Boulevard Smokestack Series–Dark Truth Stout

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, Missouri

APPEARANCE: 3/3
Very apropos to style. Espresso-colored head; great head retention.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Coffee notes; slightly sweet caramel notes. No hop aroma.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Malty, minimal hop. Could use more hop.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Coffee, vanilla, caramel. Prune. Bitter finish, some astringence.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Starts fruity, ends bitter. NOT dry like a stout–really fruity.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: An interesting, different take on a stout. Not at all what we expected.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Ben: A very interesting beer. Complex; lots of competing flavors. Belgian yeast is overpowering. Roasted malt is second to the yeast; much more like a Belgian strong ale than a stout. As a dessert beer, pairs nicely with chocolate.