Bourbon Barrel Quad (BBQ) - Boulevard Brewing Co.

bbkd3b

Missouri

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark ruby body settles into the glass with an appropriate amount of haze. The head sports a dark beige tone, and is rather thin... Excellent retention makes up for it. Even from a distance, the tart smell of cherries is obvious. Extreme in its potency, and well balanced by bourbon, a hint of alcohol, and a nice twist of vanilla from the barrel-aging process. Extremely well-done!

The taste may be even better than that! An explosion of cherries hits the tongue. It lasts for a good time while I swished the creamy body around. Gave way to a heavy bourbon taste that didn't overwhelm. Alcohol seeps into the flavor on the back end, which isn't at all surprising given the beer's strength. In spite of that, it remains a heavily drinkable brew. Slides down the throat and warms the body as it settles. Every thing works together in an exceptional matter - amazing!

Overall/notes - Well, Boulevard Brewing really outdid themselves with this brew. Easily the best of what Smokestack brews I've had, and ranks right up there with the best quads I've ever had. My only disappointment was that I did not manage to acquire more than one bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 19:03:21 | More by bbkd3b

DeutschesBier

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-04-2013 20:45:47 | More by DeutschesBier

ThirdEyePA

Texas

4/5  rDev -5.4%

06-04-2013 17:26:46 | More by ThirdEyePA

cooler4life

Quebec (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

2011 Bottle shared with a Friend

A,S,T,M,O = Bottle was contaminated. Shame. Poured a murky brownish red and had tons of floaties. Good aroma, slight bourbon but it stopped there. A real disappointment. Mouthfeel was actually quite good but was due to the wild overgrowth of yeast.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 02:11:27 | More by cooler4life

Rihup

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

06-01-2013 23:37:21 | More by Rihup

Anonymous1

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

06-01-2013 15:06:45 | More by Anonymous1

redbaron_ict

Kansas

5/5  rDev +18.2%

06-01-2013 14:22:51 | More by redbaron_ict

burninggoat

Missouri

5/5  rDev +18.2%

05-30-2013 21:56:36 | More by burninggoat

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

05-23-2013 01:24:00 | More by mikeincharleston

cosmonick

Indiana

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-19-2013 01:35:26 | More by cosmonick

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-16-2013 13:13:18 | More by MinorThreat

baybassboy

California

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-14-2013 05:24:23 | More by baybassboy

Stinger80OH

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-11-2013 16:45:10 | More by Stinger80OH

AltBock

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Corked and caged 750ml bottle with a plain Jane brown and tan label of an oval surrounded by 2 crossed barley stocks and 4 hop buds. In this oval is vintage year and bottle number. This was bottle #10552 and from 2011. The back label has the Government warning, a lengthy description of the beer, proper serving glass, and a batch number/best by date. This was from batch 2011-2 and best before 11-2013.

When poured into a CCB Hunahpu Snifter, this Quad was an interesting hazy dirty reddish brown color. When I held it up to the light, this beer appeared to be on the orange side. It was a bit on the weird side. There's nothing wrong with having a weird hue. The head of foam was not as interesting as the color. On top was a short lived fizzy dark beige head of foam. It fizzled away pretty fast, but it did manage to leave behind a string of beige rings and a few miniature spots of lace.

The aroma was a little sour and tart. I have to say that it was more tart than sour. Up front in the aroma was the tart and lightly sour bing cherries. After it got the cherries out of the way, the aroma went Quad aged in Bourbon barrels. This part of the aroma consisted of lightly toasted malts, yeast, a drop a caramel, green apples, oak, and a subtle whiff of alcohol. I guess the alcohol was suppose to be the bourbon. I thought it got the cherries out of the way in the beginning, but they showed up again at the finish line. Interesting aroma, but still not as interesting as the color.

Was the taste as interesting as the color and smell. I have to say yes. The taste wasn't sour or tart like the aroma. The taste started off with the toasted malts, a pinch of caramel, and a splash of cherry. After the cherry, the alcohol swooped in like an eagle. Just when I thought that the alcohol completely took over the taste, the oak, a subtle taste of vanilla, and a tab bit more cherry came in to rescue the taste from the alcohol. No bourbon in the taste. Like the aroma, the bourbon was the slight burn taste of alcohol.

This was a medium to full bodied barrel aged Quad with a nice level of carbonation, and a slight boozy aftertaste. The aftertaste was on the dry side with malts, a small dab of caramel, oak, a big bite of bing cherries, and a lot of alcohol. I got the taste the alcohol, but not the burning sensation that comes with that. After a few sips, the taste of alcohol will start to work on your body.

I'm going to first thank fellow BA BlueOkie for giving me this interesting barrel aged Quad. The alcohol wanted to take over the taste, but the oak and company saved it. However the oak couldn't hold back the alcohol in the mouthfeel. Pick your battles I guess. It's a very good beer. The bourbon barrel aging added some nice characteristics to this beer. I would drink it again if I had the chance.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 04:24:19 | More by AltBock

Rob315

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-10-2013 16:58:44 | More by Rob315

deadliest

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-08-2013 00:10:28 | More by deadliest

cnbrown313

Illinois

5/5  rDev +18.2%

05-07-2013 18:26:06 | More by cnbrown313

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -5.4%

04-26-2013 07:00:24 | More by Kelp

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

04-14-2013 03:16:38 | More by MarkyMOD

beernads

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

04-10-2013 09:39:00 | More by beernads

flyingPharmacist

New York

4/5  rDev -5.4%

04-05-2013 12:20:51 | More by flyingPharmacist

Crash_the_Dog

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

03-31-2013 02:45:42 | More by Crash_the_Dog

Sparky44

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

03-24-2013 02:48:26 | More by Sparky44

Magery

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

03-23-2013 22:45:49 | More by Magery

Ish1

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -11.3%

03-23-2013 03:22:27 | More by Ish1