Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale - Boulevard Brewing Co.

lighthabit

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

my brain is confused . . . this is, by far, the lightest colored beer i've had in a long, long time. light golden yellow wheat color, looks like a bmc lite. head builds fast, but, then, surprise, it hangs around a while, and there's some nice lacing going on as it dies down to a thin layer that hangs around. nose is super clean, soft citrus, hint of lemon and grass. flavor is quite clean, light, almost airy compared to my usual fare. can't pair it with my go-to snacks, they kill the drink. 8.5 abv is as if it isn't there.

very impressed that someone made something so light, yet so good. nice job!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 06:29:17 | More by lighthabit

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4.11/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

750ml corked bottle

Pours a very light yellow color with a massive head that dissipates quickly

massive citus/grapefruit smell on the noise. reminds me of a typical farmhouse but with a big big nose. taste is EXCEPTIONAL for a farmhouse...granted this isnt my favorite style but this is the almost perfect beer in rating in style. citrus, lemon, grapefruit... with a dry aftertaste. very drinkable and enjoyable. amazed that this is 8.5%.

overall an exceptional farmhouse brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 23:41:47 | More by Axnjxn

GotWad629

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a cloudy yellow with a thick foamy head.

The smell is musty and earthy with some fruity aromatics and breadiness poking through.

The taste follows the smell but with more lemon zest. Absolutely delicious - the perfect amount of breadiness and must as well.

This beer is extremely effervescent - as it should be.

A great American rendition of a Saison. Scarily drinkable for 8.5% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 21:46:15 | More by GotWad629

dreedvol

North Carolina

4.39/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Belgian ale glass. Nice golden color, solid rocky head that diminishes slowly with nice lacing. Nice sediment haze.

Aroma of fruity eaters banana, citrus, with a nice sweet malt. slightly floral hint with coriander as well. Inviting aroma.

Taste is citrus with coriander and nice biscuit malts. Nice overall spice. Milder guitar esters like banana but not as strong as the aroma would suggest. Good balanced taste.

Carbonation is champagne like with a light body and a smooth finish.

A nice take on a farmhouse saison like ale but with enough good tweaks to make this a great ale. Highly recommmended.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:07:45 | More by dreedvol

Braz

Washington

3.69/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at Safeway.
Appearance: Hazy opague sunrise. Huge white head. 4 inches and it just sat there for minutes on end.
Smell: Heavy coriander. Grass and hay notes, farm smell.
Taste: A little sweet. Quite complex. Coriander and grass. Has a fresh aftertaste and feel, almost like it cleaned your mouth.
Mouthfeel: Cleansing and fresh. High carbonation.
Overall: Delicious. This would be great on a cold crisp morning if we didn't have jobs to go to.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:32:18 | More by Braz

4000qtrap

Missouri

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

S: Abundant mintyfreshness and grapefruit/mango hops that have a bit of a wild, earthy edge that comes from coriander. Moderate lemon pepper (like the muffin). Light rustic bread, actual yeastiness. Hops > yeast character, but decently balanced and complex.

T: Crisp, slight green apple tartness and decent carbonation set this up to be a highly quaffable brew. Straw and medium intensity complex pepper spiciness hit at first, very pleasantly. In the middle there is more complex pepper, grass, apricot, grapfruit, and light lemon verbena. Rather than an upper (lively fruit), this is more of a downer (earthy) saison. Neither sweet nor bitter, just a touch dry, with nothing really catching your attention since its so smoothly melded. Medium-low mouthfeel adds to the aforementioned crispness and drinkability. Finish is perfectly dry, with notes of primarily of coriander as well as lemon/grapefruit (somewhat pithy), apricot, herbs.

Notes: Nice balanced saison. Hop forward, so it'd be a good entré for hop heads to the style. More earthy (and somewhat spicy) and less juicy/lively/zesty than some of the classics out there, but perhaps more like the original old-world style. Very nice and very, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 23:58:31 | More by 4000qtrap

mntlover

Tennessee

4.31/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a lightly hazy golden yellow color with some small bubbles rising slowly to the head. The head is white huge and fluffy that falls slow to floating half cap that leaves gobs of lace. Really nice looking brew.

Aroma is nice grainy malts fruits lime, lemon lots of grass notes honey notes mingled in the malt. Good amount of cloves maybe some nutmeg. Crisp refreshing brew at least from the aroma.

Taste is nice grain and malts with some tart fruits mostly lime/lemon nice crisp Saison. Finish is lots of spice cloves, nutmeg good earthy notes. Nice flavors grainy fruity and spicy not too much funk some underlying horse blanket kind of like Hennepin but fruitier and little spicier.

Mouthfeel is light with some nice peppy carbonation that brings out the flavors without being fizzy.

Overall very enjoyable brew or maybe just in the mood for a crisp Saison either way I would highly recommend and repurchase if I find again in the future. My second Smokestack Series from Boulevard both have been excellent.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:30:23 | More by mntlover

Efay

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- A bold golden straw colored body. Lot's of foam with about 1 finger worth of head retention. Moderate amount of lacing.

S- Pepper, sour lemon and clove dominating the senses. There is also some light grass and straw tones as well.

T- Definitely tasting lemon and some earthy pear. Also there is the some spice; clove and pepper from the yeast. Spice is sort of overbearing at the end. Barely taste the light biscuit-like malt.

M- Light mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Very thin and crisp. Would work better with less of the pepper taste though.

O- I really love Saisons. Extremely complex beers that are wonderful when executed properly. However, I feel like the yeast were too predominant in this beer. The pepper and clove overwhelmed the fruit and sour flavors I enjoy. A good beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 22:58:52 | More by Efay

jibbyvonjibb

California

3.54/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Spice, like pepper and basil, that creates a sweet sensation on its own. Grapefruit, jolly rancher. Light-medium body. I think the essence of a saison is that it is light and drinkable. I'm afraid this is not nearly light enough (in alcohol, flavor, etc) to be a light summer drink. It is fairly well balanced, but why go overboard with the alcohol? Somebody explain... does it make it more "complex"? Somehow Belgian saisons and lambics accomplish tremendous complexity while still being light and refreshing. I appreciate subtlety, and I wish American brewers would start using more of it.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 02:11:51 | More by jibbyvonjibb

seand

California

4.19/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a clear light amber with lots and lots of dense white head. It dissipates fairly slowly and retains a nice blanket, leaving thick areas of lacing.

S: Sweet fruit, spice, and yeast, with a light touch of funk.

T: Lightly grainy sweetness with a particularly sharp high end. There's also a very light touch of fruit. The overall effect is very pleasant.

M: Medium to full body, medium carbonation.

Overall, a nice saison, and pretty refreshing for 8% (though that's probably dangerous!).

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:32:49 | More by seand

farrago

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a huge head at first, easily four fingers, extremely delicate, almost no bubbles per se save a few fat ones around the point of pour, bone white, looks like a soufflé as it settles, wispy yet sticky streaks of lacing. Hazy golden colored liquid, the lightness of the particulate hides it well, filled with active streams of bubbles. The nose is gently forceful, nutmeg, clove, caraway seed and lemon peel, taut yeastiness, softer pinch of bubblegum, as the spice normalizes you perceive more apricot, peach, yellow apple fruit, the banana stays further in the background, longlasting presence but even better stays fresh. Medium-bodied, tighter and more focused than expected from looking at all those bubbles, the carbonation is active but not frothy. Mixes in some sour white grapefruit and orange to the lemon base, refreshingly citrusy. The yeasts again are not doughy nor too soft and it is not on the funky side of the spectrum. Clove, nutmeg but also basil and oregano, not herbaceous as in grassy but herbal as in garden herbs. Blends in pineapple and mango with the peach, apricot, pear base. As it warms takes on a more honeyed dimension. Dryness ensures erect bearing through the finish. Very thoughtfully put together while not over-intellectualized.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 01:14:14 | More by farrago

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Their flagship beer!

Pours out a pretty hazy, bright, golden orange with a huge, 3 finger white head.

The aroma is filled with tropical fruit notes, some sweet bready malt, banana, clove, some slight spiciness, very subtle funky notes and of course the traditional Belgian yeast.

The taste is also filled with sweeter tropical fruit notes like mango, pineapple, some grapefruit, orange peel, lemon zest, a slight white pepper type of spice, banana, clove, subtle earthy/grassy notes and some funk, but not too much.

The body is light and mouthfeel is crisp and bubbly with tons of carbonation. The 8% is completely hidden; can't smell, taste or even feel the alcohol.

This is such a tasty and refreshing Saison all the while incorporating some juicy tropical fruit notes. It's a little light on the traditional funk and Belgian characteristics, but very good and slightly bitter for the style too.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:55:00 | More by JohnnyMc

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.14/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Pours hazy pale golden with a tall and very light crystal white head. After some time the head settles and leaves decent lacings.

S: Funk and Belgian yeast up front. Lots of fruit, and quite some spice. Malty. Dry grass , stable and leather. Some faint smoked ham in the back.

T: Follows the smell, but is a tad better in every aspect. The spice is stronger as is the citric fruits.

M: Funky aftertaste that lingers. Body is medium and a bit harsh, while carbonation is rich but very smooth.

O: A very nice American take on a complex Belgian style.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 19:43:41 | More by Sunnanek

dertyd

California

5/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle to a challice

A: wow the most beautifull beer I have yet to see poures a fogy golden orange color with a head that's like 4 fingers and so fluffy like clouds on top of this beautifull saison

S:sweet fruits with a little bittering hops,and some malt smells also verry balanced smell

T: first sip is sweet then you get that funky yeast flavor then here comes the spice and it all blends togeather with the perfect amount of carbonation what a great tasteing beer its like the flavors keep coming with every sip

M: crisp,mouth watering goodness

Overall: this may be one of the greatest beers I have ever tasted I recently fell in love with saisons and this is by far the best one I have tasted yet such a wonderfully ballanced beer

Live life drink beer!!!:-)

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 20:47:02 | More by dertyd

DaveAnderson

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

There are beers that produce heads of whipped egg whites, and this is one of them. It's just gorgeous to look at, with those stiff peaks of froth.

And the smell! Clove and spice, LOTS of pear, and subtle tropical fruits. I could bury my nose in the glass. And I would, except for that massive head.

The intensity of flavor is unexpected. The aromas are complex, but they suggest subtlety. This beer is not subtle. The smell does not prepare you for the intensity of juicy goodness. Want an over-the-top farmhouse ale? Mekka lekka hi mekka hiney ho! Your wish is granted.

My only complaint is that it drinks a little flat from the bottle. On tap, where the carbonation can be manipulated, it can be an almost perfect beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 04:08:28 | More by DaveAnderson

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

3.85/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A- Poured from 12 oz bottle into pint glass. Golden and cloudy. Big head of 2 fingers. Not real thick though. Super carbonated . Bar tender had to open 2 bottles because they both were like bottle bombs.

S- Metallic notes seem to be dominating the nose. Some citrus and fruity smell finds a way to break through. Not a huge aroma, but enough to let you know what you are getting yourself into.

T- Metallic flavors that i smelled lead the way. Yeasty and earthy. Citrus hops come through. Touch of sweetness after the metallic flavor subsides. Not overly bitter with a moderately dry finish. Very solid flavor for a farmhouse ale. Exactly what you expect.

M- Drinkable and refreshing. Would be great on a hot day. Highly carbonated. Mid bodied.

O- Fits the profile of a saison perfectly. Not the style of beer that I prefer, but i had to give it a shot. Would think it to be very pleasing for a more farmhouse person.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 00:47:27 | More by Bosoxfan20

Bung

North Carolina

4.09/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz. Into the Boulevard narrow snifter. Gold pour, lots of carb throughout. Billowing white head fill the rest of the glass. Two fingers retained damn near the whole glass.

Aroma, quite citrusy. Pineapple, lighter clove, Italian spice.

Taste, sweeter pineapple and stone fruit upfront. Pear. Lemon zest. Some earthy spice, pepper. Slight herbal bite in the finish.

Just a little stickier than I would like, and maybe a tad sweet. Otherwise this is lively and quite drinkable. Pretty refreshing. Well worth trying.
Got the 4 pack with glass for half off, definetely worth that.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 02:56:29 | More by Bung

MighHighBrewer

Colorado

4.06/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12 ounce bottle with "Best Buy Date" of September 2013 tasted on March 10th, 2013. Tasted from tulip glass. Note that they sell this beer both as a 750ml and as a four-pack of 12 oz bottles (at least at my liquor store).

A: Hazy and straw-colored. I dont see much (if any) of an orangish hue as you get with some Saisons. It's also more transparent than I expect. It's definitley not clear, but it's not as hazy as other Saisons. Head is solid: creamy with small bubbles. Overall, appearance is average. I love the characteristic orangish hue of Belgian Saisons coupled with the haze that's indicative of good yeast suspension. This beer has neither of those characteristics to my eye.

S: Initial smell is fruity - tropical fruits to be exact. I get some pineapple, mango...a little apple. Definitely an estery brew. I don't get much (if any) black pepper. Subsequent smells reveal a little more of the beer's yeasty character, although it's not as funky as some Saisons can be.

T: Initial taste: biscuity/bready, spicy, and sour. The beer is much more buscuity than it looks. It provides solid base for the sour apple and pineapple notes that dominate its sour characteristics. It's also pretty spicy. Get lots of black pepper. Subsequent tastes reveal more of a sweeness/honey taste. Very dry beer, as you would expect. Aftertaste is a little more alcoholic than I would like.

M: Very effervesent beer. Light/medium body, but very dry as indicated earlier.

O: Overall, I'm impressed. I think its appearance is this beer's weakest point while it's taste is its strongest. Things I liked: its tropical fruit aroma, its biscuit::sour ratio, and it's spicy notes. Things I didn't like: it's somewhat simple appearance (for a Saison). Also, I personally like my Saisons to be a bit sweeter and have a bit more of a yeast flavor than this one possesses. If I were to improve on this beer, I'd add some more honey to give it a slightly sweeter flavor and also keep more yeast in suspension to give it a bit more body. Overall though, I'm impressed. Not my favorite commercial Saison (that belongs to Funkwerks) but I'd say it's in my Top 5.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 23:22:44 | More by MighHighBrewer

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.31/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into Boulevard Tulip

A- pours a pale golden-yellow color with an enormous white pillowy and fluffy head the seems to retain forever. As it finally starts to reduce, it leaves thick patches of lace around the rim.

S- powerful nose of phelonic yeast provides light and fruity notes of apple, pear and lemon. Some floral notes with sour-dough bready malt on the back.

T- belgian like yeast gives a slight phelonic flavor that is balanced by a dough-like malt, some barnyard hay, fruity notes on the finish of peach, apple and banana from the yeast. The finish is bone dry with a nice long linger

M- light carbonation, medium body, foamy mouthfeel, smooth and easy drinking

O- one of the first that ive tried of the style, very good fruity notes. All of Boulevard's smokestack series beers have been awesome.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:51:36 | More by Treyliff

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.26/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

BEST BY 10/12/13

A: Pours a straw yellow color with a massive 3+ fingers of head that retains for a while

S: Lightly funky chalky yeast, farmhouse, light fruits, lemon, bready malts

T: Belgian yeast, light fruits, farmhouse, bready malts, light spice, light alcohol

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Lightly dry

O: A nice American farmhouse ale with good, crisp flavors and solid aromatics. A must-drink in the summer

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 22:34:52 | More by BEERMILER12

hitter114

Colorado

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

Tank 7 poured into a stella chalice

A: cloudy yellow nice bubbles
S: saison
T: Belgain Pale ale
M: farmhouse ale

O: Tank 7 is blvd's flagship beer I would have to say. They are one of those breweries where every single one of their beers shares a common backbone, particularly due to the yeast which is in most of them. Tank 7 to me is their best wisely available beer. It is the definition of a saison to me, with mabey slightly a higher hop content. It drinks great. That being said it is nothing crazy creative or innovative but hitting a style so right on deserves just as high praise as one that pushes boundaries. This is a beer for sipping

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 18:11:58 | More by hitter114

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Sampled at the brewery and had a full pour at their brewpub at the MCI airport. Pours a golden straw with a finger of white head into tulip glass. Nice carbonation.
Nice Belgian yeast and straw aromas...sweet grapey notes. Taste is hopped belgian straw...some sweetness is present. Its an easy drinker and strong...scary combination.
Overall its a really great saison...the aggressive hops really make this more American then Belgian. Also could be a bit drier...but its a solid brew. Id get again for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2013 19:29:01 | More by DrinkSlurm

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz Bottle from Cost Plus World Market Palm Springs CA for 4$

Appearance - Slightly hazy yellow colour with a large size fizzy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some fairly good lacing. The head lasted for 3-4 minutes.

Smell - Breads/grains, lemons, peaches

Taste & Mouth - There is an above average amount of carbonation and I can taste bread/grains mixed with some lemons, peaches and yeast. There is also some coriander/clove and a peppery spice mix. It ends with a dry yet fruity aftertaste.

Overall - My first beer from this brewer and it's a winner for sure. The scent is fantastic and the appearance is spot on. I'd be happy to drink this again anytime and would make it a go to beer if it was readily available to me.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 04:31:03 | More by spinrsx

brewskis

Indiana

3.46/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy golden orange with a three finger head that dissipates fairly slowly and leaves. Lively carbonation. Smells grass, belgian yeast, little funk, a tiny bit of lemon or lime, pepper. Taste starts with bright flavors of lemon and grass. Then is followed in the middle by the belgian yeast, some peppery spice, slight breadiness. Then the finish is more of the belgian yeast, some light funkiness, some light citrus notes like lemon and grapefruit, more spiciness, some slight floral notes, sweet breadiness from the malt. Creamy, refreshing mouthfeel. High medium body. This was supposed to be drank by January, which was two months ago. Still in pretty good shape with some hop qualities, but I’m sure it is far better beer fresh. Not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 02:27:59 | More by brewskis

Yokoono76

Colorado

2.38/5  rDev -42.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2

A: 4 finger head, funny, the carbonation on the bottom is a perfect circle floating to the top. The head goes down quickly. Nice mellow golden color.

S: Citrus aroma, slightly mettallic, grapefruit.

T: Bitter, bitter, bitter! Hoppy with some grapefruit and other citrus. The bitter taste stays with you as you drink it. Gets more bitter as you drink on.

M: great carbonation, good feel.

O: I was so disappointed in this beer. I was really bitter and just kept getting more and more bitter as I drank it. The grapefruit is nice and refreshing, but the hoppy, bitterness overwhelms any other tones within the beer. I will not be buying this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 00:27:44 | More by Yokoono76