The Sixth Glass - Boulevard Brewing Co.

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy deep amber to orange-ish color withh a tan head. In the aroma, sweet dark fruit and a bit of alcohol. In the taste, licorice, dark fruit, a small sweetness to dryness, and a alcohol note all the way through. An Alcohol bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry small licorice and alcohol like aftertaste. Quite muted flavors, but nice flavors and a mellow alcohol throughout.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 14:04:57 | More by OWSLEY069

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.59/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

a deep amber with some slight hazy sediment mixed in. finger of off-white head and great retention. smells of sour grapes, raisins, cloves, banana, booze. the flavor is very boozy, lots of banana, brown sugar, pears, a slight bitterness takes place in the aftertaste. a medium-full body beer with medium carbonation.. a sipper, but the high carbonation makes you want to drink faster.

i gotta say i'm not a huge fan of this one. i like the boozy warmth in the chest, and it's not a bad beer, but i am just not sold on it. i'm not mad i tried it at all, it's just the style i can't really get into.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 00:40:08 | More by facundoCNB

Vixie

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice rich red color with a huge tan head. This is a very pretty beer, and I am surprised at the amount of head, given the ABV.

Lot of fruit in the scent, raisins, prunes, followed by a hint of spice, and just a slight bit of coffee.

Taste is a bit fruity, with a touch of pepper. I can detect a bit of a Belgian candy sugar taste, but it's much more subtle that a true Belgian quad. The alcohol is well hidden, its presence mainly is a bit of warming at the finish.

The feel is probably the weakest point of this one. it is a bit on the thin side, not horrible, but below what I expected.

Not a bad beer, just not one that blew me away either. it is very drinkable for the alcohol level, I would just prefer a bit more complexity. Still, a nice beer, and I wouldn't mind trying this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2010 00:18:12 | More by Vixie

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle, my last souvenir from volunteering at this year's ACBF. It's got a best by date of April 2013, and was allowed to warm some before being poured into my Duvel tulip.

Sixth Glass pours something in between maroon and more of a brown color, but it fades to a clear ruby when held to light. The cream colored head is almost out of control, more than four fingers tall and threatening to spill out the glass. Head retention is solid, but the complete lack of lacing is a major letdown. The nose is a bit higher on peppery phenols as compared to dark fruits than usual, but there's also a nice background note of overripe banana that I don't always find in quads. The flavor just can't hang with the best of the style. The most important thing for me in a beer like this is to have a solid sweet fruity base to hold the rest of the beer together. While there are certainly notes of plum and figs, they aren't nearly potent enough to keep the pepper and clove yeast notes from, together with a generous warming sensation from the alcohol, running roughshod over the brew. The body ends up on the light side for 10.5%ABV, and the carbonation is middle of the road, and just a little bit dull. In the end, the beer captures neither the creamy texture (despite a dry finish) nor the expressive carbonation of a world class quad. I had high expectations for Sixth Glass, having really enjoyed my previous Boulevard offerings (including BBQ), but this goes to show just how hard brewing a top notch quad is.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 05:09:12 | More by axeman9182

vkv822

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into tulip snifter.
Best By Date: 10/7/12
great extra sent by pittsburghkid66, thanks man!

Pours a cloudy amber-orange hued brown with a frothy light toffee colored head.

The aroma is fairly complex, with sweet caramel and sugars upfront, with some fruit towards the end.

The taste follows the nose, with more brown sugar upfront, and followed by dark fruits and faint green apple tartness. Very light phenol notes.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with fairly strong carbonation, a bit much at times really.

Fairly sweet overall, with a bit heavy carbonation but still a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 04:37:29 | More by vkv822

andrewinski1

Maine

3.58/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter. The color is amberish brown with golden hues. There is a fluffy off-white head that all but disappears.

The aroma has nice plum and date to go with a bit of melon rind.

The malty sweetness turns into a nice fruity finish from the yeast. There is some of the same fruity flavors indicated by the aroma.

The body is medium to full with lots of crispy carbonation.

This is pretty good. I would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 04:41:39 | More by andrewinski1

hckyfn9999

Missouri

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky brown color with some reddish hues. Big cream colored head with great retention and lots of lacing left behind. Aroma is alcohol, dark fruits, and spice. Taste is a bit boozy. Some funky yeast. Pretty spicy. A bit fruity with some pears and raisins. Mouthfeel is very thin in my opinion for a quad and it doesnt lend to the drinkability because of the high and noticeable alcohol. Not bad but certainly doesnt stack up to the trappists i've had.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2008 04:38:38 | More by hckyfn9999

sweemzander

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz. bottle poured into a tulip. Best by 10/17/12.

(A)- Pours a dark bronze colored amber color. Produced a large fluffy off-white to orange colored head with superb retention and lace.

(S)- A dark fruity esther profile. Rather earthy and dry too. Some raisin and caramel sweetness too.

(T)- Like the smell, a dark fruit profile with very dry earthy clay, raisin, and caramel sweetness. Very heavy in the earthy clay.

(M)- A decent carbonation level. Very dry and earthy with some richness and dark fruits.

(D)- A decent quad. Very rich and earthy at the same time. Might need some time to mellow out, but I do wish more fruits were present.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 00:43:15 | More by sweemzander

emmasdad

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Not long ago, while perusing the beer selection at a local liquor emporium, I decided to give this one a shot ($8 for a 750). Arriving home, I cracked it open (quite a chore) and poured it into a tulip. Poured a slightly hazy burnt orange color with a good beige head. Aromas of brown sugar, dark fruit and sweet caramel. On the palate, this one was medium to full bodied, with flavors of dark fruits, candi sugar, caramel and booze.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 02:56:05 | More by emmasdad

ksimons

New York

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-pours a dark cloudy amber with two fingers worth of cream colored head that sticks to the glass

S-the smell isn't that strong. Smells of malt, light caramel, and fruits. It would help if the malt was a bit richer. The smell does improve more as the beer warms.

T-tastes of malt, some light dark fruit, spices, and a spicy alcohol kick. As the beer warms things get better, the malt and caramel are richer, but the sixth glass isn't as good as other quads out there.

M-medium body, medium to high carbonation

Overall it is decent, but not as good as other quads I have had. A richer malt body would improve things in my mind.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 22:21:31 | More by ksimons

Pencible

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best by 06-2013, reviewed October 2011

A: This poured a clear dark copper with moderate tan head.
S: It smelled like sour Belgian yeast and wheat bread, with spicy lemongrass and a bit of cocoa powder and cashews.
T: It tasted like sour Belgian yeast with lots of spicy rye and pumpernickel bread, and a little earthy toffee and burnt nutty malt. It had a dry and sour earthy aftertaste with alcohol warming.
M: It was slightly thick with lots of carbonation. Bubbly body.
D: This was a decent quad, but not very refined and far from a Trappist brew. The scent and taste were ok, and the body was good enough, but the alcohol was hot, so it must be sipped. Not sure if age would help, but it couldn't hurt. Not a must have beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 18:42:53 | More by Pencible

bskrtz

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A) A "tawney port-like" brew, looks wonderful. Light passes through with clumps of dense, fine bubbles. Off white head recedes a bit but still manages to hang around forever.

S) Sweet cooked fruits, bread pudding, citrusy juice. Waft of alcohol....

T) Deliciously sweet, malty and complex with mild hops. Maple syrup with a port finish and did I mention sweet?

M) Sticky syrup with ample fine carbonation. Smooth, alcohol is there but not over powering.

O) Okay, you want me to rate a Belgian Quad?? This is an ever crowded class with the best of the best. I enjoyed this one and will definately enjoy another. And maybe one more after that, but thats my limit....

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 01:17:08 | More by bskrtz

bbothen

California

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Belgian style quad from Kansis City? Sign me up.

Pours a rust color w/ a small white bubbly head. Produces nice soapy lace on glass.

Yeasty aromas. Bubble gum. Small caramel & toffee notes as well. Raisin.

Big yeast flavor with some spiciness balanced by the sweet fruit & caramel presence.

Feels a bit warm & carbonated for my tastes. Alcohol is very present. Not a bad thing.

Kudos to Boulevard for brewing this. Glad to have tried & would gladly have again.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2008 00:16:02 | More by bbothen

BMoney575

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Sampled on 12-11-09
Batch number 69198

Pours a deep red color, completely cloudy with a tiny head, if you really try. Lacing is a few quickly fading bubbles.

Smell is thick, strong malt, dark fruit, and heavy duty alcohol. The booze is so strong, it has a distinct nail polish remover quality. Not in a bad way, just in a badass way.

Taste is all hardcore booze. The malt is there, adding a caramel and burnt sugar flavor. The aftertaste is nice, slightly earthy and sweet.

Mouthfeel is slick and spicy, with strong carbonation to add to the intensity.

Drinkability is good if you're a seasoned alcoholic, or if you're looking for a good time.

Overall, I wish I had bought two of these so I could leave one in the cellar. It could sure use it.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 01:26:19 | More by BMoney575

hardy008

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hazy amber with a 3 finger light tan head with good retention and lacing. The aroma has green apples, phenols, grapes, and pears. Smells good, but not as expected.

The taste is just like the aroma. It has green apples, phenols, grapes, and pears. It is also a sweet tasting beer, and has a nice flavor, it just doesn't taste like I would expect a Quadrupel to taste. At least not entirely.

Medium bodied, high carbonation, sweet, and smooth. I like much about this beer, but it does not seem like it is true to style. The 10.5 % abv is well hidden, which is a plus.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 05:01:40 | More by hardy008

Yesac

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On trade from jwinship83. Poured into chalice.

A- rubbyish copper color. Medium sized slightly tan colored head that sticks around for a bit.

S- Fruity nose.. similar to apples/pineapple juice. Slight candied sugar and bubblegum.

T- Lots of malt. Bubblegum and banana, sweet candied sugar.

M- Medium carbonation, medium body. Slightly dry.

O- A good sipper overall, not a true Belgian quad but not a bad shot from a brewery out of Missouri.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 01:40:30 | More by Yesac

crewfan16

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a stella tuilip glass.

a- pours a ruby amber color with some big thick slightly off-white head that dies down fairly quickly. seems slightly light looking for a quad

s- dark fruit, lots of yeast and some caramel maltiness. smells just like a quad should

t- flavors follow the nose. dark rasin, lots of belgian yeast and some sweet. flavors are a bit light for the style and nothing terribly complex, but still tasty.

m- lots of carbonation, which is typical. nice creaminess. dry raisin finish.

overall, I think this is an average quad. Not terribly priced though at $9 a four-pack. dont know if i can find a better quad for less.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 02:38:12 | More by crewfan16

Beaver13

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, best by 7/27/13. Pours a cloudy amber with a big fluffy off white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.

The aroma is sweet caramel malts, dark fruit, wood and some alcohol. It's a little subdued.

The flavor is sweet toasted caramel malts with dark fruits and a dry light bitter alcohol finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, an OK quad. It's kind of sweet with rather sharp alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 05:35:37 | More by Beaver13

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750ml bottle obtained via trade with mhewes. Thanks for the opportunity. Corked & caged, Batch 68081.

Poured into a heavy glass chalice, formed a 2" beige head above the cloudy orangey amber brew. Thick head lasts and lasts, with spotty lacing. Aroma is sweet, but overpowered by strong rubbing alcohol-ish character. Taste is also sweet to start, edging towards alcohol by the close, and plenty of warming action. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is pretty good. The rubbing alcohol nose does last, however, and puts a damper on things.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2008 01:41:35 | More by ppoitras

doughanson78

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First Quad. 12oz. bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Dark golden color, like apple cider. One finger tan head, very fizzy, disappears quickly and doesn't return even with a vigorous swirl. Decent lacing.

S: Light alcohol. Nice apple aroma. Caramel malts. Light cherries and other dark fruits. Kind of sweet.

T: Tart at first. Apples, dark fruits. Light caramel. Mild alcohol. Finishes with a slight bitterness.

M: Medium bodied. Highly carbonated. Little sticky feeling. Slight alcohol warming. Lightly dry finish.

O: Seems like a good beer. Reminds me of apple cider with alcohol added. Definitely nothing saying it's bad. Might not be my style, but still enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 00:13:16 | More by doughanson78

kojevergas

California

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Decided to grab this one from the fridge because I'm a huge fan of the style and I'm really in the mood for a good quad. I think this is my first special series beer from Boulevard. I don't remember what I made of their other offerings. Best by: 08/07/14. 10.50% ABV confirmed. Expectations are high given its current ratings. Reviewed live. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a New Belgium goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, California.

Fresh and cold from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated. Not paired with food. Allowed to warm over the course of consumption.

A: Pours a two finger beige colour head of nice cream and thickness, and good retention for the high ABV. Smooth and frothy. Lacing is pretty good. Body colour is a nontransparent understated auburn ruby. Looks best with some light behind it. Some yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Looks as a quad should. When the head reduces after a couple minutes, there's still a pleasant glistening floater atop the beer. I'm excited to try this one.

Sm: Floral hops, biscuit malt, caramelization, bready malts, spice, dark fruit - plum and fig, dried fruit, rich layered amber malts, a hint of vinous character, and fermented raisin. A delightful aroma for a quad. I'm really looking forward to it. It's more of a dried fruit aroma than a dark fruit one, but it remains appealing and pleasant. No alcohol comes through. Not acidic or too sweet. Not too earthy. A subtle complex aroma of average strength and presence. Slightly yeasty.

T: A lightly bready caramelized dried fruit body. Some spice from the yeast. Certainly raisin and fig come through, not getting as much of the plum as I'd like. It has a good rich malty backbone that helps balance its more refined notes. Hopping is minimal, with some light floral notes but mainly just preservative function. Has a lightly vinous undertone. A bit of alcohol comes through, manifesting mainly as a warming sensation in the stomach but also in the flavour. Biscuit malt makes an appearance as do well layered amber malts. It's consistent throughout and nicely balanced, though it lacks the depth I'd expect from a great example of the style. Caramel and prune come through. Ripe fruit blossoms on the climax, with a slight sweetness in the second act as well. A hint of peppercorn in the early second act. My main problem with it is the overdone sweetness on the finish, which really holds the beer back.

As I sip more and more on it, the alcohol heat builds in my stomach.

It does come off overly sweet. The dark fruit would do better dried and refined. All around a well balanced beer of high complexity. I quite like it. Just what I'm in the mood for. A well built quad.

Mf: Warm, lightly creamy, and not quite dry enough. Certainly too vinous and thick in the late second act through the climax. Could use a bit more coarseness as well. It certainly doesn't lack body; it's very filling. Not at all astringent. Well carbonated. Good presence on the palate, though as noted above it does lack a depth of flavour to accompany its full body. Suits the flavours well but doesn't seem custom-tailored to them. A light stickiness is apparent.

Dr: Very drinkable for the high ABV but that alcohol does make it something of a sipper. ABV is poorly concealed here. It's meant to be enjoyed slowly, and gets better as it warms. Boulevard has impressed me with this one and I look forward to trying more of their beers. A good effort for the style. Fans of the style will not be disappointed.

I get some heat on the burp.

A pretty good choice for aging, but that said there are better (likely cheaper) options in the style.

Serve after a period of rest from the refrigerator. She gets better as she warms.

Pair with fig newtons and/or plain unsalted pretzels.

Drank fine out of a goblet. I'd recommend a goblet or teku as the ideal serving glass.

With a reduction of the third act sweetness and better concealment of the ABV, this would easily rise to at least a B. Further honing the mouthfeel might raise it to a B+. More depth of flavour - especially insofar as the fruit is concerned - could bring this to an A-.

High B-

**I manipulated the "overall" section to give the letter grade I wanted in the interest of maintaining the integrity and consistency of my reviews.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 05:39:34 | More by kojevergas

denver10

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a dark red with a brownish hue. Nice white head. Very sweet aroma of malt, brown sugar, and dark fruits (raisin, fig) paired with the yeast. Very sweet taste, as you'd expect from the style: raisin, figs, some brown sugar coated banana, some breadiness and alcohol. Medium bodied to this and active from the carbonation. A nice quad but its a style of beer that I generally find too sweet and this is no exception.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 22:29:28 | More by denver10

pdoran10

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a light amber color with two fingers of white head. Not much lacing. Lots of light passing through this beer for a quad :)

Smell is dark fruit, candied bread, hint of alcohol heat sweetness comes through.

taste is sweet plum, fusel alcohol heat, banana, nutmeg. Complex, but hot missing a smoothness in flavor profile.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin, with high carbonation. Dry and crisp.

Drinkable in a sense, but a bit too much alcohol heat. Not as bad at many American breweries' attempts at a quad when it comes to this though.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 06:13:01 | More by pdoran10

Immortale25

Florida

3.45/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter. Label says 07-2014

A- Pours a rubyish light brown color with a 3/4 inch head that soon putters away to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a mostly full sheet of surface foam. Slippery ring of lacing.

S- A bit boozy with some mild dark fruit and caramel in the back. The alcohol is almost solvent-like.

T- Taste is also a bit harsh with lots of alcohol overtaking the dark fruit and raisin taste in the back. Some toasted malt and Belgian candi sugar. Most of the sweetness is thrown off-kilter by the sheer booziness in the flavor.

M- Sharp, bitey and dry. Medium-low carbonation and a semi-full body.

O- This is not the way a quad should go down. Maybe I should've given it more time in the bottle but, as it is, it's not so pleasant. Still, it pairs pretty well with brie.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:35:03 | More by Immortale25

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sixth Glass pours a clear copper color with a big off white head on top. the foam dissolves quickly to a sheet on the beer, leaving behind a few spots of lace on the glass.

The aroma is sweet with notes of caramel, alcohol and dark fruit.

Each sip of this medium bodied beer is smooth, oily with mild carbonation. The flavor is sweet and malty. Caramel malt, candy sugar, ripe fruit (red grape) dominate the flavor. Notes of bread and clove are also present. It finishes with a medicinal alcohol flavor. Once gone the sweet caramel and candy sugar lingers on the palate.

This is an easy drinking beer with a descent flavor. Could use more bitterness to balance out the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 19:37:16 | More by WanderingFool