Boulevard Chocolate Ale Aging?

Boulevard is one of my favorite breweries.....one of my top 5 in the states and I'd never slam their beer. That's not to say, of course, that all of their beer can age. In my opinion, most beer should be consumed relatively shortly after release. (Hell, even Dave Engber says that he makes KBS to drink now, not to age!) But all of us have a lot of fun aging and watching some of our favorites change.....some for the good, some not.

In any event, Chocolate Ale is fun, especially fresh. I've tasted it fresh, medium old, and well after a year old (which I believe for this beer is old). Respectfully, in my opinion it's best when it's new and young. It seems to lose some brightness and lose it flavor profile. Age makes it taste a bit flabby, stale and dull. When young it is vibrant and bright. JMO

 

I like it better fresh. I'm hanging on to a couple bottles of the infected to see what happens to them. Bottom line , go for it! Since you had one fresh and enjoyed it go ahead and try aging one to see if you feel it changes for the better. Maybe the alochol will be more subdued and the dark fruit and chocolate will come to the front. I didn't find a review of it from you. What was it that you liked and didn't like about it the first time around?

 

Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout does really well with 2+ years, I don't see why Boulevard would make a 'lesser' beer. Try it with time on it and see.

 

Black Chocolate Stout does not contain any chocolate. The blend of roasted malts give it a chocolate like quality.