Boulevard Brewing Co. - 21st Anniversary Fresh Hop Pale Ale; Smokestack Series Collaboration No. 1 Imperial Pilsner

From the Boulevard Brewing Company of Kansas City, Missouri.

21st Anniversary Fresh Hop Pale Ale - Celebrating their 21st Anniversary, 1989-2010.  This is in a 750-ml bottle with cork and stopper.  It is 7.4% ABV. This beer pours dark copper/amber in color.  There is a slight head of creamy foam.  The aroma is hop forward balanced on a deep malt base.  There is light grapefruit and tropical fruit and a bit of cantaloupe with a hint of caramel maltiness in the background.  The taste is well-balanced with an initial wave of fruity hops followed by a rich maltiness and a semi-dry, bitter finish.  The beer feels soft and round in the mouth.  There is the tight, tiny soft fizziness of bottle-conditioned carbonation.  This is a really nice, elegant and well-balanced beer.

Smokestack Series Collaboration No. 1 Imperial Pilsner - This 8.0% ABV beer is a collaboration with the Orval brewery of Belgium.  The beer pours a dark honey and yellow golden.  There is a large foamy white head.  The aroma is thickly malty, grain, straw, slightly sweet, crusty french bread, some lager funk and grassy and aromatic hops.  The taste follows the aroma with some honey floral notes added in.  A rich, malty, tasty and slightly sweet pilsner that finishes dry.  Delicious.



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