Two Jokers Double-Wit - Boulevard Brewing Co.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Lightly cloudy apricot with lightly cloudy lemon along the edges. Generous carbonation has created an expansive crown of ecru colored foam that is mousse-like in its airy creaminess. Sea foam sheets of lace are beginning to stick as the suds slowly sink.

The spiciness of the aroma is more varied than in the typical witbier, thanks to cardamom, lavender and grains of paradise, in addition to the usual coriander and orange peel. Only grains of paradise (especially) and coriander are appreciated by my nose. This should be pretty tasty beer.

Two Jokers definitely has more going on than the typical example of the style. So much so that it doesn't taste much like a witbier. That's fine because it tastes good, which is all that matters. The spices have no trouble burying the alcohol, which is yet another positive.

The pale wheat malt backbone (with a touch of toast) isn't as burly as expected given the ABV. Hop flavor isn't appreciated, but their alpha acids tip the scales in favor of bitterness. Tanginess is pretty prominent too.

Other than wheat bread and wheat toast, the flavor profile includes lemon zest and a few of the added spices; grains of paradise and coriander predominantly. The estery Belgian yeast adds a small shot of warm clove and some bruised banana, which contributes yet another dimension (of the hefeweizen sort) to this quasi-complex Belgian-style ale.

There's no letdown at all when it comes to the mouthfeel. More heft would have been nice, but ease of drinkability cannot be faulted. The carbonation is still boisterous (not fizzy) and injects plenty of sparkly energy.

Two Jokers Double-Wit (yet another winner from Boulevard) should appeal to anyone who likes Belgian-style beer, spiced beer or well-crafted beer in general. Whoever is in charge of the Smokestack Series at BBC needs to keep up the good work.

*originally reviewed 10-03-2009

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2009 10:05:00 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another gem I was lucky enough to get a hold of recently. This one I popped out to enjoy last night with Dinner. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 07/04/2009.

The pour was very nice. Very hazy blond color with a huge foamy head rising up above the rim of the glass. Huge carbonation visible throughout the session as it really had a very big and lively look to it. The aroma was light grain and wheat, hints of banana and light clove notes along with a touch of spice in the nose as it starts to warm. Smooth, medium body had enough weight behind it to coat the tongue nicely. Light grain flavor gave way to nice light fruity notes and a good little prickly pepper like touch on the tip of the tongue that gave it a nice little pop. Alcohol was very well hidden and this led to a nice tight, little heavier wheat beer that was muh more drinkable then I thought it would be.

Overall it was a very solid beer. I would have no issue with having this one again and I continue to be impressed with the boulevard lineup.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2009 14:23:51 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Aaron for this one.

A: Really a great looking pour. Hazed orange in color with a massive white head.

S: Not the most witbier of aromas to me. Lots of citrus peel, but it has a lemony note to it as well as some grapefruit. Orange is there, too, however. Some nice bready malts, but not much wheat and only a bit of spice.

T: The spice and citrus combination on the flavor is quite interesting. Almost like a spiced cider. Big sweet apple flavor along with oranges, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.

M: Medium in body with a medium to high carbonation.

O: Not sure if I'd necessarily call this a Witbier, but it was good.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 06:30:05 | More by womencantsail

brentk56

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy peach nectar color with golden highlights; the head is impressive and leaves a nice clumpage of lace

Smell: Lemon, banana and lavendar elements dominate, with undertones of cardamom and coriander

Taste: Citrusy and tart, up front, with lemon, orange peel, pineapple and a growing banana element that challenges the citrus by mid-palate, when the spicy coriander, lavendar and grains of paradise arrive; although the tartness flourishes throughout, the finish brings an interesting bananas flambee sweetness

Mouthfeel: Medium body with lively carbonation and acidity

Drinkability: A fine example of the style, but I would not have thought it was a double wit; the alcohol is well disguised

Thanks, iasanlee, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 23:30:43 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: Poured a hazy dirty beige color ale with a huge white foamy head with super good retention and some very good lacing. Aroma of cardamom and coriander is incredibly well balance with some dry wheat malt notes and light fruity ester. Taste is also dominated by loads of fruity ester with well balanced spicing with clear notes cardamom and coriander. Wheat malt is solid without being too sweet which is often the case with double wit. Another beautiful beer form Boulevard which keep surprising me with the quality of their offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 17:58:31 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The Double Witbier style has always been a bit of a struggle for me because the jest of a Witbier is its drinkability. When we imperialize it, the drinkability is greatly diminished. Let's see about this one.

Right off the bat, I can tell that Two Jokers has retained it's golden-straw color and not been over caramelized in the boil; giving the impression of a more gentle and finess beverage. Light haze harks to the 'wit' part of the beer while the creamy, yet dainty, stark-white head retains well but has trouble in the lacing department.

Aromas ride the fence between a Witbier and a Belgian Tripel. Very fruity and spicy with phenolic hints of plastic and medicine. Still and sweet pilsner malt flavor finds inviting notes of confection sugars, orange zest, lemons, corriander, and cilantro.

Flavors portray the same characteristics both in intensity and balance as those in the nose. Fruits and phenols are very well balanced not to let either dominate. A nectar-honey like sweetness proceeds any graininess from the malts. Only a herbal hop earthiness deviates to the bitter or hoppy side. White pepper, acidity, and alcohol flavor adds complexity.

Sweet up front with the malts and residual sweetness, but slowly fades into dry, alcoholic warmth moments later. Spicy to the palate throughout and light prickling gives a lot of play to the surfaces of the mouth. Still, the beer fails to capture that ultimate powdery softness that classic Hoegaardens and Witkerke's exhibit.

Though it is a really nice beer it becomes an inigma that loosely connects to many Belgian varieties including Tripels, Saisons, Belgian Pales, and Witbiers. Good beer but I'm still not convinced that there is such thing as a good Double Witbier.

Thanks BlueOkie!

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2009 03:09:06 | More by BEERchitect

drabmuh

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Best by 2011. Fun. Beer is dark yellow with a slight haze. Big head and lots of carbonation. Head is medium and medium bubbles. Head leaves some lacing on the glass.

Aroma is strong with spice and a tea like aroma.

It's medium bodied. Spicy and dry. Strong coriander. Carbonation is nice in the mouth. It's drinkability is good, mouthfeel is ok.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2010 23:09:39 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a hazy yellow-orange color with a white head. The aroma is loads of orange peel and coriander. The flavor is lemons, oranges, spicy hops and a lot of coriander. Some alcohol is present in the flavor as well. Very soft, medium mouthfeel and medium-high carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 04:31:05 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a cloudy, orange color with a huge, off-white, foamy head (actually had some spill over). It left a little sudsy lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of yeast and clove with a strong wheat aroma. There were plenty fruity notes with orange and lemon zest detectable.

T - Great blend of wheat and spicy yeast. Fruity flavors are good, too. Plenty of orange flavors.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a smooth finish. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - This is another great Smokestack brew. I was skeptical of a double wit, but this is really good.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2009 03:41:10 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.55/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up at macadoodles in Joplin.

Opens with a loud POP! Pours an effervescent & chill-hazed butterscotch with a thumb of fluffy eggshell colored head. Clears up fairly well, very good head retention & average lacing

S: Lemons, coriander & not much else

T: Lemons, orange & lemon zest, white pepper & grapefruit up front. Tartness & dryness follow as this warms along with lemon zest, coriander & some dried pineapple, plus a whisper of booze. Finishes with white pepper, lemon & orange zest, some grapefruit, & some coriander & grains of paradise

MF: Spritzy, somewhat creamy, every thing is in balance here

Drinks extremely easy for the ABV, I believe I've found my benchmark for this amped up take on the style! May be a bit too clean tasting for purists

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2009 01:32:38 | More by russpowell

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Acquired from davey, courtesy of the Local Goods 3 BIF so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 750ml bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a bright gold color, with a large white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of Belgian yeast, esters, wheat, citrus and some spices.

T: The taste starts out spicy with flavors of cloves and pepper. Then some fruity flavors of lemon & orange come in followed by mild breadiness from Belgian yeast and a hearty but not too heavy malt character, which provide a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly spicy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is a good beer to drink for a while.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2010 03:55:33 | More by TheManiacalOne

emerge077

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Strong pop from the cork, and wispy gunsmoke wafts from the crater at the bottle's neck. Got a whiff of banana in the air as it was opened, wheaty like a good hefe. Up close it's all coriander. Racing carbonation feeds a monstrous and pillowy head of foam. Uneven and rugged surface, sudsy with some larger bubbles here and there making their way upward. Murky glowing orange. Made sure to swirl the yeast dregs and add them in.

First sip is very orangey with a substantial wheat body. Sturdy with a nice orange/cantaloupe rind aftertaste, and lingering banana. Not too spicy, leaning towards some fruity sweet-tartness. The orange/banana combo is especially nice, like a smoothie almost. The wheat takes a backseat, but lends plenty of smoothness in the feel. The lacto added gives it the perfect zesty bite. Perfect for warm weather, this is the true essence of a quality Wit, turned up to eleven.

It certainly fits the bill of an Imperial Wit, not wimpy like Zon. Also it's nice to try a fresh one instead of one imported after who knows how long (Jan De Lichte, St. B). On my short list of top 5 Witbiers.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2009 00:52:25 | More by emerge077

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a bottle at Princeton Liquors in Maple Grove, MN for $9 or $10 and was not disappointed. This is another great addition to the Smokestack Series, I wish the regular line of Boulevard beers were this delicious. Now it's a heavily spiced beer and hits the threshold of non-beer flavors, but doesn't cross the line. The flavor, upfront, is a gentle mix of coriander (strongest flavor) followed by the grains of paradise (with a black pepper edge) and lavender. Of course in the background the yeast character comes through with mild vanilla and peppercorn, and a bit of bready wheat also pipes in to remind you of the malt bill. Certainly my favorite doube-wit to date. Very subtle, very deliicous.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2009 04:55:44 | More by tempest

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a cloudy orangish/yellow color with huge carbonation and big white head. Nose is spive, yeast, coriander, bananna. Taste is slightly spicy, banana, cloves yeast and a nice warming with subtle banana. Medium body. Balanced and damn good. Drinkable, hell yeah!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2009 00:24:00 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

4.35/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to stephens101 for this brew.

750ml Bottle
Caged/Corked
Batch: 1-2009

Poured into a chalice a very nice cloudy deep orange color, very nice carbonation, with a very nice huge three-finger creamy white head, with lots of thick/creamy sticky lacing. The nose is malty, with some yeast, corinder, bananna. The taste is slightly sweet, malty/yeasty, very nice touch of spices and banannas. Medium body. Very drinkable, an awesome brew, thanks Lane.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 22:21:36 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A bottle I shared with the Central New England BA Meetup thanks to COBeerBuff.

A: Pasty white fizzy head fades quickly with a semi hazy golden orange wheat color.

N: Very light, a little wheat, grassy, some lemon light summer spices, slight fruit, coriander, zest, etc.

T: Thicker malty, wheat, summer spices, fruit, lemon zest, weird peach like flavors, but not really peach, its just weird like that, spices, very well balanced, no really booze either. A little creamy flavors and juicy fruits. Tasty.

M: Lots of carbonation with a lighter body and a little creamy.

F: Dry, the spice flavors linger, with lots of citrus fruit zest, fruit flavors, Belgian malts and yeast, lemon, spices galore, and a slight creamy and juicy.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 04:21:03 | More by jlindros

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml corked and caged bottle, big thanks to grub for sharing.

Pours a slightly cloudy dark orange, some amber highlights, very thick white head forms, slowly settles down to a thick layer and ring around the glass, some chunks of lace stick to the glass.

Smell is interesting, very spicy, some yeast, wheat, cork and earthy, honey and caramel sweetness, toasty, malty, slightly lemony, coriander, lots of citrus, pretty neat.

Taste is similar, pretty malty up front, wheat, caramel, lemons and citrus, orange peel, coriander, really neat spiciness in the finish, almost cinnamon/nutmeg like and slightly peppery.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with high carbonation, pretty refreshing stuff. Thanks Russ!

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 22:45:28 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark golden orange color with slight darker golden yellow hues when held to a light source. Massive frothy 2.5 finger white head that slowly fades into a lasting ring.

Very spicy aroma with hints of peppery lemon zest and coriander. Lots of bready yeast and citrus fruit notes, mostly lemon and orange peel.

Medium body that is surprisingly tart and lactic with a huge spicy presence and citrus fruit notes all accompanied by a yeasty/bread presence. Crisp and refreshing with an almost unnoticeable alcohol presence. ABV is extremely well masked. Slight dry finish.

Very spicy up front with hints of cloves, coriander, cardamon, pepper and lemon zest and a yeasty/bread body with banana and citrus notes: lemon, orange peel, grapefruit and a subtle hop presence. Crisp and refreshing with a slight dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2009 05:38:16 | More by corby112

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into Smokestack glass

Pours 1 finger of slight off white head. Decent retention, but no lace at all. Color is a very hazed orange mango. A very nice looking beer.

Aroma: Nice and yeasty with a lot of spices. Coriander, orange peel, and grains of paradise I guess. Very fresh.

Taste: Wow, this beer is a huge wit. Tons of wheat flavors and spices. Pretty much the same as the aroma, but with some alcohol mixed in.

Mouthfeel: Very spiced and crisp, refreshingly smooth. Medium bodied with a lot of carbonation. Ends with a dry spiced aftertaste.

Overall, this beer is big. I am glad I got a buddy to split it with because I would have a hard time with it by myself (just so many spice notes). But, for the abv, fairly drinkable I'd say.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2009 03:58:52 | More by mothman

ccrida

Oregon

3.2/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Batch 2011-2/01-2012 (the former the brew date, the later expiration, I assume). Poured into a chalice, two jokers is murky straw yellow with a fluffy white head

Smell is very floral, spicy. Sweeter as is warms. Potpourri.

Taste is spicy, whoa. The adjuncts are heavy handed. Lavender and cardamon dominate, losing the esters, wheat and other classic character I love in this style.

Mouthfeel is dry, light bodied.

Drinkability is okay, it's a lighter, dry brew, and the high ABV is well hidden, but way to spicy for my taste. I love classic wit biers, these home-brew kitchen sink style ones, much less so...

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 18:04:32 | More by ccrida

gford217

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750ml bottle courtesy of EchoCharlieEcho poured into a tulip.

Pours a hazy golden yellow with a big fluffy head that recedes fairly quickly to a clump of foam on top and leaves a little lacing.

Aroma is spicy up front with coriander and grains of paradise as well as some orange zest and tart lemons. The underlying wheat characteristics are present in the background with bananas showing up.

The taste is more of the same with the banana sweetness of the wheat forming a backbone for the spices - coriander and lavender especially. The finish is spicy and dry with a bit of alcohol burn which surprised me a little.

The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied for a wit and dry and spicier than most in the style.

An amped up wit with a hefty dose of additional spices, this is certainly one of the more interesting versions of the style I've had. It's bigger than most though and the burn actually limits the drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 04:19:25 | More by gford217

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks n8 buddy!!!

Without the yeast, you have an almost golden amber color with plenty of visible carbonation. Once you get to the yeast at the bottom of the bottle, you get a merange like orange and tea color. Hard to see any bubbles in this fog. The head is pronounced after the first two pours, but scurries away in shame after that to nothing.

The aroma is heavy herbal with some sweet toast bringing up the rear. That coriander dominates the nose all day. Maybe a little too strong for high accolades. I also get a little note of chammomile tea lingering that brings the smell rating up a bit.

The taste is equally herbal with coriander and a few tingling notes of chammomile tea. Add to that a strong toasted malt biscuit backbone throughout the palate.

Add to the flavoring a thin carbonated syrup feel of sweet biscuits.

Good double wit that I am so glad to try.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2010 03:45:10 | More by scruffwhor

dirtylou

Washington

4.35/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, split with the lady a few weeks ago

cell phone notes

appearance: served in a pint - hazy peach body, gorgeous fluffy white cloud-head

smell: lovely aroma - well spiced with white pepper, corriander...yeasty and fruity

taste: very well balanced - crisp yeast, sweet apricot and peach, zesty corriander, white pepper mingling with moderate tones of alcohol, orange and tangerine, peach juice. lovely - will go through another one of these

mouthfeel: active yeast, live carbonation, smooth and creamy

drinkability: nice

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 17:23:11 | More by dirtylou

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.47/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle, batch 12010, best by 04/2011.

Lightly chilled, the cork was a pain, as usual. Thanks to my BA opener, I was able to wedge it out enough so I could pull it out with my hand. A good pop ensued.

Lots of foam in the pour, the beer is a slightly hazy light gold colour. The foam is shrinking very slowly leaving some good lacing.

It has a very nice nose. Lots of wheat, some funky notes, soicy and fruity. Vary varied and like I said, very nice.

The taste = the smell. Wheat, spice(mostly coriander but others as well), a bit of pepper, some lemon and oranges, and some honey like sweetness. Yummy! And...8%abv? Really? Hidden SO damn well.

A silky smooth mouthfeel and this beer has me hoked on its line.

Drinkability? A very impressive Wit indeed and it's way too drinkable given the alcohol content. This is super good!

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 01:43:36 | More by Bitterbill

cokes

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Crayon yellow, hazed and stacked with a proud rise of white suds. Yeast sediment turns it mustard a couple pours later.
Wheat bread and candied orange rind nose, some banana and melon- all dusted with powdered sugar- get squeezed in before the liberal coriander and grains of paradise lemony spiciness take hold.
Wheaty from the outset, with an increased malt presence from a typical wit (as would be expected, given its "double" status). Banana bread and melon, and some sub-caramel sweetness. That sweetness turns towards confectioners sugar as the spices begin to rain down. Coriander is the loudest, but cardamom, and Grains of Paradise are both clearly recognizable. Lavender too, especially in the later pours as it warms. It finishes with an orange rind bittersweetsourness.
Medium+ bodied- edging towards full once the sediment is added- but given levity by the rampant, frisky CO2. Alcohol is masked dangerously.
Just as the name suggests, it's a big, fat Witbier, and a well done one. Another Smokestack winner.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 08:15:24 | More by cokes