Boulevard opinions

My first opinion is that Boulevard is one of America's best "national" craft breweries (i.e. bigger than a regional beer) because they care about their product. They're a company with great integrity. My second opinion is that they're one of the best American Belgian-style breweries of size and scale. I place them on the same level as Ommegang (which has the same parent company) and Allagash.

As for their best beers, Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad, Rye-on-Rye, and Imperial Stout all get a big thumbs up from me. Yes, they happen to be barrel aged beers, but they are consciously blended, which shows concern for what the final product should be like. 2015 is going to be a big year for Imperial Stout, by the way.

As for their everyday beers, I'd say Tank 7 is a good place to start, followed by the Sixth Glass and Long Strange Tripel. But even their "minor" beers are something special, with Nutcracker Ale coming to mind.

 

Have only had Tank 7 and their session ipa (pop-up maybe?), enjoyed both but not mind blowing.

 

Rye-on-Rye is top notch.. Recently had a Saison-Brett with a year on it and it was AWESOME ! The pale ale , single wide IPA and Bully! porter are good as well.. Im from KC but dont think im too biased..

 

I'd drink Tank 7 all day, everyday if I could find cases of it on the regular.

 

Tank 7 just didn't do it for me. By no means was it bad, but I wouldn't say it's 93/94 territory.

 

Bourbon-barrel Quad and their Imperial Stout in Whiskey Barrels are both excellent!

 

I love Boulevard. They have a solid core lineup and their Smokestack Series beers are awesome as well. My favorites? Saison-Brett, Bourbon Barrel Quad, Tank 7, Imperial Stout, Rye on Rye, Dark Truth Stout, Sixth Glass Quad, and (my most favorite of them all) Love Child No. 3 and No. 4.

Give them a try!

 

In the last year Eastern PA has been fortunate to welcome Boulevard beers into distribution. The Imperial Stout is top notch IMO.

 

I have a soft spot in my heart for Boulevard because their Pale Ale was one of the first beers that launched a thousand beer nerd beverages for me. That said, their "base" beers (Pale Ale, Wheat, etc.) are great entree beverages for the prospective beer nerd, but they're pretty much "craft beer by the numbers", i.e., their Wheat is ubiquitous, similar to Boston Lager, is tasty, like Boston Lager, but stays "in the box", like Boston Lager. And there's nothing wrong with that, because Wheat (and Boston Lager) are enjoyable beverages, but if you're experienced at all, they won't make you dance.

The Smokestack Series beverages, OTOH, will make you writhe around like James Brown on PED's, IMHO. Tank 7, Long Strange Tripel, and Sixth Glass are all available year-round and are all very good to excellent, and the seasonal and limited release Smokestack stuff (Harvest Dance, Grainstorm, Love Child, Saison-Brett, etc.) are truly world class.

 

If Boulevard makes a Smokestack Series beer in a style you like it's a must try.

 

Bbq. Great brewery

 

I love the Smokestack series, but no one has mentioned the year round unfiltered wheat.

When I lived there, that was a great session beer when the air temp was 98 and the heat index was 115

 

Probably one of the most "under-appreciated" breweries out there if you ask me. They make amazing beers of every style. I love Boulevard. My favorite beer of theirs and my go-to is 80 Acre Hoppy Wheat. As others have said though, their Smokestack series is really a gem.

 

One of my top 5 breweries.

 

I tend to disregard them, as I've basically "grown up" in craft beer with them. But yeah, everything's really solid and some of the smokestacks are tremendous. Can't wait for Love Child #5 and #6 this year!

 

How much funk was developed in the Saison-Brett with that 1 year of aging?

Cheers!

 

i have had tank 7, sixth glass and bbquad. all outstanding, especially tank 7

 

I didn't see anyone mention their Unfiltered Wheat beer which I find quite quaffable in the summertime.

 

Boulevard is a lot like Samuel Adams in that they produce and sell a lot of different things, but most of them just aren't worth drinking.

That being said. I love "Love Child" and will continue to drink that as long as they produce it.

 

I haven't had many of their beers but the ones I've had have been great