Cru
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From:
Boulevard Brewing Co.
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
Ranked #20
ABV:
13.7%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,538
Avg:
4.31 | pDev: 5.8%
Reviews:
39
Ratings:
112
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 11, 2022
Added:
Mar 13, 2018
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  22
Composed of carefully selected lots of bourbon barrel quad and whiskey barrel-aged Imperial Stout, our brewers have conspired to create a blend that effortlessly expresses the most distinctive elements of each beer, creating a delicious whole that’s even greater than the sum of its parts.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DanGeo:
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Rated by DanGeo from Michigan

3.74/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Mar 28, 2018
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.54 by DarrellK from Florida

Jul 11, 2022
Photo of RonaldTheriot
Reviewed by RonaldTheriot from Louisiana

5/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Boulevard Grand Cru Barrel-Aged Ale has a medium, beige head, a dark-brown appearance, with some bubbles and no lacing. The aroma is of raisin, nougat, dates, and whisky barrel. The flavor is similar, with low bitterness and rich sweetness. Boulevard Grand Cru Barrel-Aged Ale has a heavy body and a sweet finish. Perhaps, I detected a Madeira barrel note.

RJT
Mar 11, 2021
 
Rated: 4.36 by SFNC from North Carolina

Jan 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.15 by impending from California

Apr 24, 2020
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Reviewed by ryan1788a5 from Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Deep mahogany color with a thin slip of a beige head. Small dots of lacing.

S: Whiskey barrels greet the nose immediately. Lot of fat malt character too. Dark caramel, toast, cola, brown bread, brown cocoa and fudge. Some nougat and bourbon ball candy. Oak. Bourbon. Subtle spice and clove, perhaps a bit of tobacco.

T: Follows the nose. Toasty oak and corn-forward whiskey up front, potent and spicy with some peppery alcohol character, though it stops shy of being hot. Rich malt character brings a lot of chewy dark caramel and dense fudge. Lots of toasty crust, brown bread, treacle, toffee, and hints of cola. Vague earthy and herbal spices, mild clove. Chewing tobacco. Figs and golden raisins. It dries substantially on the finish with a lot of oaky vanilla and lingering spices and peppery whiskey.

M: Full bodied, rich and thick. Dense and chewy. Rib-sticking and substantial feel. Fine carbonation is mildly prickling. Spicy alcohol warmth.

O: A very solid blend brings a lot of depth and complexity to the table here. It’s done in perfect proportion, so that the stout and quad threads both shine through without one overwhelming the other. It’s interesting to have that brawny stout texture and heavy malt flavor while still being able to taste the complexity of the Belgian yeast and specialty malt. No easy feat, especially since different whiskey barrels also come into play. Color me impressed. I’m enjoying the hell out of it.
Apr 19, 2020
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Reviewed by teslatam from Minnesota

4.54/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75
Drank warm. I like my aged stouts warmish. (like you're supposed to)
Not an thick head, a little lacing, dark copper color.
Smells.. cherry, dates, prunes, molasses, hint of caramel..hits that "really complex" overload
Feels.. smooth and a little sting..chewable!
Taste.. I like this beer! My first sip.. sweet, bourbon-y, caramel! My son tried it a few days before me and I said to him "hey this is better than KBS (see my pic)! He says "yeah I know".
Feb 27, 2020
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Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

4.17/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Wow, simply - wow...

Beautiful dark caramel color with creamy head and a smell that is boozy, malty, and then you get a creamy mouthfeel which is the treat with this brew. Absolutely a joy to drink. The taste is mostly booze forward, very little else, but at 13.5% what else would you expect? Overall, this is exceptional and definitely worth the try for anyone and everyone.
Jan 20, 2020
 
Rated: 4.41 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Dec 08, 2019
 
Rated: 4.4 by CraftFan5 from New Jersey

Jun 11, 2019
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Reviewed by twage04 from North Carolina

4.42/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark color, a bit of a dark ruby when thin. Medium carbonation. My bottle was version 2018, best buy January 2019. Aroma was a hint of an oxidized barleywine. Taste was much of the same with lots of bourbon and a hint of oak. Very pleasant sipper that well hid its booze. Very enjoyable!
Jun 03, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by Birdlegs from Washington

May 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.96 by generallee from Virginia

Apr 04, 2019
Photo of TreyIsWilson
Reviewed by TreyIsWilson from Michigan

4.19/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A - Pours a very dark brown with a thin tan head. Light amount of soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is dark cherries, raisins, brown sugar and whiskey.

T - The taste is dark cherries, raisins, figs, vanilla, chocolate and whiskey.

M - Full body with medium carbonation. Crisp mouthfeel with a crisp dry finish.

O - This is a big tasty beer. The quad seems to come through more than stout, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Mar 20, 2019
Photo of Mindcrime1000
Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota

4.28/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a single-bottle into a tulip.

Pours nearly-opaque dark ruddy-brown with a two-finger mottled tan head that has remarkable staying power. It fades to a decent rim of lacing.

The aromas are extremely complex. The oaky bourbon barrel notes are unmistakable, but don't overpower the overall presentation. Sweet malt aromas run the full gamut from dark to light. Carob, chocolate, molasses, brown sugar, figgy jam, dark cherry, raisin, anise, caramel, toffee, coconut, campfire-browned marshmallow, and vanilla. Hints of coffee and warming booze in the background. Just a touch of smoke/char.

The flavor is awash with a variety of big chewy malty flavors. The bourbon barrel flavors are, again, present, but very balanced and blended with everything else that is going on. Less chocolate, more dark fruit than the nose. Dark cherry, fig, and raisin on the tip of the tongue. Other stone-fruits as well with hints of plum/apricot. Some candied apple/pear. More yeast and toast notes cross the mid-palate, with brown bread, toasted grain, smoke/char astringency, as well as hints of espresso coffee. The finish is heavy on aromatics, with vanilla, anise, and warming alcohol, but not burning. The yeast shows up again at the finish with a spicy, peppery kick.

The body is unmistakably full, but not heavy or sticky despite the ABV. Excellent staying power from the carbonation carries this brew through to the finish. It is remarkably smooth for such a strong quaff.

This is yet another Boulevard success, and blends attributes from many of its bloodline--Sixth Glass yeast, Bourbon Barrel Quad booze and aromatics, and Dark Truth Stout dark fruits all show up for the party in equal successful measures, although I'm not sure it is as good as any of those individual brews. Still, a boozy but tasty brew.
Mar 10, 2019
 
Rated: 4.35 by moundbz from North Dakota

Mar 07, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by lebriarjr from North Carolina

Mar 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.25 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Feb 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by 11-52_4hops from Virginia

Jan 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.77 by firkingroovin from Illinois

Jan 26, 2019
Grand Cru from Boulevard Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 112 ratings