Bell's Oberon Ale

Bell's Brewery
Comstock, MI

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Orange gold color. Lots of floculent yeast in suspension leaves a hazy appearance. White, fizzy head that fades quickly. We've seen prettier beers.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Citrusy with earthy undertones. Lemongrass and subtle apricot notes. Very malty nose.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Malt peach and apricot flavors. Subtle lemon rind. No hop flavor. Earthy and gritty. Almost musky. Grainy cereal flavors present.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Very dry finish. Subtle hop bitterness and orange peel at end.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Very light bodied. Kind of fizzy.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A light session beer for the summer. Better than most other unfiltered wheats we've tried. On par with Boulevard Zon.

TOTAL: 15.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Like a mainstream version of Saison Dupont - that same earthiness that is. Really nice. Gives wheat ales a good name.
Ben: An earthy wheat. Not a bright citrus summer beer - more of a summer evening after a thunderstorm kind of beer. I'd definitely pick up another six of this.

Wooden Nickel IPA

Crown Valley Brewing Co.
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Apple juice color–light brown to dark honey. Little head. Big bubbles, steady stream.

AROMA: 2/4
Malty–caramel, brown sugar. Slight (and I mean SLIGHT) citrus hop aroma. Certainly could be hoppier.

TASTE: 4.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 1.75/4: Hop bitterness up front. Woody, slightly sour, minimal hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 1.25/3: Lasting bitter–astringent.
Mouth-Feel: 1.5/3: A bit fizzy, rather thin. Some sour puckering.

OVERALL: 1.25/3: Way too bitter, needs more maltiness and body for better balance. Needs more of everything to be a better beer.

TOTAL: 9.75/20–Anything Else On Tap?

NOTES:
Matt: A weird, disjointed beer from aroma to flavor to finish. Weirdly bitter, thin, just not very good.
Ben: All bitterness–hop it up! Want more hop flavor and aroma. Almost a bitter pale ale–could be British style. In any case, don't waste your money.

Schlafly Pilsner

The Saint Louis Brewery
St. Louis, MO

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Yellow-straw color. Slight haze. A white head that fades quickly. Big bubbles. Not all that pretty for a pilsner.

AROMA: 2/4
No real aroma. A slight sweetness - bready? No real hop aroma, that's for sure.

TASTE: 6.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.25/4: A lot more hop flavor and bitterness than we expected based on the lack of any real hop aroma. Citrusy flavors which is odd for a pilsner. Malty and hoppy. Sweet and bready.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Bitter finish. Maybe too much for style but we like it. Lingers into a slight astringency though. Malt flavors fade quickly.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Clean. Fizzy. Citrus flavors make it a little bouncy.

OVERALL: 2/3: It's a hoppy pils. A tad too bitter for style. Citrus flavors not typical for a pilsner. Good but not great.

TOTAL: 12.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES: Matt: It's okay - I wouldn't cross the street to buy it though. I like the bitterness. Wish it wouldn't linger so long. All-in-all an okay pils. As Ben says, Boulevard pils is far better.
Ben: No real hop aroma but citrusy notes and a tad too much bittering hop than a typical pils style. Good to try once and drink if nothing else is available. Doesn't hold water to Boulevard's pilsner.

Boulevard Boss Tom's Golden Bock

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Beautiful gold color. Weak head that fades fast. Steady stream of bubbles. Crystal clear.

AROMA: 3/4
Very clean and crisp aroma. Sweet cream with some bubble gum notes. No hop aroma. Pilsner like.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Starts out sweet and malty. Hop bitterness in the middle to end. Apple juice and sweet cream notes. Minimal hop flavors.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Subtle hop bitterness starts at middle and crescendos to the finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Clean and effervescent. Maybe a touch too fizzy.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A clean crisp maibock. Lots of malt, nicely offset by hop bitterness.

TOTAL: 15.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Well done. A crisp spring beer. Not my favorite style, but a well done maibock nonetheless.
Ben: One of my preferred Boulevard seasonals. A good spring beer and a nice clean bock. Well done.

Boulevard Imperial Stout (Smokestack Series Limited Release)

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Black/opaque—really dark, anyway. Rocky, espresso-colored head that lasts and lasts. Fine bubbles. Beautiful!

AROMA: 3.25/4
Sweet nose. Roasted notes, dominant whiskey notes.

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Malty, big. Very sweet—subtle roast, but we expected more roast character. Oaky. Very little hop flavor, appropriately.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Some sourness. Whiskey lasts—alcohol warming, but not offensive.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Very smooth. Sherry-like, warms the tongue. Appropriately carbonated.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: Almost done and the head is still here. Big and tastes like it (in a good way). Whiskey flavor is balanced nicely with malt. A special occasion beer.

TOTAL: 16.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Ben: A sophisticated beer to be enjoyed from a snifter. Definitely a sipping beer; all that's missing is a monocle and a Sherlock Holmes pipe (or better yet, a big Russian hat).
Matt: I couldn't improve on Ben's comments, so I won't try. It's what I've come to expect from Boulevard's finest offerings—a well-crafted imperial stout.

Boulevard Chocolate Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Thick, cream/almond rocky head. Orange-brown, hazy. Mysterious! Yet, we expected a darker brew.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Chocolate nose, not sharp or overwhelming. Malty sweetness, caramel, slight nuttiness. Dark chocolate (maybe baker's chocolate?), cocoa. Smells nice, like a box of chocolates.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Earthy, malty. Sweet up front. Definite chocolate, vanilla notes. No hop flavor to speak of, alcohol is nicely masked.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Chocolate notes. Coffee, hop bitterness at finish. Chocolate lasts and lasts, some alcohol at the close.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Starts out sweet, finishes quite dry. Lightly carbonated.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: Good, does its job well–it's a beer first, a chocolate beer second. It's like chasing a bite of dark chocolate with a swig of a decent ale.

TOTAL: 15.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Improves quite a bit as it warms, so don't drink it too cold. Intriguing, nicely done for what it is. If you aren't a local, it's difficult to communicate the hype that sprang up around this beer–it was almost impossible to get, for some. Does it live up to that hype? Sadly, no, not quite.
Ben: Different. Definitely chocolatey–this would be better as a stout. Once-in-a-lifetime beer makes it unique, but falls short of expectations.

Arcadia Hopmouth Double IPA

Arcadia Ales
Battle Creek, MI

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Nice light brown/copper color, slight haze. Steady stream of bubbles, head rings the glass.

AROMA: 3/4
Sharp citrus, piney hop aroma. Bready, nutty malt. Sweet, hop aroma is dominant.

TASTE: 5.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.25/4: Hop flavor up-front, bitterness throughout. Very woody, malty sweetness at start, but bitterness is overwhelming.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Bitter, metallic tang. Flavor fades quickly but bitterness lingers.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Alcohol is noticeable, coats the tongue.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: Requires more body to offset hop bitterness. We like bitterness, absolutely, but this just isn't big enough.

TOTAL: 12.75/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Harsh, forgettable. Any flavor fades too quickly even to note. Disappointing.
Ben: Weak, needs more body given the bitterness. Not nearly enough oomph for a double IPA.

Bell's Hopslam

Bell's Brewery
Comstock, MI

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Clear, effervescent. Lots of bubbles. Thin, white head. Pretty gold color.

AROMA: 4/4
Pine, grapefruit and more grapefruit. Citrus overload. Honey, orange peel. Sour notes. Glorious–sets the bar high for taste.

TASTE: 9.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 4/4: Tons of hop flavor. Grapefruit, pine. Floral. Bitterness and hop flavor coexist in perfect balance throughout.
Aftertaste: 3/3: If hop flavor is in the driver's seat, bitterness rides in the sidecar. Both stay with you throughout.
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: A really light feel, which is deceptive, given the insane ABV.

OVERALL: 3/3: My God, this is incredible. Perfectly balanced–this can't be 10%. Any real hophead needs this on his or her beer bucket list.

TOTAL: 19.25/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: This is really dangerous–you could easily drink ten of these (if you could find them, that is) and wrap your car around a tree. The upside is, you'd die happy. Just about perfect.
Ben: I've died and gone to beer nirvana. I'd put this up with Pliny the Elder as one of the all-time greats.

Boulevard Long Strange Tripel

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Gold-orange color. Clear. On the darker side for the style. Foamy head with big bubbles that fades to ring the glass nicely.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Floral nose. Fruity. Pineapple, citrus, orange blossom. Very pretty aroma. Minimal hop.

TASTE: 6.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Very malty, sweet. Very little hop flavor. Some hop bitterness at the finish. Bready.
Aftertaste: 2/3: A little bitterness, slight astringency but sweet that lasts beyond the bitterness. Fruity, orange peel, bubble gum, pineapple.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Effervescent. Alcohol noticeable. Big. Slight tartness.

OVERALL: 2/3: Complex - lots of interesting flavors. A bit sweet, could use more hop. Boozy, alcohol could be masked better.

TOTAL: 14.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Tasty, but too big. Fruity, good as an aperitif or as a dinner beer - NOT a session beer by any means.
Ben: A big, complex tripel. A little dark, a little boozy. Not bad, but not the best. Pair this with fish or fowl during the main course.

Boulevard Bully Porter

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Thick,espresso-colored head. Nice and foamy that lasts. Opaque brown, almost black color.

AROMA: 2/4
Surprisingly little aroma. Subtly roasty, smoky, nutty maybe?

TASTE: 6.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Very little hop flavor - roasted malt is the word of the day. Very little malt sweetness.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Subtle smoke, roasted malt is dominant. Slight chocolate. Burnt coffee taste at end.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Fairly full-bodied. Bitter finish. A bit chewy.

OVERALL: 2/3: It's a very roasty porter. A decent offering. Some of the more complex flavors we were expecting were absent.

TOTAL: 13/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Not bad. A sort of one-note porter. All roasted malt, little else. Better than some other Boulevard standards.
Ben: Tastes like a porter for the masses. Could use more chocolate or smoked malt for a more interesting beer.

Arcadia IPA

Arcadia Ales
Battle Creek, MI

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Orange-copper color, cream-colored head that fades. Hazy. Big bubbles and lots of them.

AROMA: 2.5/4
Clean, crisp nose. Some citrus, sweet and sugary. Malty, not much hop aroma–needs more. Smells like a lager, not an IPA.

TASTE: 6.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: Hop flavor, bitterness at finish. Sweet pineapple up front. Nutty, a little piney. Some kind of chemical taste.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: some sourness, bitter finish lasts. Hop flavor fades quickly.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Very bubbly. Slightly astringent, fairly thin. Something of a soda pop quality.

OVERALL: 1.5/3: It's okay; there are better IPAs out there. Flavor is odd and yet forgettable. Don't get us wrong–we'll drink it (and be thinking of superior IPAs while we do).

TOTAL: 12.75/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Bummer–a new IPA in town, and it's just not great. Any flavor fades quickly, to astringent bitterness. I wouldn't buy it again.
Ben: Disappointing, I expected more (more hop aroma, more hop flavor). Not a fan of some weird flavors; not terrible, but a forgettable beer.

100th Review Spectacular: Boulevard Irish Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Red-brown color. Crystal clear. Thin head. Nice, if typical.

AROMA: 3/4
Clean, very sweet–brown sugar, subtle nuttiness. All malt, no hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Malt dominant. Brown sugar. Some nuttiness, some woodiness, some grassiness. Lots of 'ness.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Sweet, fades to subtle hop bitterness (which is nice). Clean finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Sweet, bubbly, very refreshing. Body appropriate to style.

OVERALL: 2/3: Classic malty Irish Ale–a good spring session beer. A popular Boulevard offering, and rightly so.

TOTAL: 14.75/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: A good Irish–I don't love the style, but it's a nice reminder that spring is coming, and it's nice for a change. Not bad.
Ben: It's always worth picking up a six of this Boulevard seasonal when it's available. Far superior to Killian's.

Boulevard Double-Wide IPA

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Thick, foamy, rocky head–big bubbles. Deep copper/mahogany color. Hazy, could be less so.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Hop! Citrus–orange-grapefruit. Piney, meadowy, very sweet.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Malt balances hops well. Strong orange, grapefruit flavors. Hop aroma and flavor hit you up-front, last through the bitter finish.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Citrus lingers, slowly moves to a bitter finish that doesn't last. Finishes smooth.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Big. The alcohol is masked well by hops, but it's there. Very clean.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A big, very hoppy beer. Lots of citrus throughout. Another nice Boulevard Smokestack offering!

TOTAL: 16.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Big, hoppy, bouncy, clean–what's not to like? Bravo, Boulevard!
Ben: When I first tried this years ago I was unimpressed. I'm glad I gave it a second try–once again, a solid offering from our hometown brewery.

Sixth Glass Quadruple Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Orange-brown color. Hazy. Thick, foamy, almond-colored head.

AROMA: 3/4
Sweet nose. Malty, pruny, some orange, lemongrass. Alcohol.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Malty, little hop. caramel, honey, orangey and floral notes. Nutty, pruny. Complex.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Residual sweetness, alcohol warming. Very little bitterness.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Very full, rich. Lots of complex flavors. All taste buds are firing!

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A big, big, BIG beer. Alcohol is there, but it's masked, so watch out–it could come back to bite you!

TOTAL: 15.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Tasty, really potent. Use caution, but definitely give it a try.
Ben: Warms me to the toes on a cold day of beer brewing!

Boulevard Single Wide IPA

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Hazy honey-gold color. On the lighter side of typical IPAs. Head is thick, foamy, and rocky that lasts. Nice.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Grapefruit citrus dominant. Hoppy. Pleasant nose. Some pineapple. Subtle woody and nutty aromas.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Citrus hop up front. Hop bitterness through middle and end. Malty - but nicely balanced and offsets the hop bitterness. Very true to style with lots of hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Bitter finish - slightly astringent. Some sweet maltiness but bitter overwhelms.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Bright. Effervescent. Sweet up front moves across the tongue to a bitter finish.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A solid IPA. Clean, crisp, uncomplicated, and not too heavy. One we return to regularly.

TOTAL: 16.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Dangerously drinkable and definitely affordable. Not my favorite IPA but far better than most.
Ben: One of my favorite beers from Boulevard. A great hoppy lighter IPA. Makes a great session beer - although a bit high alcohol to have too many. Awesome on tap.

Boulevard Amber Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Nice, pretty - deep dark reddish color. Foamy, almond head. Slight haze. Maple syrup color.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Sweet and malty. Brown sugar notes. Subtle nuttiness. Minimal hop.

TASTE: 4/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 1/4: Zero hop - all malt. Really sweet and sugary - too much so.
Aftertaste: 1.5/3: Real sweet - beginning, middle, and end. Subtle pumpkin-spice flavor. No hop bitterness or flavoring.
Mouth-Feel: 1.5/3: Thin, watery, fizzy, and harsh.

OVERALL: 2/3: Not that good a beer. Tasteless, bland, and watery. Needs a lot more hop and a dryer finish.

TOTAL: 10.75/20–Anything Else On Tap?

NOTES:
Matt: A forgettable beer from a brewer that can make great beer. An attempt to woo Fat Tire drinkers apparently.
Ben: If you want an Amber then by all means drink Alaskan not this.

Boulevard Dry Stout

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Black with a faint red tint. Espresso-colored head that fades but clings to the side of the glass. A nice-looking stout.

AROMA: 3/4
Strong roast aroma. Coffee, vanilla, faint caramel, subtle chocolate. No appreciable hop aroma.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Roasted malty flavors. Coffee. Sweet to start, then roasty bitterness takes over. No hop flavor to speak of.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Bitter is dominant. Subtle sweetness that fades quickly. Slightly astringent.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Dry, light-bodied–could be a bit chewier.

OVERALL: 2/3: Very bitter and roasty. It's a stout–there are better ones out there (but worse ones, too).

TOTAL: 14.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Not bad, not fantastic. Does its job, rounds out the stable of Boulevard standards.
Ben: For a great stout, try Left Hand. This one's okay. A bit too bitter for my tastes, but better and more unique than some competitors.

Boulevard Lunar Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Slightly reddish tint. Decent head, fades quickly. Slight haze.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Fruity and floral. Sweet. Bubblegum notes. Very little hop. Unique.

TASTE: 4.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2/4: Malty, little hop.
Aftertaste: 1/3: Yeast flavors come through. Slightly woody, faint bubblegum. Sour, weirdly metallic aftertaste.
Mouth-Feel: 1.5/3: Watery, weakly carbonated. Weird.

OVERALL: 1.5/3: You can tell it's a Belgian yeast. Complex flavors include a harsh metallic aftertaste. Is it a brown? A Belgian? A bottle of rusty nails? You tell me.

TOTAL: 11/20–Anything Else On Tap?

NOTES:
Matt: I'd call it forgettable if it weren't so odd. The harsh aftertaste is unappealing, and it lacks the nuttiness I prefer in a brown. Again, Boulevard is capable of so much better.
Ben: Surprising that this is one of their regulars. Not a favorite–Boulevard has much better offerings. I'd rather see one of their seasonals replace this in the regular lineup.
Note: Boulevard classifies Lunar as a dark wheat ale. We've seen it referred to as a brown and a dunkelweizen as well, so, whatever.

Boulevard Pale Ale

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Golden brown. Clear. White, creamy head. Pretty enough.

AROMA: 3/4
Floral, hoppy nose. Some citrus, woodiness. Sugary.

TASTE: 6/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: A bit too sweet, could use more hop flavor.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Hop bitterness up front, sweetness at the middle that fades back to bitter. Woody, nutty.
Mouth-Feel: 1.5/3: Sweet residual finish, weak carbonation.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: An okay pale ale that could be a lot better.

TOTAL: 13.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Not bad but it falls far short of really stellar pales (e.g. Sierra Nevada). Refreshing enough, just not as great as some other Boulevard offerings.
Ben: Given a choice between this and a domestic, I'd choose this, but it's not a great pale.

Liquid Bread Oatmeal Stout

Gella's and Liquid Bread Brewing Company
Hays, Kansas

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Dark brown color. Not fully opaque and slight haze present. Beautiful thick creamy head that lasts.

AROMA: 2.75/4
Chocolate, roasted malt. No hop.

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Very malty, minimally hoppy. Roasted malt dominant. Bitter hop finish.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Roasty, nutty. Subtle bitterness at the end.
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: Thick, very smooth. Full, silky feel. Light carbonation.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: Silky smooth nice roasted flavor. A little thick but a good finish. An award winning beer and it tastes like one.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Tasty - a smooth, not too heavy stout. Very drinkable.
Ben: A thick beer, a little roasty, very silky smooth. Another good offering. Liquid Bread proves there is at least one good thing to come out of Hays.